Chandigarh, March 2
Reluctance on the part of senior leaders, including members of the outgoing Lok Sabha, from seeking re-election, may put additional pressure on the party high commands of both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal in deciding their nominees to fill five Rajya Sabha seats from Punjab falling vacant early next month.

In Himachal Pradesh, one seat — Mr Anil Sharma (Himachal Vikas Congress)- will fall vacant on April 9. This time the seat will go to the Congress on the basis of its strength in the Himachal Vidhan Sabha.

In Punjab, Mr Ashwani Kumar (Congress), Mr Lajpat Rai (Bharatiya Janata Party), Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra (all from the Shiromani Akali Dal) will be retiring from the Rajya Sabha on April 9.

Of these, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa have already been nominated as Dal candidates for the Faridkot and Sangrur parliamentary constituencies for the May 10 Lok Sabha elections, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra may be nominated again by the Dal for yet another term of the Rajya Sabha.

On the basis of its strength in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Congress is expected to get three of five seats falling vacant next month. The other two may go to the Akali Dal.

The Election Commission has already notified the election schedule for filling these six Rajya Sabha seats. As such both the Punjab and Himachal Vidhan Sabha will have to be in session on March 26, the day polling has to take place.

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s session has already been called from March 15.

According to the schedule, formal notification will be issued on March 9 and March 16 will be the last date for filing of nomination papers. For withdrawal of nomination papers March 19 will be the last date. Polling will be held on March 26.

In the case of Punjab, the election to fill vacancies caused by the retirement of Mr Ashwani Kumar, Mr Lajpat Rai and Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal will be held separately than those of vacancies caused by the retirement of Mr Sukhdev Singh and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

While the Akalis have still to decide as to who will be their second nominee for the Rajya Sabha, several senior Punjab Congress leaders, including some of the MPs, both present and past, are in the run for nomination. In fact, every leader of some substance in the Punjab Congress is keen to grab Rajya Sabha nomination.

Ludhiana, March 2
Even as the dissent over the selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha poll continues are yet the SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal is faced with the tricky task of choosing candidates for nomination to the Rajya Sabha. More so as he will have to placate those who are waiting in the wings to be sent to the Upper House after being denied the party ticket to the Lower House.

As many as five Rajya Sabha seats are to be filled by April 3 while the names of those to be nominated will have to be recommended by March 16. Out of the total seven seats of the state, six are currently being held by the Akali - BJP alliance while one, that of Mr Ashwani Kumar, is with the Congress.

Those whose term comes to end are SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, party general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal and Lala Lajpat Rai of the BJP. The term of two other Akalis - Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra and Ms Gurcharan Kaur — comes to an end in July.

Political observers are of the view that Mr Badal has his task cut out before him when he presides over the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party, likely to be held in the next few days. While the names of the likely contenders are to be discussed at the meeting, it is being felt that the meeting will authorise Mr Badal to decide the nominees on his own as was done before announcing the candidates for the parliamentary polls.

Mr Badal’s task, however, will not be easy as he will not want to ruffle the already ruffled feathers of many party leaders who were strong aspirants for the party ticket. While some have dissented by declaring themselves against the official nominee, others are banking on being adjusted in the Rajya Sabha.

This is where the catch lies. In view of the changed political scenario, the Akalis will only have two seats while the others will now go to the Congress. It will be hard for Mr Badal to select the candidates given the claims of many senior leaders of the party. It will also be interesting to watch how Mr Badal accommodates those owing allegiance to his former bete noir-turned-friend Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Surjit Singh Barnala.

There are rumblings in the Tohra camp also, although both sides have denied any rift over the manner the seats traditionally reserved for Mr Tohra’s men have been given to others. Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra has already raised the banner of revolt while many others have chosen to obey the party diktat and work for the success of the official nominees.

The RS nominee list will also reflect whether Mr Tohra has been “marginalised” in the SAD. Political pundits feel that Mr Badal will be hard pressed to renominate Mr Tohra but will also keep the option of selecting one of Tohra’s confidants open if the issue of the poor health of the latter is taken into consideration. Mr Tohra is said to be not averse to the idea of a renomination.

