L U D H I A N A

Biggest farm event of the region ends in fiasco
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The two-day Kisan Mela, which is billed as the biggest annual agricultural event of the region and is visited by thousands of farmers from all over the state, ended in a fiasco at PAU here today.

Doctors express concern over hospital issue 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The Satluj Hospital controversy today got murkier with the founder-director of the hospital alleging that the charge of attempt to rape being framed against him was fabricated at the behest of another director of the hospital, who was the son of a senior retired police officer.

Gujral accused of misusing power
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The UT Home Secretary, Mr R.S.Gujral, has been accused of misusing power and getting a case registered against Manpreet, her father, S.S. Oberoi and Vishal Aggarwal under harsh sections of the Indian Penal Code, even when these did not apply.

296 trees near railway station face axe 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — After the cutting of 32 trees at Punjab Agricultural University and another 108 by the Municipal Corporation at the Shaheed Joginder Pal Pandey road, it is now the turn of the Railway authorities to make a dent on the already depleting green cover of the city.

Farmers seek support price  KHANNA, Sept 22 — Despite government agencies having started the procurement process of paddy, farmers still continue to sell their product for a price far less than the minimum support price fixed by the government.

In the wake of low purchase of paddy by government agencies, farmers  sit idle at a mandi in Khanna on Friday.

 government.In 

Students burn an effigy of the Chief Minister on the PAU campus, on Friday. — Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

EARLIER STORIES Kisan Mela begins amidst students’ protest September 22, 2000 Ludhiana councillors oppose octroi privatisation September 21, 2000 MC may regularise encroachments September 20, 2000 Old management of GNPS restored September 19, 2000 FIRs or twisted facts? September 18, 2000 City’s stinking corridors of power September 17, 2000 Bomb blast case top priority: IG September 16, 2000 Scared residents seek arms licences September 15, 2000 Will PAU recover 4 cr loan given to Punwire ? September 14, 2000 Cash-starved PAU loses interest on EPF September 13, 2000

COMMUNITY

Claim by education trust member 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — Mr Gurbir Singh, son of late Punjab Chief Minister Justice Gurnam Singh, maintained today that he continued to be the president of the Guru Nanak Educational Trust, which manages Guru Nanak Girls College in Model Town, here.

Misuse of government machinery alleged 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The nine-party Sanjha Morcha leaders today expressed confidence that its candidate for the Sunam Assembly constituency, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, will emerge victorious in the byelection slated later this month.

Mixed reactions on STD tariff reduction 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The announcement reducing tariff on STD service has been welcomed by the general public. But the PCO owners were divided in their opinion about the effect on their business.

The essence of existence
MIRZA Ghalib said a century and a half ago - “I want to live at a place where nobody resides”. I too want to say the same thing at this point of my life. I need solitude to ponder over the secrets of life. Still more I yearn to put in writing the vicissitudes of my own life. I have a desire to make a clean breast of what has not happened to me. 

Farid: storehouse of divine wisdom
SHEIKH Farid (1173-1265 AD) was one of the distinguished Sufi saints who adapted Sufism to the socio-religious culture of this region. The concept of Farid’s Sufism emanated from three basic tenets — love of God, purity of mind, and detachment from wealth and worldly pursuits.

FLAVOUR OF THE WEEK
IN the early mornings and late evenings, there is a nip in the air, although the days are hot due to high relative humidity. Woes of residents here never seem to end.. If one gets normal supply of electricity, then the water supply gets erratic.

Auctioned post-offices ‘almost’ saved 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — Postal employees in the city can heave a sigh of relief as the Ministry of Defence has almost agreed to bail out three post offices here, whose auction was announced by a district court in order to pay compensation to farmers of Daba village near here, whose land was acquired by the Defence Ministry.

Gill’s victory hailed 
DORAHA, Sept 22 — The managing committee, staff and students of Guru Nanak National College of Doraha have hailed the election of Mr Jaswant Singh Gill to the Panjab University Senate.

• CFTRI golden jubilee

EDUCATION

Farmers attend training course 
Ludhiana, Sept 22 — A 10-day training programme on plant protection and pest management, organised by the Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation, concluded on the PAU campus here today.

PAUTA seeks financial aid 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — Decrying the precarious financial condition of Punjab Agricultural University, its teachers’ association in a memorandum handed over to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, today, demanded financial help from the state.

HEALTH

Sleep apnea treatment at DMCH 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, has started a complete sleep lab here. It is claimed to be a pioneering effort in the treatment of sleep apnea in the region.

ADMINISTRATION

Ban imposed on storage, sale of crackers 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — As a precautionary measure, the district administration has imposed a complete ban on the storage and sale of crackers and other fire works in all congested areas of the city. This decision was taken at a meeting of the representatives of wholesale dealers of crackers and concerned officers held here, under the chairmanship of S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner.

DC order to officials 
LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has directed officers to come prepared for redress of complaints in the weekly sangat darshan programme and said only those officers should attend the programme, who were directly concerned with the complaints of the public.