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MC adopts Rs 323.82 cr Budget
No fresh civic tax proposed
Ludhiana, February 7
The Municipal Corporation adopted a development-oriented Budget of Rs 323.82 crore for 2004-05 with as much as Rs 151.95 crore (46.93 per cent) being provided for development works.

Ikwinder Kaur death case gets murkier

Ludhiana, February 7 The Ikwinder Kaur dowry death case got a new turn today when her mother-in-law Ajmer Kaur, a co-accused in the case, today claimed that charges had been fabricated to blackmail her family. Meanwhile, Ikwinder's father, Mr Karnail Singh, filed a fresh complaint regarding the case in the Raikot police station last evening.  A file photo of Ajmer Kaur offering a piece of cake to Ikwinder Kaur on the birthday celebrations of her son Rajinder Singh Kuler.

Compromise on birth certificate scandal
Ludhiana, February 7
The birth-certificate controversy involving a Youth Akali leader and the Sacred Heart Convent School authorities has lost its sting as the school authorities have accepted the unconditional apology from the accused leader and written to the police that they do not want any further action in the case.

COMMUNITY

No unity with Akali factions, says Sukhbir

Amloh, February 7 The question of poll alliance or unity in the coming parliamentary elections with the SAD (Amritsar) and the Akali Dal (Ravi) does not arise as they have never raised their voice against the alleged corruption by the present ministers and the son of Capt Amarinder Singh, asserted Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. SAD general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Sukhbir Singh Badal at a gathering of party workers at Grain Market in Amloh on Saturday. Former SGPC chief K.S. Badungar, district youth chief Gurpreet Singh Bhatti also seen at the stage. — Photo by Bhushan Sood

No seat-sharing problem with BJP, says SAD
Ludhiana, February 7
SAD General Secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal here today claimed that the party would win all seats in the coming parliamentary elections. He also set at rest all rumours over fissures in the party on seat-sharing with the BJP and the loyalists of SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

BJP wants CM to drop Bhattal
Ludhiana, February 7
The BJP has said that framing of charges against Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in the case of alleged misappropriation of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund during her tenure as Chief Minister has vindicated the party’s contention that Congress leaders were by and large corrupt and have no moral ground to rule the state.

Arrest Ajit Singh’s killer, demand Baba supporters
Ludhiana, February 7
With no headway in the Nanaksar Ashram Thath controversy at Siahar, the warring factions continue to level allegations and counter-allegations against each other. Supporters of Baba Mann Singh today said they were not eyeing the property of the trust as was being alleged by certain quarters.

Kukki’s parents optimistic of his release
Ludhiana, February 7
The family of Ranjit Singh Gill, alias Kukki, currently undergoing life imprisonment in Tihar Jail in connection with the assassination of trade union leader Lalit Maken and his wife, Geetanjali, has become more optimistic about their son’s release with Mr Ajay Maken, Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker and close relative of the deceased, announcing that the family had forgiven the accused in the case.

Sukhdev memorial to finally see the light of the day 

Ludhiana, February 7 After 74 years of his martyrdom, the birth place of great martyr Sukhdev in the aughara mohalla, here, will finally get its due as a place of historic importance. The Shaheed Sukhdev Yadgar Committee, Ludhiana, yesterday started the construction of the memorial and announced that it would be completed before March 23. Dr Hardeep Singh, convener of the Shaheed Sukhdev Committee, shows a model of the proposed memorial at the birthplace of Sukhdev, at a press conference in Ludhiana. — A Tribune photograph

Mandira to visit city on  Valentine’s Day

CRIME

Three held for possessing drugs
Ludhiana, February 7
Three persons were arrested by the police and booked under the NDPS Act after drugs were seized from their possession yesterday. Gurminder Singh, a resident of Sector 32 in PUDA Urban Estate on the Chandigarh road, was arrested by the division number 7 police in front of BCM School after 50 gm of smack was seized from his possession. An Ikon car, which was being driven by the accused, was also seized, said the police today.

BUSINESS

PSERA’s challenge to HC order flayed
Ludhiana, February 7
The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has criticised the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Authority (PSERA) for challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order on electricity tariff in the Supreme Court.

GCTA hails decision on DA merger
Ludhiana, February 7
The Government College Teachers Association (GCTA) has hailed the decision of Capt Amarinder, Chief Minister, Punjab, to merge 50 per cent DA with the basic pay. Stating this in a press note, Prof Bhag Singh Sandhu, president, and Jaipal Singh, general secretary, welcomed the decision of the government to raise the retirement age to 60 years for Punjab Government employees.

• ABVP executive meet begins

• Wetland Day celebrated

Lok Adalats cheer up many
Ludhiana, February 7
For Sohan Singh it was quite incredible. For six years he had been making rounds of the courts without any results. Today he walked out a relieved man after his case was disposed off in a Lok Adalat held here today.

Health services in poor state
Amloh, February 7
Health facilities at the local Civil Hospital have failed to keep pace with the growing needs of the people. The state of the hospital tells the story of utter neglect on the part of the Health Department.

• Health awareness camp held

• Health mela from today

SPORTS

Punjab zone teams enter semis Ludhiana, February 7 Hosts Punjab secured their berths in the semi-finals of the North Zone Employees Provident Fund Volleyball and Basketball Tournament that began on the Punjab Agricultural University campus here today. A spiker of Uttaranchal in action in a match against the Himachal Pradesh zone in the North Zone Employees Provident Fund Organisation Meet in Ludhiana on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

(From left): Kabaddi player Inderjit Phullanwal, hockey star Jugraj Singh and Tribune Chief of Bureau Prabhjot Singh, who were honoured on the occasion of the annual sports festival at Jarkhar village, near Ludhiana, on Saturday. — Tribune photo  by Pradeep Tewari

DMCH to host sports festival
Ludhiana, February 7
Teams from10 medical colleges of the north India will take part in the three-day north zone inter-medical colleges indoor games scheduled to be held here at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital from Februray 13 to 15. In a press note issued here today , Dr Rajoo Singh Chhinna, Chairman Dayanand Medical College Sports Council, said competitions in table tennis, badminton, chess and carrom will be conducted in the individual as well team sections.  One team from each college will be allowed to participate in the boys and girls sections.

Seema Rani best athlete for third time
Doraha, February 7
Seema Rani was declared the best athlete of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, for the third time in a row in the 30th annual athletic meet of the college, which concluded today.