Yashwant Sinha assures all help to J&K
Srinagar, September 2
Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha here today said South Asia was facing with the challenge of poverty and stressed the need to fight it in a constructive manner.

Pak rakes up J& K issue at UN conference
Durban, September 2
In a sharp attack on India, Pakistan today raked up the Kashmir issue at the UN Conference Against Racism here, accusing New Delhi of “brutal repression” that it said had led to killing of the 75,000 people.

List BPL families in three months, states told
New Delhi, September 2
The Centre today issued a “stringent” order asking states to identify all families below poverty line within three months and plug loopholes in the public distribution system.

Tainted cops to return medals
Jalandhar, September 2
Punjab police officials who are facing the charges of human rights violation today decided that they would return the gallantry medals on October 21 even as they proposed to move the Supreme Court against their former superiors.

Panthic Morcha divided over unity offer
Chhapar (Ludhiana), September 2
The newly floated Panthic Morcha, a conglomeration of splinter Akali Dal groups, today seemed divided on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s offer for unity. 

The Panthic Morcha convener, Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, Bhai Ranjit Singh and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann (centre) at a rally at Chhapar on Sunday.  — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Refinery will be completed, assures Badal
Chhapar, Ludhiana, September 2
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said there was no proposal to close down the Bathinda oil refinery. Talking to reporters here today, he said he had got the issue clarified with the Centre and work on the refinery would not be abandoned.

30,000 villagers face starvation Samba, September 2 Panic is writ large on the faces of people at Regaal village and its adjoining villages in this sector following step-up in Pakistani firing on the border villages along the 187-km international border from Akhnoor to Kathia. “Our children crawl to schools to avoid getting hit by bullets,” said Tholu Ram of Regaal village.