R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Barnala
BOYCOTT CALL: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), unit of Punjab has decided to boycott medical representatives of Sun Pharma, a drug manufacturing company, in the entire state. Dr R.C. Garg, Honorary Secretary Punjab IMA said here on Monday that the medical fraternity was shocked at the arrest of Dr Ramesh Maheshwary, Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Bathinda, who was implicated in a fabricated case by Sun Pharma's medical representative.

Doraha
SEMINAR: Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, will organise a seminar on corporate governance on Tuesday. The Commerce and Economics Associations of the college in association with the Ludhiana Stock Exchange will organise the seminar. Mr H.S. Sidhu, Executive Director LSE, shall be resource person.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
ROTARY CLUB: Mr Rupinder Puri and Mr R.N. Sharma have been elected president and secretary, respectively, of the Rotary Club, Sirhind. 

Hoshiarpur
DIPLOMA COURSES: The National Assessment and Accreditation Committee (NAAC) team on Monday exhorted the principal and the management of SPN College, Mukerian, to introduce diploma courses in nursing, mass media, child care, education and tourism coupled with MSc, MCA and MBA professional courses in the college so that after completing their education, the students are able to secure jobs. The team comprised Dr M. P. Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Lucknow University, Dr T. N. Mathur, Prof of Commerce, Rajasthan University, Jaipur and Prof M. S. N. Rawat, Head, Chemistry Department, H.N. Bahugana University, Garhwal (Uttaranchal).

OPEN SESSION: Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, member of Parliament and state President of the BJP, listened to the problems of residents of his constituency in an open session at the BJP office here on Monday. He lashed out at the UPA Government for rise in inflation and assured the residents that he would make every possible efforts to solve their problems.

Ludhiana
FOUNDATION STONE: The foundation stone of Shri Navgrah Asha Purni Mandir was laid at a function at Haqiqat Nagar in Haibowal Kalan on Sunday. A function was held under the supervision of Swami Devvrat Brahmchari. A havan was performed and later a satsang was held to solemnise the occasion. Those present were Mr Ashwani Kumar Sharma, president of the temple managing committee, Mr Krishan Rajpurohit, Mr Rajiv Tandon, Ms Manju Juneja, Mr Jagmohan Sharma, president, DCC(I), Mr Hem Raj, councillor, Mr Rakesh Kalia, Mr Prem Chand Gupta, Mr Parbhat Kumar Behal and Mr Ramesh Kumar Mittal.

VEDIC WEEK: The Vedic Week, organised by the Arya Samaj in Model Town, concluded on Sunday amidst religious rites. Swami Vivek Bhushan from Gujarat dwelt on the relevance of the Vedas in the modern context. In his final discourse on Sunday, the scholar explained four forms of ignorance as described in the Vedas. A session of bhajans was held by Mr Ajay Khanna, Ms Suman Sharda, Ms Geetika Dhir and Ms Pratima. Students of RS Model School, who got through the “Satyarth Parkash” examination with flying colours, were honoured on the occasion.

PARBHAT PHERI: Members of the Shri Banke Bihari Sewa Parivar took out a “parbhat pheri” from the ancient Sanglan Wala Shivla on Sunday. According to a spokesman for the organisation, a function would be held at Illaichigiri Mandir in Lallu Mall Street on Wednesday in connection with Janmashtmi. The spokesman said the function would be held from 8 pm to midnight. Among others, Sister Chanderkala from Amritsar would take part in the function. Other highlights of the function would include “chhappan bhog”, “divya sankirtan” and the distribution of toys among children.

RATH YATRA: A meeting to review preparations for the forthcoming Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra was held under the supervision of Mr Rajiv Duggal, general secretary of ISKCON, and the Rath Yatra Mahotsav Committee here on Sunday. Mayor Nahar Singh Gill and some councillors were present at the meeting. The Mayor assured the organisers of help and cooperation for the yatra. Among other who attended the meeting were Mr Satish Gupta, Mr Sanjiv Talwar, Mr Kailash Kapur, Mr Rakesh Prashar, Mr Shaym Sunder Malhotra and Mr Ashwani Bhasin. 

