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Rodrigues sworn in Punjab Governor
Chandigarh, November 16
Former Chief of the Army Staff General Sunith Francis Rodrigues (retd.) was sworn in as Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice B.K. Roy, this afternoon.

Modest yet impressive
Chandigarh, November 16
Ms Jean Rodrigues has no airs about her. The fact becomes apparent, even before she utters a single word. And as she speaks about her journey from a young army officer's wife to the First Lady of Punjab, her words only compliment the modest image.

‘Sidelined’ PYC leaders to meet Sonia today
Jalandhar, November 16
Feeling insulted over their virtual “sidelining” in the newly-constituted body of office-bearers of the Punjab Youth Congress (PYC), a group of members of the 11-member Coordination Committee, formed under directions of AICC chief Ms Sonia Gandhi in May, has decided to meet her in New Delhi on November 17.

Hindu religious bodies protest against seer’s arrest
Sangrur, November 16
Activists of the VHP, the Bajrang Dal, the Sanatan Dharam Sansad and the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) took out a march, carrying placards in their hands, in the town and held a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here in today protest against the arrest of Swami Jayendra Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt.

Singla behind “mess” in govt schools: Johar
Chandigarh, November 16
Launching a fierce counterattack on Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla, Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar said today that Mr Singla was responsible for creating the much talked about “mess” in the government schools in the state.

Private colleges in trouble over EPF dilemma
Gurdaspur, November 16
Private educational institutes in the state are in a dilemma over the guidelines regarding the employee provident fund (EPF) of their employees. While the regional EPF authorities are directing the college managements to deposit 12 per cent of the basic salary and dearness allowance of their employees as EPF the universities and the DPI are directing just 10 per cent deduction.

Human Development Report paints a gloomy picture of Punjab
Chandigarh, November 16
The past is glorious, the present is gloomy and the future is uncertain. This was the crux of most of the speeches made at the release of the Punjab Human Development Report, 2004, by the state Planning Department here today.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh (right) releases the Human Development Report, 2004, in Chandigarh, on Tuesday. Mr S.S. Johal, Mr Surinder Singh and Mr Sandeep Dixit are also in the picture. — A Tribune photograph

Incident shows police in poor light
Chandigarh, November 16
The functioning of the Punjab Police is again under a cloud if the report of an NGO regarding beating up of two Nangal residents is any indication.

Tarksheel Society exposes ‘baba’
Abohar, November 16
Active members of the Tarksheel Society put a 'Baba' in an embarrassing position yesterday by impersonating as devotees. According to available information, a 'baba' had set up his 'Dera' on the Dalmeerkhera-Daulatpura road near here.

Delay in Amritsar-Lahore bus service rued
Amritsar, November 16
The announcement to start Amritsar-Lahore bus service, which would go up to the historic Nanakana Sahib Gurdwara, has made no headway.

COMMUNITY

War widows await promised land
Bathinda, November 16
Balwinder Kaur, widow of martyr Tehal Singh of Kothe Lal Singhwala village in the district, who died in the Indo-Pak war in 1971, could not hold back her tears while narrating her tale of woes to the officials of Chetak Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) at Veer Nari meet held at the local military station today.

A war widow narrates her tale of woes to an official of the Chetak Army Wives Welfare Association at Veer Nari meet organised at military station, Bathinda on Tuesday. — Photo by Sonu

Implement 85th Amendment, demands BSP
Bathinda, November 16
Mr Sham Jaura, general secretary, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Punjab, today alleged that under the Congress government atrocities on SCs/STs and other backward classes had crossed all limits.

From Berlin to Bollywood in search of success
Ferozepore, November 15
From Berlin to Mumbai, film actress Mink has traversed a long way in realising her dreams to be on the silver screen one day. Mink, who at the age of 13 was introduced to the arclights of the tinsel town of Bollywood by none other than the versatile Dev Anand, started her career with the film '' Gangster'', which was produced and directed by Dev Anand himself.

Women should stop female foeticide, says MP
Patiala, November 16
Patiala MP Preneet Kaur today said women should act firmly to stop female foeticide in society. In order to irradicate it the girls should be made aware of this evil.

Patiala MP Preneet Kaur lights a lamp on the occasion of 100th anniversary celebration function of Government Victoria Girls Senior Secondary School in Patiala on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Punjabi fest from Nov 19
Jalandhar, November 16
The Punjabi culture would be showcased and top artistes of both Indian and Pakistani Punjabis would perform during the two-day, “Saanjh Dilan Dee,” a world Punjabi cultural festival to be held here from November 19 to 20.

