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NOVEMBER 11, 2003
BJP stir against property tax tomorrow
Chandigarh Tribune
Former local MP Satya Pal Jain
addresses a press conference at the local BJP office, Kamalam, Sector
33, Chandigarh, on Monday. (Image Courtesy: The Tribune)
Chandigarh, November 10: The local
unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today accused the Congress of
doublespeak on the issue of demolitions. The BJP said it would stage a
dharna to protest against the imposition of property tax in the city on
November 12.
Satya Pal Jain, former local
MP of the BJP, announced this at a press conference today. He was
accompanied by the president of the unit, BJP Mr Yashpal Mahajan and the
leader of the Opposition in the MC, Mrs Kamla Sharma.
Mr Jain said the BJP at its meeting
yesterday decided to oppose the Congress and start a jan andolan.
Mr Jain distributed photocopies of
the letter dated May 29 this year which has been sent from the MC to the
Estate office. The letter says that the Land Acquisition Officer has
been asked to give a date for an anti- encroachment drive. He said the
Congress had no reason to blame the BJP for the demolition drive. ...
BJP to stage dharna against MC decisions
Chandigarh Newsline
Chandigarh, November 10: THE local unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
will sit on a dharna in front of the office of the Municipal Corporation
against the alleged anti-people decisions of the Congress-led MC, on
November 12. The dharna will start at 10.30 am and continue till the
House proceedings end. The decision was taken at a party meeting
yesterday night.
Stating this here today, party chief Yash Pal Mahajan said the
dharna will be against the delay in withdrawing MC’s anti-people
decisions like hike in water tariff, introduction of paid parking,
increase in community centre tariff and harassment of footpath workers.
...
Former MP Satya Pal Jain, who was also present at the press
briefing, accused MP Pawan Kumal Bansal of using MC employees and
machinery to compile details of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh
Assembly elections. Showing an MC letter relating to the removal of
pharis from Sector 38, he accused both mayor Subhash Chawla and Bansal
for their doublespeak on demolitions. Instead of accepting moral
responsibility for demolitions, they had accused the BJP-led government
at the Centre which was uncalled for, he added, and alleged that the
principal of the Mauli Jagran school was forced to make 200 students
attend the rally addressed by Bansal. The principal was also honoured
for making the rally a great success, he further alleged. ...
NOVEMBER 8, 2003
Traders scream Black Day
Chandigarh Newsline
CHANDIGARH, November 7 - THE traders, under the banner of the Chandigarh
Beopar Mandal today burnt the effigy of the Rent Notification issued by
the UT Administration. The notification scrapped the Rent Restriction
Act on buildings rented at more than Rs 1,500 per month. They also
observed Black Day today and criticised the Administration for its delay
in withdrawing the controversial notification issued in favour of
landlords.
Addressing the traders at Sector 17 Plaza, ex-MP Satya Pal Jain
said the BJP was in favour of the Balance Model Rent Act. Seeking
the removal of eviction clause that leads to uncertainty in the minds of
tenant traders, Jain also advocated a suitable increase in the rent of
buildings so that the landlords could get a reasonable return of their
investment in real estate.
On November 7, 2002, the Chandigarh Administration had notified
fresh Rent Notification, scrapping Punjab East Rent Restriction Act from
buildings rented at more than Rs 1,500 per month. This lead to a series
of bandhs, rallies, meetings and dharnas.
The traders also wore black badges and raised anti-Administration
slogans. Those who spoke on the occasion included CHB chief Jagdish Lal
Arora, Jagdish Kalra, Kamaljeet Panchhi, Diwakar Sahoonja, L.C. Arora,
among others.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Tenants Association has resorted to a
hunger strike at Matka Chowk. Association chairman Arvind Jain said they
were observing November 7 as the ‘Killer Day’.
NOVEMBER 5, 2003
BJP reprimands Cong on property tax issue
Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, November 4: Charging the Congress party with borrowing time
on the issue of levying property tax till the general election next
year, a former BJP Member of Parliament, Mr Satya Pal Jain, today
asked the Congress-dominated corporation to annul all its earlier
recommendations on levying of new taxes.
“If the corporation thinks that
levying of the property tax was against the city residents, it should
withdraw the paid parking, roll back the hike in water charges and
reduce the fee for renting community centres”, said Mr Jain at a press
conference here today.
From promising a tax-free regime to
recommending property tax at a rate of 2 per cent and now announcement
to “outrightly” reject the levy the new tax, the Congress leaders have
been changing their stand. Mr Jain said yesterday’s announcement by the
Member of Parliament, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, was out of political
compulsions. The BJP doubts the intentions of the Congress on the issue,
he added.
