J A L A N D H A R

Science is all about asking questions: Yash Pal
Kapurthala, March 20
Eminent scientist Professor Yash Pal today said that science was visible in every aspect of life and could not be confined into compartments.

Renowned scientist Professor Yash Pal interacts with students at the Pushpa Gujral Science City in Kapurthala on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Jeweller murdered, police rounds up three persons
Jalandhar, March 20
One person was brutally murdered yesterday night in the city. The victim, a jeweller, was murdered in Khingra Gate area here. The assailants, riding a scooter, were three in number, according to the police.

RCF issue to be taken up with PM: Sukhbir
Kapurthala, March 20
The agitating employees of the Rail Coach Factory today got the support of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the SAD (B).

Singer killed in road mishap
Phagwara, March 20
Punjabi singer Kulwinder Dhillon (32) died in a road accident on the Phagwara-Banga road, near Behram village, yesterday night.

Science is all about asking questions: Yash Pal
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, March 20
Eminent scientist Professor Yash Pal today said that science was visible in every aspect of life and could not be confined into compartments. A recipient of the Padam Vibhushan, the former Chairman of the UGC, was speaking at the annual day celebrations of the Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) near here.

Professor Yash Pal said science taught in schools was so little connected with the curiosity of the child that their experiences did not influence their education and vice versa.

Exhorting the management of the PGSC, he suggested that the centre should aim at making people understand science. “Otherwise the project would remain just a museum of science objects.”

Professor Yash Pal was also critical of the move by various boards to introduce English as a course from the nursery level.

On a question whether students in rural areas were deprived of opportunities, the scientist said the country had geniuses in every corner. “The idea should be to set up specialised schools or centres that would tap the special talent inherent in the child.”

On the issue of the competence of private universities coming up in the state, Professor Yash Pal said that if the proposed institutions had the requisite infrastructure, proper faculty and an opening for all sections of society, there should be no problems.

The alumnus of Panjab University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also conducted a vibrant interaction with the students on everyday science. “Science is all about asking questions,” he said. The 80-year-old professor was interacting with students as young as seven.

Earlier, the scientist unveiled 14 new exhibits developed by PGSC.

Dr R.S. Khandpur, Director General, PGSC, informed that the science city would open an Energy Education and Awareness Park and galleries, including “The Science of Sports”, “Ecology and Environment”, “Health and Biotechnology and Emerging Technologies”.

He said that the Ministry of Railways would set up a Railway Gallery, while the Indian Meteorological Department was installing an automatic weather station linked to Satellite Kalpana. Mr Rakesh Pandey, Punjab’s Minister of Science and Technology, was also present on the occasion.

Later, “The Everest”, a documentary shot in IMAX format, was screened at the Dome Theatre.

Jeweller murdered, police rounds up three persons
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 20
One person was brutally murdered yesterday night in the city. The victim, a jeweller, was murdered in Khingra Gate area here. The assailants, riding a scooter, were three in number, according to the police.

The victim Rakesh Kumar Luthra, alias Billa, a resident of Kazi Mohalla, was running his jewellery business at Lal Bazaar here.

Meanwhile, the police has rounded up three persons in connection with the crime.

According to the police, the victim was attacked with sharp-edged weapons when he parked his car near Vaishno Devi Temple in Khingra Gate area, and began walking towards his home. Surprisingly, the assailants took away only the mobile phone belonging to the victim.

The victim succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. His body was later sent for postmortem.

DSP Harkanwal Preet Singh Khakh said Rakesh Kumar was returning home around 12:45 pm after meeting his cousin who was staying at a local hotel, when he (the victim) was attacked by three scooter-borne assailants.

The police had rounded up Gaurav, a resident of Model House, Achal from Harbans Nagar area, and Munna from Basti Gujan area, added Mr Khakh. 

RCF issue to be taken up with PM: Sukhbir
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, March 20
The agitating employees of the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) today got the support of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the SAD (B).

Addressing a rally in front of the gate of the factory, he assured the workers and their families that he would take up their demands with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Union Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The RCF employees are protesting the Centre’s proposal to declare the factory a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

The MP said that SAD (B) would demand the rejection of the PSU proposal and would not hesitate to stall the proceedings of Parliament if their demands were not met. “We have decided to take into confidence Mr Lal Krishan Advani, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, on the issue.”

He alleged that the proposed conversion of the factory into a PSU was the first step towards its privatisation.

Criticising the ruling Congress party in the state, the SAD (B) General Secretary alleged that the party was “fiddling with the national interests”, as it had already “sold airports and profit-making industries to the multinationals”.

Singer killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Phagwara, March 20
Punjabi singer Kulwinder Dhillon (32) died in a road accident on the Phagwara-Banga road, near Behram village, yesterday night.

According to sources, the accident occurred when the Honda City by which Dhillon and his friend Baljinder Billa were travelling, went out of control and collided against a roadside tree.

Dhillon’s latest cassette “Akhara” was released only three days back. He was noted for folk and religious songs.