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25 buses flagged off for Afghanistan

Wagah (Amritsar), December 29 A convoy of 25 buses was flagged off from the border joint checkpost here today for war-torn Afghanistan as a New Year gift. With this, Afghanistan has received 75 buses in three consignments as a goodwill gesture from India. One of the 25 buses, donated by India to Afghanistan, crosses into Pakistan at Wagah checkpost on Sunday. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

Restart talks with Pak: Karan Singh
Jalandhar, December 29
Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member Karan Singh today advocated the need of opening a dialogue with Pakistan for the solution of the Kashmir issue.

SGPC to appeal against Sajjan’s acquittal
Alamgir (Ludhiana), December 29
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee will move the Delhi High Court against the acquittal of Congress leader and former MP, Mr Sajjan Kumar. Disclosing this here today, the SGPC chief, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, told TNS that the mandatory legal formalities were being worked out and the appeal against his acquittal would be filed very soon.

Levy rice worth 200 cr lying in mills
Fazilka, December 29
The rice milling industry in Punjab is in the doldrums since for the past more than one and a half months’ the process of the purchase of levy rice by the government has virtually come to a standstill. Besides, rice millers, commission agents and farmers have been affected.

Rules ‘kill’ quality, transparency
Bathinda, December 29
The Department of Local Bodies Punjab instead of promoting transparency seems to be discouraging competition amongst bidding contractors by framing rules to this effect.

• 1 lakh pension cases bogus: minister

Six arrested for robbery
Gurdaspur, December 29
Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said here today that all six members of a gang identified as Navtej Singh of Jhaba in Tarn Taran police district, Sajan, resident of Khinnowala, Sultan alias Raj Pal Amandeep Singh, Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha and Baljit Singh, all residents of Amritsar had been arrested.

REGIONAL BRIEFS

Shoemaker Darshan Singh, 48, makes a "Punjabi Khusa," a traditional Punjabi jutti, in Amritsar on Sunday. The "Punjabi Khusa," which originated during the medieval times in the northern states, use to be worn only by the rich and famous. However, many people wear it across India today. — Reuters

YOUR TOWN

Amritsar Bathinda Chandigarh Gurdaspur Hoshiarpur Jalandhar Ludhiana Mansa Moga Sangrur

	Amarinder rejects Kelkar proposal on farm IT December 29, 2002
	People suffer as govt sleeps December 28, 2002
	Govt bans payment to 1.08 lakh bogus pensioners December 27, 2002
	Badal for CBI probe into Gujarat scandal December 26, 2002
	Shaheedi Jor Mela — last political battle of 2002 December 25, 2002
	High priests write to Badungar on Ashutosh December 24, 2002
	UNESCO ‘to take care’ of Pak gurdwaras December 23, 2002
	Gujral blames Punjab’s slide on politics of hate December 22, 2002
	Director, Health, ‘threatens’ hotelier December 21, 2002
	Govt to raise Bathinda refinery issue at NDC meeting December 20, 2002

POLITICS

Hold House session on graft issue: SAD
Bathinda, December 29
Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundar, MLA from Sardulgarh and the SAD general secretary yesterday urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to call a three-day session of the Punjab Assembly to discuss “corruption”, cases against politicians, MLAs and ministers.

Kanjhla SAD’s Sangrur chief
Sangrur, December 29
The long-standing tussle between the factions led by Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Uttaranchal Governor Surjit Singh Barnala to register their claims for the presidential post of the district president of the SAD today came to at an end after the elevation of Mr Rajinder Singh Kanjhla as President of the district unit of the SAD.

COMMUNITY

Ex-serviceman seeks justice
Bathinda, December 29
“When no action has been taken against police officials found guilty in an inquiry report submitted by the DSP, endorsed by the SSP and the DIG, from where I would get justice,” lamented Mr Darshan Singh, an ex-serviceman, who has won five Army gallantry awards.

Family loses son, donates eyes Bathinda, December 29 Three young male members of a family living in a small house of Nai Basti of the town have died in different mishaps in the past four months. The grief-stricken family was trying to come to terms with the tragic deaths of its two young members on August 20 and August 24 this year, the only male member of the family Mr Jagan Nath, a noted teacher of the area, was electrocuted yesterday.

A jatha led by Mufti Mohammed Amin, brother of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, performs ‘ardas’ for peace at the Golden Temple on Sunday. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

SAD (A) too against IT on farmers
Phagwara, December 29
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) rejected the Kelkar report suggesting imposition indirect of Income Tax on farmers. Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the party and a member of the Lok Sabha, said today farmers already paid 30 per cent indirect taxes and 80 per cent MPs were elected by rural voters mostly farmers and they should reject Kelkar report to protect farmers’ interests.

CM urged to shift CIA Inspector
Chandigarh, December 29
Punjab Youth Congress leaders and a PPCC member today urged Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to get Mr Didar Singh, a police Inspector posted in the CIA at Patiala, transferred from the Patiala range.

Dera control restored to Baba Gurpinder
Amritsar, December 29
Baba Gurpinder Singh, Chief of the ‘Dera’ Guru Sat-Satlani at Ghrinda village, who was dispossessed of the Dera property was restored its possession today following the orders of the Deputy Commissioner.

Dogs have a field day
Phagwara, December 29
Every dog has his day but some have it better than others. This was evident at the two-day track races of dogs organised in the nearby Palahi village. Janbaz, belonging to Dyal Singh Thanedar, stole the show and was awarded the first prize comprising a trophy and Rs 5,100 in cash by eminent social worker, Mr Jagat Singh Palahi today.

Rimpa steals the show Jalandhar, December 29 The second day of the 127th Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan belonged to child prodigy Rimpa Siva. Accompanying Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia on the tabla, Rimpa made music lovers at the local Devi Talaab Temple Complex give standing ovation to her. Flutist Hari Parsad Churasia performs during the 127th Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar on Saturday. — Photo Pardeep Pandit

Three firm partners convicted
Mansa, December 29
Mr Harsh Mehta, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mansa, convicted three partners of a firm, including a woman Saroj Rani, Budh Ram, and Krishan Lal and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 6 months and pay a fine of Rs 500.

CRIME

Fake currency racket busted
Tarn Taran, December 29
Acting on a tip-off the Tarn Taran police today busted a fake currency racket which was running in a village school at Kot Kapura here. The police has seized fake notes for Rs 7 lakh and arrested six persons.

EDUCATION

Health tax on students opposed
Hoshiarpur, December 29
The BJP will oppose the health tax recently imposed by the Punjab Government on school-children.