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TOP STORIES

Capt’s days in power numbered,
says Badal
Machhiwara (Ludhiana), December 22
Former Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal today rashed out at the Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Badal focussed his attack on Capt Amarinder and claimed that his days in power were numbered.

• Bhattal stays away from office, Amarinder hosts party

• Amarinder lays stone of memorial gates

• Patialvis may want Captain to stay

Badal for CBI probe as liquor baron
justifies project
Chandigarh, December 22
“If they are not able to allot me land as per their policy, I will move back to UP where I have offers to develop major commercial complexes all over the state,” says Ponty Chadha, a liquor baron, whose proposal for developing a multi-use industrial park has run into controversy after the leader of the Opposition, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, demanded a CBI probe into the allotment of 50 acres of land to him.

Daler’s 1995-99 tours abroad
come under scanner
Patiala, December 22
Pop star Daler Mehndi’s tours between 1995 and 1999 have come under the scanner as the singer has not provided any record of his visits abroad during this period and is also using a passport which had been issued to him after 1999.

PRTC privatisation opposed as losses dip
Chandigarh, December 22
Since the PRTC have been reduced by Rs 4 crore this financial year, it was not a fit case for disinvestment, said its Chairman Mr Ved Parkash Gupta, here today. Disagreeing with the government’s move to disinvest the corporation, Mr Gupta said efforts should instead be made to minimise the losses by increasing the bus fare by six paisa per kilometre.

Museum on Sikhism at Khadur Sahib
Tarn Taran, December 22
Dr Raghbir Singh Bains, author of Encyclopaedia of Sikhism who introduced Sikhism globally on multimedia in the 21 century, is busy setting up an international multimedia museum at Khadur Sahib (Amritsar).

Busy day at Wagah Wagah, December 22 A group of 33 students and teachers from Lahore Grammar School for Boys arrived here today for a two-week-long visit to India. A senior leader, Ms Nusrat Nilopher Ali, who was leading the group, said they were extremely enthusiastic about their tour. School students from Pakistan, who arrived in India on a tour, at the Wagah joint checkpost on Monday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

POLITICS

SAD elections in February
Chandigarh, December 22
The delegate session to elect the next President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal will be held in February, Mr Daljit Singh Cheema, press secretary of the party, said here today.

SAD(A) city panel dissolved
Sangrur, December 22
Mr Harinder Pal Singh, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Sangrur city, yesterday dissolved Executive Committee of the city unit at a joint meeting of the city and Sangrur Circle units of the SAD (A), presided over by Mr Jeet Singh Alloarkh, district president of the party, here.

COMMUNITY

50 murders in 2003
Number highest in past 10 years
Bathinda, December 22
This district bordering Haryana, which is known for large-scale smuggling of narcotics, has also set a record of sorts as 50 murders have taken place in the current year, the highest in the past 10 years.

Corporate hospitals target Punjabis
Bathinda, December 22
A fat-rich diet, sedentary life-style, some peculiar genes and lack of facilities at government-run hospitals in Punjab have given the “corporate hospitals” a perfect ground to market their services, particularly cardiology, aggressively in the region.

Impressive creations by special children
Patiala, December 22
Are they the children of a lesser God? This question haunts you repeatedly while you walk among the special children at Pehchaan 2003, the annual cultural workshop of learning and performing for mentally challenged children.

Beggars snatch blankets from DC
Jalandhar, December 22
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Gupta, who had gone to distribute blankets among beggars and street children today, was shocked as beggars lost their patience and started snatching blankets at the local railway station this morning.

Residents seek Nihang chief’s arrest
Tarn Taran, December 22
Hundreds of residents of the border township of Bhikhiwind under the banner of Action Committee today organised a protest rally at Bhikhiwind. They were demanding the arrest of Baba Ajit Singh Poohla against whom cases under criminals offences have been registered on the complaint of the villagers.

• 12 medicines found spurious

• PSEB staff hold dharna

• Community service camp opened

• Xmas procession

AGRICULTURE

BKU(E) activists stage dharna
Barnala, December 22
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) of the region today staged a protest dharna in front of the Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) office complex here to draw the Punjab Government’s attention towards the problems and hardship of farmers and press the government to redress the grievances of peasants at the earliest.

ADMINISTRATION

Dharam Vir is Revenue Secy
Chandigarh, December 22
The Punjab Government today appointed Mr Dharam Vir as Secretary, Revenue. He will also continue to work as Commissioner, Appeals, Patiala and Jalandhar Divisions.

CRIME

810 fake VCDs seized, 1 held
Bathinda, December 22
As part of a campaign launched against unscrupulous elements, the police yesterday arrested one person, Surinder Singh, who has allegedly been selling fake VCDs at his shop near Gole market here.

Hawala money seized
Patiala, December 22
Nand Lal, a resident of Rajpura, was nabbed by the Rajpura police while ferrying hawala money to the tune of Rs 15 lakh. The money was found hidden inside speakers of the Zen car he was driving.