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Fuel Price Hike
CM writes to PM for rollback 
Chandigarh, June 6
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "to roll back the steep and unbearable" hike in fuel prices announced by the UPA government.

• BJP for cut in ST on petro products
• Pay heed to Sonia’s plea: YC

Chandumajra flays fuel price hike
Patiala, June 6
Accusing the union government of ignoring interests of farmers and the common man, Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra has estimated that fuel price hike would put an additional burden of Rs 560 crore on farmers in paddy season alone.

Jathedar Iqbal Singh roughed up
Takht Edict
Akal Takht has sole right to resolve the common Panthic matters
The other Takhts can take up regional matters only
Sangat should not raise any  controversy over the hymns of the Dasam Granth
Amritsar, June 6
A piquant situation arose outside the Akal Takht secretariat here today when SGPC’s task force and some hardliners roughed up Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh and did not let him attend the meeting of the Sikh clergy.

Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh (right) being stopped from attending a meeting of Sikh clergy at Akal Takht in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

 

 

POLITICS

Can’t mend ties with Bhattal: Amarinder
Ludhiana, June 6
Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said there was no chance of any reconciliation with PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal even while stressing that only a united Congress could win parliamentary elections in the state.

COMMUNITY

Tribune Impact
Election of Sarpanches for Reserved Seats
Punjab government issues fresh orders 
Mohali, June 6
The Punjab government today followed up Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal’s categorical declaration about not disturbing the status of reserved seats in the panchayats elections by issuing fresh orders on the election of the sarpanches of the village panchayats with regard to the reservation of posts for the Scheduled Castes and women panches, Chief Minister’s media advisor Harcharan Bains said here today.

Phoolka gives jolt to secessionists
Amritsar, June 6
The management of Pro-Khalistan Sikh Shrine, Gurdwara Dashmesh Parivar, Surrey, British Columbia, got a jolt today when H.S. Phoolka, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and human rights activist, walked out of a gathering, saying that he loved India and did not believe in any secessionist movement.

Don’t come without appointment, says CM
Chandigarh, June 6
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has issued orders that any government officer or employee desirous of meeting him should seek appointment from his office.

Ensure potable water, says Khaira
Chandigarh, June 6
Following samples of drinking water not meeting the requisite standards in the Malwa region, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home constituency, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Congress legislator from Bholath, has asked the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to comply with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for safe drinking water in the entire state.

Ghallughara Divas peaceful
Amritsar, June 6
The slogan of “Khalistan and Bhindranwale zindabad’ were raised in front of Akal Takht by SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann to mark the 24th anniversary of Operation Bluestar here today even as Ghallughara Divas passed off peacefully. Though the SGPC had deployed its task force to deal with any untoward incident, some youths were seen attending the function with firearms.
A Sikh youth with a gun performs ardas at Akal Takht to mark Ghallughara Divas in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Wadhbhag sect plea accepted
Amritsar, June 6
In a bid to bring the sect promoted by Baba Wadhbhag Singh to the mainstream of the Sikh religion, Akal Takht today accepted the plea of Bhai Swarnjit Singh, vice-president of the Singh Managing Sewa Committee, Tap Asthan Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Himachal Pradesh. He submitted himself at the Takht and accepted that he would abide by the tenets of Guru Granth Sahib. 

Sikh priests voice concern
Amritsar, June 6
Expressing concern over the style of functioning of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee, Sikh priests in its resolution said the complaint of the violation of the maryada of the holy scripture should be brought to the notice of Akal Takht Sahib, besides the SGPC and the Dharam Prachar Committee.

Ahluwalia VC of Granth Sahib varsity
Fatehgarh Sahib, June 6
Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia has been named the first vice-chancellor of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib. Ahluwalia remained the vice-chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, from 1999 to April 2002. — TNS