The BJP — which has one seat — will also press for a seat but in view of the changed circumstances and the pressure of appointing partymen, the SAD chief is unlikely to oblige his alliance partner. Here too, he will have to encounter some resistance from the alliance partner.

Ludhiana, March 2
The SAD will release its manifesto within a fortnight wherein the achievements and programmes of the party will be placed before the people, this was stated by SAD general secretary Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal at the joint meeting of the alliance partners here today. The manifesto is being prepared by a committee headed by former SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar.

The occasion also saw dissidents closing ranks and rallying behind Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, the Akali nominee from Ludhiana. Earlier, there was resentment over his selection as the party nominee ignoring the claims of much senior leaders.

Those present on the occasion, included former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha, MLA Ranjit Singh Talwandi, H.S. Gabria, former legislator Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, district BJP chief Subash Verma, Satpal Gosain and councillors from both the parties. A large number of youth workers of both the parties were also present on the occasion.

Ruling out any dissident activity, Mr Grewal said the party was united and was fully geared to ensure the success of its candidate. The campaign will be formally kicked off from Bhagpur, the native village of Mr Dhillon on March 4.

The BJP on its part said it would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Mr Dhillon garnered the maximum votes from the urban areas. The achievements of the NDA government will be highlighted in addition to the good work done by the Akali-BJP alliance during their rule.

Reacting to a query on the disrespect shown to Guru Granth Sahib during the visit of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to Ludhiana a few days ago, Mr Grewal said they condemned the incident and would bring it to the notice of the SGPC.

Tarn Taran, March 2
Once infamous as ‘mini Khalistan’ where the boycott of polling had evoked a massive response during the 1992 elections, Tarn Taran presents a different picture today. Considered as a stronghold of Akalis, this rural Lok Sabha constituency is much ahead of other parliamentary constituencies as far as campaigning activity goes.

The official nominee of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, has already taken a lead by arranging a number of election meetings, the aspirants for the Congress ticket have also launched their respective campaigns.

The front runners for the Congress ticket from the constituency are Mr Inderjit Singh Baserke, district president (rural) and Mr Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, who had unsuccessfully contested two Assembly elections in the past. According to sources the names of Mr Baserke and Mr Sarkaria have been shortlisted. Both Congress leaders have already covered different parts of the constituency to mobilise their supporters in anticipation of getting the party ticket. Interestingly, Dr Manohar Singh Gill, a former Chief Election Commissioner, who was approached by some Congress leaders to contest from Tarn Taran had refused to contest. The party high command could also consider the names of Master Jagir Singh, a former minister, Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Irrigation Minister and Rana Gurjit Singh for the seat.

Since it is for the first time that the Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded a non-Jat candidate thus the Congress is seriously contemplating countering the SAD move. The constituency has a considerable chunk of Backward and Scheduled caste votes.

The fact that Tarn Taran is an Akali’s stronghold is revealed from the fact that Mr Simranjit Singh Mann polled the second highest votes after Ram Bilas Paswan in the country by winning this seat by getting 5.29 lakh votes during Lok Sabha elections in 1989. At that time Mr Mann was in jail.

Now the sitting Akali MP, Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, who was denied party ticket, has decided to contest as a rebel candidate. Mr Tur is being supported by former Akali MLA Prem Singh Lalpura, Mr Major Singh Uboke, a former Akali MP and many other Akali leaders of the area.

Mr Balbir Singh, a Congress MP, has refused to recontest the election from Jalandhar. He has written a detailed letter to Mrs Sonia Ganhdi, President of the AICC, stating that senior Congress leaders have been leaving no stone unturned to belittle him.

Even Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar is not ready to contest from Faridkot. He is keen on shifting to Ferozepore. But Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has made it clear to Mr Brar that he would have to contest from Faridkot.

Dr Manmohan Singh, a senior leader of the Congress, has refused to contest from Jalandhar or elsewhere in Punjab, owing to infighting in the Punjab Congress.

Dr Manmohan Singh, who was deputed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi to resolve differences between the warring factions of the party in Punjab a few months ago, is well aware of the deep rift.

Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is being asked to contest from Sangrur, has also refused, knowing full well the real motive behind the move.

Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, who won from Hoshiarpur last time, is reluctant to try his luck this time. Mrs Ambika Soni is tipped to be the Congress candidate from Hoshiarpur. As the CPM has put up Mr Darshan Mattu from Hoshiarpur, the Congress would have to leave this seat for this party. CPM leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet has told party leaders that he had put up Mr Darshan Mattu from Hoshiarpur only after consultation with Mrs Sonia Ganghi. So the chances of Mrs Soni getting the ticket from Hoshiarpur are remote.

The immediate reason for the latest tussle among top ruling party leaders are certain postings and transfers made in the Vigilance Bureau. Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is known to be the chief patron of the old Beant Singh group in the ruling party, has not liked the redeployment of Mr A.P. Pandey as Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau. Even the Beant Singh family has not liked this development. As a result Mrs Bhattal and her close associates have again started knocking at the doors of the party high command. Mrs Bhattal has complained that she was not being consulted about postings and transfers at the top level even though she is the Deputy Chief Minister.

Jalandhar, March 2
The Bahujan Samaj Party’s state unit is trying to ensure the presence of one lakh workers for Ms Mayawati’s rally to be held here tomorrow. Meanwhile, some local Congress leaders have decided to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against the BSP for “violating” the poll code by allegedly “defacing” public property by pasting posters and flags.

The BSP state unit, headed by Mr Avtaar Singh Karimpuri, has made arrangements for the rally.

Local Congress leaders, some of whom even sought anonymity in view of the possibility of a poll alliance between the BSP and the Congress, alleged that no permission was sought from the Municipal Corporation for pasting posters and flags on public property.

Phagwara, March 2
Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, former Speaker of Punjab Assembly a former MP and SAD-BJP joint candidate from Phillaur Lok Sabha (reserved) constituency today agreed with the suggestion mooted by the Election Commission for voters’ right to reject a candidate through negative voting by filling the proposed column on the ballot paper about “none of the above”.

Addressing a press conference here after being nominated for the Phillaur seat, Mr Atwal said the entry of criminals to politics should be stopped and candidates with a clean image should be voted to power. Commenting upon the hither to grey area of negative voting with the introduction of ‘none of the above’ column as suggested by Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishna Murthy, Mr Atwal said he would even go a step further by suggesting that the voters should also have the right to recall the elected representatives.

He appreciated the EC move to make public the criminal records, financial assets, liabilities and dues to the government of all candidates. Former SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, SAD national adviser Jarnail Singh Wahid, former Punjab ministers Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Jathedar Raghbir Singh, vice-president, Punjab unit of the BJP Swarna Ram and a host of other senior SAD and BJP leaders were present on the occasion. Mr Atwal said the current Lok Sabha poll was Vajpayee vs Sonia Gandhi and said the latter paled into insignificance and was a political pygmy when compared with Mr Vajpayee’s stature.

He claimed that SAD-BJP combine would win all the 13 seats in the state as well as the lone seat of Chandigarh and ensure that Mr Vajpayee takes over as the Prime Minister. He also brushed aside the allegation that Akalis have nothing of their own to bank upon and were merely harping on the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s mascot. “We stand by all demands of Punjab, including the waters issue”, he remarked.

Chandigarh, March 2
Can Punjab go in for auction of the liquor shops scheduled to begin at Jalandhar on March 4?

With the Election Commission of India having announced the poll schedule on Sunday, the model code of conduct has become operative and this question all the more relevant. The state Chief Election Officer, Mr G.S. Cheema, said he had referred the issue to the Election Commission to seek its advice, if the auction of liquor shops under the excise policy, (2004-05) was to be treated as a normal process at this time of the year.

There are apprehensions, say sources, in liquor trade circles and licensees that auction may be delayed due to the Lok Sabha elections and the present system extended till mid-May on a pro rata basis. Liquor barons were reportedly active in New Delhi to lobby for early auctions in Punjab.

Jalandhar, March 2
The SAD has accused the Congress government in the state of violating the directive of Chief Election Commissioner by ordering the transfer of the Chief Engineer in the Irrigation Department after ban on transfers coming into force with the announcement of the poll schedule.

