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Badal for CBI probe into Gujarat scandal
Phagwara, December 25
In his comment on former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral’s observation that politics of hatred was responsible for the slide in Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said his party was ready to cooperate with the government for safeguarding the interests of the state.

George's assurance on houses
Bhisiana, (Bathinda), December 25
Mr George Fernandes, Union Defence Minister, today expressed regret over the delay in the construction of over three lakh houses for defence personnel.

Mr George Fernandes, Union Defence Minister, shares a cup of tea with jawans at the Air Force station in Bathinda on Wednesday.  — Photo Kulbir Beera

WB sanctions 800-cr loan: CM
Ajnala (Amritsar), December 25
Even as the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, announced that the World Bank had sanctioned a loan for Rs 800 crore for the state’s water problem, he assured that development works in the state would commence from the New Year. 

Development to be Congress agenda: Ashwani Kumar
Gurdaspur, December 25
Mr Ashwani Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab who is currently here in connection with his political programme, spoke to The Tribune in an exclusive interview and shared his views on a wide range of issues facing Punjab and the country. Mr Kumar is Chairman of the AICC Vichar Vibhag, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court and former Additional Solicitor-General of India.

Meeting to discuss SYL case strategy today
Chandigarh, December 25
The issue of the SYL canal, creation of new posts of law officer in the office of the Advocate General, re-fixing the retirement age of the State Election Commissioner, and formulation of the policy for those who were supposed to be reverted to their parents departments because of the cancellation of their appointment in the PCS or its allied cadre made by the PPSC when it was headed by Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu are the issues that will be taken up at the meeting of the Punjab Council of Ministers to be held here tomorrow.

Varsity credentials questioned
Holding of Indian History Congress from Dec 28
Chandigarh, December 25
Recent media criticism that “historical research has reached the level of plagiarism with the merit of preservation” makes Guru Nanak Dev University a controversial host for the Indian History Congress starting on December 28.

• ‘Bid to tarnish’ varsity reputation

Abohar haven for addicts
Abohar, December 25
Even as the easy availability of smack in this border town has made it a haven for addicts, particularly teenagers, the police has launched a drive to check the menace.

POLITICS

CPI for ban on RSS, Bajrang Dal
Bathinda, December 25
The CPI today sought a ban on the RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP. In a resolution passed in the presence of the national secretary of the CPI, Mr A.B. Bardhan, at a rally here today, the party said to save the secular face of the country, there was need to ban these outfits. The party also said the Election Commission should ban the use of communal slogans and material during campaigning.

COMMUNITY

Faridkot to get 100-bedded hospital
Faridkot, December 25
The Sangat Sahib Bhai Pheru Sikh Educational Society here has drawn up a plan to set up a 100-bedded multi-speciality Dasmesh Hospital on the Faridkot-Talwandi road. Land has already been acquired and the construction work on the project would start in the first week of March, 2003. The entire project will cost more than Rs 5 crore and is likely to be completed within a year.

Gurm referred to Amritsar hospital
Jalandhar, December 25
The local health authorities have referred the former Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University H.S. Gurm, main accused in the multi-crore PTU scam, to Guru Teg Bahadur Medical College, Amritsar, for treatment after he complained of pain in kidney.

Punjabi book released
Nawanshahr, December 25
The four-day long “Amardeep mela” organised by Amardeep Singh Shergill Memorial College, Mukandpur, about 20 km from here, concluded yesterday.

Police owes Rs 6 lakh to petrol dealers
Fazilka, December 25
The offices of the DSP, SHOs of City and Sadar police stations and the Tehsildar here owe Rs 8 lakh to eight petroleum dealers for a long time.

Train to southern states demanded
Bathinda, December 25
Resentment prevails among the general public of the region against the railway authorities for their alleged indifferent attitude towards the long-standing demands and problems, relating to rail services, of the commuters and the general public.

ADMINISTRATION

Deed writer’s licence suspended
Bathinda, December 25
Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, has asked the Senior Superintendent of Police to register an FIR against Bhupinder Singh, Rajinder Kumar, and Bharat Bhushan Puri, deed writer, for making “false” statements before the sub-registrar here.

EDUCATION

First law college to come up in Faridkot
Faridkot, December 25
Punjab’s first law college is being established here under the auspices of the Baba Farid Society. This was announced by the Gurdwara Godari Sahib Baba Farid Society President, Mr Inderjit Singh Khalsa.

BUSINESS

‘Inspector raj’ stifling trade: Beopar Mandal
Bathinda, December 25
Supporting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statement that ‘inspector raj’ continued to stifle small businesses, the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, in a representation here on Monday urged the Union Government and the Punjab Government to amend the necessary rules to put an end to it.