Chandigarh (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered a crackdown on all sex determination centres alleged to be running in the state.
Reacting swiftly on Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s appeal to deal firmly with illegal sex determination centres, Amarinder directed the state Health Department to take immediate and stern action against all such activity, according to an official spokesperson.
The Chief Minister has made it clear to the department officials that any laxity in this matter would be treated as complicity, and has warned that strict action would be taken against those found guilty of negligence in acting against such centres.
Amarinder has also directed the police to extend full cooperation to the Health Department in conducting surprise raids to identify health centres flouting the law to undertake sex determination tests, which usually lead to abortion of the female foetus, resulting in a skewed sex ratio.
Recalling that he had come down heavily on all such centres during his previous tenure as chief minister, Amarinder said his government would once again go all out to save the girl child by cracking the whip on all illegal sex scan centres.
Doctors, nurses, ancillary medical staff and others found involved in the conduct of illegal tests of this kind will be booked immediately, followed by exemplary punishment under the law, he warned.
The Chief Minister has also taken cognisance of the media report stating that the Haryana government’s health department had conducted nearly two dozen raids across Punjab’s districts to identify several illegal scan centres over the past two years.
Terming this as a serious matter, the Chief Minister said the total lawlessness prevailing under the erstwhile SAD-BJP rule had led to this situation, which his government was now working hard to amend.
Amarinder said his government was fully committed to protecting and securing the girl child and centres found conducting such illegal prenatal tests would be dealt with strictly.
‘He could have fled to Canada or he could have traveled through Canada back to India’
A 26-year-old wanted for the 2015 murder of his wife in Maryland is the newest addition to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, and a reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading to his capture.
Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, a native of India, had been traveling in the U.S. with his 21-year-old wife. At the time of the murder, both were working the night shift at a donut shop in Hanover, Maryland, owned by a relative of Patel’s.
Just before midnight on April 12, 2015, while customers were in the front of the shop, Patel stabbed his wife, Palak Patel, multiple times in the back of the shop and left by a rear door.
Investigators theorize that Palak Patel wanted to return to India—their visas had expired the month before—and her husband was against the idea. “The best guess is that he didn’t want her to leave,” said Special Agent Jonathan Shaffer, who is investigating the case from the FBI’s Baltimore Division. “It’s possible that he thought he would be disgraced by her leaving and going back to India.”
Although the motive remains unclear, and there is no way to know if Patel planned the murder, Shaffer noted that “after the crime, his actions show a very cool and calculated mentality about escaping the scene and fleeing the area.”
After leaving the donut shop, Patel walked across the street to the apartment he shared with his wife, retrieved a few items and some cash, and then hailed a taxi. The cab driver took him to a hotel in New Jersey near Newark Liberty International Airport. “He checked in about 3 a.m. with no bags, just the clothes on his back,” Shaffer said. “He checked out around 10 a.m., and took a hotel shuttle to Newark Penn Station. That’s the last anyone has seen of him.”
After the murder, a customer who entered the shop realized something was wrong when no one came to take his order. He alerted a nearby Anne Arundel County Police Department officer, who discovered Palak Patel’s body. “It was horrific what had been done to this young woman,” Shaffer said.
Realizing that Patel was an international flight risk, local police requested FBI assistance, and several days after the murder, a federal arrest warrant was issued charging Patel with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He has also been charged with his wife’s murder.
“Domestic violence homicides tend to be brutal, and this one certainly was,” said Anne Arundel County Police Department Det. Kelly Harding, who has handled many domestic violence cases during her nearly 20 years in law enforcement. “We almost always are able to find the suspects in these cases, and they are usually full of remorse, asking ‘What have I done?’ They are not taking a taxi cab and crossing state lines to escape.”
Investigators believe that Patel could be with distant relatives in the U.S. or that he could have fled to Canada. “Or he could have traveled through Canada back to India,” Shaffer said. “Those are among the plausible options we are exploring.”
Shaffer believes the $100,000 reward will help in the capture of Patel. “Somebody out there who either sees the publicity or knows something already but has been reluctant to come forward will be encouraged by that amount of money,” he said. “Whether they do it for the right reasons or just for the money doesn’t really matter. Patel needs to be apprehended.”
If you have information regarding Patel—who should be considered armed and dangerous—contact your local FBI office or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip on the FBI website.
Ottawa (AP) Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, will visit Canada this summer for the country’s 150th birthday.
Governor General David Johnston said on Tuesday they have accepted the government’s invitation for a tour.
