Punjab to seek fiscal concessions like HP
Bathinda, August 5
Finance Minister Surinder Singla said today that Punjab would also seek fiscal concessions on the lines of Himachal Pradesh and he had received a positive response from the Prime Minister in this regard. He stated this while addressing a press conference minutes after holding a party workers’ rally here.

Badal seeks economic package for Punjab
Chandigarh, August 5
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Parkash Singh Badal today demanded a special economic package for industry in Punjab in the wake of alarm and dismay caused by the Centre’s decision to extend industrial concessions to Himachal Pradesh up to 2010.

First advocate disappears, then his junior ‘dies’ in accident
Ropar, August 5
The case of disappearance of Rajesh Gumber, an advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and resident of Chandigarh from here under mysterious circumstances, became more peculiar with his junior advocate, Ramesh Chahal, who was providing vital information to the police in the case, also dead in an accident.

 

POLITICS

Oppn trying to malign me: Kathunangal
Amritsar, August 5
‘‘The Opposition is trying to malign me by levelling baseless charges’’, Mr Sawinder Singh Kathunangal, Congress MLA from the Majitha Assembly constituency, said here yesterday.

COMMUNITY

Quota for Valmikis: CM calls meeting
Chandigarh, August 5
As the agitation launched by the Valmikis and Mazhbi Sikh Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Morcha has started gathering momentum in the state, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has convened a meeting of his Cabinet colleagues and Congress MLAs here on August 10 to resolve the issue of reservation for the two sections.

Power situation grim
Ropar, August 5
The power situation in Punjab continues to be grim. The scant rainfall in the state has put power generation under pressure. The situation got worst as the supplies from the Naptha Jhakri hydel project stopped and one unit of the Bathinda thermal plant has been shut down.

Singla asked to help stop harassment of doctors
Patiala, August 5
The Rural Medical Service Providers Association has claimed that politicians at the district level were using pressure tactics for getting their relatives appointed in dispensaries across the state. It also urged the Health Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, to stop the harassment of women doctors at the hands of sarpanches and local MLAs.

 

COURTS

Notice to Punjab on ex-servicemen’s plea
Change in eligibility norms for post of DSWO
Chandigarh, August 4
The ex-servicemen community in Punjab is upset with the recent change in eligibility criterion for the post of District Sainik Welfare Officer (DSWO) and Deputy Director Sainik Welfare as it restricts officers of the rank of Major as well as Short Service Commission officers for applying to the said posts.

AGRICULTURE

Farmers’ bodies announce agitation plan
Sangrur, August 5
To oppose the acquisition of agricultural land and compel the state government to scrap the notification, regarding acquisition of land in Dhaula, Sangherra and Fatehgarh Chhanna villages in the Barnala subdivision, a high-level meeting of the nine farmer organisations yesterday drew up an agitation plan.

CRIME

Attempt to abort foetus 
Bathinda, August 5
Following a tip-off, a team led by Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari today raided Thukral Nursing Home at Civil Lines and foiled a lady doctor's bid to abort the foetus of a woman. The raiding team comprised the Civil Surgeon, Mr Dilip Kumar, and the DSP (City), Mr Ashish Kapoor.

Boy kills mother
Abohar, August 5
A minor boy allegedly killed his mother with sharp-edged weapon at Siyagawali village in the Sriganganagar area yesterday.

3 held for murder
Ropar, August 5
The CIA staff of the Ropar police today arrested three persons, including a history-sheeter and a retired Army man, for murdering a 60-year-old man, Harjit Singh, following a land dispute. The suspects drowned the body of Harjit Singh after chopping his head with spade in a canal passing through Bhojau Majra village near Morinda town on July 18.

Clerk held with bribe money
Kharar, August 5
A registry clerk working in the tehsil complex was caught red-handed by officials of the Vigilance Bureau while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 here yesterday.

 

EDUCATION

Teachers protest over suspension order
Abohar, August 5
Hundreds of teachers working in private aided schools and colleges today boycotted work and held a rally to express their resentment over the “illegal, arbitrary and vindictive” act of the managing committee of Singh Sabha Kanya Pathshala headed by Mr Jaspinder Singh Jakhar, general secretary of the PPCC.