Denial of martyr status to Bhagat Singh condemned
Patiala, November 16
Members of the All-India Anti Terrorist Front today held a protest at the Anardana chowk in the city to mark their opposition to attempts to deny the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh by a scholar at a seminar organised by the Institute of Sikh Studies at a Gurdwara in Chandigarh two days back.


Members of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front burn an effigy of Dr Maan Singh Nirankari in Patiala on Tuesday. — Photo by Rajesh

Sir Chhotu Ram’s relics to reach India today
Amritsar, November 16
Sir Chhotu Ram’s relics, housed in his ‘haveli’ in Lahore, will be brought to India with fanfare by Mr Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, and Mr Ajay Chautala, Indian National Lok Dal leader.

Vinod Khanna shoots film
Patiala, November 16
MP from Gurdaspur Vinod Khanna came to the city today to assume the mantle of a bachelor truck - transporter in the film “Choorian” is being shot at the Free Masons Lodge in the city.

Director Satwant Dhadda with actor Vinod Khanna during the shooting of “Choodiyan” in Patiala on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Fire in laboratory
Dera Bassi, November 16
Bio-medical equipment and electronic goods worth lakhs were destroyed in a fire that broke out in a medical laboratory located near telephone exchange here, last night.

Charity walk flagged off
Amritsar, November 16
Mr Balwant Singh Grewal, a UK-based NRI, today undertook his over 4000- km charity walk from Amritsar to Kanyakumari to create awareness and raise funds for the research and prevention of diseases like cancer and AIDS. The walk was flagged off by Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, PWD Minister in the presence of a large number of enthusiastic NRIs and local fans of Mr Grewal.

Mr Balwant Singh Grewal, an NRI, waves before setting out on a 4,000 km walk from Amritsar to Kanyakumari on Tuesday. — PTI photo

AGRICULTURE

Tunnel technique gaining ground among farmers, says expert
Tarn Taran, November 16
The low tunnel technique for horticulture in Amritsar district is steadily gaining ground, with more farmers opting for it to multiply their profit and improve the quality of produce.

BKU rally in Delhi today
Chandigarh, November 16
The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) will organise a protest rally in Delhi on November 18 to draw the attention of the government towards the economic crisis being faced by the farmers.

CRIME

Main accused in PCO owner’s murder case held
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 16
The police has arrested Harjit Singh, alias Rana, of Bhadla village, main accused in the kidnapping and murder of Bunty, a local STD PCO owner, conspiracy of which was hatched in Italy.

3 students hurt in group clash
Tarn Taran, November 16
Three students were injured seriously in a group clash at SGAD Government College here today.

Drug-addict murders mother
Bathinda, November 16
In a bizarre incident, Manjit Singh, a resident of Gurthari village in this district, murdered his mother, Angrej Kaur, by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck and back in her house today.

One killed, 2 hurt in mishap
Jalandhar, November 16
One person was killed and two others were injured when the jeep they were travelling in collided with a tractor-trolley at Maqsoodan railway crossing on the outskirts of the city late last night.

• Two hurt in mishaps

• Bid to rob business agent

Oust-Aulakh committee formed
Ludhiana, November 16
The simmering discontentment against the functioning of Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, among a section of retired and serving employees and teachers came out in the open when a joint action committee was formed to launch a struggle for his removal.

Irregularities alleged in students’ fund
Amritsar, November 16
A huge amount of Rs 38 lakh has allegedly been siphoned off from the students’ fund to pay the medical bills of the school teachers.

College teachers to go on mass leave today
Barnala, November 16
College teachers serving in 170 privately-managed colleges of Punjab will proceed on mass casual leave on November 17 and will March to Capt Amarinder Singh’s Chandigarh residence to express resentment against the indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government towards their problems.

600 schoolchildren take part in competitions
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 16
The district administration today organised a function to mark Children’s Day at Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind. Ms Uma Rattra, Secretary, Children Welfare Council, inaugurated the function. Mr Sadhu Singh, Assistant Secretary, also accompanied her during the inauguration ceremony.

Students protest against exam fee hike
Bathinda, November 16
Members of the Punjab Students Union organised a rally at the local Rajindra Government College to lodge their protest against the hike in the examination fee made by Punjabi University.

Management students’ interface with alumni
Patiala, November 16
Students of the Punjab School of Management Studies of Punjabi University had a memorable experience today when some of their alumni came to the campus for the PSMS alumni interface.