Surcharge on petrol, diesel: Levying of surcharge on petrol and diesel by the state government will not only burden the farming community but also promote retail sales at the filling stations located across the inter-state border, said former parliamentary secretary Sunil Jakhar.While questioning the wisdom of the SAD-BJP alliance government, he said Haryana was charging 12.50 per cent VAT on petrol and diesel whereas the fresh surcharge by the state government has increased VAT in the state up to 30.25 per cent. Rajasthan too was charging less VAT on petroleum products, he said.

Bathinda
Cong men protest against Shiv Sena leaders: Lodging protest against Shiv Sena leaders Bal Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray for creating disturbance in Maharashtra, a number of Congress leaders burnt an effigy of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray outside the railway station here on Saturday. Earlier, the agitating workers held a protest march through the city markets.

Ex-servicemen meet: To discuss the achievements and express concern over the long pending demands, activists of the Ex-servicemen Welfare Union held a meeting at the Panchayat Bhawan here on Saturday. The meeting, headed by state president Captain Bhagwant Singh, highlighted that the union had organised 12 free eye camps. The members also discussed the issue of ‘One Rank One Pension’ and chalked out a strategy of protest. About ban on the entry of ex-servicemen in the Cantonment through Chaudhary Marg and Thimmaya Marg on personal vehicles, the members warned of lodging a protest if the orders were not withdrawn by March 15.

Office-bearers elected: In the annual general house meeting of the North Estate Welfare Society, Jagdish Singh Mahal, Col OP Mehta, Babu Singh and Harinder Ghai have been unanimously elected as the president, senior vice-president, secretary and finance secretary, respectively.

CHANDIGARH
Martyrdom day: The state government is organising a state-level function to mark the Martyrdom Day of Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala, a leading general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army, who made supreme sacrifice while leading the Sikh forces from the front in the last Anglo Sikh war. The function would be organised at Attari on February 10 and Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Information and Public Relations Minister, would preside over it.

Nominated: The state government has nominated presidents of following NGOs-Indian Red Cross Society, Paryas Special School for Mentally Disabled Children, Jalandhar, Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Blind and Orthopaedically Handicapped Persons, Ludhiana, and Indian Red Cross Society, 15-bedded drug de-addiction treatment-cum- rehabilitation centre, Moga, as members of the Grant-in-Aid Committee for a period of one year.

Health fair: CM Parkash Singh Badal will inaugurate a four-day third Arogya Health Fair-2010 at Rajindera College, Bathinda, on February 12. The fair aimed at spreading awareness on ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy. It will have free medical check-ups, live yoga demonstrations and preparations of ayurveda medicines. State Governor Shivraj Patil would also visit the fair on February 14.

Mansa
Cong flays Sena stance: Following the state-level call, District Youth Congress today burnt the effigies of the Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for making hateful remarks against the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Activists of the Youth Congress also held a demonstration in the city and raised slogans against divisive politics of both the party chiefs. Addressing the gathering, Congress MLA, Ajitinder Singh Moffar said both party chiefs have been spreading hatred among the people of the country and damaging the unity and integrity of the country. District Youth Congress chief, Gurpreet Singh Vicky said both the party chiefs have been damaging the spirit of the constitution which guarantees every citizen the right to live and work in any part of the country. Youth leader Rahul advocate also addressed the gathering.