Jalandhar, March 3
Cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia said today that the state government would put an end to the “policy of vendetta”, but would not spare anyone found guilty for any irregularity.

Kalia, who was welcomed by residents, workers and leaders of the SAD-BJP combine on his arrival to the city after swearing in as a minister, asserted that law would take its own course.

“The government is going to put an end to the policy of vendetta. It will also ensure full cooperation with the Central government to ensure the development of the state,” he said.

Kalia was accompanied by A. Venu Parsad, deputy commissioner; Harbir Singh, administrator, PUDA; Shiv Dyal Chugh, president, Jalandhar unit of the BJP; and Bhagat Chuni Lal; K.D. Bhandari; and Sarbjit Singh Makkar, all MLAs.

Kalia said the government would strive to fulfil all its promises and efforts would be made to make Punjab the number one state of India once again.

He said apart from development of rural and urban areas of Punjab, the government would solve the burgeoning traffic problem of Jalandhar.

Jalandhar, March 3
It was a treat for the sports lovers to watch as hockey Olympians and former international players from the region picked up their sticks and gave a spectacular demonstration of the game, proving their mettle all over again during two goodwill six-a-side matches played by them at Jalandhar Cantonment here today.

Even as the upcoming Nehru Garden girls’ team and serving Army officials lost to the Olympians’ team, it was an unforgettable event for them for having availed an opportunity to play against those whom they had always emulated.

Olympians Pargat Singh, Baldev Singh, Rajinder Singh Jr and Ramandeep Singh, international players Jagdeep Gill and Sukhbir Grewal and Federation of International Hockey marketing chairman Bob Davidson formed a team as they defeated Nehru Garden girls by 3-0.

A 1976 Olympian, Baldev Singh, defied his age as he sounded the board twice. Punjab director (sports) Pargat Singh also hit the goal once in the 10-minute game.

Goalkeeper for the girls’ team, Arshdeep, showed her skill in defending the goal from the Olympians thrice.

Charanjit, Sonia, Sonia Khanna, Zenith and Mandeep were among the lucky seven who played today.

Army officials too found it hard to fight the still-mighty Olympians in the 10-minute match.

Brig Vashisht, Brig-Gen Staff; Col R.V. Desai, Colonel Intelligence; Maj Sukhjinder Singh; Maj Ashok Arya; Maj Vishnu; Capt Umesh Giri; and Capt Bhardwaj formed a team against the Olympians, but lost miserably 0-7.

A 1982 Asian Games player Jagdeep Gill stroked thrice and so did Pargat Singh. A 1982 Olympian and former chief Indian coach Rajinder Jr too hit ball into the Army’s goal.

Besides, there were other Olympians who watched the game.

Lieut-Col Haripal Kaushik, who played thrice in 1956, 1960 and 1964, Hardeep Singh Grewal, Varinder Singh, who played in 1972 and 1976, Arjuna Awardee Jagjit Singh and Col Balbir Singh attended the event.

A 30-minute match was also played between Army XI and Sansarpur XI teams which ended in a 1-1 draw.

A Guru ki Fauj team, comprising of young and middle-aged martial arts experts, converted the Army ground into a virtual battlefield as they displayed their talent using bows and arrows, charkas, swords and shields.

Lieut-Gen Noble Thamburaj, GOC, Vajra Corps, serving and retired army personnel and their families, and Sansarpur residents watched the matches.

Phagwara, March 3
A joint meeting of rural and urban units of the Phagwara Congress has recommended the expulsions of Phagwara improvement trust chairman Balbir Raja Sodhi and former chairman Harjit Singh Parmar from the party for six years.

The meeting, presided over by Joginder Singh Mann, was attended by Congress councillors, nagar council president Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, block Congress committee urban president Manmohan Sharma and rural president Inderjit Singh Khaliyan.

The participants said both Parmar and Sodhi worked to ensure the defeat of the Congress candidate. A resolution in this regard was sent to the PPCC for early action. — TNS