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Young replace old in BJP
Rinwa retained as President
Chandigarh, November 2
The BJP high command today inducted young blood into the Punjab unit of the party to prepare it for a long struggle on various issues against the Amarinder Government. Those who have been dropped from the main organisational posts have been adjusted elsewhere like in party cells.

PPCC chief favours Cabinet expansion
Amritsar, November 2
Mr H.S. Hanspal, president, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, today favoured the expansion of the Punjab Cabinet as there were senior MLAs who deserved to be adjusted in the ministry.

DIET employees denied pay
State government diverts Central fund
Bathinda, November 2
For the nearly 7,000 employees of the teaching and non-teaching faculty of the state Education Department, this Divali, the festival of lights, is likely to remain ‘dark’. The hopes of employees, working under “Operation Blackboard” and in the District Institute of Education and Training, were dashed to the ground with the Punjab Government failing to pay them their salaries.

SGPC poll: Mann favours consensus
Jalandhar, November 2
The Akali Dal (Amritsar) yesterday favoured consensus over the candidature for the post of SGPC chief in the coming poll. The party chief, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, said here that though efforts being made by expelled SAD leader Mal Singh Ghumman and others were good, still there was scope for doubts that consensus could be achieved for Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Ravi Inder Singh might have their own hidden agenda.

• SGPC panel’s decision backed

• SGPC poll: forum opposes observers

REGIONAL BRIEFS

The Golden Temple is currently undergoing a massive renovation.
In video (28k, 56k)

YOUR TOWN

Amritsar Bathinda Chandigarh Ferozepore Gurdaspur Hoshiarpur Jalandhar Moga Patiala

	Centre’s nod to Sikh jathas for Pak sought November 2, 2002
	SGPC poll: Home Ministry keeping watch November 1, 2002
	Farmers allow trains to move October 31, 2002
	BSNL unearths free call racket October 30, 2002
	Badungar files plea in PHRC October 29, 2002
	PPSC gearing up to retest ‘tainted’ men  October 28, 2002
	SHSAD not to field candidates October 27, 2002
	SGPC poll: Centre keeping tabs on situation October 26, 2002
	18 pistols seized near Indo-Pak border October 25, 2002
	Give relief from calamity fund, Centre directs Punjab October 24, 2002

COMMUNITY

Foundation day function of PPS Nabha Nabha, November 2 The local Punjab Public School today held a function to mark its 42nd foundation day. Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, was the chief guest. The function started with the school anthem followed by a performance by the school orchestra. Principal of the school highlighted achievements of the students. The Chief Minister gave away prizes to students for their outstanding performance in various fields.

The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, honours Major-Gen O.P. Nandrajog at the 42nd Foundation Day celebrations of Punjab Public School, Nabha, on Saturday. — Tribune photo

Private buses to go off road on Nov 8
Patiala, November 2
Operators running private buses under the kilometre scheme of the Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation today announced that they would strike work on November 8 in protest against the “discriminatory” attitude of the PRTC management in calling for fresh tenders for running buses under the scheme.

Medical waste disposal: IMA to enforce norms
Phagwara, November 2
The Indian Medical Association, Punjab, having 3500 members and 56 branches in the state, has decided to implement the Bio-Medical Waste Management rules in private hospitals and nursing homes from November 15. Dr R.C. Garg, President, IMA Punjab addressing newsmen and a meeting of local branch of the IMA stated this.

Even as the authorities concerned have imposed a ban on sale and bursting of crackers, a child is amazed while looking at some big crackers, which his parents and neighbours would burst freely at Bathinda on Saturday. — Photo Kulbir Beera

Minister’s supporters ‘attack’ ashram
Hoshiarpur, November 2
Mr Baldev Dutt Kalia, working president, Sadhu Sewa Munshi Ram Sood Board Trust, alleged at a press conference here today that supporters of Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra, Health and Family Welfare Minister were interfering in trust affairs.

Stray cattle cause fatal mishaps
Bathinda, November 2
While the city has been gaining popularity in business circles and has seen a spurt in planned development, stray animals like cows and bulls roam the streets, proving to be a public nuisance and a traffic hazard.

Organ trade: Dang flays minister
Amritsar, November 2
Veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang criticising Minister for Medical Education and Research Ramesh Chander Dogra, said by ruling out the involvement of any doctor or the Chairman of the authorisation committee in the organ trade, the minister was supporting the guilty.

How not to play with fire
Bathinda, November 2
Mr Baldev Singh, District Fire Officer, today urged city residents to take precautions while setting off crackers and lighting candles. He said that children should not be allowed to set off fire crackers without adults around.

Riot victims want dues waived
Tarn Taran, November 2
The November 84 Riots Victims Society, Goindwal Sahib in a letter to Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of the country has requested to waive the dues from the entrepreneurs whose units had been declared sick at Goindwal Sahib.

CRIME

Five hurt in mishaps
Bathinda, November 2
Mangat Ram (60), destitute and an addict, died here today due to illness. He was cremated by the volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva, after a postmortem examination was got done by the district police at the local Civil Hospital.

2 held in fake degree racket
Gurdaspur, November 2
The police has busted a gang that used to sell fake degrees and certificates. In a press note issued here today, Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said Nitish Mahajan and Arvind Saroop of Pathankot had been arrested for selling fake degrees of LLB, ITI, plus tow, and matric and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe certificates.

LIC officer held for fraud
Moga, November 2
The Faridkot police has arrested Kuldeep Singh Matharoo, development officer with the Life Insurance Corporation of India, on the charge of committing fraud with the corporation, whereas his co-accused LIC agent Vijay Kumar Malhotra was still at large, police sources said today.

• 6 BKU leaders booked

EDUCATION

Jobless teachers cautioned
Bathinda, November 2
Mr Sukhdarshan Singh, president, Berozgar Adhyapak Front, Bathinda district unit, in a statement here today said that a few unemployed teachers of this and Mansa district had been getting letters asking them to pay Rs 500 each for filing a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the alleged discrepancies in the filling of some vacancies.

Varsity exhibits students' paintings
Patiala, November 2
Much in the news for quite some time due to the infamous Saru Rana case, Punjabi University’s Department of Fine Arts is trying its best to regain its lost prestige. To ensure the same, the faculty of the department has taken several steps to showcase the paintings, graphics and prints made by students of the department by organising exhibitions both inside and outside the university.

Schools’ merger, problems galore
Bathinda, November 2
Mr Gurdev Singh Mrar, former District Education Officer and Mr Surinder Singh, president, Vidya Vikas Manch, in a statement issued here yesterday said that the new decision of the state government merging the primary schools with the middle schools would create problems for the aided schools.

• NCC training camp concludes

BUSINESS

Steep fall in Divali sales
Amritsar, November 2
The mining of agricultural fields along the border following the Indo-Pak standoff has not only spelled a “black Divali” for border villagers, but also cast a dark shadow on the local urban markets. The largely agro-based economy of the holy city has shown a steep fall with farmers suffering losses after two consecutive crop failures, mining of fields, lower MSP on crops, inclement weather and the industrial slump.

A dark Divali, lament traders
Bathinda, November 2
While Divali has traditionally been seen as a money-minting season for traders, this time business seems to have registered a fall.

NRIs reluctant to invest
Jalandhar, November 2
Contrary to the state government’s claim, Punjabi non-resident Indians (NRIs) are reluctant to invest in their homeland due to red-tapism, corruption and bureaucratic and political system.