Jalandhar, September 24
The dream final lived up to its expectation as the two arch-foes locked horns for the inaugural T-20 trophy. The high-voltage drama saw the fortunes seesawing but in the end it was Team India which managed to hold its nerves and clinched the cliffhanger. The city crowd feasted on each and every moment of the game which went down to the wire.

Everyone was screaming “Chak de India” as the last over was being bowled. As Misbah-ul-haq, the last batsman of the Pakistan team, was caught, the crowd burst into rapture. Fireworks followed suit. People came on the roads and started dancing to the beats of dhol. Residents were seen greeting each other warmly. Soon congratulatory SMSes started doing the rounds.

The excitement was writ large on the faces of youngsters, who wanted to savour the proud moment. In the Model Town market, young boys were dancing on the road, literally blocking the traffic. Only those commuters were allowed to pass through who joined the celebrations. The mood was no less than ecstatic in the posh Jawahar Nagar market where similar scenes were witnessed. In the Silver Oak Society, as many as 250 residents watched the match live on a big screen in the open. They cheered and danced to the beats of drums at every four and six hit by the Indian team and fall of a 
Pakistan wicket.

Media fraternity also had a gala time as a huge screen was also installed at the Punjab Press Club. There was huge rush at local eateries.

Taranjit Singh, a cricket buff, who was seen celebrating with his friends, said, “It is a great day for the Indian cricket. The blazing young guns have demolished the opponents, and that too in the absence of Ganguly, Tendulkar and Dravid.”

Keeping pace with their counter parts, a bunch of girls, quipped , “It seems “Chak de India” has really done wonders for lifting the spirit of the Indian team.”

Ravinder Dhir, a sports goods manufacturer, said “The historic win will surely give a new form to the game.”

Adampur, September 24
Khadi will soon be available in a new avtar at its exclusive plazas across the country. Now the hand woven and spun cloth is being stitched into colourful, embroidered, designer kurtis and jeans to fascinate the new generation.

This was disclosed by khadi and village industries commission chairperson Kumud Joshi during a meeting of the commission at Punjab Khadi Mandal, Adampur, here today. She said young technologists and designers from the IIT, the IIM, the NID and the NIFT were being roped in to make the new venture possible.

“In the coming days khadi would undergo a complete change with the use of vegetable dyes and more designer cuts and patterns,” Joshi said.

The commission chairperson said, “It would not be an easy task for the rural community to learn the latest nuances in designing.” We also plan to open a design institute only for imparting training in production, packaging and marketing of khadi apparels at Nasik. Besides, around 16 new short-duration courses would also be conducted in consultation with textile and dress designers as well as marketing and management experts.

An interesting revelation by Joshi was about redesigning of spindles and dooms to get production at a faster rate. She said a Bangalore-based chap had come up with twin-spindle equipment attached with a dynamo that could help develop enough charge in two hours to light up a bulb, charge a cellphone and play FM radio for some time. The new gadget will be launched by next month, she added.

Jalandhar, September 24
The Kendriya Sainik Board, Ministry of Defence, has initiated a Prime Minister scholarship scheme for the wards and widows of ex-servicemen.

Giving details, district sainik welfare officer Lieut-Col Manmohan Singh said the scheme was operative from the academic year 2006-07 and onwards. The scholarships would be available for those doing first professional degree programme in engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, MBA, MCA and similar courses recognised by the government. The candidates who have secured at least 60 per cent marks at the class XII level were eligible for the scholarship. Col Manmohan said, “Since the total number of scholarships was limited to 4,000, the boards would draw merit lists in various categories after receipt of the applications and the cut-off percentage would be decided at that point only. — TNS

Nawanshahr, September 24
As part of a series of seminars being organised by the Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat to mobilise people to launch a crusade against the growing menace of “deraism”, a seminar on “Shabd Guru and Deraism” was held here on Sunday. Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat convener Bhai Rajinder Singh stressed the need for initiation of concerted efforts by intellectuals, political, social and religious organisations in this regard. He attributed the growing “dearism” to deviation of the followers of Sikhism from its basic principles. The Sikh Gurus struggled to establish an equal society but the “Dehdhari Gurus” had set up their own deras, which had been degenerating the “gurmat maryada” for furthering their own interests, he alleged.

