Surinder Badal gets exemption
Ropar, February 21
Ms Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of the former Chief Minister and SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was today granted conditional permanent exemption from personal appearance by the Special Judge (Ropar), Mr S.K. Goel, in the corruption case against Badals. The conditions are that she would have to appear in the court at the time of framing of charges or whenever summoned by the court.

Capt to continue fight against graft Banur (Patiala), February 21 Asking the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his son, Mr Sukhbir Badal, to stop eulogising themselves, Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, said here today that both Mr Badal and his son should not forget the fact that they had been released from judicial custody on bail in a “corruption” case.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his wife Parneet Kaur discuss with Mr Hardial Kamboz and Mr Deepinder Singh Dhillon at an election rally in Banur on Saturday. — Tribune photo Manoj Mahajan

Sikh diaspora urged to adopt villages
Chandigarh, February 21
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, yesterday said 2004 would be observed as the year of education and health for all.

‘Malkhana’ explosives given to Army
Amritsar, February 21
The stock of highly explosive materials like RDX and PNET lying in the ‘malkhana’ of the judicial complex have been handed over to the Army authorities here for its disposal.

Abandoned child awaits ‘Khushi’ Jalandhar, February 21 Three-month-old ‘Khushi’ with calcified kidney, who was abandoned by her parents is waiting to be adopted by one of two prospective Delhi-based couples. This is the result of a unique “window-cradel” with an electronic sensor that has been serving as an avenue for over 200 abandoned new borns to rehabilitation childless homes for the past 20 years at the Pushpa Gujral Nari Niketan on Nakodar road.

Khushi, the three-month-old child with calcification in kidney, with the women who have been looking after her at Jalandhar’s Pushpa Gujral Nari Niketan. — Photo: S.S. Chopra

POLITICS

Cong under pressure to field Hindu candidates
Chandigarh, February 21
The Congress is in a fix as far as its electoral and power politics is concerned in Punjab. Though the party’s major vote bank is based in the urban areas yet its power and party structure do not reflect the same. Informed sources said that the party was under strong pressure to correct the power imbalance by nominating Hindu candidates for Lok Sabha elections from the main urban constituencies.

Akali Dal (Ravi Inder) to contest all 13 seats
Mohali, February 21
The Akali Dal will contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from all 13 seats in Punjab, even if does not get support from any political party.

BSP suspense puts SAD in quandary
Chandigarh, February 21
Great suspense maintained by the BSP regarding its electoral strategy has put the Congress and SAD in quandary in Punjab and other states.

Chandumajra mellows
Patiala, February 21
The revolt in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Patiala on the issue of announcement of the candidature of former Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh seems to be ebbing with former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, who had staked his claim to the party ticket, today claiming that he would fight for his rights by remaining in the party.

COMMUNITY

Truckers block traffic

Bathinda, February 21 Hundreds of truck operators today blocked traffic for hours on the Bathinda-Barnala national highway and gheraoed a senior official of the State Transport Department for his alleged involvement in illegally collecting money from truck drivers. Policeman provide safe escape to the state transport officers (third from left) who were gheraoed at Bathinda on Saturday. — Tribune Photo Kulbir Beera

Squall victim’s family gets aid
Abohar, February 21
Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, former Cooperation Minister, yesterday presented a cheque for Rs 84,000 to the family of Mr Balkar Singh who had died due to squall at Jandwala Meerasangla village near the international border last year. The son of Mr Balkar Singh received the cheque under the Sankat Haran Insurance Scheme offered by the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperatives to its customers free of cost.

3-day seminar on Guru Granth Sahib
Patiala, February 21
A three-day international seminar on ‘Guru Granth Sahib — formation, unique status and place among scriptures’ concluded here yesterday.

Teacher caught helping student cheat
Samana, February 21
Mr Parmod Kumar, Principal, Senior Secondary School, and in charge, flying squad for the Class VIII examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board of Samana subdivision, today raided DAV School, Kakrala, 15 km from here, and caught Mr Balbir Singh of the school while he was allegedly helping a student to cheat.

Boy shot dead by Principal cremated
Amritsar, February 21
The cremation of Sandeep Singh, Dalit boy allegedly shot by Harnek Singh, Principal of Senior Secondary School, Chhajjalwadi, yesterday, took place at Tangra about, 25 km from here, this evening A large number of relatives and villagers attended the cremation. However, the police failed to arrest the Principal even today.

