Friday, January 17, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Shinde to replace Deshmukh
Likely to be sworn in today
Mumbai, January 16
With an eye on the 2004 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Congress, which is leading the Democratic Front coalition government in the state, today replaced Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh with senior leader Sushil Kumar Shinde as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

Haryana sops to trade, industry
Chandigarh, January 16
The Haryana Cabinet today gave a series of concessions to the trade and industry by reducing various taxes. However, diesel, one of the major inputs in the agriculture sector, will cost more.

Sikh clergy clears Nanakshahi calendar
Amritsar, January 16
The Sikh clergy today approved ‘Nanakshahi” calendar, prepared by Canada-based Sikh scholar, Pal Singh Purewal. However, birth and death anniversaries of the Gurus and other Sikh festivals would be observed in accordance with ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ while other common festivals of Hindus and Sikhs would continue to be celebrated as per old calendar till a final decision.

SGPC member Puran Singh Josh dead
Amritsar, January 16
Veteran SGPC member Puran Singh Josh (72), who was seriously injured in a car accident last year, died at Ajit Hospital here today. Josh was an SGPC member for more than 20 years. He was considered a crusader against corruption in Sikh shrines and was a bachelor.

The man who fights termites Chandigarh, January 16 Not for nothing is he known as the “termite man” of Punjab. Mr Garib Das (56) dreams termites, talks termites and stalks termites. And he has devoted his life to fighting termites and other insects, pests and weeds like congress grass that attack trees and houses, causing extensive damage and huge losses all over the region. Mr Garib Das inspects a tree for termites in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photo