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We‘ll take on the corrupt, says Sukhbir
Chandigarh, January 23

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has said he will continue to remain president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) only as long as the party wants him to do so. “As of now, I seek full cooperation from the bureaucracy as well as the Opposition parties to help me fulfil the responsibility that has been given to me,” he said soon after formally assuming office here today.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife Harsimrat Kaur at his new office in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photograph: Manoj Mahajan

Only NDA can help Punjab, says Badal
Batala, January 23
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said today that his party would get state’s demands of transfer of Chandigarh and left-out Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab and due share in the river water distribution as per the riparian principles accepted and implemented if the NDA came to power at the Centre.

Langah’s advice to Vinod Khanna

Tribune Impact Experts to renovate Darshani Deori Amritsar, January 23 Finally, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has agreed to get the renovation of Darshani Deori, which leads to sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, done by experts with the support of the district administration. A view of Darshani Deori of the Golden Temple. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Use of Gurbani in SAD ads draws flak
Amritsar, January 23
The Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) today urged the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, to take action against the SAD leaders, who allegedly used hymns of Guru Granth Sahib in comparing Badal’s family with the spiritual thoughts of the Gurus.

Usurping govt land won’t be easy now
Observation cells to come up in seven Punjab districts
Patiala, January 23
Usurping of government lands or their encroachment would turn out to be a difficult job for unscrupulous elements, at least in seven districts of Patiala division, as the administration is in the process of setting up “observation cells” within “Suvidha centres” at district headquarters.

POLITICS

CPI opposes dynastic rule in state
Sangrur, January 23
In the light of handing over of Deputy Chief Minister’s post to his son Sukhbir Singh Badal by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Communist Party of India (CPI) yesterday opposed the dynastic rule in the state saying it was an unfortunate event for democracy and that dynastic rule was taking an upper hand as Badal and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh were busy promoting their families in place of giving a chance to old, loyal and dedicated workers and leaders of their parties.

BJP Yuva Morcha to honour new voters
Sangrur, January 23
In an effort to attract new voters, who will exercise their right to franchise for the first time in the ensuing Lok Sabha (LS) elections, the Yuva Morcha of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has planned to honour all new voters from the age of 18 years to 25 years by organising district-level functions throughout the state.

COMMUNITY

PMET Scam
Warrants against 3 Delhi students
Chandigarh, January 23
The Special Investigating Team (SIT), which is probing the Pre-medical Entrance Test (PMET) scam of 2008, has issued warrants against three Delhi-based medical students for allegedly acting as sub-agents of the perpetrators of the scam, who used them to impersonate undeserving candidates.

Surinder Kaur pitches in Bathinda, January 23 Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, today arrived here for “personal rapport” with residents of the town as the Lok Sabha (LS) elections are approaching. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s wife Surinder Kaur in Bathinda on Friday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

Kiln workers hold dharna
Sangrur, January 23
Hundreds of brick kiln workers, under the banner of the Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union, today took out a march through the town and held a dharna in front of the office of the deputy commissioner here demanding the implementation of minimum wages at brick kilns.

Stop playing of vulgar songs in buses: DC
Sangrur, January 23
Sangrur deputy commissioner VK Ohri has asked district transport officer (DTO) Gurpreet Singh Thind and all SDMs of the district to initiate harsh steps immediately to get the playing of vulgar songs stopped in buses as these songs made the travelling of passengers, especially women, difficult.

Auction fetches mandi board Rs 7.21 cr
Chandigarh, January 23
Punjab Mandi Board has earned Rs 7.21 crore during the auction of a vacant piece of land and building owned by the board. Chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said in a press note that the old office building of the market committee, Sirhind, was auctioned and it fetched Rs 7.21 crore. He added that this building was lying vacant for the past 40 years.

COURTS

HC refuses to examine village land Act
Chandigarh, January 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to examine the constitutional validity of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulations) Act, 1961, while taking up petition purported to have been filed in public interest litigation.

Sukhbir Badal Case
Journalist says he has been threatened again
Chandigarh, January 23
Journalist Naresh Kumar Sehgal, who has all along been expressing apprehensions of an unfair trial in a case registered on his complaint against now Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and others, has claimed fresh threats to him.