In a signed press release here today, the former SGPC chief and SAD spokesman, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, alleged that though the secretary of the department concerned had signed the transfer order of the Chief Engineer on February 29, but later a junior official had allegedly put the date as February 27, which was a violation of the EC directive.

Mr Badungar urged the Chief Election Commissioner to seek a detailed report from the state government to unearth the conspiracy to shift senior civil officials in the recent past. “The recent postings and transfers of senior civil and police officials are basically ordered while aiming at the coming general election,” the statement added.

Faridkot, March 2
Political activity in the Congress in Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar districts has so far not picked up for the Lok Sabha elections from the Faridkot Parliamentary constituency. The situation has become more embarrassing following the decision of the Central Election Committee (CEC) to change the constituency of Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar from Faridkot to Ferozepore.

Many of the aspirants who had applied for the ticket are waiting for the party high command to decide their fate.

It is learnt that after its decision to change the guard the party high command is trying to focus on a candidate who could cross swords with SAD MP Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The party high command is considering the names of Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, Mr Maheshinder Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Nihalsinghwala.

The name of another aspirant Mr S.K. Gupta, Chairman local Improvement Trust and close associate of former President Giani Zail Singh is also doing rounds in the central circles.

However, certain senior district Congress leaders are still in favour of nominating to Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar as the party candidate.

They have appealed the CEC to review the matter in the interests of the party.

Meanwhile the SAD has launched a vigorous campaign in the entire constituency to wrest the seat from the Congress.

Chandigarh, March 2
The Punjab Governor, Justice O. P. Verma, has convened a session of the Vidhan Sabha here for March 15 at 2.30 pm.

Jalandhar, March 2
Expressing shock over the unwillingness of a former MP, Mr Balbir Singh, to seek re-nomination as the Congress candidate from the Jalandhar seat, district Congress workers and block Congress candidate from the Jalandhar seat, district Congress workers and block Congress committee presidents today urged the party high command to allot the party ticket to Mr Balbir Singh.

In a joint letter addressed to AICC President Sonia Gandhi, the presidents of all 10 block Congress committees of the district demanded that as Mr Balbir Singh had worked hard in nurturing the constituency well during his tenure as an MP, no other candidate, except him, would have better chances to win than him. The party leaders stated in the letter, “As there is consensus in favour of Mr Balbir Singh, we recommend his re-nomination as the Congress candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.”

Commenting the proposal to field Olympian Pargat Singh, the DCC (Rural) president, Mr Rajinder Singh Johl, while addressing a press conference here today, said since Mr Pargat Singh had a family background of staunch Akalis and during the previous Lok Sabha elections, he had vehemently opposed the Congress candidates, it would be difficult for him face the voters on the Congress ticket. He said, however, that they would accept the verdict of the party high command in this regard.

Chandigarh, March 2
Within days of the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, the Punjab Government today agreed to pay Rs 6 crore for the completion of Beant Singh memorial in Sector 42 in the next calendar year.

Representatives of the Punjab Government promised the sum at a meeting of the executive body of the Beant Singh Memorial Society, headed by the Punjab Governor.

The Chandigarh Administration had stopped construction saying there was a paucity of funds for the project as Punjab had been delaying payment of Rs 6 crore out of the promised Rs 10 crore for the project. The Administration on its own had pumped in a sum of 9.08 crore in the past few years.

The project has been marred by delays. The work on the project was started in December, 1998. It was to be completed in 18 months at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The building is still under construction. The delay on account of wrong planning and political differences has hit the project badly. The contractor who originally started work does not want to carry on with it now. He had some resentment regarding payments. The arrangement with contractor was scrapped in June last year. Till the arbitrator decides the matter, the society is free to invite tenders from new contractors, sources say.

Amritsar, March 2
Construction activity in the posh Basant Avenue area has once again come under a cloud with the residents of the colony complaining that owner of the building was constructing a ‘commercial establishment’, including shops and a hall. While he had got a residential plan passed from the municipal corporation.

