The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Blood donation camp held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 13
The Vyakti Vikas Kendra, a Bangalore-based international NGO, also known as the Art of Living (AOL) today organised a blood donation camp at the Rajasthan Bhavan, in association with the PGI to mark the 48th birthday of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of the movement.

As many as 70 persons donated blood at the camp which was dedicated to thalassaemic children.

According to the local office of AOL, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was received by President George W. Bush in Washington DC last week. After a brief meeting at the Oval Office, President Bush told the seer, "I am very glad that you are here and please keep us in your prayers." Sri Sri is the first spiritual leader from India to be received at the White House. He was, later, invited to join a prayer meeting followed by a reception at the White House.

SPORTS

Hockey players stop over on way to Barog
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 13
Key hockey players of the Indian hockey team had a brief halt in the city today on their way to Barog, Himachal Pradesh. Players Dilip Tirkey, Deepak Thakur, Jugraj Singh, Gaganajit Singh and Prabhjot Singh and others, including physical trainer Sampath Kumar, assembled at the Sector 42 Sports Complex. Having an interaction with the media, the players were happy that the physical training camp would help them building endurance and stamina for various tournaments.

When Sampath Kumar was asked on the fitness of ace player Dhanraj Pillay, he said Pillay was fit, but refused to comment on his inclusion or non-inclusion in the team. Jugraj said though he had been declared physically fit at Jalandhar, the next 15 days at Barog would further prove it. Gaganajit said this year, he had set a target of 30 goals for himself. He hoped to do well this year, including at the Athens Olympics. He said after cricket, hockey had caught sponsors’ attention and the Sahara Group had boosted the morale of hockey players.

Sampath said last year, hockey players had a good experience at Barog. This year he hope to go in for rigorous hill training. He said at present, Indian probables were scattered as some were attending the Barog camp and a few were playing in the Japan tournament.

The Indian hockey players would also train at the newly laid astroturf in the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium and the FIH had accorded approval for the same. The team members later had an interaction with the Chandigarh Hockey Academy players.

Mohali take 1st innings lead
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 13
Mohali gained a vital first innings lead when they scored 286 for five in 105 overs, thanks to superb batting by Sunny Sohal and Simranjit Singh Bathlana, who scored 116 runs and 97 runs, respectively, in the Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament at the PCA Stadium, Mohali. Chandigarh batted first and scored 231 all out in 83 overs.

Brief scores: Mohali 286 for five in 105 overs (Sunny Sohal 116, Simranjit Singh 97, Karan Kapoor 28.

ADMINISTRATION

INSIDE BABUDOM
UT officials get the jitters
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 13
Officials in the Chandigarh Administration are a jittery lot after the results of the Lok Sabha poll. Some of them had been virtually handpicked by the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishna Advani, and posted to Chandigarh, a Union Territory, directly governed by the Home Ministry.

Since noon today, bureaucratic circles here are abuzz with talks that at least three officials holding key public dealing posts in the Administration are likely to be in the "firing line". The names of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Rajesh Kumar, the SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, are expected to figure in any immediate change.

All this has little history attached to it. The DC and the SSP were appointed by Mr Advani by overruling the recommendations of the then Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut- Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd). In case of the DC , Gen Jacob had forwarded the name of Mr Abhilaksh Likhi for final selection after having a meeting with a panel of three candidates from the Haryana cadre of the IAS.

The Home Ministry appointed Mr Arun Kumar, another Haryana officer as DC. The appointment of SSP Gaurav Yadav, a Punjab cadre IPS official, has a similar history. His name was not forwarded by Gen Jacob, who had preferred Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, also from Punjab. At the last minute the Home Ministry cleared the name of Mr Yadav. Incidentally Mr Yadav is the son -in-law of retired Punjab DGP, Mr P.C. Dogra, who is seen to be close to BJP circles.

The seniormost police official in Chandigarh is the Inspector General of Police, Mr Rajesh Kumar. He is a UT cadre IPS official who was posted to Chandigarh after Mr Bhim Sain Bassi was shifted. His appointment was crucial as the Police Department is the most visible face of powers that be.

Since Chandigarh is a UT, it has officers from Punjab, Haryana and also the UT cadres. But will the expected Congress-led government start the transfers now. It may not be for others places, but Chandigarh being a UT will see a different yardstick being applied. For long the just elected local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, has seen a bigger role of the elected representatives in the decision making.