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PM, Laloo, Dharmendra coming to city today
Ludhiana, May 7
Ludhiana parliamentary constituency is witnessing hectic political activity with every contestant trying to rope in celebrities in a last bid effort to influence the voters.

Bajrang Dal to oppose Laloo’s visit

Poll Round-up
Candidates step up campaigning
Ludhiana, May 7
As the D-Day draws near, the contenders for the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat, Mr Manish Tiwari of Congress, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon of SAD-BJP and Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia of Lok Bhalai Party have stepped up the electioneering.

Punjabi Singer Harbhajan Mann takes part in a roadshow at Pohir village on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Polling stations in city rural  segment shifted
Ludhiana, May 7
The Assistant Returning Officer of Ludhiana rural assembly segment has shifted some of the polling stations in the area while some others have been bifurcated into two to facilitate polling for the Lok Sabha elections on May 10.

Focus on Kila Raipur
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 7
Considering that the Kila Raipur Assembly segment may play the decisive role in the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have focused attention on this Assembly segment. The political fight has virtually became a fight between the Khangura and Garcha families, with Ramoowalia supporters trying to erode votes from both parties.

Shahi Imam asks Muslims to vote for Congress
Ludhiana, May 7
Mr Habib-ur-Rehman, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, today appealed to Muslims to vote for Congress candidate Manish Tiwari. He was addressing a congregation after ‘namaz’ in Field Ganj here.

Inquilabi dal to support Preneet
Ludhiana, May 7
The All-India Shiromani Inquilabi Dal has declared that their outfit would support Patiala Congress candidate Preneet Kaur. Mr Jagir Singh Rattanpal and Dr Jaswant Singh Chamak, president and general secretary of the dal, said the reason for supporting the Congress was that Capt Amarinder Singh was the first Chief Minister in the country who was fighting corruption.

Use of stadia for poll resented Ludhiana, May 6 There is resentment among the sports fraternity here against the decision of the local administration to stock election material in indoor stadia. It fears that this may damage the wooden floors in the Shastri badminton hall and the multi-purpose indoor stadium at the Guru Nanak Sports Complex. Election staff at the Shastri Badminton Hall in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

Eyeing Dalit vote bank
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 7
Supporters of various candidates from Ludhiana have focused their attention on Dalit-dominated villages falling under the Kila Raipur Assembly segment, with a total population of 1,54,465. Spread over 81 villages, the segment has an electorate of 1,29,857. The Dalit electorate, with 52,849 votes, has attracted supporters of Congress and BSP candidates.

Dhillon’s media adviser killed  in accident
Ludhiana, May 7
Kulwant Singh Ranike, a Shiromani Akali Dal Badal (SAD) leader and media adviser of Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Akali candidate for the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, died in a road accident here early this morning, the police said.

Despite accident, overloading continues

Ludhiana, May 7 The train-school van collision on Wednesday, in which four children of Guru Harkrishan Public School lost their lives, does not seem to have taught any lesson to parents or school authorities here. Parents still continue to send their children in school vans, autorickshaws and cycle-rickshaws, which are packed beyond their seating capacities, oblivious of the danger involved. Students packed like sardines in a autorickshaw in Ludhiana on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pardeep Tewari

Engg industry hit by rising steel prices
Ludhiana, May 7
Manufacturing of engineering goods, both for domestic and global markets, has been hit as there has been a major production loss in the industry during the last, year thanks to the persistent hike in the prices of iron and steel during the period.

Rs 1.70 lakh snatched from hosiery unit employee
Ludhiana, May 7
Two car-borne persons snatched a bag containing Rs 1.70 lakh from an employee of a hosiery factory near HDFC Bank, the Mall, today afternoon. They also stabbed the victim, in the arm before fleeing.