NAGAR KIRTAN: The Sukhmani Sahib Sewa Society held a nagar kirtan from Gurdwara Kalgidhar on Sunday in connection with the 400th Parkash Utsav of Guru Granth Sahib. Led by the traditional “Panj Piaras”, the procession passed through Karim Pura Bazar, Mochpura Bazar, Division No. 3 Chowk, Jail Road and Civil Hospital Road before culminating at the starting point. The route had been decorated with buntings. Community kitchen and “chhabeels” were organised along the route. The kirtan comprised several district units of the Sukhmani Sahib Sewa Society, contingents of several Sikh institutions and schoolchildren. The society also honoured those who took part in the kirtan.

INSTITUTE INAUGURATED: Canadian Institute of Career Development was inaugurated here on Tuesday. The institute, affiliated with Lambton College of Canada, will offer personal support worker programme. Mr Bob Henry, Dean, International Studies, Lambton College said the institute will give 100 per cent placement guarantee on the completion of the 22-week programme, the eligibility for which is Plus two.

Patiala
CUSTOMER MEET: On the occasion of 48th anniversary of LIC of India and Insurance week, branch office organised a customer meet here on Monday. Senior Divisional Manager, Chandigarh branch N.P. Chawla and Marketing Manager Mr P.L. Vidyarathi presided over the function.

HONOURED: Dedicated Brothers Group, an NGO organised a function at State Language Department to mark the occasion of Teachers Day here on Sunday. The organisation honoured Ms Jasjeet Kaur, a teacher of Government High School, Gandhi Nagar. 

ELECTED: Following have been elected office-bearers of the Charan Bagh Welfare Society: president — Arasveer Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Surjit Singh; general secretary — Mr Devinder Pal Singh; and vice-president Harvinder Singh. 

teachers day: Punjab College of Education, Raipur, organised a function to celebrate Teachers Day here on Sunday. Director-Principal of the college, Dr Agyajit Singh, urged the B.Ed students and prospective teachers to imbibe good qualities of great teacher like Dr Radha Krishanan. The students also presented cultural programme. 

Teachers Day: The Khalsa College here organised a function in connection with Teachers Day here on Monday. The Dean College Development Council, Punjabi University, Dr Ranjit Singh Ghuman, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Samrala
TEACHERS’ DAY: Students of Nankana Sahib Public School celebrated Teachers’ Day with great pomp and show on the school premises. A declamation contest on the life of Dr Radhakrishnan was also held. The main attraction of the day was quiz contest for teachers. Mr Inderpreet Singh was judged as the best teacher. The Principal, Mrs Kuldeep Kaur, gave away gifts to the teachers. 

CONDOLENCE MEETING: Press Club members held a condolence meeting at the local civil rest house on Monday under the chairmanship of Mr Ram Gopal Sofat, staffer of Punjab Today to mourn the demise of Kultar Singh, brother of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Members also observed two minutes’ silence.

CHANDIGARH

JANMASHTAMI TABLEAUX: Beautiful and inspiring tableaux of Sri Krishna and seven goddesses will be displayed tomorrow on the occasion of Janmashtami at Sukh Shanti Bhavan in Phase VII here. Brahma Kumari Prem, in charge of the Rajyoga Centre here, said the tableaux would be inaugurated by Dr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, a former Punjab Minister tableaux will remain open to the public till midnight. Spiritual Art Gallery was being given a festive look to inspire people to lead a tension-free, value-based and divine life. Week long free Rajyoga shivir would start from September 8.

PANCHKULA
CELEBRATIONS: To mark the parishad week celebrations of Bharat Vikas Parishad, the local unit of the parishad celebrated birthday of Saket school inmates,Chandi Mandir. A havan was performed by members of the BVP and gifts were given to those whose birthday fell in the month of September. In another function, the parishad also honoured 11 teachers, including the Principal of Government Primary School, Abheypur. A talk by Dr Usha Chandna was also delivered to the students of the school.

ELECTED: Mr Ashok Kumar Aggarwal has been elected as president, and Dr Prithvi Singh Ravish has been elected as chairman of Youth Hostel Association. Mr Baldeep Tandon has been elected as general secretary, Mr Vijay Goel, Lt Col L.S. Bedi and CDR SS Malhi have been elected as vice-presidents, while Mr Sandeep Saluja has been elected as treasurer of the association, at the elections held on Sunday.

HARYANA

AMBALA
SAPLINGS PLANTED: A sapling plantation drive was organised by Khatri Sabha at Subhash Nagar community centre on Monday. Mr K.L. Nagpal, Principal, SD Public School Ambala cantonment, was the chief guest. Mr Nagpal emphasised on the importance of sapling plantation and stressed on continuing the effort in future. Among others, sabha president Naveen Gulati and sabha secretary R.R. Suri were present.

