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CM launches BoP electronic kisan card
Chandigarh, September 20
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today launched the electronic kisan card of Bank of Punjab to ensure 24-hour credit to farmers enjoying credit limits with the Bank of Punjab to enable them to get best quality inputs like pesticides, high-yielding seeds and fertilisers from the approved outlets.

• Punjab CM to open Quark City today

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh (left) hands over an electronic kisan card after these were launched by the Bank of Punjab in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Modi’s right to defence struck off
Defamation suit by Bajwa, Samra
Jalandhar, September 20
The much publicised Rs 50 crore defamation suit filed separately by two Punjab ministers, Mr Amarjit Samra, and Mr Partap Singh Bajwa against former Gujarat Chief Minister Narinder Modi and the Gujarat BJP chief Amit Shah has taken a new turn with the court of Additional Civil Judge here Mr Jagnahar Singh, striking off the right of defence of Mr Modi and Mr Shah for their inability to file written statements within prescribed time of 90 days.

Ban ‘Tiranga yatra’ in Punjab: Mann
Chandigarh, September 20
Urging the Punjab Government to ban the ‘Tiranga yatra’ of Uma Bharti in the state, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, today said that his party workers would go all out to stop the march of Ms Bharti, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, to Jallianwala Bagh on September 25.

Political ‘love affair’ of Left, Congress ends in Punjab
Chandigarh, September 20
With the CPM, CPI and Congress announcing their respective candidates for the coming byelection to the state Assembly in Garhshankar constituency in Hoshiarpur district, the prolonged political “ love affair” among the Left parties and Congress has apparently ended, at least in Punjab, though even at the national level a lot of bad blood has been created among these parties on policy issues.

Conductors seek ban on termination
Chandigarh, September 20
Demand: Put a blanket ban on termination from service even on detected and proven cases of fraud. For frauds up to Rs 25, there should be no termination. Also, those whose services were already terminated for frauds of less than Rs 25 should be reinstated.

Appointment of two retd SPs: cops resent action
Chandigarh, September 20
The Punjab Cabinet has approved of post-retirement appointments granted to at least two Superintendents of Police (SPs), leading to "resentment" among the cops waiting in queue for promotions.

Govt considering report to regularise illegal colonies
Mohali, September 20
Zonal committees headed by the Additional Chief Administrators, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, would spearhead the process of regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Punjab.

• Badal promises houses for uprooted jhuggi dwellers

POLITICS

BJP seeks inquiry into fraud case
Amritsar, September 20
Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, state vice-president of the BJP, in a letter to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and DGP A.A. Saddiqui, has demanded a high-level inquiry into a fraud case in which a Congress leader allegedly defrauded three persons after promising them jobs.

SAD, BSP candidates file nominations
Kapurthala, September 20
Former minister and Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Raghbir Singh today filed his nomination papers for the Kapurthala Assembly byelection to be held on October 13.

COMMUNITY

80-member Sikh jatha leaves for Pakistan

Attari, September 20 An 80-member jatha of Sikh pilgrims — 45 members from Amritsar and 35 from New Delhi — today left for Pakistan by the Samjhauta Express to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Narowal district on the occasion of the 465th ‘jyoti jot divas’ of Guru Nanak Dev on September 22 as per the Nanakshahi calendar. Members of the Sikh jatha awaiting Customs clearance at Attari railway station in Amritsar on Monday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Pak artistes to take part in Harballabh festival
Jalandhar, September 20
After the gap of more than 10 years, Pakistani artistes will participate in the 128th Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, scheduled to be held from December 24 to 26 at the ‘samadhi’ of Baba Harballabh on the premises of local Devi Talaab Temple.

Siropas to political leaders opposed
Faridkot, September 20
Mr Gurdev Singh, president, Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh, has appealed to Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht not to allow any political body to use the institution for meeting its political ends.

Dhar subdivision sans SDM Dhar (Gurdaspur), September 20 It can easily be termed as the most backward area of the state. The backwardness of the Dhar Kalan area of the district is illustrated by the state of the sub division of the area.   The ramshackle building of Dhar subdivision in which no SDM wants to set his office. — Photo by Jangi

Intelligence worried over rise in number of ‘mazaars’
Ferozepore, September 20
The spurt in the number of “mazaars” in border areas have set the alarm bells ringing. According to a survey carried out by intelligence agencies, there are 408 “mazaars” and another 203 mosques situated within a 10-km radius in Ferozepore and Amritsar districts.

4,502 fake pension cases in Mansa
Mansa, September 20
Punjab Forest Minister Hans Raj Joshan today said that about 4,502 cases of fake pension under the old-age pension scheme were found in this district and the same had subsequently been cancelled.

Sikh body to hold protest in New York
Patiala, September 20
A demonstration against a French law banning turban will be held in front of the UN office at New York on September 22 to seek the intervention of Un General Assembly on the opening day of its session.

Seminar on TB control organised
Sangrur, September 20
All the 130 Lions Clubs, falling in District 321-F of the International Association of Lions Clubs, should wholeheartedly spread the message of government’s revised national TB control programme so that people can take advantage of the free diagnosis and treatment facilities to get themselves cured from TB disease.

‘Sibo in Super Market’ captures yearning for homeland

Amritsar, September 20 The third day of the National Theatre Festival presented Ramanjit Kaur’s play “Sibo in Super Market” at Urvi Auditorium in BBK DAV College, here last evening. The play was presented by Chandigarh based theatre group “The Company”. A scene from Neelam Mansingh’s play, “Sibo in Super Market”, staged at Urvi Auditorium, BBK DAV College, Amritsar, on Sunday evening. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

‘Bakhshish Divas’ fete concludes
Anandpur Sahib, September 20
Thousands of devotees and several Sikh leaders, including former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, today took part on the concluding day of the three-day celebrations of the 300th “Bakhshish Divas” of Bhai Kanhaiya here today.