COMMUNITY

Kids of Children’s Valley School, Ludhiana, with their mothers during the Mother’s Day celebrations in the school on Friday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Train-van mishap victims now stable
Ludhiana, May 7
The two students of Guru Harkrishan Public School who had been in a critical condition following the train-school van collision on Wednesday were stable today. Nisha Rani, a Class VI student, had gained consciousness and her breathing pipes had been removed. Dr Sandeep Puri, Medical Superintendent at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said she was not talking, but had started following commands. He said the condition of the other four children admitted to the hospital had started improving steadily.

Mother’s Day Mothers are next to God Ludhiana, May 7 My mother is a special gift, A special gift that God gave to me. I’d be lost and lonely without her, If God took her away you see. I love her so very much, That I couldn’t bear to live without her healing touch. Thank you God for giving me such a loving mother, For I wouldn’t want to be a part of no other.

No end to plight of ragpickers 

Ludhiana, May 7 The sight of small unkempt, malnourished children with matted hair, rickety legs, oversized clothes and a bag slung at the back, is very common. Their condition is heart rending , but sadly it fails to move any hearts or NGOs who could take them away from heaps of garbage from where they pick plastic bags to sell these to eke out a meagre living. Sheer poverty and large families force people to push their children into picking up rags. Bhiku and his younger brother start their work early as there is a lot of competition in this work too. There are seven of them — five girls and two boys.

DMCH union chief alleges exploitation
Ludhiana, May 7
Charging the management of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here with exploitation and victimisation of employees, the hospital employees’ union today alleged that conspiracies were being hatched at the highest level to deny justice to the workers and create conditions under which the union could not exist.

Punjab to get 200 TARA kendras
Ludhiana, May 7
Jonita, a physically challenged girl, is in charge of TARAhaat kendra in Rampura Phul run by TARAhaat Information and Marketing Services Ltd. It sounds different. According to Major Amarjeet Singh, business head of TARAhaat, everybody gets an opportunity here. He adds that multiple services with assistance from the Development Alternatives Group, an NGO, are provided here.

Readers Write
Aggrieved judiciary
I refer to ‘Appeal to the Supreme Court’ by Mr H.K. Dua in The Tribune, April 21, 2004, and fully endorse his views. The importance of judiciary in a democratic country cannot be overemphasised. It is one of the three parts of the government, the other two being executive and legislature.

CRIME

Scooterist hurt in road mishap
Ludhiana, May 7
A young car driver, allegedly under the influence of drugs, knocked down a cyclist and a scooterist in Sarabha Nagar last night before the car came to a halt after hitting a couple of cars on the roadside .

BUSINESS

Proposal to hit Sardar Sarover bonds holders
Ludhiana, May 7
Sardar Sarover Narmada Nigam (SSNNL), undertaking of the Government of Gujarat, would be playing with investors money if it is allowed to have its way, alleges investors.

Iron and steel industry seeks relief
Mandi Gobindgarh, May 7
During the past one week the rates of melting scrap have risen by Rs 2,500 per tonne leading to an increase in the rates of ingots by Rs 3,000 per tonne. The rate of finished goods has also gone up, according to a letter addressed to Mr B.K. Tripathi, Minister for Steel, Government of India, New Delhi, by Mr J.P. Sharma, president and Mr Joy Kutti, general secretary of the Gobindgarh Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nature cure camp for jail inmates
Ludhiana, May 7
A team of doctors comprising Dr Naveen Sabharwal and Dr Ranjit Sandhu conducted the last phase of a nature cure camp organised by Jagdambe Charitable Hospital and Nursing Home at Central Jail on the Tajpur road here yesterday.

SPORTS

Protest against fielding of overage players
Ludhiana, May 7
Ludhiana joined Jalandhar and minor districts, Zone B, in lodging a protest against Amritsar for fielding overage players in the ongoing Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament (u-17) for the M.L. Markan Trophy being organised by the Punjab Cricket Association.

Cricket tourney postponed
Ludhiana, May 7
The inaugural edition of the instant cricket trophy tournament to be organised by the College of Agriculture Cricket Club, PAU, here at the Punjab Agricultural University ground has been postponed.