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TOP STORIES

Exit polls predict strong opposition in Punjab: Expert
Chandigarh, February 15
Yogender Yadav “The voting pattern in Punjab elections is welcome news for the state of democracy,” said Mr Yogender Yadav, a leading psephologist and political scientist, here today. In the city to attend a seminar organised by the Department of Political Science, Panjab University, Mr Yadav said in an interview to The Tribune that Punjab was back to normal, secular politics as there was no panthic or religious agenda in these elections.

Voters befuddle pollsters
Patiala, February 15
The dynamics of Punjab elections-2007 have become a riddle wrapped in a mystery. Unlike the past, when pollsters made hay by predicting to near perfection the outcome of the poll once the exercise was over in the evening, this time utter confusion prevails and nearly all pollsters worth their salt are still making hazy guesses which is further confounding the electorate.

YOUR TOWN

Amritsar
Bathinda
Chandigarh
Hoshiarpur
Moga
Patiala
Ropar

EARLIER STORIES

	Farmers upbeat February 15, 2007
	Polling in Mansa highest February 14, 2007
	Voters seek Beas polling on Feb 24 February 13, 2007
	Voters to have the last word February 12, 2007
	Vajpayee calls for change February 11, 2007
	Dullo faces tough opponent February 10, 2007
	Give aided college staff salary: EC February 9, 2007
	Wheat MSP should be Rs 900: CPI February 8, 2007
	Bigwigs in big battles February 7, 2007
	PM promises Green Revolution II February 6, 2007

‘Dera’ culture raises clergy’s hackles
Amritsar, February 15
Concerned by the fact that the religious ‘deras’ in Punjab and Haryana can influence election prospects in the state, the Sikh high priests have been contemplating a meeting at Akal Takht shortly to formulate Dharm Parchar programme to check rising ‘dera culture’ in the state, especially in the Malwa belt, having proximity with Haryana.

Rare surgery restores Nigerian’s vision
Amritsar, February 15
Tears roll down the eyes of 22-year-old Nigerian Esther, who got her vision back through a rare artificial cornea implant surgery performed at Dr Daljit Singh eye hospital here.

POLITICS

Cong’s secularism unmasked: Dhindsa
Chandigarh, February 15
The secretary-general of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, says the mask of secularism donned by the Congress was removed in the Assembly elections in Punjab.

All mega projects will be probed, says Sukhbir
Ropar, February 15
Confident about SAD-BJP alliance victory in the state, SAD General Secretary Sukhbir Badal has said that an inquiry will be initiated against all mega projects ‘sanctioned through corrupt practices’ during the Congress regime.

Ex-minister accused of anti-party activities
Bathinda, February 15
Resentment is brewing among SAD workers over the alleged dubious role of ex-minister Mr Chiranji Lal Garg and his son Rajan Garg in the recently held Assembly elections.

EC has failed to hold fair poll: BSP
Amritsar, February 15
The Election Commission has failed to conduct free and fair elections in Punjab as liquor, money and wheat were freely distributed among the people by candidates of the major political parties to lure the voters.

COMMUNITY

Foundation stones are all what Lohara has
A foundation stone that stands mocking at Lohara village which has witnessed sparse development over the years. Lohara (Moga), February 15
Elections come and go by but the residents of this dusty village keep their hopes high that one day their village would witness a string of development works, the promises of which have been made by politicians from time to time. What consolidates their hopes is the more than 30 foundation stones, some of which were laid more than a decade ago, which are scattered across the village.

A foundation stone that stands mocking at Lohara village which has witnessed sparse development over the years. — A Tribune photograph

Punjabi musical play artistes awarded
Patiala, February 15
Mr S.K. Girdhar, a great connoisseur of art, advised the Patiala Theatre artists to expand their activities in other parts of the country and abroad. He said quality theatre could have good response and scope of marketing like visual arts, Indian antiques and traditional jewellery. Mr S.K. Girdhar, a widely travelled businessman, based in Patiala was presiding over the felicitation session of a Punjabi musical play "Sanu Kee", staged by the National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS), here today.

Stone of judicial complex laid
Hoshiarpur, February 15
Mr Justice Vijender Jain, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, laid the foundation stone of a new judicial courts complex for Dasuya at Khera Kotli village, 40 km from here, today.

AGRICULTURE

Nabard plans new scheme for farmers
Chandigarh, February 15
Punjab is no longer the land of plenty. The state has gained infamy for having the third largest extent of indebtedness in India, after Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. However, the magnitude of indebtedness in rural households is the highest in the country, with per capita debt of Rs 41, 576.

ADMINISTRATION

Fine slapped on info officer
Patiala, February 15
The Punjab State Information Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the Public Information Officer of the Punjab Medical Council for a delay in supplying information pertaining to one Dr Gurmeet Singh against whom a local resident had alleged that his wife's death had occurred due to the doctor's negligence.

CRIME

JE booked for not doing poll duty
Fazilka, February 15
On the directions of SDM-cum-Returning Officer Fazilka, the city police today registered a case against Hakam Singh, Junior Engineer, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Fazilka, under Article 34 of Public Representation Act 1954 for allegedly not performing election duty.

Record seizure of liquor, says police
Chandigarh, February 15
The Punjab Police has claimed that it made a record seizure of liquor from various parts of the state in the days ahead of the Assembly elections.

10 injured in clash, 45 rounded up
Malerkotla , February 15
Ten persons were injured seriously in a clash between two groups at Beri Wala mohalla here today.

EDUCATION

Seminar on clash of civilisations
Patiala, February 15
The Guru Gobind Singh Department of Religious Studies of Punjabi University today organised a seminar on ‘The Clash of Civilisations and the Role of Religion’. Dr Rajesh Sharma from the Department of English, Punjabi University and Syed Nooruzzaman, Assistant Editor of The Tribune, were the main speakers at the seminar.

Coaching for PMT, CET from March 28
Patiala, February 15
The IAS and the Allied Services Training Centre of Punjabi University will start coaching classes for the PMT and CET from March 28 for the SC, OBC and minority communities and also for the general category candidates.

Conference on IT begins today
Patiala, February 15
A two-day conference on "Recent advances in future trends in IT (RAFIT 2007) will be organised by the Department of Computer Science of Punjabi University from February 16.

BUSINESS

Protest rally by traders
Ropar, February 15
A large number of traders today took out a rally claiming that Pardooman Kumar Jain, a 49-year-old businessman, who has been missing for the past 13 days, was kidnapped. They demanded arrest of the accused here today.