Briefly region

Row erupts over RPO's transfer

Jalandhar:The transfer of Regional Passport Officer (RPO) Parneet Singh, posted at the Jalandhar office, has kicked up a row with an organisation, Shiromani Rangherta Dal, Punjab, writing to the MEA against his successor. The organisation claims that the newly appointed Deputy Passport officer, Harmanbir Singh Gill, a Punjab Police officer, has a tainted record and faces serious allegations. It has also noted that the transferred officer, Parneet, had improved the functioning of the passport office and had even featured in the popular show, Satyamev Jayate, for taking action against NRI grooms, who had deserted their wives.

Punjab govt to hike DA by 12%

Chandigarh:The Punjab government on Monday announced to hike Dearness Allowance (DA) by 12 per cent for the state government employees and pensioners, who were getting their pay on the basis of unrevised scales. Parminder Singh Dhindsa said the rate of DA had been enhanced from 139 to 151 per cent of the unrevised basic pay with effect from July 1. He added that the whole amount on account of enhanced DA due for the period from July 1 to August 31 would be credited to the general provident fund (GPF) account of employees. He also said that the amount would be deemed as an additional amount in the GPF accounts.

Ex-MP Sangwan passes away

Chandigarh:Former Sonepat MP Kishan Singh Sangwan (64) pased away on Monday. Sangwan, who was first elected to the Haryana Assembly from Gohana on the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ticket, underwent a bypass surgery on November 25. He developed certain complications on Sunday night. He represented the BJP twice and INLD once in the Lok Sabha from the Sonepat seat.

Dal Khalsa accuses media of bias

Amritsar:Dal Khalsa expressed displeasure over why the Indian media had not taken Gujarat CM Narendar Modi to task for refusing to allot tickets to Muslims. "Modi's big no to Muslims has gone unattended and unnoticed," said party's political secretary Kanwar Pal Singh. "There has been no strong reaction (barring a few reports) from the media houses. The media is biased towards the minorities," Singh alleged. He added there was "consistent and sharp campaign in selective media during the run-up to the Punjab assembly elections in February to ensure that Badals allotted tickets to non-Sikhs," he said.

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