Hoshiarpur, May 8
Criticising the Congress for alleged failing on all fronts, especially in controlling the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, Tulsi-fame TV star Smriti Irani praised the SAD-BJP government of Punjab for providing wheat flour to the poor at Rs 4 per kg. She said it had become difficult for the poor to carry on due to the price hike of essential commodities. Smriti Irani was addressing an election rally in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance candidate, Som Parkash, here today.

Referring to the November 26 terrorist strike in Mumbai, she said instead of taking direct action against the enemies of the country, the Congress-led UPA government was seeking action against them from the US Government. It had brought bad name for the country.

Condemning former Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil for its complete failure in maintaining law and order in the country and in protecting the lives and properties of the public, Smriti Irani exhorted the electorate, especially women, to discard Congress candidates in the election and vote for the BJP and its allied parties to save the country from disaster. Punjab Minister for Medical Education and Research, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour and Forest Tikshan Sud and other local leaders of the BJP also addressed the rally. On account of late arrival of Smriti Irani, the road show of the BJP candidate Som Parkash could not be held.

Jalandhar, May 8
The authorities of Lovely Professional University claimed to have resolved the ongoing tiff with the students during a meeting held here this afternoon.

Members of the Punjab Students’ Union said they were not called for the meeting and rather kept out of the whole episode. The members said most of the students who had earlier confronted the authorities on the matter have been staying aloof for fear of being rusticated.

Chancellor Ashok Mittal said the meeting concluded on an amicable note. He said the classes would resume soon, though he did not clearly specify the schedule.

In a press note released here this evening, Assistant Director, Public Relations, Aman Mittal said, “In the meeting students have shown their concern on the damaged made by some miscreants in the university and have strongly recommended the action against them. They agreed that their actions were driven by the provocation of the external bodies which they now understand have used them for their own interest.

“The students have shown their satisfaction on the action taken by the university on all their demands. Their demands of the attendance and marks which the students have lost due to these holidays have also been taken care of by the university. The university as a goodwill gesture has also extended the last date of deposit of fees by two weeks.”

Pathankot, May 8
The police arrested an alleged Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agent and recovered some confidential documents from him here today.

According to police sources, they received information that a person would be passing through a certain part of the city and would be carrying sensitive documents with him which were detrimental to national security.

The accused was nabbed near the railway crossing while he was on the way to allegedly fax the secret documents.

On interrogation, he identified as Javed Iqbal, alias Rajesh Chohan, a resident of Lahore, Pakistan. He said he had arrived in the city some years ago and was residing with his wife Akeela Khan here at the Prem Nagar locality and had been sending information to the ISI through internet and fax. He said he had come in contact with some ISI agents who lured him to spy for them.

The police has registered a case under sections 3/34/20 of the Indian Passport Act, section 14 of the Foreign Act. He has been sent to police remand till May 12.

Jalandhar, May 8
Two brothers, identified as Davinder Singh and Dilbagh Singh of Halta village in Hoshiarpur, were killed when a multi-axle vehicle in which they were travelling plunged into the Kali Bein from a bridge on the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway near Subhanpur village in Kapurthala on Friday morning.

According to eyewitnesses, the duo was on the way to Jalandhar, when the multi-axle plunged into the Kali Bein. The police rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation. After long time when the police failed to locate the brothers, divers from the area were pressed into the rescue operation. The divers took five hours to fish out the bodies from the bein. The bodies have been sent to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist was crushed to death under a truck in a road accident near TV Centre, here this afternoon. The police said Mohan Lal of Quadian village was on the way to Football Chowk, when a truck rammed into his bike from behind, killing him on the spot.

The truck driver fled from the scene leaving his vehicle behind. The police has sent the body to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered.

Hoshiarpur, May 8
A seminar on “management of diseases in kinnow plantation” was organised by the Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, in collaboration with the Farm Advisory Service Scheme (PAU), Hoshiarpur, and Syngenta Company at the local Kheti Bhavan.

Hundreds of farmers attended the seminar. Dr G.S. Kahlon, senior horticulturist, PAU, gave guidelines on selection of land and planting stock and technical details about the production technology of kinnow. Dr D.R. Sharma, senior entomologist, PAU, explained the integrated insect-pest management in kinnow plantation. Dr T.S. Thind and Dr Chander Mohan explained the control of diseases in kinnow plantation. The problem of phytopthora was discussed in detail.

Dr R.K. Goyal, technical development manager, Syngenta, discussed the products of the company and their recommendations for the control of diseases.

District extension specialist Dr Mandeep Randhawa informed the farmers about the schemes being run by PAU in the district for the management of diseases.