PAC backs Badal on unity offer
Chandigarh, September 3
The Political Affairs Committee, the apex policy-framing body of the Shiromani Akali Dal, today endorsed the unconditional unity offer extended by the party chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to a former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and leaders of the other splinter Akali groups active under the banner of the Panthic Morcha.

• Punjab page: Akalis may approach Vedanti for unity

Farmers submit memo to PM
New Delhi, September 3
Punjab farmers today expressed their opposition to the Centre’s move to decentralise the foodgrain procurement by involving state governments.

• Punjab page: Shanta promises smooth paddy procurement

Irate mob burns nine buses
Violence at Poonia’s ‘rasam pagri’
Hisar, September 3
An angry mob, seeking a CBI probe into the murder of former legislator Relu Ram Poonia and his seven family members, burnt nine buses and a government Jeep at Litani village, near here, this evening.

High Court refuses bail to Manu Sharma
New Delhi, September 3
The Delhi High Court today rejected the bail application of Siddharth Vashisht, alias Manu Sharma, the prime accused in the Jessica Lal murder case.

Petition on Sehajdharis admitted
Chandigarh, September 3
Admitting a petition seeking directions to the state of Punjab and other respondents against enrolling Sehajdhari Sikhs as voters for the purpose of electing members to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice for September 19.

Brig Yadav heads Military Affairs
New Delhi, September 3
Close on the heels of the controversial appointment of a prominent NRI as Adviser in the Indian Embassy in Washington, the External Affairs Ministry has brought in a serving Army officer and a senior scientist to augment its division dealing with Disarmament and International Security Affairs.