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Disrespect to Turban at Airport
Spanish police apologises
Patiala, July 13
A London-based Punjabi NRI Jaswant Singh Judge has fought a long battle against the Spanish police, the Guardia Civil for removing his turban in full public view for a security check. The Spanish police has finally apologised to him and issued instructions that religious sentiments of Sikhs should be respected during security check at airports. 

Canals to be cleaned at cost of Rs 3,243 crore
Patiala, July 13
To provide farmers of Punjab a smooth and unrestricted flow of water, the Punjab Irrigation Department has decided to clean canals and minors of the state at a cost of Rs 3,243 crore within a period of three years.

Sikh bodies support nuclear deal
Amritsar, July 13
Several Sikh organisations and the Congress have lent full support to the Union government to go ahead with the nuclear deal, which they describe as beneficial to the growing economy of the country. President of the Sikh Scholars Forum Suba Singh and head of the Sikh Watch Pritpal Singh Tuli have made a fervent appeal to all Sikh MPs to whole-heartedly support Manmohan Singh at this crucial juncture.

His ‘junoon’ for Punjabi folk music
Amritsar, July 13
There is a need to promote Punjabi language through folk music, said Lakhwinder Wadali, talking to mediapersons here today. Lakhwinder, son of Padma Shree recipient Puran Chand Wadali, is participating in the “Junoon Kuch Kar Ke Dikhane Ka” programme on the NDTV channel. He is the only singer from the state to participate in the folk category.

Lakhwinder Wadali talks to mediapersons in Amritsar on Sunday. —A Tribune photograph

Better policing through CCTV cameras
Kapurthala, July 13
Close circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed at six locations in this district are turning out to be a boon for complainants visiting police stations at these locations in the district. The police department has linked five of the 10 police stations in the district as well as the office of the DSP with the office of the SSP to ensure more transparency in police functioning.

Kapurthala SSP Rakesh Aggarwal monitors CCTV camera footage in his office. — Photo by writer

 

POLITICS

BSP to go it alone in LS elections
Tarn Taran, July 13
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will play a major role in the formation of the government at the Centre after the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. These views were expressed by Hargopal Singh, party’s state general secretary and former MLA, while addressing a meeting of office-bearers of the party’s local district unit here today.

COMMUNITY

No ash siphoned into wetland, claims thermal plant
Chandigarh, July 13
Reacting to a news item, “Thermal plant siphons ash into wetland” (July 10), deputy chief engineer (civil), Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (GGSSTP), Ropar, S.C. Chabba has claimed that “cent per cent” fly-ash was being utilised to manufacture cement and allied products.

Part-time lecturers not to support
regular staff
Chandigarh, July 13
Nearly 300 part-time lecturers working in government colleges in Punjab declared to have severed functional relationship with the Government College Lecturers’ Association (GCLA). President of the part-time lecturers association Sukhdeep Singh said his organisation would boycott programmes given by the GCLA.

Unemployed BEd teachers hold a protest in Amritsar on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Jobless teachers threaten rally
Amritsar, July 13
The BEd Unemployed Teachers Front (Punjab) here today burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and blocked the GT Road in protest against government’s dilly-dallying over the recruitment of teachers.

Fee-review panel fails to meet CM’s deadline
Patiala, July 13
The committee, formed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to review the fee structure of private medical colleges of the state, has not had even its preliminary meeting yet. The three-member committee was formed on June 26 and was asked to submit its report within a week.

HAUNTED BY POWER CUTS: An activist of the Shiv Sena protests against massive power cuts in Amritsar on Sunday. —Photo by Vishal Kumar

Member of Satkar panel shot at
Amritsar, July 13
A member of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee was shot at and seriously injured by a Nihang at gurdwara Chevin Patshahi (6th)Guru Hargobind Sahib near Chowk Mehta under Baba Bakala subdivision.

Jail inmate complains of poor medical
facilities
Chandigarh, July 13
Medical facilities provided to inmates Punjab jails came to light after a complaint was filed by an inmate, Mohammad Rashid, a foreigner who was detained under the NDPS Act in Central Jail, Amritsar.

1.43 lakh not paid pension since March
Sangrur, July 13
Despite claims by the SAD-BJP government that the financial health of the state is sound, the state Social Security Department has not paid pension/financial assistance since March this year to more than 1.43 lakh old-age beneficiaries, widows and destitute women, dependent children, disabled persons of Sangrur and Barnala districts.

SAD (A) seeks security for Bhai Gurmail
Nabha, July 13
Mohinder Pal Singh, general secretary, SAD (A), threw his weight behind Bhai Gurmail Singh involved in the Hira Mahal controversy.

Of 3 ‘floating stones’ and faith
Sangrur, July 13
Three stones of different weights (5, 6 and 7 kg) were found “floating” in a canal passing near Kila Hakima village in Dhuri subdivision. After the recovery of the “floating” stones from the canal, people of the area spread the news that the stones belonged to the era of Lord Rama and villagers started worshipping the stones.

‘It’s not meteorite’
Sangrur, July 13
After analysing a suspected meteorite that fell in the fields of Harjinder Singh, near Sunam, in April, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has observed that the micro texture as well as composition of the specimen do not match with any known meteorite type. The sample resembles a scoria or slag of silicate material, it has said in its report.