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Scramble in BJP for LS seats
Jalandhar, October 10
A tug-of-war has begun among senior leaders of the BJP over the Lok Sabha elections. Whereas the BJP’s incumbent member of the Lok Sabha Avinash Rai Khanna is keen to contest from Anandpur Sahib, a newly created Lok Sabha seat, the BJP leadership has not forcefully pressed its claim over this constituency so far.

Debate over Majha, Doaba intensifies
Govt presents flowery facts
Chandigarh, October 10
Three Punjab ministers today charged the successive Congress governments at the Centre and in the state with a systematic and sustained neglect of the Majha and Doaba regions.

Set up IIT in Doaba: Khaira
Jalandhar, October 10
To push the Badal government further to the wall on the issue of development of Majha and Doaba, the Congress today offered 250 acres of land to the state government at Ramidi village, near Kartarpur, on the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway, for setting up an IIT. The government authorities have already selected a site at the Birla farm near Ropar.

‘Ludhiana-Sonmarg freight corridor will cut costs’
Ludhiana, October 10
The current global economic crisis would have an impact on India as well, union minister for industries Ashwani Kumar said here today. The minister was talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of his visit to the city in connection with the inspection of the manufacturing units of the Trident Group of Industries here today.

COMMUNITY

A view of an illuminated Golden Temple on the occasion of the birth anniversary of fourth Sikh master Guru Ramdas in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Procurement
Mandi board chairman for gherao of officers
Chandigarh, October 10
It seems the Punjab government is at war with its own agencies over non-procurement of paddy at certain places with State Mandi Board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal today advocating gherao of officers responsible for it.

Development officers to launch stir again
Gurdaspur, October 10
Officers of Rural Development and Panchayat Department may take the state government head on if it failed to redress their grievances, including the alleged harassment and political victimisation of certain employees at various levels on flimsy grounds.

Kidney case: Pannu does volte-face
Amritsar, October 10
District magistrate Khan Singh Pannu, chairman, Authorisation Committee, in a volte-face, said the district administration would not take any action against unmarried Sunny (23) for submitting false and misleading affidavit wherein he had mentioned that he wanted to give his kidney to Kirpal Singh, additional deputy commissioner (ADC), Tarn Taran, “out of sheer love and affection”.

Ill-maintained statues put off Netaji’s nephew
Amritsar, October 10
Member of Parliament of the All-India Forward Bloc Subrata Bose, who had visited Amritsar 72 years ago along with his paternal uncle Subhas Chandra Bose, before latter’s Great Escape to Kabul, today expressed dismay over the sacrilege of the statues of freedom fighters installed at various places here. He is son of Sarat Chandra Bose, elder brother of Netaji. While visiting the statue of Netaji at Bhandari Bridge here today, Subrata was shocked to see strings of torn banners tied to its legs, giving an impression as if the martyr had been shackled.

All-India Forward Bloc MP Subrata Bose, who is nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Lecturer facing reversion posted as acting principal
Patiala, October 10
This can happen only in a government department. A teacher, who was promoted “wrongly and illegally” as senior lecturer by the Punjab Technical Education Department and subsequently faced reversion, has been posted as acting principal of Government Girls Polytechnic College, Jalandhar, on the orders of state technical education minister Swarna Ram.

Youth plead with Badal for jobs
Ludhiana, October 10
Unemployment among well-qualified youth and negative vibes from the BJP stared Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the face during his first sangat darshan in the district today.

Akshay in Deepa’s film on Komagata Maru
Chandigarh, October 10
The little-known saga of Komagata Maru, a ship which was hired by Malaysian Sikh Gurdit Singh 94 years ago to challenge the policy of exclusion in Canada, is set to get international attention with renowned director Deepa Mehta roping in Akshay Kumar to play the gutsy Sikh.

Sikhs resent Pashaura’s appointment
Amritsar, October 10
In a communication to the Jathedar, Akal Takht, certain Sikh organisations from the United States of America have sought action against Prof Pashaura Singh for his alleged blasphemous writings.

Martyr cremated with military honours
Barnala, October 10
Hundreds bid adieu to Lance Naik Amarjeet Singh, who was killed in an encounter with Pak intruders at Keri post in Rajouri sector, at his native place Dhaula (Barnala) here today. His body, wrapped in the Tricolour, was cremated with full military honours.

CRIME

Criminal case against Bhajji for playing Ravana
Chandigarh, October 10
After Akal Takht’s decision to ask cricketer Harbhajan Singh to apologise for playing the role of Ravana in a show that comes on an entertainment channel, a human rights activist and Vijay Singh Bhardwaj, spokesperson for the Bajrang Dal, have filed a criminal complaint against the cricketer. The case is yet to be taken up by Chief Judicial Magistrate Kanchan Mahi, Chandigarh.