R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
MEETING: A trade union leader, Mr Om Parkash Karkara, convened a meeting of all parties and trade unions at Aggarwal Dhramshala to condemn the unilateral attack on Iraq by the USA here on Thursday. The speakers opposed the invasion on Iraq and criticised the USA for having double standard. A resolution was also passed.

BATHINDA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested 11 smugglers and seized more than three quintals of poppy husk from them in the separate cases registered against them at different police stations of the district. In a press note issued here on Thursday, Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, said four vehicles, including two cars and two scooters, which were being used for the smuggling of poppy husk had been impounded.

HOSHIARPUR
GIRL ABDUCTED: Seema Rani of Kulian village was allegedly abducted by Kamal Singh of chack Samala on Tuesday. Ms Surinder Kaur, mother of the girl, alleged that Seema was abducted from the fields. The Hariana police has registered a case under Sections 368 and 366 of the IPC against Kamal Singh.

DOWRY: On the complaint of Ms Sunita Devi of the local Mohalla Aslamabad, the Sadar police has registered a case under Section 498A of the IPC against her husband Gurmej Singh of Saloh Bharsali, Una district, Himachal Pradesh. Ms Sunita Devi complained that Gurmej Singh had been mentally torturing her for more dowry since their marriage in January, 2001.

‘TRAVEL AGENT’ BOOKED : The Sadar police registered a case against “travel agent” Surjit Kaur of the local Mohalla Aslamabad on the complaint of Karanjit Singh of Randhawa village that Surjit Kaur took Rs 2 lakh from him for sending his son abroad. But neither she sent his son abroad nor returned the money.

LUDHIANA
QUIZ COURSE AT BCM: Students of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, attended a 10-session course which began on Thursday on the school premises. This had organised by Derek O’ Brien, Asia’s best known quiz master, in collaboration with the school authorities. The course will make use of cameras, interactive video and a unique KQ scoring system for taking the sessions. A colleague or a trained co-host will provide live interaction of Brien with the students. These students will respond through carefully designed KQ score books that will make it possible them get a customised feedback. The course content includes speaking well, people skills, general knowledge and good habits like encouraging reading, how to use a dictionary and getting more out of an atlas. The skills will be imparted in a scientific and systematic way. The students will also get a certificate with their KQ score at the end of the course, informed Ms Paramjit Kaur, Principal. 

VAT OPPOSED: The Punjab Beopar Mandal would oppose the implementation of value added tax (VAT). Stating this the president of the Punjab Beopar Mandal said here on Friday that the decision of the Central Government to introduce VAT had brought the traders and the industrialists on a war path with the government. The trade and industry had been fighting against the sales tax and other draconian laws of the government and instead of bringing any relief, the government had now come with VAT. He said that the meeting of the All-India Mahabeopar Mandal delegation with the Prime Minister was not likely to bring any fruitful results for the trade and industry as the attitude of the government was that of a brute ruler. He said that the All-India Mahabeopar Mandal had announced the launching of an agitation against the VAT and all units would extend full support to the same. The trade and industry would observe Bharat Bandh on March 31 and April 1 against the implementation of VAT. He also added that a state-level rally of traders of Punjab was being held at Bathinda on March 23 to mobilise them for the long agitation. 

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY: It was a day with a difference at the Firsteps Nursery School. The kids came to the school accompanied by their grandparents today. They spent the whole day with them as they celebrated grandparents’ day as a mark of respect for their elderly. The morning was filled with merriment and laughter as the children presented dance on a medley of Hindi film songs, followed by another group song titled ‘Bache man ke sache’. The grandparents also participated in a number of games.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following members of the Arya College Teachers’ Unit have been unanimously elected office-bearers for the session 2003-2004 : president— Dr R.C. Sharma; vice-president—Prof S.C. Lekh; secretary—Prof J.K. Bhandari; finance secretary—Prof H.S. Sidhu;and joint secretary —Prof P.S. Bhogal.

CRITICISED: The Yuva Lok Janshakti Party has condemned the government for not opening any avenues of employment for the educated unemployed youth across the country. Mr Ramanjit Lally, national vice-president, said the government had failed to initiate any programme for their welfare, which had resulted in disillusionment. He said the Congress had failed to declare the assets of its MLAs even after completing one year in office. He also expressed his concern at the increasing influence of saffronisation and its fallout on the youth. 

TRADERS’ PROTEST: Members of trade and industry would hold a phased agitation from Friday against the introduction of value added tax (VAT), proposed to be brought into effect from April 1. According to Mr Tulsi Das Jaitwani, president, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, the traders would stage dharnas in all major commercial centres throughout the country and submit memoranda to the legislators and MPs on Sunday. Activists would hold demonstrations at the state capitals on March 26, burn effigies of VAT on March 29 and observe a countrywide two-day bandh on March 31 and April 1. 

STIR CALLED OFF: The proposed state-level dharna by Punjab Government pensioners in Patiala on Saturday has been called off after a written assurance by Mr Harchand Singh Barsat, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Punjab. According to Mr B.R. Kaushal, president, Punjab State Pensioners’ Confederation, Mr Barsat had assured them that a meeting would be fixed with the Chief Minister after the Budget session for negotiation. Meanwhile, the association has flayed the Congress government for its failure to take effective measures for the welfare of the pensioners, according to a statement issued by Mr Yash Pal Ghai, additional general secretary of the association, here on Thursday.

PHAGWARA
CHEMIST HELD: The local police has arrested chemist Jatinder Arora of the Prempura Mohalla and seized from him narcotics and drugs. SP Harmanbir Singh Gill stated in a press note on Wednesday that the arrest had been made under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPC Act.