Jalandhar, January 31
The Congress may forge alliance in with the Balwant Singh Ramoowalia-led Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) and the Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM), which is led by Satnam Singh Kainth, in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Mohinder Singh Kaypee said preliminary talks with the LBP, BSM, United Communist Party of India and Samajwadi Party were on for an alliance in the state.

The United Communist Party of India and Samajwadi Party had considerable base in some pockets of several constituencies in Punjab, he added.

Kaypee said the PPCC would request the Election Commission to hold by-election for Nurmahal assembly constituency along with the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The Nurmahal seat fell vacant after the death of SAD MLA Gurdeep Singh Bhullar.

Former Congress MLA Gurwinder Singh Atwal would likely be the party candidate from Nurmahal seat, he added.

Kaypee evaded direct reply to a query about the possibility of changing state president if he was allotted ticket from Jalandhar parliamentary seat. He merely said he would abide by the guidelines of the party high command.

To a query about edict by Akal Takht jathedar, the PPCC president said the Congress would seek votes from every section of the society whether that section was the follower of any dera or not.

Kaypee said the party would hold religious prayers from February 1 to March 23 in different parts of the state for thanking the almighty for early recovery of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Akhand path would be started at Model Town Gurdwara on February 1 and its bhog would be held on February 3.

A rally would be held at Nurmahal on the same day which would be attended by former chief ministers Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, he added.

Jalandhar, January 31
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today said that the Commission for Administrative Reforms would submit its report soon.

The report would pave the way for far reaching and comprehensive administrative reforms in the current year.

The Deputy CM, who was on his maiden visit to the city, said currently the commission is taking the suggestions from the people and after compiling suggestions from various quarters, it will submit a detailed report that would be implemented within the year.

Elaborating on the proposed reforms, he said various public-dealing departments would be outsourced to make it convenient to the public.

For example, car dealers will also be authorised for the registration of the vehicles so that people can complete all formalities for purchasing of vehicle on one point only, he added.

A motor driving school was being opened at Bhatinda with the collaboration of Tata Motors, and if it was successful, even the work for issuing driving licenses would also be assigned to the company.

“If the experiment succeeds, more such schools will be opened in each district so that after getting proper training, people can get a license also”, he said, adding that apart from Tata, talks were going on with some other automobile companies.

Sukhbir further revealed that a comprehensive media policy would be announced soon and the Public Relations Department would be totally revamped.

Regarding notification of the Goonda Act to curb piracy in the state, Badal Jr said SAD’s nominee Hans Raj Hans has made such a request and he would look into it.

Later, Sukhbir participated in Jagannatha Rath Yatra in the city.

Nawanshahr, January 31
Basant Panchmi was celebrated with fervour and enthusiasm here today. Kite traders made a brisk business as the youth enjoyed kite flying throughout the day. The sky full of kites was presenting a beautiful sight.

Local kite trader Pankaj, while sharing his views over the brisk business, told The Tribune that the sunshine after a couple of foggy days in the region proved a boon for the kite traders and the kite-flying lovers. The holiday in schools proved an extra advantage for them.

Besides, havans were perfomed to worship Goddess Saraswati at many places in the town. The Baradari market organised a halwa langar to celebrate Basant Panchmi.

Hoshiarpur: A big fair was held at the Boeli Baba Bhandari on the occasion of Basant Panchmi. Thousands of persons from the town and its adjoining areas participated in the fair.

Wrestling competitions were organised and folk and classical singers gave their performances. A kite-flying competition was the main attraction of the fair.

Amritsar, January 31
The police is clueless about the whereabouts of teenage boy Ankush Rahi of Tanga Colony, near Green Avenue, who went missing on January 22.

The boy’s father Ashwani Kumar, talking to media here today, said though a case was registered on January 23, the police had failed to trace the boy.

He said though the SSP assured him in this regard, no progress had been made so far in the case.

However, SHO Devinder Singh said all the police stations were informed about the case, besides putting the data of the missing boy on the internet.

He said on January 22 the boy had returned from the school and had told his mother Meena that he was going out and would return after 10 to 15 minutes. However, the boy did not return.

When queried whether the family members had reprimanded the boy for not doing well during the pre-board tests for appearing in the class VIII examination, Ashwani said they had only asked him to concentrate on his studies and work hard in future.

He said one of the former classmates of the boy had spotted him near a showroom on Mall Road on January 25 at 4.15 pm.

They often travelled across to other places to the next target area after spending some days in trains in the garb of beggars.

Jalandhar, January 31
Senior former faculty of repute from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, and other surrounding medical institutes have joined hands to set up Chandigarh Medical Sciences Academy to make available a total digital live coaching for those doctors who aspire to take admission to postgraduate courses.

Former associate professor of the PGI Dr S.K. Bansal said in a statement that Panchkula-based academy had a strong back-end support of thousands of medical slides, multiple choice questions, case studies, e-books and videos sessions.

Entrance to the MD, MS residency programme was as difficult as getting into the MBBS after plus two examination in the premier medical institutes in India and overseas like the USA or the UK, hence, this high-end meaningful academy was an endeavour aimed at training future specialists and medical teachers.

The academy was a training institute designed for the new generation of medical professionals who wanted guidance and coaching for postgraduate medical entrance examinations, Dr Bansal added.

The three courses - standard (six months), regular (four months) and fast-track (two months) - would provide digital and classroom coaching for entrance examination to postgraduate medical education residency programme like MD general, MD paediatrics, MS general, MS orthopaedics, MS OBS/gynae and MD radiology. The details are available on www.cmsaonline.co.in, he said.