PATIALA HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Ghulam Ali mesmerises his ‘ustadon ka shahar’ Patiala, February 21 Ghulam Ali remains humble to the hilt, yet he takes no credit for what he is. So at the Heritage Festival here last evening he attributed his success to his ustads from the Patiala Gharana. The first submission he made after occupying the dais against the backdrop of the Old Moti Bagh Palace was, “Yeh sheher mere ustadon ka hai. Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali performs at Patiala’s Old Moti Bagh Palace on Friday. —  Photo by Rajesh Sachar

Salma Sultan dons director’s cap
Patiala, February 21
Salma Sultan, Doordarshan hostess of yesteryear, continues to charm as ever. Out of sight, but certainly not out of business, the elegant and talented television newsreader is on the verge of re-establishing her link with Doordarshan, which continues to be the channel of her choice, irrespective of the plethora of channels on air.

Salma Sultan talks about her role as director of DD’s latest investigative series, “Jalta Sawaal”. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar


‘Include small cities in fashion circuit’

Patiala, February 21 Throw in 15 top-notch models along with three well-known designers. Add to this glamour noted choreographer Harmeet Bajaj can lend to an event. And you are sure to witness a gala affair. The grounds at the National Institute of Sports here were aglitter with beauty and poise as well-known faces of the advertising world rehearsed the catwalk. Models pose for Heritage Fashion Show

Pak “Junoon” heads for Patiala
Patiala, February 21
The final day of the ongoing Patiala Heritage festival will see a confluence of cultures, with famous Pakistani Pop-band ‘Junoon’ sharing the space with Gursewak Mann from India and Stereo Nation from London.

Phulkari artisans to form self-help groups

Patiala, February 21 Bhagwant Kaur of Churpur village, near here, has been embroidering phulkari motifs all her life, but has made no financial gains. Now, she and other women, who participated in a two-day workshop at Quila Mubarak as part of the Heritage Festival, have decided to form a self-help group to market their craft in coordination with non-government agencies. Women artisans embroider ‘phulkari’ motifs at Quila Mubarak complex in Patiala on Friday. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar

COURTS

Rights panel takes note of farmer’s complaint
Abohar, February 21
Finding merit in the allegations of Mr Raja Ram, a farmer of Bishanpura village of this subdivision, and Mr Justice R.L. Anand, a Member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, has called for a report from the Secretary, Home Department, Punjab by May 31, 2004.

8-year jail for 2 in dowry death case
Jalandhar, February 21
District and Sessions Judge S.N. Aggarwal yesterday sentenced Dev Kumar and his wife Maya Devi to eight years in jail while Gopal Rai, the husband of the victim, Seema, had been declared proclaimed offender in a dowry death case and was reportedly presently living in Australia.

Six-month jail in cheque bounce case
Pathankot, February 21
Mr Ranjit Singh, Judicial Magistrate, yesterday sentenced Jagnandan Singh Pathania of Shanti Investment Company, to six months fined him Rs 5,000.

CRIME

SIT set up to arrest liquor baron’s killers
Bathinda, February 21
The police authorities have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the DSP of Phul, to investigate the murder of a liquor contractor, Darshan Bajakhana.

5 dacoits arrested in Phagwara
Phagwara, February 21
The local police has busted an inter-district gang of five dacoits by arresting all five gangsters, including its kingpin Lakhwinder Singh, alias Raja.

Patwari held for graft
Moga, February 21
The Vigilance Bureau yesterday arrested revenue Patwari Balwinder Singh posted in a village here on charges of accepting bribe Rs 700 from a Tehsildar.

EDUCATION

Move to privatise ITIs resented
Abohar, February 21
The Industrial Training Employees Union, Punjab held a rally here to express resentment over the state government’s move to privatise about 12 non-functional  ITIs in Punjab. The employees, who had arrived from different towns, took out a protest march shouting slogans against the government led by Capt Amarinder Singh.

Mother Tongue Day observed
Patiala, February 21
The Punjabi Language Development Department of Punjabi University organised Gyani Lal Singh memorial lecture in connection with Mother Tongue Day yesterday. The Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr U.C. Singh, presided over the lecture.