The royal duo will be in Canada from June 29 to July 1.
They will travel in Ontario, Nunavut and the Ottawa area, where celebrations are planned to mark Canada’s 150th birthday on July 1.
It will be the 18th visit to Canada for the Prince of Wales, and the fourth visit for the Duchess of Cornwall.
They were last in Canada in May 2014, when they visited Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
Their detailed itinerary will be published at a later date by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
SATBIR Singh Cheema will be Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society’s (PICS) new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Charan Gill. Cheema ia currently the Director of Employment Programs and Planning at PICS.
PICS founder Gill is stepping down after 30 years of service to the organization.
Gill said, “I am extremely pleased to hand over the baton to someone with whom I have worked closely for many years. I am rest assured that PICS will be in safe and able hands.”
He also said that Cheema’s familiarity with the culture and working environment of PICS and the community it has been serving was most definitely an added asset.
Cheema has worked for PICS for the last 19 years. Under Cheema, PICS Employment Programs rose to new heights with the addition of a number of new programs including the successful Mega Job Fair, touted as the largest career fair in all of Metro Vancouver.
Cheema said: “The road ahead is indeed exciting but I need the support of all community members.”
AT a construction site in Surrey on Tuesday, Surrey-Panorama candidate Puneet Sandhar and Richmond-Queensborough candidate Jas Johal announced that the Liberals will help people build new secondary suites in their homes by expanding the Home Renovation Tax Credit.
“This new tax credit will make it easier to build secondary suites, opening up new places for renters, and bringing families new income to help with their mortgage payments,” said Sandhar. “This is the type of innovative thinking that helps both owners and renters.”
Currently, the Home Renovation Tax Credit assists eligible individuals aged 65 and over and persons with disabilities with the cost of home renovations to improve accessibility.
The Liberals made the commitment to expand the tax credit in their 2017 platform, which builds on a number of other changes to help British Columbians afford to own or rent a home:
* Largest ever single-year investment of $920 million to create close to 5,300 new units of affordable rental housing;
* Raising the threshold of the First Time Home Buyers’ Program exemption, saving first-time home buyers up to $8,000;
* Investing $700 million in the BC HOME Partnership program to help with mortgage down payment assistance loans to over 42,000 first-time home buyers over the next three years.
“Only Today’s BC Liberals have a plan that will help British Columbians afford to rent or buy,” said Johal. “John Horgan continues to say one thing and do another, changing his plans for housing at least three times since he launched their platform.”
NDP Leader John Horgan announced on Tuesday that he will create a new Community Partnership Fund to upgrade and build community infrastructure projects that people need.
“I’m going to get to work building a better BC,” said Horgan in North Delta. “We will be an active and willing partner with the federal government and municipalities to upgrade and build community spaces like sports facilities, playgrounds, arts and culture spaces, community seniors’ centres and mental health and addictions centres.”
An NDP government will establish a Community Partnership Fund with an initial investment of $30 million over three years. The investment in communities is part of Horgan’s $10 billion capital infrastructure plan that will create 96,000 jobs over five years.
Horgan announced the fund in North Delta after meeting with local sports enthusiasts concerned about an area running track. The track is in desperate need of repair, and is an example of the kind of project that could be upgraded through the fund.
“The Community Partnership Fund will make sure communities across BC have a chance to take advantage of our plan to get people working by building projects and improving our communities,” said Horgan.
The BC NDP’s Community Partnership Fund would:
Partner with municipal and federal governments to upgrade and build community infrastructure projects like sports facilities, playgrounds, arts and culture spaces, community seniors’ centres and mental health and addictions centres.
Provide a one-third share of funding for large municipalities, and up to a 70 per cent share for smaller communities, to ensure people across BC benefit from the fund.
Provide small communities with human resources in the Ministry of Local Government to help simplify the application process and help connect with the federal government to leverage funds.
Passports seized by the CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section in the course of the investigation.
THE Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Criminal Investigations Section and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Tuesday announced that three individuals involved in an unlicensed immigration consulting business received hefty sentences and fines.
Jin “Fanny” Ma, Ming Kun “Makkie” Wu and Wen “Vivian” Jiang were sentenced under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Income Tax Act and the Criminal Code for their part in large-scale immigration fraud. Each had previously pleaded guilty to several charges, including representing on immigration matters without authority, passport offences, misrepresentation, forgery and tax evasion.
One of Xun Wang’s employees highlighted imperfections in the falsified stamps.