TALK: A talk on reiki was organised by the local Rotary Club at Kumari Rukmani Devi hall on Sunday. Dr N.K. Sharma, a reiki grandmaster, delivered the talk. He said that reiki was a ‘universal life force energy’ and inherent natural quality present in every human being which could be effectively used to heal self and others. A positive attitude was needed to practice reiki. He said that reiki helped to relieve pain and discomfort of chronic diseases.

SANGH: The office-bearers of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Ambala unit, were elected on Monday. President — Mr Baljit Singh; officiating chairman — Lalit Mohan; general secretary — Mr Sravan Kumar Aggarwal; vice-presidents — Mr Amarjeet, Ms Raj Rani, Mr Nathu Ram; organisation secretaries — Mr Suresh Mehta, Mr Prem Chand Gupta, Mr Kadam Singh; additional secretary — Mr Yash Pal, Mr Arun Goel, Mr Kashmiri Lal; and treasurer — Mr G.K. Dhiman.

CHAIN SNATCHED: Two motor cycle-borne youths snatched away a gold chain of a woman at Ambala Cantonment on Monday. According to information the woman was returning to her home in Punjabi Mohalla after worshipping Lord Krishna in a temple on Janmashtami. The woman said in her complaint that one of the youths was moving about on a motor cycle while the other was walking along him on foot. The pedestrian youth snatched the chain from her neck and went away on the motor cycle.

Kaithal
COMPENSATION: The District Consumer Forum has directed the Postal Department to pay a compensation of Rs 5000 to Mahavir,a resident of Pega village. The complainant had alleged that he had sent some documents to Gujarat through registered mail from Chaushala post office. The documents did not reach its destination. The forum held the post office guilty of deficient service.

BOOKED: The district police has booked a number of persons for laying a road blockade at Keorak village on the Chandigarh –Hisar highway. The villagers had blocked traffic to register their protest against the police for challaning a motorcyclist for triple riding .

Sonepat
MURDERED: Baba Pakkarpuri (45), chief of the Dera Prabhatnath, Naultha village, was allegedly murdered by a youth, Jaipal (26), on the premises of a dera at Bichpari village, about 50 km from here, on Sunday. The police has registered a case.

DEMONSTRATION: A large number of residents held a massive demonstration outside the power sub-station at Harsana Kalan village, 5 km here on Monday. They were protesting against the erratic power supply and unscheduled power cuts in the rural and agricultural sectors.

KILLED: Mr Ram Kishan, a resident of Ganaur, was killed on the sport when fell from a running train near Ganaur railway station, 16 km from here, on Sunday.

SEIZED: Harpal, a resident of Nawanshahr, was arrested by the Government Railway Police and 52 kg of poppy husk was seized from his possession here on Monday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kulu
LAWYERS’ STRIKE: Lawyers abstained from courts here on Monday in protest against the police atrocities on lawyers at Lucknow. Mr Rajinder Thakur, president of the Bar Association, here said, “We condemn the police action against the lawyers and demand immediate stern action against the erring policemen.” He said that the association would support the call by the Bar Council of India to sit on a dharna by lawyers on September 8.

Mandi
ARRESTED: The Mandi Sadar police arrested Harsh Vaid, son of Mr Dinesh Vaid, on Sunday. A stolen mobile phone was found on him. A case under Section 397 of the IPC has been registered.

PARKASH UTSAV: Parkash utsav to mark the quadricentennial anniversary of Sri Guru Guru Granth Sahib was held at a gurdwara, here on Sunday. The function was presided over by Sant Baba Bhag Singh of Kila Anandgarh Sahib, Punjab.

VOTERS’ LIST: The voters’ list in all 10 constituencies of the district will be updated from September 15 to October 15. Mr Ali Raza Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi and District Election Officer, said here on Sunday that the facility was free. A person, who is 18 years and above, as on January 2005, is eligible for registration.

Solan
Voter I-cards: The District Electoral Registration Officer has appealed to the voters of the Kasauli Vidhan Sabha area to get their voter identity cards made from September 16 to October 4 at the office of Tehsil Officer, Kasauli, and from October 5 to 14 at the office of the Sub-division Electoral Officer, Solan. Officials will be available at those places on the notified dates from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Any correction in the existing voter identity cards could be made on the notified dates.