The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Badal accused of ignoring Punjabis’ interests
Ludhiana, April 7
The Sikh Students Federation (Bhai Daljit Singh) criticised the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for neglecting the interests of Punjabis and asserted that their members would only campaign for candidates who enjoyed a clean image.

RPI to contest 3 seats in Punjab
Ludhiana, April 7
The Republican Party of India (RPI) will contest the Faridkot, Ludhiana and Ropar Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, besides the one in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. This was announced by the state chief of the party, Mr Mukhtiar Singh Arshi, after a meeting of the state committee of the party here today.

NSUI mobilises cadres for poll
Ludhiana, April 7
The National Students Union of India (NSUI), the students wing of the Congress, has started mobilising its cadres to garner support for party candidates for the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the state.

Punjab state president of the NSUI Aman Prashar and senior vice-president Gur Iqbal Singh Sekhon address a press conference in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

Panthic forum in the offing
Ludhiana, April 7
Efforts are afoot to form a panthic forum to protect the panthic values. A preliminary meeting in this regard was held in Chandigarh on Sunday which was attended, among others, by Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi, president, Gurmat Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, president, Akali Dal (Ravi Inder), Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, president, Akali Dal (Panthic), and representatives of the Lok Bhalai Party, the Khalsa Panchayat and Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, who is contesting from the Tarn Taran parliamentary seat.

As the mercury rises with each passing day, fountains provide much relief to passers-by in Ludhiana. —Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Talwandi hails honour to Tohra
Ludhiana, April 7
Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, former President, SGPC, today hailed the honour bestowed on Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra by the Punjab Government and maintained that he deserved much more honour and recognition...as he was a national leader of the Sikh community who served the community as a humble Sikh.

Man, daughter hurt in clash over property
Ludhiana, April 7
Jarnail Singh of Kamalpura village and his school-going daughter were injured after they were assaulted over a property dispute. Jarnail, along with his family, was putting up separately from his father Jagir Singh and brothers Surjit Singh and Hoshiar Singh for the past seven years.

Good Friday holiday sought
Ludhiana, April 7
The United Church of Northern India has sought a holiday on April 9, Good Friday for the judiciary as well.

Readers write
Fee reduction in IIMs
T HE government wants to reduce fees in prestigious Indian Institutes of Management by as much as 80 per cent. Apprehensive of government interference, this reduction has been challenged in apex court. When the court could not get any assurance from government regarding the autonomy of these institutes, it decided to reopen the case in which IIMs have been made party.

Aren’t camp offices a legacy of British?

Inflated bills

Delay in DA merger notification

At the Crossroads
Litterateurs fail to keep politics at bay
ELECTIONS of the Punjabi Sahit Akademy, Ludhiana, were held in Punjabi Bhavan last Sunday. It had all enthusiasm of political elections, including manipulation and last-minute floor crossing. It seemed to be the occasion for pronouncing last judgement.

CRIME

Man held with poppy husk
Ludhiana, April 7
The Sahnewal police yesterday arrested Sukha, a resident of Amar Dass Nagar mohalla located on the Raikot road at Mullanpur, and booked him under the NDPS Act.

BUSINESS

Bicycle R&D centre’s foundation stone laid

Ludhiana, April 7
Mr M.S. Bhogal, Managing Partner of Bhogal Sons, laid the foundation stone of the Bicycle Research and Development Centre at the office of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) here today. He also announced a grant of Rs 4 lakh for the centre in memory of his father Karam Singh Bhogal.

Mr M.S. Bhogal and other office-bearers of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association after laying the foundation stone of the Cycle Research and Development Institute in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Shampoo to prevent hair fall
Ludhiana, April 7
Pantene has launched a shampoo which, it claims, would prevent hair fall. Pantene’s latest variant, Pantene Hair Fall Control, is based on Pro-V formula.

AGRICULTURE

Burning of straw hits soil fertility, says expert
Ludhiana, April 7
To educate the farmers about the latest techniques in agriculture, preservation of natural resources and scientific management of crop residue, the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha (BJGVJ) and the district Agriculture Department organised a camp at Dadowla Lakhowal village in coordination with the village panchayat.

EDUCATION

School building partially demolished

Ludhiana, April 7
Employees of the building branch of the Municipal Corporation today partially demolished the building of a senior secondary school in Subhash Nagar, near Jodhewal Basti, here for violating building norms.

The area councillor and members of the Harsh Vidya Mandir management argue with staff of the Municipal Corporation over school building violations in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

GNIMT students taken on trips
Ludhiana, April 7
Students of Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, were taken on various trips in the past fortnight.

Action against Principal recommended
Khanna, April 7
The general secretary of the A.S. College High School Trust and Management Society has recommended disciplinary action against the Principal of A. S. Modern Senior Secondary School, Khanna, in an inquiry report submitted to the president of the society on April 6. However, the president has refused to take any action against the Principal.

PAU CET on June 29
Ludhiana, April 7
The Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to BVSc and AH and BSc Agriculture (Honours) for the next session at Punjab Agricultural University will be held on June 29. The passed candidates will be able to exercise their option for any of these courses, as per merit, at the time of counselling. The counselling will be held on July 13 and 14. The classes for BVSc and AH and BSc Agri (Hons) will start from July 15 and August 4, respectively.

DMC old students meet on April 9
Ludhiana, April 7
With an aim to revive contacts with its old students, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) will organise an old students meet at the Sutlej Club here on April 9. About 200 old students of DMC, now established as reputed doctors are expected to attend the event.

Local lad to attend scouts camp in Pak
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 7
Ashish Shukla, a student of local MGMN Senior Secondary School, is among 150 students from Punjab to have been selected for a week-long Pakistan Zamboori scouts camp in Islamabad from April 16. Around 6,000 Indian students will participate in the camp along with scouts from seven SAARC countries.

CULTURE

Local lad makes it to Gladrags top five
Ludhiana, April 7
“What is more important — body, looks or mind”? To this question, the local young six feet, well-built Abhinav Shukla replied “mind” in the final round of Gladrags Mega Model and Man Hunt Contest. “Looks are going to wither away and it is only the mind that can help maintain the right kind of body,” said he.

Abhinav Shukla

HEALTH

DMCH organises Nephrology Update
Ludhiana, April 7
To update the knowledge of nephrologists, physicians and surgeons of the region, the nephrology unit of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) headed by Dr N.S. Khaira organised Nephrology Update-2004 at Dumra Auditorium here recently. Delegates from all over the region attended the event to benefit from the talks given by experts.

Health quiz held
Ludhiana, April 7
Cremica Foods Ltd, in association with reputed doctors and dieticians, organised a health awareness quiz for students of GMT Public Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar byepass, here today.