Showing a copy of the statement of Mr
Bansal, which was read out an a meeting of the General House on January
29, 2003, Mr Jain said the former had recommended imposition of property
tax. He alleged that the MP had an inconsistent approach, was misleading
the city residents and was in a habit of disowning what did not suit
him. ...
OCTOBER 23, 2003
BJP delegation calls on Administrator
Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, October 22: A delegation of the local BJP unit yesterday met
the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma, and requested him to withdraw
criminal cases registered against various employees and union leaders of
the PGI in the year 1995.
The delegation comprising Mr Yash Pal
Mahajan and Mr Satya Pal Jain informed the Administrator that
during the strike in the PGI in 1995, certain FIRs were registered
against the employees at the behest of the then PGI authorities.
They said they had brought the case to the notice of Ms Sushma Swaraj,
Union Health Minister. Mr Jain said he had requested the Home Secretary,
Chandigarh, to withdraw the cases with a view to creating congenial
atmosphere in the PGI.
The BJP leaders also demanded a high-level inquiry into the facts and
circumstances leading to the death of Mr Som Nath, a resident of Bapu
Dham Colony, on October 12 last. ...
OCTOBER 3, 2003
Sec 30 residents discuss need-based constructions
Chandigarh Newsline
Chandigarh, October 2: THE Sector 30 B Residents Welfare Association’s
Joint Action Committee today organised a meeting at the Assistant Labour
Commissioner’s office building in Sector 30 B. It was held to put forth
problems being faced by residents of the same sector and to discuss the
issue of need-based additional constructions raised by the residents
within their backyard/premises.
Former MP Satya Pal Jain and member of the National
Executive of BJP, Yashpal Mahajan, President of the BJP, Chandigarh and
member of the Building By-laws Committee, Chandigarh Administration
addressed the meeting.
In his address, Subhash Talwar, president of the committee, said
the committee hoped that the authorities permit upto 85 per cent
coverage of the total area, regularise the additional construction rooms
in the backyard, regularise additional bathrooms, regularise the stairs
of ground and first floors and convert leasehold property into freehold.
...
...Former MP Satya Pal Jain in his address noted that when the city
was designed by French architect Le Corbusier, the blueprint was
designed with a western way of seeing things, but over a period of time,
with the increase in population, the needs of the city residents have
also multiplied fast. Regularisation of need-based alterations and
additions is thus the need of the hour, he said. ...
SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
Jain speaks up for UT employees
Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, September 8: A former member of Parliament and a member of
the National Executive of the BJP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, today urged
the Centre to restore the service conditions of UT employees as
applicable on November 1, 1966 — when the Union Territory of Chandigarh
was created.
In a letter to the Union Home
Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and the Union Minister of State for Personnel
Department, Mr Haren Pathak, Mr Jain said the demand of the employees be
accepted at the earliest.
He said when the union territory was
created, the Centre had framed “the condition of service of Union
Territory of Chandigarh Employees Rules, 1966,” which provided that the
pay and allowances to the UT employees would be applicable as per the
employees of State of Punjab.
With the framing of an-other rule
called the “condition of services of Union Territory of Chandigarh
Rules, 1972”, a strange situation had arisen, creating confusion. Mr
Jain said on demand of the UT employees in 1997, the Chandigarh
Administration had recommended to the Centre that the situation
prevalent in 1966 was much better. He cited letters written by various
officers of the administration to the Central Government on the issue.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2003
DENTAL COLLEGE
Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, September 5: A former Member of Parliament, Mr Satya Pal
Jain, has taken up the issues of the dental college in Chandigarh
and the opening up of more dispensaries in the city and neighbouring
areas with the Union Health Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj. He discussed
the issue with the minister at a meeting in Delhi on Wednesday
SEPTEMBER 5, 2003
Jain asks Sushma for dental college in city
Chandigarh Newsline
Chandigarh, September 4: Former BJP MP Satya Pal Jain held a
meeting with the Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj at New Delhi and
talked of setting up a Dental College in Chandigarh and opening of more
dispensaries under the CGHS in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. He also
demanded restoration of CGHS facilities to P&T retired employees and
withdrawal of pending cases against PGI employees and acceptance of
various long pending demands. Jain urged Swaraj to take a final decision
so that the dental college can start functioning from next academic
session.
AUGUST 12, 2003
Advani signs note on MC Act amendment
Chandigarh Tribune-
Chandigarh, India
Chandigarh, August 11: The Municipal Corporation Employees Union today
informed that a cabinet note on the proposed amendment to the Punjab
Municipal Act had been signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and a query
had been marked to the Department of Personnel and Training.