They also alleged that by getting a residential plan passed, the owner was able to have more covered area as side and front setbacks were less in area in this category.

The said construction was demolished earlier on September 5, 2003, after a news item in this regard was published in “The Tribune” as the owner was constructing a commercial establishment and camouflaging it with old outer residential walls in blatant violation of the building bylaws. The construction was being carried out allegedly at the behest of a Cabinet Minister.

The owner was alleged to be then, converting his residence into a commercial building without obtaining permission for the change of land use. An inquiry by the Chief Vigilance Officer of MC, Mr A.K. Kansal, had led to charge-sheeting of the Municipal Town Planner (MTP), Assistant Town Planner and Building Inspector on orders of the then Principal Secretary, Local Government, Mr A.K. Dubey.

Amritsar, March 2
The Dharm Parchar Committee of the SGPC today replaced its three members, Sant Hardev Singh Loolon, Mr Bir Singh and Dr Darshan Singh with immediate effect. They have been replaced for absenting themselves from three consecutive meetings.

While Sant Loolon and Mr Bir Singh had reportedly supported Mr Parkash Singh Badal during his tug of war with Mr Gurcharn Singh Tohra, SGPC chief, Dr Darshan Singh is considered to be neutral.

The three members inducted today include Mr Harjinder Singh Dhami, and SGPC member, Mr Prithipal Singh Kapur, an administrator of the Chief Khalsa Diwan and Sant Teg Singh Dhanaula — all close to Mr Tohra.

Though it is a practice to elect new members of the Dharm Parchar Committee at the time of general house of the SGPC, yet it was broken by Bibi Jagir Kaur during her tenure as SGPC chief.

Meanwhile, the Dharm Parchar Committee has resolved that Sikh high priests do not come under the jurisdiction of any court of the land. The meeting urged the Akal Takht Jathedar not to respond to any legal notice as threatened by Mr Joginder Singh, Editor, Spokesman.

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 2
A training programme for managers and field officers of cooperative organisations was organised by Kribhco at Bassi Pathana here today.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Dharminder Singh Ubha, Head of the Department of Commerce, Mata Gujri College. He said, “To be successful, one should adopt a positive attitude in life. It will also help in reducing tension and frustration.”

He said everyone should become pro-active in life and should always work in synergy and develop win-win relationship.

He said one should first understand others if one wanted to be understood by them. He also asked for fixing priorities. Those in the habit of doing things at the eleventh hour always suffered from stress and stress-related diseases, he said. He also advised the participants to be honest and remain committed in their work.

Kharar, March 2
A march was organised here today by the members of the SAD (A) in protest against the French Government’s move to ban the wearing of turbans by school children.

Amritsar, March 2
The makeshift bus stand in Mall Mandi area is likely to be shifted to yet another place following complaints of inconvenience to public and traffic chaos on the G.T. Road. The district administration has proposed to shift the bus stand.

This would be the second shifting in less than two months as the main bus stand was closed for the construction of a new one. The bus stand will be shifted either to Pataka Market backside of Jahajgarh area or to the roadways workshop.

However, the final decision in this regard would be taken tomorrow at a meeting to be held in Chandigarh, said Mr Raminder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, after a meeting with the SSP and senior Punjab Roadways officers.

Due to haphazard and unauthorised parking of buses outside the bus stand, the traffic remained blocked, much to the inconvenience of people.

Amritsar, March 2
A 500-strong Hindu jatha from Pakistan will visit India from March 11 on the invitation of Indian chapter of the Shradhani Darbar of Raipur whose Pakistan chapater is located in Sind.

Bathinda, March 2
Prof Ashok Gupta (Bathinda), Mr Rajinder Garg (Mansa) and Mr Naresh Pal Kansal (Kotkapura) were elected president, general secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, Punjab (south) at the state council meeting last evening.

The state council of all office-bearers of the parishad reviewed the activities of the branches of the parishad and honoured them for their role in different fields of the social service.

Bathinda, March 2
The local unit of the Punjab Law Forum a body of law graduates and lawyers, today urged the authorities concerned not to adopt soft attitude towards the Pathankot Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr Puneet Goyal.