Each of the accused was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration in a British Columbia provincial jail. Ma received a fine of $96,000; Wu $50,000; and Jiang $74,000.
These sentences are the result of a lengthy investigation into the activities of New Can Consultants Ltd. and Wellong International Investments Ltd., two unlicensed immigration consulting businesses offering services in Metro Vancouver.
This is the single largest investigation of immigration fraud in British Columbia’s history. From 2006 to 2013, over 1,600 of New Can’s clients collectively paid approximately $10 million for fraudulent services — this included creating the fictitious appearance of Canadian residency to maintain permanent resident status and obtain Canadian citizenship.
Inside of a passport seized by the CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section showing alterations.
The CBSA’s Inland Enforcement Section has reviewed the list of clients, and is actively pursuing investigations on any person found to have misrepresented themselves through fraud or deceit in order to obtain or maintain their permanent resident status in Canada.
“Fraud impacts the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and will not be tolerated. The sentencing today is a result of the CBSA’s commitment to prosecuting individuals that willingly break the law,” said Harald M. Wuigk, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations Section, CBSA.
“The CRA works closely with other law enforcement agencies and departments, including the CBSA, to help maintain the integrity of the tax system. Tax evasion costs all of us. This sentence is a reflection of the valuable work done by our staff to make sure all Canadians pay the taxes they owe,” said Elvis Dutra, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations, CRA.
Presented by TD, this year’s free family friendly festival includes performances by headliner Shawn Hook, Virginia to Vegas, Willa, Kutapira, Ben Dunnill, Will Stroet and more. In addition to over 80 activity booths, food trucks, a rock climbing wall and four concert stages, attendees can visit the new Canada 150 Zone and Environmental Extravaganza activation.
The cash and carry tree and plant sale, featuring a variety of fruit, deciduous, flowering and evergreen trees for $20 and plants for $2 and $4, opens at 9 a.m. The main festival is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Attendance is expected to reach over 20,000. Visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transportation.
NATIONAL Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan met with India’s Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley, on Tuesday during Sajjan’s first trip to India as minister. The meeting was an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations between Canada and India.
To enhance the broader defence relationship, Canada and India will identify additional avenues of cooperation in knowledge exchanges, defence procurement, and joint exercises in areas such as cold climate warfare, maritime cooperation, and peacekeeping.
Sajjan also used the opportunity to reaffirm, on behalf of Canada, Canada’s expertise in the defence and security industry, and the long standing relationship based on the shared traditions of democracy and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
Sajjan lays a wreath at India Gate, a memorial to 82,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21.
Sajjan and Jaitley discussed the complexity of geopolitical dynamics and the challenges this brings to the stability of the international system. For example, they discussed the security environment as increasingly threatened by issues that require international cooperation, such as terrorism.
Sajjan said: “Canada is committed to working together with India to strengthen our ability to protect our shared security, as well as uphold and promote democratic values. Our growing defence relationship is a fundamental component of our efforts to reinforce global security. Our two countries already share a promising science and technology relationship based on innovation, and we will continue to explore ways to expand these opportunities in the field of defence research for the mutual benefit of our respective countries.”
PTI reports add:
Sajjan at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Delhi.
SAJJAN arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a seven-day visit. He will also travel to Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mumbai.
Jaitley strongly expressed India’s “anguish” over the Ontario legislative assembly passing a motion recently describing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as “genocide” during his talks with Sajjan.
He condemned the passage of the motion saying it triggered outrage in India and it was a total exaggeration of facts.
It was conveyed to Sajjan that there has been considerable anguish and disquiet in India over calling the riots as “genocide”, sources said.
Later talking to reporters, Sajjan said it was a resolution by a private member and Canadian government and people do not at all subscribe to such a view.
According to reports, the motion was passed with 34 MPPs voting in favour and just five against. The 1984 riots broke out in the wake of assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
Addressing a press conference, Sajjan termed the talks “fruitful” and said both sides resolved to deepen overall defence and security ties.
SAJJAN said he would not like to get involved in the “internal politics” of any nation, days after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh termed him a “Khalistani sympathiser”.
At a public event in New Delhi, Sajjan said he has been given “many labels” in his life and that one should be judged by his actions.
“What you are is determined by what you do. You look at my actions. I don’t want to get sucked into the internal politics of any one province or any one nation. I do not promote the breakup of any country.
“My goal is to build relationships as representative of the Canadian government and that is what I am here to do and I am also very proud of the fact that I was born here,” he said.
