POLITICS

SAD plea to PM on Sikh doctor issue
Chandigarh, August 21
The SAD has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the issue of racial discrimination in Saudi Arabia seriously and ensure that a Sikh doctor, Charanjit Singh, working in Athria Medical Centre, Riyadh, is relieved by his employer and allowed to return to India at the earliest.

Mann holds CM, Badal responsible for foeticides
Patiala, August 21
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, SAD (Amritsar), while giving a call to like-minded parties to launch a war against the evil of foeticide, held Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and former Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal responsible for the same menace.

MC chief denied entry at behest of MLA, EO 
Nabha, August 21
Unruly scenes were there at the Municipal Council here when its president Pawan Kumar Garg raised slogans against local MLA Randip Singh, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Surjit Singh, the police and the local administration for not allowing him and his supporters to get inside the council building. The MLA and Mr Garg belong to the ruling Congress party. Today was the day of no-confidence motion against the council president.

CM spared Brar ire
Ferozepore, August 21
Firebrand Congress leader Jagmeet Brar today looked to be in a compromising mood as he desisted from saying anything against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

AISSF memo to Jathedar
Amritsar, August 21
The All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) presented a memorandum to the Jathedar of Akal Takht as part of the ongoing second gurdwara sudhar lehar, seeking reformatory steps, here today.

BJP youths protest over power crisis
Chandigarh, August 21
Protesting against the Congress-led Punjab Government, state BJP youth wing activists today lodged a protest over the prevailing power crisis by holding lanterns and hand-held fans outside the Punjab BJP office here.

• Communist leaders hold dharna

Company to produce computer professionals
Chandigarh, August 21
Logging on to curriculum of development in Punjab, US-based information technology giant Outline Systems Inc. has developed a programme for producing computer professionals in the state.

PRTC, Punjab Roadways to add 400 buses
Patiala, August 21
The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab Roadways authorities have decided to add 400 buses to their existing fleet.

Beant Singh memorial hangs fire

Chandigarh, August 21 If former Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh were alive, he would think twice before sticking his neck out to fight the 'nation's war against terror'. The incomplete building of the Beant Singh memorial. — A Tribune photo

Protesting staff seek Rs 1000 interim relief
Sangrur, August 21
Hundreds of employees of various government departments hold rally and demonstration in Hundreds of employees of various government departments, including health, education, public health, and veterinary, under the banner of the Punjab Mulazam Sangharash Committee (PMSC) today staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) here against the “anti people” policies, like privatisation of the state government and “indifferent attitude” of the state government towards demands of the employees.

Punjab agrees to give land for Chandigarh airport expansion
Chandigarh, August 21
While Punjab's proposal to set up an international airport at Halwara is hanging fire, the state government has agreed to give land for the expansion of the airport in Chandigarh.

Bharat Nirman Campaign launched
Hoshiarpur, August 21
The National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) Act is a bold step and at least 34,000 poor persons from rural areas of the district have been provided 100 days of employment in an year under the Act.

CM mourns Ustad’s death
Chandigarh, August 21
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today expressed grief over the death of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

 

ADMINISTRATION

INSIDE BABUDOM
Ministers want officials of choice in departments
Chandigarh, August 21
Weeks after the allocation of new portfolios, the ministers in Punjab whose departments have been changed have asked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to reshuffle Principal Secretaries and Director-level officials of their new departments.

 

AGRICULTURE

Aulakh for hike in farm research investment
VCs’ meeting with President Kalam
Ludhiana, August, 21
The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr K.S. Aulakh, emphasised the need for investment in agricultural development during the meeting with the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam last week.

CRIME

Rs 4.25 lakh looted from villager
Tarn Taran, August 21
Two looters on a motor cycle (PB-46E-1493) snatched Rs 4.25 lakh from a person here last evening. The police has registered a case under Sections 382 and 34, IPC, in this regard.

Absconding kidnapper commits suicide
Batala August 21
Kulwinder Singh, an accused in a kidnapping case, who fled from police custody has committed suicide by consuming poison.

Fake currency recovered; 6 held
Amritsar, August 21
In a major breakthrough, Majitha police has arrested six persons involved in manufacturing of counterfeit Indian currency and recovered Rs 10 lakh along with computer, scanner and printer.

2 held for bank robbery
Ferozepore, August 21
The Ferozepore police has arrested two persons in connection with the bank robbery that took place on August 9 in which two unidentified persons had looted Rs 71,100 from the Kundal village branch of Punjab National Bank.

One killed in mishap

 

EDUCATION

BEd admissions in 23 colleges stopped
Chandigarh, August 21
The Punjab Government has stopped 23 colleges across the state from taking in new students under the BEd course. Orders to this effect were circulated today.

 

BUSINESS

Punjab Agro, PSIEC lock horns over land to RIL
Chandigarh, August 21
The Punjab Agro Industries Corporation (PAIC) and the Punjab Small Industries and Exports Corporation (PSIEC) have locked horns over the issue of recovery of cost of land at Goindwal Sahib from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).