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Farmers told to use latest technologies
Ludhiana, September 27
Kisan Mela, the biggest known event in the agricultural circles of the state for the transfer of farm technology, began at Punjab Agricultural University here today.

• Row over pvt seed stalls

Kisan Mela, the biggest agriculture show of Punjab, opened in Ludhiana on Thursday. (Left): Farmers listen to experts and (right) others arrive at the venue. — Photos Rajesh Bhambi

Industrialists ask CM to release subsidies
Ludhiana, September 27
Industrialists and traders have urged the state Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to release the pending capital subsidy, amounting more than Rs 500 crore. They said the state government, under the state industry policy, had promised capital subsidy and sales tax exemptions to the entrepreneurs to set up units in the backward areas of the state.

The unholy councillor-contractor alliance? Ludhiana, September 27 The unholy alliance between certain councillors and contractors in the Municipal Corporation here is thriving as the MC administration chooses to look the other way. Despite clear statutory restriction on the councillors that their kin should not be working as contractors in the civic body and the contractors also made to file a sworn affidavit that they were not closely related to any councillor or MC official, several contractors, who happened to be immediate family members of councillors, were operating with impunity.

PAU students call off strike
Ludhiana, September 27
Students of the College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, have called off their strike. The decision came just before the inauguration of the Kisan Mela. Much to the relief of the university authorities the students did not obstruct the mela as had earlier been threatened by them.

Major fire in Satluj Club
Ludhiana, September 27
A major fire broke out in the health club of the Satluj Club, here today. Club officials said the fire broke out at around 12 noon due to a short-circuit. The officials have put the total loss at Rs 25 lakh.

Set up panel, demands SSF (Mehta)
Ludhiana, September 27
The Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) has demanded setting up of a commission to probe into the activities of all religious sects, including the sect headed by Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara. The federation has warned against their activities, claiming that these could pose a danger to peace and tranquility in the state.

COMMUNITY

Dharna against black marketing of rations

Ludhiana, September 27 Local industrial workers are sore over having to spend large amounts every month on the purchase of kerosene and rations owing to the alleged nexus between officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and licence holders of fair price ration shops. Workers protest against the black marketing of kerosene and rations in Ludhiana on Thursday.

‘People ignoring Bhagat Singh’s ideology’
Ahmedgarh, September 27
She is desperate because beneficiaries of the freedom achieved by sacrifices of patriots like Shaheed Bhagat Singh have ignored their deeds and ideology. Ms Amarjot Thind, a niece of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, does not mind the state government celebrating the birth anniversary of a leader of a neighbouring state on a massive scale, but she joins the people of Punjab in showing anguish over ignoring the birth anniversary of the national hero which falls on September 28.

From Mother Teresa to music maestro Ludhiana, September 27 Ace photographer Raghu Rai said working with Mother Teresa was the most powerful and memorable experience for him. He photographed in 1970 when the world did not know much about her. They published a small volume of her photographs in 1972. She exercised a very strong influence over him. It was her love that bound him to her. Ace photographer Raghu Rai with a photograph of Mother Teresa.

Truckers join hands to fight corruption

Mr Sarbjit Singh, general secretary, Punjab State Goods Transport Association addressing the general meeting of the Truck Operators Unions here on Wednesday. — Photo Inderjit Verma

Ludhiana, September 27 The scene of the truck transportation in Punjab is all set to change in the coming days with hundreds of small truck operators unions uniting under a single banner with joint efforts of Mr Jagdish Chander, president, Ludhiana Transport Welfare Association, and Mr Sarabjit Singh, general secretary, Punjab State Goods Transport Association.

Sepoy cremated with honours
Ludhiana, September 27
Sepoy Pardeep Singh of 1 Sikh Light Infantry, who had laid down his life in an encounter with militants at Surankot in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on September 25, was cremated with honours at his native Sudhar village in the district today.

DYC flays government
Ludhiana, September 27
The District Youth Congress has lambasted the state government for scuttling the move by the Municipal Corporation General House to provide free water supply and sewerage facility to residents of the city. Well before the SAD-BJP coalition government took up the issue of the abolition of octroi, which has now been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the time being, way back in May this year, the MC had adopted a unanimous resolution, calling for free water and sewerage for residential purposes in the city.

• Protest rally by pensioners

• Bank employees’ protest
  
  

AGRICULTURE

Specifications opposed
Ludhiana, September 27
The Bharti Kisan Union, Punjab, today opposed the imposition of fresh conditions by the FCI as far as the purchase of paddy was concerned in the state. At a meeting of the executive committee of the union presided over by the president of the union, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, it was decided to oppose any new conditions being imposed by the FCI after the start of the paddy season.

Speaker oversees paddy procurement
Machhiwara, September 27
Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, paid a visit to the local grain market to over see the procurement of paddy. He listened to the complaints of farmers regarding the distress sale of paddy. The farmers complained that the government agencies had purchased only 26,000 quintal of paddy, though a total of 1.2 lakh quintal paddy had arrived in the grain market.

EDUCATION

Students of Naurhia Mal Jain Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, present qawwali at a function held at Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Cultural festival concludes
Ludhiana, September 27
Bhangra, declamation, folk songs and creative writing contests marked the concluding day of three-day cultural festival organised by the Education Department in various schools of the district today.

Teachers honoured
Ludhiana, September 27
Teachers of Nauhria Mal Jain Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, were honoured by Master Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, Punjab, at a function held here today.

SPORTS

TT tourney begins today
Ludhiana, September 27
The Prithipal Singh Memorial Open Table Tennis Tournament will begin at the Prithipal Singh Sports Complex of Punjab Agricultural University here tomorrow. The tournament is conducted in the memory of hockey Olympian and Director, Students Welfare, PAU, Prithipal Singh, by the Punjab Agricultural University Table Tennis Club.