Patiala, March 2
The Department of Hindi, Punjabi University, organised a two-day national seminar on ‘The novels of Yashpal’ to commemorate the birth centenary of Hindi novelist here today. The winner of this year’s Sahitya Academy Award, Kamleshwar, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Prof Manager Pandey, a noted Hindi critic and Professor in Hindi at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said Yashpal’s novels and stories were relevant in the past and their significance in the present time could not be ruled out. He urged the readers to go through only good literature.

Discussing the philosophy of Yashpal, Mr Kamleshwar said he was a contemporary of Bhagat Singh and the revolutionary influence could be seen in his writings. He said Yashpal worked for women’s independence, social equality, but he was a staunch opponent of feudalistic values and ritualistic ideologies.

The varsity Vice-Chancellor, Mr Sawarn Singh Boparai, said the main objective of any institution of higher learning was to strengthen the overall personality of its students and introduction of Yashpal’s philosophy was a step forward in that direction.

Chandigarh, March 2
In a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a liquor contractor today alleged that the Punjab Government was encouraging monopoly in liquor trade to favour a baron.

Challenging the auction of liquor vends to be held in the state on March 4, contractor Sanjeev Bhandari contended that bare reading of an auction notice published on February 29 indicated that the state was bent upon clubbing Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr circles to create monopoly against the financial interests of the state.

Giving details, he added that liquor vends in Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr could not be auctioned after being clubbed as one group. Clubbing of groups having more than Rs 15 crore value was not allowed without passing order. On the other hand, the value of Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr group was more than Rs 100 crore.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Mr Mohan Jain asserted that such an action was not desirable in view of the previous experience. He added that the act of joining the groups amounted to formation of cartels with the motive of favouring baron Ponti Chadha.

He added that apparently a deal had been finalised between the Congress and Mr Chadha in Delhi. Mr Jain asserted that Excise Department officials were not interested in the creation of monopoly, but were going against the rules under government pressure. A report published in The Tribune on February 27 was also enclosed.

Faridkot, March 2
The fast-track court here has convicted and sentenced a dera head and his three accomplices to life imprisonment for murdering a couple at Khokhar village in Muktsar district on May 22, 1996.

According to the prosecution, the victim Iqbal Singh and his wife, Harinder Kaur, residents of Muktsar, were devotees of Chandermuni, head of the dera at Khokhar village.

On the day of the incident, Iqbal Singh and his wife reached the dera to pay their obeisance. They had a fight with Chandermuni for his illicit relations with another woman, a friend of Iqbal Singh’s wife, Harinder Kaur.

Both Iqbal Singh and his wife Harinder Kaur asked the dera chief to desist from such illicit relations, failing which they would expose him.

The dera chief conspired with his three followers to eliminate the couple. They gave a sedative to the couple and strangled them.

Later, they dumped their bodies along the Rajasthan Canal.

Ropar, March 2
The Special Judge, Ropar, Mr S.K. Goel, today directed Mr Sukhbir Badal to produce his second allegedly expired passport in the court. Earlier, the prosecution, in an application moved in the court, had alleged that Mr Badal had two passports in his name. He, had however, deposited just one passport in the court while the second was still in his possession, in violation of the court orders in the disproportionate assets case, the prosecution alleged.

Kharar, March 2
The personal assistant (PA) of the Chairperson of the Punjab State Women Commission, who was arrested yesterday by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on a charge of accepting a bribe, was remanded to one-day police custody by a Kharar court here today.

It is alleged that the PA, Vijay Kumar, was caught redhanded accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 from Mr Sushil Kumar, a resident of Ludhiana.

Mr Zora Singh Brar, DSP, Vigilance Bureau, said that a daughter-in-law of Mr Sushil Kumar had filed a complaint with the Punjab State Women Commission against her father-in-law in which she had made some allegations against him regarding dowry. A case had then been registered against Mr Sushil Kumar.

Mr Sushil Kumar, too, had made a representation at the commission, in which he said that a false case had been registered against him. He requested the commission to investigate the matter and recommend the quashing of the FIR against him.

