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Panthic board to contest poll
Chandigarh, February 23
The Panthic Parliamentary Board, a new political organisation, is emerging as a cocktail of radical and moderate ideologies.
The PPB, that asserts to provide an alternative of the SAD-BJP combine and the
Congress in Punjab, has roped in Mr Jagjit Singh Chauhan, a Khalistan ideologue,
Mr Sarabjit Singh Sohal, a Sikh Students Federation activist, Mr Rajinder Singh
Khalsa, a top leader of Khalsa Panchayat, and several other former militant,
radical and moderate Akali leaders in its ranks.
News Analysis
Will ‘Punjab shining’ happen?
Chandigarh, February 23
The elections to the Lok Sabha are at the doorstep at a time when serious socio-economic and financial problems confront Punjab. It is wishful to expect key political parties to talk of these or make a commitment to find a solution to them. One can, however, expect them to hold each other responsible for having precipitated these problems, once the election campaign starts.
Kang’s directions to officials
Muktsar, February 23
Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister Jagmohan Singh Kang today directed civil and police officers to redress Congress workers’ grievances on priority. Mr Kang, who was here to preside over a meeting of the District Planning Board said that officials should hear elected representatives.
Information kiosks to help
tourists
Amritsar, February 23
“Information kiosks” being set up in different parts of Amritsar will provide details about tourist places, hotels and flights before the holy city is declared as a world heritage site by Unesco. E-governance will also help in disaster management in case of earthquake or any other emergency. This will be a first step towards providing total information about the city.
Liquor contractors fear unfair auction of
vends
Ludhiana, February 23
The auction of liquor vends in Punjab may not be a smooth affair and Punjab liquor contractors are apprehending that the liquor trade may be passed on to a particular group which at present has monopoly share of the trade.
These apprehensions were expressed by liquor traders of Punjab who held a
meeting with the Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr D.P. Reddy, here on
Friday.
Apex body for Panth mooted
Chandigarh, February 23
Several Sikh organisations met here today and recommended to the SGPC to constitute a global apex body under its aegis and patronage of Akal Takht for the Sikh panth to deal with problems and provide guidance and direction to the community in its march toward progress.
100 pilgrims likely to visit Pak
gurdwara
Khadoor Sahib, February 23
The Centre is likely to give permission to 100 pilgrims to visit the historic Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan for the first time to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev, which falls in April. The pilgrims would be allowed to start a religious procession from Pakistan, which would culminate in Khadoor Sahib.
NRIs arrive at Amritsar
Amritsar, February 23
An NRI from England, Mr Jimmy Pooni, was instrumental in bringing a special chartered flight from Europe here today. Boeing 757 Air Slovakia painted with “City of Golden Temple” and carrying 130 NRIs landed at Rajasansi International Airport to visit the Golden Temple.
IT raids on premises of traders, docs
Ferozepore, February 23
Sleuths of the Income Tax Department conducted raids on various premises belonging to some doctors and businessmen of the region today. According to information, the operation was carried out under the supervision of Mr L.R. Nayyar, Commissioner, Income Tax, Bathinda, who was assisted by Additional Commissioners along with a battery of ITOs, inspectors and other officials drawn from Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepore.
Lawyer charges MLA with taking over
property
Chandigarh, February 23
A local lawyer has alleged that a senior Punjab ruling party legislator has illegally taken over his family property at Ferozepore in connivance with staff of Primary Agriculture Development Bank .
Farmers’ dharna throws traffic out of
gear
Patiala, February 23
Traffic in the city was thrown out of gear with activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union pitching tents on the Mall road opposite the headquarters of the Punjab State Electricty Board.
The dharna, for which activists started collecting yesterday, is expected to
last for a week. Today itself there were traffic jams at Lahori Gate, Sheranwala
Gate and the Fountain Chowk because traffic had to be diverted due to the
blockage of the Mall road.
Power bills of border area farmers
waived
Jalalabad, February 23
The Punjab State Electricity Board has decided not to ask for payment of electricity bills from agriculture tube-well owners situated along Indo-Pakistan border, whose land was mined during operation ‘Prakarm’, disclosed Mr
R.K. Bains, Chief Engineer West Zone PSEB Bathinda.
Seminar on
environment
Bathinda, February 23
Kheti Virasat, an NGO for organic farming, organised a seminar here yesterday at which to protect environment was stressed.
It was pointed out that due to pollution of air, water and food diseases like
diabetes, and reproductive diseases had increased. Decreasing number of
vultures, peacocks, kites and lowering of age of puberty and menopause were
pointed out.
Two labourers buried alive
Sohawa (Tarn Taran), February 23
Two farm labourers were buried alive at Sohawa village while digging a well here today. The labourers have been identified as Gurpreet Singh (24) of Burj-Rai-Ke village and Randhir Singh (22) of
Bhattal-Bhai-Ke village.
SC members get financial aid
Kharar, February 23
The Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, distributed cheques under a welfare scheme for the Scheduled Castes here today.
As many as 111 persons were given a cheque for Rs 10,000 each. The payment was
the first instalment of the total amount of Rs 20,000 to be paid under the
scheme.
Campaign against female foeticide
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 23
A five-day campaign against female foeticide was launched in the district by the regional advertisement wing of
Government of India by organising a seminar on female foeticide at Bachat Bhavan today. Mr Mohinder Pal Arora, ADC, presided over the function and Mr K.S.Dhatwalia, Regional Director, was the guest of honour. The function was attended by NGO representatives of nursing homes and social organisations.
Punjab to buy 400 buses
Phagwara, February 23
Punjab Transport Minister Tej Parkash Singh declared yesterday that 400 new buses would be added to the government transport fleet in state.
Talking to newsmen here, the Minister, who was here as a Chief Guest at the
Rajput Kashyap Mela, said that the bus stands of Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana
and Amritsar would be modernised at a cost of Rs 50 crores.
39 breeds take part in dog
show
Patiala, February 23
The two-day all-India breed champion dog show, which was held at the local Polo Grounds today, attracted as many as 320 dogs from all over the country.
The show, which was organised by the Patiala Kennel Club and is part of the
ongoing Patiala Heritage Festival, saw canines from 39 breeds taking part.
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Commenting on the affairs of the Congress in Punjab, Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley said it was facing a civil war-like situation following the “strife” between Chief Minster Amarinder Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
There is more to “Junoon” than music. For 13 years now, the three members of South Asia’s biggest rock group have been crusading against fundamentalism and corruption back home in Pakistan. 
The Sandhas of Namdar Khan road were in for a pleasant surprise today. “It was as if our wish had come true”, they said when they saw Salman Ahmed, the star of the ‘Junoon’ group, at their door.
Surprise gave way to good old punjabi warmth with the family jostling
to get the proverbial “thanda” and showing their VIP visitor all
the nooks and corners of the colonial house.
The Patiala Heritage Festival, which started with a series of soulful classical performances ended with a bang with hundred of watts of foot tapping music forcing a jam packed crowd in Yadvindra Public School stadium to rock all night.
The crowd braced the chilly winds and continued to enthusiastically
support Gursewak Mann, Stereonation and Junoon late into the night.