Mr Suresh Kumar Gill, general secretary of the union, said the
information was given to a delegation of the employee union by the Joint
Secretary, Home Department, Mr P.K. Jalali. The delegation was led by a
former member of Parliament, Mr Satya Pal Jain.
The delegation was assured that bonus for last five years would also be
recommended to the Finance Ministry. ...
JUNE 12, 2003
Alterations not encroachments: BJP
Chandigarh
Tribune- Chandigarh, India
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 11: The BJP does not consider internal need-based
changes made by thousands of residents in their houses as encroachments
and is in favour of a liberal approach of regularising these changes,
said a former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, while addressing a press
conference here today.
He urged officials of the Chandigarh
Housing Board to withdraw notices issued to thousands of residents
during the past few days. The BJP will oppose any move to demolish such
structures build within houses in Chandigarh, including those flats sold
by the Chandigarh Housing Board. ...
... Mr Jain said the Administration
itself had announced through various newspapers that a survey to find
out eligible persons, under the December 1996 Scheme would be carried
out in the area on June 10 and 11.Instead of a survey, the officials
started demolition without any notice.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Mr Jain
said it should be enough indication as to who were actually opposing the
demolition move and who were just showing sympathy towards affected
people by organising protest rallies. ...
JUNE 11, 2003
Slum-dwellers attack Admn team
28 cops among 40 injured; former
MP Jain detained, let off
Chandigarh
Tribune- Chandigarh, India
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 10: More than 40 persons were injured, 10 of them
seriously, when a mob of about 1,500 slum-dwellers — agitated over the
recent anti-encroachment drive — attacked a team of the Chandigarh
Administration, which was removing debris (malba), by pelting them with
stones and bricks.In retaliation, the police fired gunshots in the air,
besides resorting to lathicharge and busting teargas shells to disperse
the mob at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh colony, south of Sector 49, here
this afternoon. ...
... A former local MP, Mr Satya
Pal Jain, who was present at the site, was detained and taken away
to the Sector 34 police station as a preventive measure. He was later
let off. About 60 persons were rounded up, but were let off. ...
JULY 9, 2003
Demolition drive should be stayed till final
report: MP
Daily
Excelsior
CHANDIGARH, July 8: BJP national executive member
Satya Pal Jain today demanded that the demolition drive being
carried out by the Chandigarh administration in the city be stayed till
the Committee constituted by it submits its final report.
Addressing a news conference here, Mr Jain said to review the
situation vis-a-vis the demolition drive being carried out by the
administration, Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami would come to
Chandigarh tomorrow. Mr Swami would also meet Chandigarh Administrator
Justice (Retd) O P Verma in this regard, he informed.
Mr Swami would also meet the affected persons and would listen to
their plight, he added.
Mr Jain said Mr Swami would leave for Delhi tomorrow evening itself
and submit his report to Union Home Minister Lal Krishan Advani.
" Many people have made need-based changes in their houses, but
these cannot be called encroachments as they have been made on their
premises itself and they should be regularised. No action on the notices
issued to these people should be taken and these notices should be kept
under suspended animation till the committee submits its final report,"
he added.
He said some religious institutions were also razed to the ground
in this drive without keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the
people. A policy should be made regarding the religious places and those
which were not allotted should be regularised. Water and electricity
supply should also be made to all the religious places, he added. ...
JUNE 10, 2003
June 11 rally is a political stunt, alleges MP
Jain
Chandigarh
Newsline
Chandigarh, June 09: TERMING the Congress rally to be held on June 11
against demolition drives as a ‘political stunt in wake of forthcoming
Lok Sabha election’, the local MP Satya Pal Jain today sought
resignation of both local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal and the city Mayor
Subhash Chawla.
Talking of violations, Jain outlined two types: the need-based
additions and alterations within buildings and second as encroachment on
government land. Our party is against fresh encroachment on government
land, Jain clarified.
MP Jain requested the UT Administration to keep its promise as made
in July, 2001. ...
MAY 16, 2003
Electrocution: BJP to file for compensation
Chandigarh
Tribune
Chandigarh, May 15: The Legal Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party will
file a case for a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Mohinder
Singh and his daughter, who were electrocuted yesterday in Badheri
village. This was announced here today by the national chairman of the
Legal Cell of the BJP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, after visiting the
family.
Mr Jain also demanded a strict action
against officials whose negligence had caused the deaths. He said the
Legal Cell would file a case in the High Court for the compensation and
fixing responsibility for the incident.
Mr Jain was accompanied by the
District No 2 president, Mr Kanhaya Lal, and general secretary, Mr
Jagdish Rohilla, to the cremation of Mohinder Singh and his daughter.