Khadi board chief supports employees’ demands
Amritsar, September 20
Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, newly appointed Chairman, Khadi and Gram Development Board, stated that he would press for the Fifth Pay Commission in favour of fulfilling the demands of government employees.

Tohra’s birth anniversary
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 20
The birth anniversary of the late Jathedar G.S.Tohra will be celebrated at Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, on September 24. A state-level function will be organised in the college premises and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president SAD (B) will be the chief guest.

Pakhoke honours journalists
Amritsar, September 20
Close on the heels of the SGPC’s first General House meeting to be held on September 23 to elect SGPC president and other office-bearers, Mr Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, working president, SGPC, wooed mediapersons today by presenting them siropas and mementos.

Two bodies recovered
Bathinda, September 20
Two bodies were recovered from different places in this district by volunteers of Sahara Jan Seva today.

Another bull dies while in police custody
Dera Bassi, September 20
Deaths of two bulls in three days has put a question mark on the functioning of the police, and veterinary employees deployed at the Ghaggar railway station at Mubarikpur village to guard and provide necessary medicare to a herd of 465 bulls under police custody.

COURTS

Hearing on Ajnala byelection today
Chandigarh, September 20
Hearing in the application filed by Mr Harpartap Singh, who lost the Assembly election from Ajnala, seeking to be impleaded as party in an ongoing writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, will start tomorrow.

Accused in molestation case gets bail
Amritsar September 20
Mr Baldev Singh, SGPC member, charged with molestation of the wife of a visually impaired “raagi”, was released on bail today.

Judicial remand for Principal
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 20
The police here today produced Mr Alok Agnihotri, Principal of Homoeopathy College and Medical Education Research, Chunni, in the court of Mr G.S. Dhillon, CJM, who remanded him in judicial custody up to October 4. He was taken to Nabha Jail.

AGRICULTURE

‘Excellent’ procurement mars diversification
Rakhra, September 20
If farmers are to be believed, the excellent procurement of paddy and wheat during the past two years has dealt a big blow to government efforts to encourage farmers to diversify into other crops. Farmers do not want to venture into other crops and are happy with the wheat — paddy rotation cycle.

ADMINISTRATION

Chatha is Chairman of Third Punjab Finance Commission
Chandigarh, September 20
Former Punjab Chief Secretary A.S. Chatha today took over as the Chairman of the Third Punjab Finance Commission for panchayats and municipalities. Mr Chatha said that the commission would examine all aspects to improve the financial position of panchayats and municipalities in the state.

• Auction cancelled

CRIME

Four booked in fraud cases
Moga, September 20
Four persons have been booked in separate fraud cases. A travel agent duped a person of Rs 8 lakh, while in the other case, a woman was duped on the pretext of getting a bank loan sanctioned.

Bank official held taking bribe
Zirakpur, September 20
A team of the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, caught an employee of the Patiala Central Co-operative Bank Limited-red handed while taking bribe from a Chhat village-based grocery shop keeper, here this evening.

Bank manager held in fraud case
Phagwara, September 20
In a fresh twist to the fraud-cum-havala case, the police had also arrested Suresh Chander Makkar, Branch Manager of the UCO Bank, under FEMA and various sections of IPC. After expiry of his police remand, Makkar was today remanded to the judicial custody.

Youth kills mother
Faridkot, September 20
A youth killed his mother over an alleged illicit relationship at Sadik here yesterday. The deceased, Hardeep Kaur, reportedly had illicit relations with a person for long.

EDUCATION

Thapar institute to fill vacant seats
Patiala, September 20
The Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology today recapitulated on the issue of filling vacant seats in its various engineering courses following a government directive on the issue last week.

High-level committee on quality education
Chandigarh, September 20
Yet another ‘high-level’ committee was today constituted to impart ‘quality’ education at school-level in Punjab. As is the usual practice, the committee would be headed by the minister in charge, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

129 cases of unfair means detected 
Chandigarh, September 20
As many as 129 cases of "unfair means of cheating" were detected by Punjab School Education Board's flying squad during the Class X and XII supplementary examinations conducted by it.

Students of GGS College of Technology protest
Kharar, September 20
Students of Guru Gobind Singh College of Modern Technology held a protest here today against the management for not allowing them to go out of the institution during college hours and also against lack of various facilities.

Seminar on Baba Farid held
Faridkot, September 20
The Sufi Foundation India and the District Sabhyacharak Society organised a seminar on Baba Farid’s life and teachings at the Sabhyacharak Kendra here today.

Computer Society of India to set up student chapter
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 20
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College has decided to set up the student chapter of the Computer Society of India. The Principal of the college, Dr D.S. Hira, said the inaugural function in this regard will be held on September 21.

Talent hunt contest organised
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 20
A talent hunt competition was organised at Mata Gujri College Fatehgarh Sahib, today. Dr Daisy Walia, Head, Department of Dance, Punjabi University, was the chief guest. Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, principal, presided over the function.

BUSINESS

Netone service launched
Bathinda, September 20
The Chief General Manager, BSNL, Punjab circle, Mr G. S. Bhatia, today admitted that anti-national elements have been using telephone exchanges manned by the department.

Merger of GTB, OBC flayed
Patiala, September 20
The India Oriental Bank Employees Federation and the All-India Oriental Bank Officers’ Association condemned the hasty decision of RBI and the Government of India for merging the ‘failed’ private sector, Global Trust Bank under moratorium with the Oriental Bank of Commerce here today.