Dr Gurdarshan Singh from Punjabi University said in Sikhism there was no place for “Dehdhari Gurus” or “deraism” but the present religious system had failed to bring alleged deviated Sikh sangat back to “gurmat maryada”, he lamented. Prof Sarabjit Singh from Gurmat Gyan Missionary College, Ludhiana, attributed the proliferation of so-called “babas” and “deras” to political leaders who had been visiting these “deras” for gains in elections.

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh, a panch of Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, alleged that the proliferation of “deras” was a conspiracy to weaken the “panth” forged by political parties in the country. 

Hoshiarpur, September 24
A liberal financial assistance from a young entrepreneur from Hoshiarpur helped a 10-year-old girl suffering from congenital facial haemangioma. The girl is a daughter of labourer, who is presently residing at Harta Baddla village. At birth, the haemangioma was of a small size, but with the passage of time it started spreading. Doctors advised immediate surgery. ENT specialist from Satnam Hospital Dr Kamaljeet Kaur agreed to operate the girl free of cost. But the poor family had no money for the medicines. However, with the help from the good Samaritan, the girl was able to get the much-needed treatment. — OC

Jalandhar, September 24
Former Punjab local bodies minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and veteran Congress leader and former minister Umrao Singh have hailed the appointment of Congress Legilsative Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

In the same breath, Umrao Singh expressed his gratitude to the Congress high command for giving the important slot of working president of the PPCC to former Punjab minister Mohinder Singh Kaypee. Kaypee, however, was said to be in Canada.

“The appointment of Bhattal as the president will strengthen the party and its cadre in Punjab. It is the right decision of the high command at a right time. Similarly, the party needs the services of a leader like Mohinder Singh Kaypee who has a mass following among Punjabis, particularly people belonging to the Dalit community,” said Umrao Singh.

“All Congress workers and leaders should hail the appointment of Bhattal. I firmly believe that she would deliver the desired results,” said Chaudhary Jagjit Singh.

PHAGWARA: PPCC secretary Parminder Mehta, while welcoming the decision of the AICC to appoint Rajinder Kaur Bhattal as PPCC president and former minister Mahinder Singh Kaypee as the working president of the PPCC, said now a new political era of non-confrontation could be initiated in the state. Addressing a news conference here on Monday evening, Mehta said the Congress high command had justified the provision of representation to Dalits in the organisation by appointing Kaypee as the working president. Mehta claimed that now Bhattal could play a strong role against the wrong and directionless policies of the SAD-BJP government which did nothing for the welfare of the people. Mehta alleged that Akalis could not fulfil any of the poll promises.

NAWANSHAHR : Senior Congress leaders Iqbal Singh, Kartar Singh Sekhon, Pakher Singh Nimana (both former district presidents) and Swaran Singh Barnala have hailed the appointment of Bhattal as PPCC president. Expressing their gratitude towards AICC President Sonia Gandhi, the Congress leaders said Bhattal was a traditional Congress leader having mettle for reviving the Congress by strengthening it at the grassroots level.

Jalandhar, September 24
The Pendu Mazdoor Union today sat on dharna in front of the provident fund office here in support of the farm labourers who were working for a Delhi-based agricultural company.

The labourers said they were working for the Delhi-based company engaged in contract farming in the region. He said company officials told them that an amount was being deducted as provident fund from their wages but they were not given any receipts for the same. They said they were working in the farms of Alowal, Kala Sanghian, Alawalpur and Jandu Sanghian villages. They said a few months back the company officials had cut their wages forcing them to quit. They said they were not paid wages for a few months and their PF which amounted to a few lakhs of rupees. The members met the assistant PF commissioner seeking requisite action by him. They also demanded the intervention of the assistant labour commissioner and the deputy commissioner.