Kapurthala, April 11
Two political arch rivals, former SGPC president and chairperson of the district planning committee Bibi Jagir Kaur and Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, are again at loggerheads over laying of a foundation stone of water works at Daudpur village, falling under the Bholath Assembly segment.

While Khaira reportedly had laid the foundation stone installed by the gram panchayat of Duadpur village a few weeks back, Bibi laid it today at the same village following preventive arrest of Khaira and his supporters under sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC after a strong protest by them.

However, later they were produced in the court of SDM S.K. Singla at Sultanpur Lodhi, who issued direction to release them.

Earlier, Khaira, who gathered at the site along with his supporters this morning, alleged that the Executive Engineer, Public Health, had gone to the site of water works along 
with Bholath DSP and Dhilwan SHO and several policemen on Saturday 
and uprooted, destroyed and broke the foundation stone laid by him under political pressure.

The Bholath MLA also sent a letter to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon in which he requested him to summon the DC, SSP and Executive Engineer, Public Health, for alleged breach of privilege of an elected member and infringement of his rights by publicly uprooting the stone laid by him. He also talked to the Speaker on phone regarding the entire matter.

Earlier, the situation took an ugly turn when Congress and SAD workers started raising slogans against Bibi and Khaira, respectively, on public address systems.

SDM S.K. Singla and SP (Detective) Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira were present on the spot to handle the situation.

Hoshiarpur, April 11
The town bus stand, which has been equipped with modern facilities, is encountering some problems even before its formal inauguration. Wooden kiosks outside the bus stand are at the top of the problem list. Due to these structures, not only the beauty of the bus stand, which has taken eight long years since its foundation stone laying to come up with modern amenities, is marred but smooth traffic movement is also disrupted.

Punjab Roadways General Manager of Hoshiarpur depot Iqbal Singh Sandhu said more than 1,200 buses daily arrive and leave from as many as 21 bus platforms.

On account of the existing wooden kiosks around it, its location in the thickly populated area and the existing offices of various private bus operators, there was a great rush of vehicular traffic in the vicinity causing regular traffic jams in the area.

Illegal parking of buses by private operators, three-wheeler owners and rickshaw-pullers on the roadside in the vicinity has added to the traffic problem.

All these facts had been brought to the notice of the district higher authorities who have promised to remove the wooden kiosks so that widening of the roads could be done.

Meanwhile, the bus stand has waiting rooms for men and women with a cloak room facility. Restrooms for drivers and conductors had also been constructed. Besides, arrangements had been made for providing medical facilities to the needy passengers. An ATM was also made available at the bus stand.

Amritsar, April 11
It was never ending wait for the girl, who was going to be married at a palace just opposite the Guru Nanak Dev University here today.

Dressed up in bridal consumes, the girl and her family reached the palace in the morning as per schedule. They waited for the barat, which was to arrive from Rajasansi, but the boy’s family failed to turn up for the function till afternoon. The family got worried while their repeated attempts to contact the boy’s family on phone proved futile. The family then sent some relatives to Rajasansi who came to know that the boy was not present at home while his family members could not give any satisfactory answer to their queries.

Detailing the incident, Raju, a cousin of the girl, said even the shagun ceremony was held yesterday during which they had given gold ornaments besides other household items to the family. He alleged they had learnt that the boy had refused to marry at the 11th hour without giving any reason. He said the family members were planning to lodge a police complaint.

However, Ramneesh Kumar, SHO Sadar police station, said the family had not approached the police as yet.

Phagwara, April 11
Visit of Punjab BJP President Ashwini Sharma in Phagwara on Saturday brought out factionalism in the BJP. Two factions, headed by former BJP councillor Arun Khosla and Improvement Trust chairman Tejaswi Bhardwaj, accorded separate welcome to the state BJP president.

Later in a close door meeting, the series of allegations and counter allegations were levelled by various BJP leaders in the presence of BJP President Ashwini Sharma who himself admitted “all is not well” in Phagwara.

Sharma said all leaders would soon be brought to one platform and indiscipline in the party would not be tolerated.

Speaking on Central policies, Sharma said the BJP would gherao Parliament on April 21 against the wrong policies of the UPA government. He said 20,000 activists of the party would participate from Punjab in this agitation.

When his attention was drawn towards controversy going on the issue of the appointment of Block BJP Phagwara President, Sharma said the matter would be solved after April 21. Replying to a question about the mysterious absence of some BJP leaders during celebration of raising day of the BJP in Phagwara, Sharma said those who were absent were not sincere and loyal BJP workers.