Jalandhar, February 25
“ I love to find myself running in my own city,” says a beaming and yet nostalgic Baba Fauja Singh, the oldest marathon runner and a Guinness record holder.

The 94-year-old Baba Fauja Singh was here to participate in the ‘Celebrity fun race,’ a half marathon organized by the CT Educational Society at the Burlton Park statdium here. UK-based Baba Fauja Singh, an ikon for Sikh identity in Europe, is also the brand ambassador of Adidas shoe and apparel company.

“ I am happy that I am running in my own city for the first time. I hail from Beas village of Jalandhar district. Losing or winning does not matter in such events as people get involved and motivated to see others running. A point comes where they want to do the same and if you have attained that point you have won,” a says Baba Fauja Singh while recalling his early days at his village.

In a special message for youngsters, Baba Fauja Singh said all out efforts were needed to drive them out of quagmire of vices like drug addiction. “Such events play a vital role in doing a yeoman’s service in this regard. As for myself, I have been keeping a strict regimen for years. I have to walk 8-10 kilometers a day at any cost. Every 8th day I go for a marathon to keep myself as fit as a fiddle. I have never been beaten by any veteran, except once, and that too years back and by a 65-year-old ‘gora.’ Even today I am running without any practice and it is for the first time in my life that I am doing so at the insistence of the organizers, who wanted to see me here come what may.”

Charanjit Singh Channi, Chairman, CT Educational Society, pop singer Jazzy B, film star Harbhajan Maan, cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Punjabi comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi also participated in the race. Earlier, in the morning the CT Half Marathon 2007 was the first half marathon in Punjab, was organized for charity.

Jalandhar, February 25
The United Kingdom-based Indo-Pak community wants cordial relations between the two countries.

Chairman Indian chapter of Indo-Pak Friendship Society Navtej Singh Toor stated this talking to The Tribune at his office here. He returned a few days ago to India after launching the Pakistan-India Friendship Forum at the House of Commons in England earlier this month.

Condemning the Sunday explosions in the Delhi-Attari Samjhauta Express in the strongest words, Toor said that the Indo-Pak community in the United Kingdom felt that a third forces was creating hindrances at regular intervals to adversely affect relations between the two countries.

Toor, who had also visited Pakistan on the invitation of Pakistani chapter of the association in 2004, said that the majority of Indians and Pakistanis in their respective countries and the UK -based Indo-Pak community were well aware of the nefarious acts of these forces which wanted to create a wedge between the two countries for their vested interests.

Toor, chairperson of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, expressed the hope that Indians and Pakistanis would give these forces a befitting reply by further increasing people- to- people contact and make the atmosphere between the two countries more congenial for lasting peace.

The chairman of Indian chapter of Indo-Pak Friendship Society further said that a greater bond between India and Pakistan would affect the world politically and economically. 

Jalandhar, February 25
Fire broke out at the Railway Road branch of Punjab National Bank (PNB) located near Luxmi Cinema yesterday around 10.45 pm.

As many as five fire tenders were pressed into service. It took almost an hour for the fire brigade to put out the fire.

No loss of life and property was reported.

Jalandhar, February 25
The Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) and Maxim magazine had organised “Provogue”, a fashion show at Lilly Resorts on Saturday night in association with MUL’s Jalandhar-based dealers-Swani Motors, Lovely Autos and Stan Autos.

Mr. Gundeep Swani, the Managing Director of the Swani Motors, and Mr. Ramesh Mittal of Lovely Autos, said the show was a collaborative effort of all the three dealers and for celebration of 15000 Zen Estilo cars by the MUL.