MAY 10,
2003
Property tax: BJP wants mayor, MP to resign
Chandigarh Newsline
Chandigarh, May 9: THE local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
today sought the resignation of city Mayor Subhash Chawla and local MP
Pawan Kumar Bansal for imposition of 5 per cent property tax.
Addressing mediapersons here, former MP Satya Pal Jain and
city BJP chief Yash Pal Mahajan accused both Chawla and Bansal of
betraying the people by not keeping their election promises. During the
election, the Congress had promised tax-free Corporation, they said,
adding that if this promise was not fulfilled, they would have to pay
the price during the Lok Sabha elections. This, they said, was the
fourth tax during the 16 months of Congress rule.
There was paid parking, hike in water tariff and rent of community
centre and now, 5 per cent tax on commercial, industrial and
institutional buildings, the leaders said. ...
... Seeking police protection of the widow of executive engineer
V.K. Chopra, who was murdered in Mohali earlier, Jain said that she was
being threatened. Suspecting that a chargesheet will not be filed
against the accused in time, Jain said she had also written a letter to
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani. ...
APRIL 28,
2003
Dental college sought
Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, April 27: Member of the
BJP national executive and former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, has
urged the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, to
grant a dental college for the city and increase the number of MBBS
seats from 50 to 100.
Mr Jain, in a letter to the Union
Minister, reminded Ms Swaraj that she had responded positively to the
demand of a dental college during her maiden visit to the city as Health
Minister recently.
The former MP said many institutions,
including Panjab University, were keen on the establishment of a dental
college. The Chandigarh Administration was also inclined on setting up a
dental college in the city.
Mr Jain said infrastructure for the
college was available and if the administration had any apprehension,
the matter could be taken up by the Union Government with the Chandigarh
Administration.
APRIL 23
,
2003
Jain talks to Advani on Municipal Act
Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, April 21: Former MP Satya Pal Jain and member of the
National Executive of the BJP met Deputy Prime Minister and Union
Minister of Home Affairs L.K. Advani at his residence in New Delhi, last
evening, and urged him to expedite the process of amendment of Punjab
Municipal Act - 1976, as applicable to UT Chandigarh. He also submitted
a memorandum signed by various leaders of the coordination committee of
UT and MC employees unions to Mr. Advani in support of the demand for
amendment in the Act.
Mr Jain claimed that amendment in the
Act would help at least 5,000 employees, who were transferred from the
UT Administration to the MC, treated on deputation.
He reminded Mr Advani of his written
assurance given on the floor of the House in the Lok Sabha in December,
1998, that "those employees of the Chandigarh Administration who had
been transferred to MC shall be deemed to be on 'deemed deputation' with
the MC". ...
... He urged Mr Advani to personally
intervene in the matter so that this proposal should be brought before
the floor of the House for suitable amendment to save the future of
thousands of employees. Mr Jain claimed that the Deputy PM had assured
him of justice to the employees.
FEBRUARY 16
,
2003
Amarinder Singh summoned in defamation case
The Tribune
Shimla, February 15: Mr A. S. Jaswal, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shimla,
today issued summons to the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh,
Mr Moti Lal Vora, senior Congress leader, and Mr Anand Sharma,
spokesperson of the All-India Congress Committee, in the two separate
defamation suits filed by Mr P. K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, in connection
with the charges of corruption levelled against him by them. ...
... Mr Sat Pal Jain, who
appeared in the court for Mr Dhumal, said notices were sent to the
leaders to either prove the charges or tender an apology within 48
hours, but they failed to respond.
JANUARY 1
,
2003
Jain heads party's election cell
The Tribune
Chandigarh, December 31: Former local BJP MP Satya Pal Jain, a
national executive member and in charge of the party in Uttaranchal, was
today appointed in charge of the Election and Legal Cell of the party at
the national level.
With this responsibility, Mr Jain will be in the company of Mr
Rajnath Singh, who has been made Prabhari of Panchayati Raj Cell, Ms
Anita Arya, who will head the Slum Cell, Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who
will head the Grievances and Media Cell, Mr Arun Jaitley, who will head
the Intellectual, Economic and External Affairs Cell, Mr Pyarelal
Khandelwal, who will head the Cooperatives Cell, Dr Harshwardhan, who
will head Doctor’s Cell, and Mr Bal Apte who will head the Party Workers
Training Cell. ...
... Mr Jain is fighting cases of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister
Prem Kumar Dhumal, Union Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar, Union
Minister Vinod Khanna, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani, Human
Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union
Minister Uma Bharati, MPs and MLAs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh and Karnataka. He recently pleaded the case of the party before
the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker during the recent crisis in the
party. ...
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