It is learnt that Mr Sushil Kumar had approached the PA of the Chairperson to help him in the case.

It is alleged that Vijay Kumar asked for a bribe of Rs 5,000 for getting the case settled in favour of Mr Sushil Kumar. The deal, however, was finally settled for Rs 2,000.

Mr Sushil Kumar brought the matter to the notice of the Vigilance Bureau. So when he allegedly handed over Rs 2,000 to the PA yesterday, officials of the Vigilance Bureau caught him redhanded.

Patiala, March 2
A local court today ordered three doctors of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi to be summoned for prosecution on the charges of causing the death of a patient from the city.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate P.S. Dhanoa has ordered the summoning of doctors — Y.P. Bhatia, who is the Director Administration of the cancer institute, and Dr A.K. Vaid and Dr T. Kataria — following a case filed by one H.S. Nanda. The complainant had alleged that his wife Maninder Kaur had died due to ‘’wrong handling” and “negligence” of the said doctors.

Malerkotla, March 2
A holy book was burnt by miscreants at a place of worship here today. The police has registered a case under Section 295 A of the IPC on the complaint of the president of the management committee of the shrine.

Bathinda, March 2
Mobile phone sets and spare parts of mobile phones and computers worth about Rs 5 lakh were stolen from a shop opposite MSD Senior Secondary School here last night.

Talking to TNS here this afternoon, Mr Swadesh Goyal, owner of the shop, said the thieves had committed the theft by breaking open the locks of the shop. He said the thieves had also taken away Rs 45,000 in cash from the shop with them.

Dera Bassi, March 2
Raman Preet Singh (21), a resident of Meerpur village, near Mubarikpur, who was admitted to the PGI on Monday afternoon after he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance, died this afternoon.

According to family friends of the deceased, Raman Preet was working with an industrial unit at Dera Bassi and had been under depression after being discharged from service a couple of months ago. He was married two years ago, but had no issue.

Lalru, March 2
The mutilated body of a sadhu was found on the Kalka-Ambala railway line, near Sarseeni village, today.

Mr Rampal Singh, in charge, Railway police post, Lalru, said following a call from some passerby, a team of police personnel recovered the body from the track. A train had run over the sadhu late last night, he said.

Jalandhar, March 2
The PTU Engineering Colleges Vidyarthi Sangarsh Committee has flayed the police for allegedly cane-charging students, who were sitting on fast last evening.

Addressing a press conference here today, the state vice-president of Students Federation of India (SFI), Mr Gurpal Singh Dhaliwal, alleged that the PTU authorities and the police were hand in glove to sabotage the relay fast with regard to the implementation of the 24-credit rule system in examination.

He said the students had decided to hold a protest rally tomorrow to highlight the plight of the students.

Meanwhile, the district police chief, Mr G.P.S. Bhullar, refuted that the students were cane-charged. “Only one of the striking students, whose condition turned serious due to fast, was shifted to the local Civil Hospital for medical aid. Besides, the students will not be allowed to disturb law and order,” he said, urging the students not to politicise the issue.

Barnala, March 2
Akal Degree College, Mastuana, about 30 km from here, has formed its Old Students Association. Prof Jeet Pal Singh Sandhu, Head of the Department of Mathematics of the college, has been appointed the coordinator of the association and Mr Gurdev Singh Gill, former manager Punjab and Sind Bank, is the co-coordinator.

Stating this here today, Professor Sandhu, co-ordinator of the association, said the association was formed on February 28 following a get-together of old students of the college.

Phagwara, March 2
The All-India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations today threatened to hold protest in the constituencies of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Human Resource Development against the malgovernance, misleading statements in Parliament regarding issues of teachers and dishonouring of the legitimate commitments made to the AIFUCTO by the ministry on September 5, 1998.

Patiala, March 2
Members of the local Property Dealers Welfare Association today demanded that identity cards should be issued to all members of the association so that they could conduct them work in a better way.

Speaking on the occasion the chairman of the Association, Mr R.D Jindal said there was a need to make amendments in the PUDA Act. The members have also appealed to the Deputy Commissioner to cut down the registration rate of some of the colonies of the city.