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TOP STORIES

Drug cartels operate under police nose!
Ludhiana, January 31
The city continues to be in the grip of various drug cartels, claims of the local police to the contrary notwithstanding. Recently, the city police nabbed a couple of smack dealers who used to target schoolchildren belonging to affluent families.

MC contractor accused of overcharging
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 31
A local industrialist has accused octroi contractors at Municipal Council, Bhawanigarh, of harassing and overcharging people by dictating arbitrary rules to council employees.

Sun sets across the horizon with a hope of another bright day tomorrow in Ludhiana on Monday. — Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

Watch out! Chicken soup lovers
Ludhiana, January 31
Before you savour a hot and spicy chicken soup in a local eatery, beware! For it may carry pork instead of chicken and be served to gullible consumers who cannot differentiate between the taste of the two meats.

Sacked DMC employees in search of support
Ludhiana, January 31
The sacked employees of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital have failed to get the support of the Left parties on the issue of their joining duty.

No funds, no Ludhiana-Khanori road repair: PWD
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 31
The Department of Public Works, Bridges and Roads has shown its inability to repair or reconstruct the span of the Ludhiana-Khanori road joining the town with Sangrur, Dhuri, Malerkotla and Dehlon reportedly due to paucity of funds.

MC looks at SDMs to facilitate laying of sewerage
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 31
The local Municipal Council has sought the intervention of the SDM (Rural), Ludhiana, and the SDM, Malerkotla, to facilitate the laying of rising disposal line for sewage through areas falling under Chhapar and Hargobind Pura villages.

Intkals to be attested till Feb 15
Khanna, January 31
On the direction of the Punjab Government, an intkal fortnight will be organised from February 1 to 15. During this period, the pending intkals will be attested at different patwar areas. Mr Jaspal Mittal, SDM, Khanna, said in press note here today.

Protest makes DTO see sense
Ludhiana, January 31
Activists of the Transporters Association today protested against the staff of the local District Transport Office for not accepting road tax from transporters. The transporters claimed that the last date was January 30, but it being a Sunday the office should have accepted the tax today.

COMMUNITY

MCPI assails Punjab Govt for following Centre policies
Ludhiana, January 31
The state secretariat of the Punjab MCPI met today to discuss the latest political and economic situation in the state. Mr Kuldip Singh, state secretary, said the members were of the view that the Punjab Government was blindly pursuing “anti-people” policies of the Central Government led by Dr Manmohan Singh.

Sidhu to take up Gurpurb holiday issue with Modi

Ludhiana, January 31 Test cricketer-turned MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu said today that he would take up issue of the holiday on the birthday of Guru Nanak Ji with the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narinder Modi. He maintained that the Gujarat government should respect the sentiments of the people and declare Gurpurb as a gazetted holiday. Test cricketer-turned-MP Navjot Singh Sidhu lends an ear to a child during a sports meet at Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana, on Monday. — Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

BJP plans mass agitation
Ludhiana, January 31
The BJP is all set to launch a mass agitation against the “misgovernance” in the state. Besides, the party will also take up the issue of service tax and value added-tax during its agitational plan.

NRI’s bit for her roots
Ludhiana, January 31
Philanthropic Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are more than keen to contribute their bit towards social projects like education and health. However, the government needs to make procedures speedier and systems more efficient to invite contribution from Indians abroad, feels Ms Sukhi Turner, the first woman to be elected mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand.

Shiv Sena memo to Deputy Commissioner against quacks

Ludhiana, January 31 Shiv Sena activists led by district president Dharmendra Khera and vice-president Sanjeev Ghai today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, urging him to take action against quacks practising in different parts of the city, particularly the suburbs. Shiv Sena activists present a memorandum against quacks to Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma in Ludhiana on Monday. — Photo by IV

Pensioners demand pay commission
Ludhiana, January 31
At a joint meeting held here yesterday the Punjab Government Employees and Pensioners, urged the Punjab Government to announce the setting up of the fifth Punjab Pay Commission while presenting the annual Budget for 2005-06 in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

City boutique gets international award
Ludhiana, January 31
Neelam’s, a city-based designer wear outlet, has been selected by international selection committee of Business Initiative Directions, Spain, for the Arch of Europe for Quality and Technology award in the gold category.

4 pc VAT on imports opposed
Ludhiana, January 31
Industrialists have expressed their opposition on the proposal of 4 per cent VAT on all imports, and Punjab will be hard hit by it. Mr P.D. Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Punjab , Mr K.K. Seth, Mr Rajnish Ahuja, President, Focal Point Association, and Mr G.S. Kahlon of the Ludhiana Motor Parts Association said here today that the benefit of 4 per cent VAT would go to those states where such imported goods arrive and cleared.

• Biz Clips

Seminar on ‘Vigyan Prasar Sikhia da Aadhaar’
Ludhiana, January 31
The Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha, in coordination with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, organised a science fair on “Vigyan Prasar Sikhia da Aadhaar” and a declamation contest and interactive session for students here yesterday at Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU.

A participant during a declamation contest at SDP College, Ludhiana, on Monday. — Photos by Inderjit Verma

10 colleges take part in declamation contest
Ludhiana, January 31
SDP College for Women here organised the Ram Lal Bhasin Memorial Declamation Contest today on the college campus. The topics for the contest were education the best dowry for woman.

Fellowships for three PAU soil chemists
Ludhiana, January 31
Dr Bijay Singh, Senior Soil Chemist, Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, has been elected Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.

Govt College Principal retires
Ludhiana, January 31
The Principal of Government College for Women, Ludhiana, Mrs Kusum Ahuja, retired today after 37 years in service. She was given a farewell by her staff and students at a special function organised in the college today.

CULTURE

His theatre is for the children
Ludhiana, January 31
Utkarsh Marwah did a unique thing when he was just 15. He directed a play written by Safdar Hashmi with a cast that was much older than him. For his efforts his name was featured in the Limca Book of Records. Utkarsh, an English honours graduate in mass communication from Delhi, is in the city in connection with his play “Life hi to hai” with a cast of 250 students of Ryan International School.

SPORTS

India have an edge over Pak
Ludhiana, January 31
India have a clear edge over Pakistan and a fair chance of establishing supremacy in the coming Test and One-day International series to be held next month in India. This observation was made by Navjot Singh Sidhu here today.

DMCH staff win tug-of-war contest
Ludhiana, January 31
Undergraduate medical students of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital were in a jubilant mood today as it was a time to display their talent during the annual athletics meet, which was held at Punjab Agricultural University today.