Ahead of Sajjan’s visit, the Punjab CM had said he would not meet him alleging that the Canadian minister is a “Khalistani sympathiser”.
Canada has termed the allegation as “disappointing and inaccurate”.
Addressing a seminar on ‘Conflict Prevention and Peacekeeping in a Changing World’, Sajjan stressed that the military by itself cannot resolve conflicts.
Social factors have to be looked in for effective peacekeeping, he said.
Responding to a query on ISIS, he said grievances within the Sunni population in Iraq and Syria led to the rise of the terror group, and for it to be eliminated the “root causes”, including that of recruitment into its ranks, must be addressed.
“We in Canada cannot be an island of stability in an unstable world, while civilians are getting killed,” he said.
Sajjan also pitched for bilateral cooperation in the defence sector and the need for a cooperative approach by working with “our allies who share common values in the Asia Pacific”.
The event was organised by the Observer Research Foundation based here.
THERE was confusion on Monday over whether a guard of honour would be given to Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan on Tuesday.
As per official program, he was to be accorded a tri-service guard of honour outside South Block lawns in Raisina Hills.
However, the defence ministry, on Monday evening, issued a revised media invite, saying the guard of honour to the Canadian Minister stands cancelled.
But later, it clarified that the guard of honour will take place as scheduled and there was miscommunication on the issue.
When contacted, the Canadian High Commission refused to comment.
Earlier in the day, official invitation was sent to visual media for coverage of the event.
EVEN though Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has dubbed Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan as “pro-Khalistani” and refused to meet him during his India visit, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to honour the visiting dignitary.
“As per traditions, the SGPC will honour Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan when he comes to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 20,” Kirpal Singh Badungar, the head of SGPC, said on Monday.
“He (Sajjan) is a high dignitary of a sovereign country and India enjoys good relations with Canada,” he added.
It will be a proud moment for all the Sikhs in Punjab and across the globe when the SGPC will honour the Canadian minister at the Golden Temple, said Badungar.
Sajjan, a Sikh himself, has rendered commendable services to the community in Canada and he deserved to be honoured as per SGPC traditions, he added.
The SGPC has been officially informed about Sajjan’s visit and the Canadian Defence Minister will be presented with a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour), shawl, sword, a model of the Golden Temple and religious books in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, said Badungar.
Reacting to Amarinder’s statement describing Sajjan as “pro-Khalistani”, the SGPC chief said, “It’s a political view.”
SGPC is a religious body and it will stick to its tradition of honouring dignitaries who visit the Golden Temple, he added.
Meanwhile, radical outfit Damdami Taksal has also decided to honour the Canadian minister during his visit.
Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma will be present at the Golden Temple to welcome Sajjan on behalf of the Taksal and Sant Samaj.
SITE C is the largest infrastructure project in B.C., and the largest clean energy project under construction in North America – but it’s much more than that, said Premier Christy Clark in Fort St. John on Tuesday.
“Site C means thousands of jobs and 100 years of clean, affordable, and reliable power – enough for 450,000 B.C. homes,” said Clark. “It means being ready to meet increasing demand as Canada’s leading economy continues to grow.”
As B.C. continues to build Canada’s leading economy, in the next 20 years our population is expected to grow by 1 million, and our need for power to grow by 40 per cent. Site C is the only way to reliably meet that need with clean power, she noted.
According to the Liberals, the Site C dam project means:
Jobs:
o Thousands of jobs, from construction and operations in the Northeast to goods and services contracts throughout the province.
o Over 275 B.C. businesses have participated in Site C construction
o More than $30 million in goods and services have been purchased from Peace River Regional District
Clean, affordable power:
o Enough to power 450,000 B.C. homes;
Economic benefits:
o $3.2 billion to our province’s economy;
o $40 million in regional government tax revenue;
o $2.4 million per year to the Peace River Regional District;
o $35 million in annual water rental payments to the province – equivalent to the cost of building a new middle school.
More money for communities to invest in services:
o BC Hydro has signed community benefit agreements with Hudson’s Hope, Taylor, Fort St. John and Chetwynd;
o Impact benefit agreements with the McLeod Lake Indian Band, Dene Tha’ First Nation and the Saulteau First Nation.
In January 2017 alone, Site C meant jobs for 195 Aboriginal people working for construction and non-construction contractors, 677 workers from the Peace River area, and 42 apprentices. The BC NDP and BC Greens would hand pink slips to each and every one of them, hike taxes, kill thousands of jobs, and push B.C. families to the brink, the Liberals said.
