Row over pension for aided-college staff
Chandigarh, November 16
The issue of grant of pension, all benefits, gratuity included, to the staff of the government-aided colleges in Punjab seems to have again run into rough weather.

Bibi fires salvo against Talwandi
Amritsar, November 16
Describing the ‘unsavoury remarks’ of Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President SGPC, against Jathedar Akal Takht, as ‘most unfortunate and irresponsible’, Bibi Jagir Kaur, today said he (Mr Talwandi) should desist from making such utterances, aimed at denigrating the institution of Takhts.

POLITICS

Badal kin’s switchover: focus on ex-Speaker’s role
Badal (Muktsar), November 16
Even as new political alignments in the native village of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, have emerged with his three cousins — Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Badal — joining the Congress at Chandigarh yesterday, the question whether the former Speaker, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, played any role in this switchover is being hotly debated in the political circles?

COMMUNITY

Manch seeks Rs 100 cr for development
Amritsar, November 16
The Amritsar Vikas Manch has urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to sanction Rs 100 crore for the overall development of the city on the pattern of Anandpur Sahib.

No ‘path’ at tombs, says Akal Takht
Amritsar, November 16
Akal Takht today took serious note of the performing of ‘path’ at tombs etc. A directive issued by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, here today said the installation of idols and their worship, rubbing of foreheads and noses on walls and raised places etc.

Vishvakarma Day celebrated
Dera Bassi, November 16
A large number of Dhiman community members of this subdivision celebrated Vishvakarma Day with great enthusiasm at Ramlila ground, here today.

House sparrows face extinction
Ropar, November 16
The small constantly chirping house sparrows (passer domesticus) were so common that nobody noticed the steady decline in their population until now when they are hardly spotted in the state. Ornithologists in the state have raised the alarm over rapid decrease in the population of the house sparrows, which a decade ago were the most common birds found around the human habitations.

Help which came too late
Bathinda, November 16
Tara Singh, a resident of Kot Kapura in Faridkot district, who died here late last night at the local Civil Hospital, was cremated by volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva today.

Sangrur IMA bags 6 state awards
Sangrur, November 16
The local branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has bagged six states awards of the Punjab IMA this year. The awards will be presented at the 56th annual conference of the Punjab IMA, to be held at Sahnewal in Ludhiana district on November 18.

Villagers observe Black Divali
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 16
Residents of Tarkhan Majra village in the district observed Black Divali due to the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in the village on the night of September 28. Not even a single candle was lit in the village nor any cracker was busted. The people offered prayer at the gurdwara.

Show-cause notice to cinema owner
Ropar, November 16
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, has issued a show-cause notice to Jagmohan Theatres, a cinema house of Kurali. Mr Grewal told newspersons that a lot of complaints were received regarding the sale of tickets at higher rates and other discrepancies in the cinema house.

Make Amritsar main tourist centre: Sharifpura
Amritsar, November 16
Amritsar should be made a dynamic tourist destination and a multifaceted development council should be set up for this, Mr Onkar Singh Sharifpura, president of the urban unit of the SHSAD, said.

Relief sought for journalists
Patiala, November 16
Members of the Press Council of India and the Chairman of the Small & Medium Newspaper Committee of Indian Newspapers Society, Mr Jagjit Singh Dardi, today demanded that the Central and State governments should announce relief and rehabilitation measures for journalists who had laid down their lives while protecting the independence of the media on the occasion of National Press Day.

KBC money helps set up stitching centres
Sangrur, November 16
With Rs 25 lakh, won by film actress Preity Zinta, a couple of days ago in the Divali special episode of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, the local Umeed Khanna Foundation has announced the setting up of 72 stitching centres in the district from December 15.

Labourer’s sons gain eyesight
Moga, November 16
All five sons of a labourer of Raunta village, under the Baghapurana police station in the district, have gained eyesight, thanks to the local Seva Bharti.

Teenager run over by train
Bathinda, November 16
A 13-year-old girl, Aruna, died here last night after she was run over by a train. The volunteers of Sahara Jan Sewa took the body of the deceased to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examinations.

AGRICULTURE

Glut of sugar in godowns: Kaunta
Jalandhar, November 16
“The minimum support price of sugarcane should not be increased recklessly as it will have a disastrous affect on the sugar industry. Sugar stocks worth Rs 220 crore are lying in godowns, leading to a glut.”

BKU (E): waive loans of farmers
Bathinda, November 16
Mr Resham Singh, general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta), Maur block, while addressing a gathering here yesterday said that the state government was “anti-farmers “and” “pro-traders”.

CM ‘ignores’ charge of procurement fraud
Barnala, November 16
Expressing concern over corruption and various malpractices and irregularities allegedly committed by staff of paddy and wheat procurement agencies in Barnala, Mr Ved Parkash Singh Tallewalia, president, Kacha Arhtiya Association, Barnala, has urged Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, to unearth and expose the “clique” responsible for indulging in large-scale corruption in which multi-million rupees have exchanged hands

ADMINISTRATION

DAC plan likely to be shelved
Gurdaspur, November 16
The plan for the construction of the district administrative complex (DAC) here is likely to be shelved. The site for the complex which was approved by the Chief Minister and got vacated with the help of Minister for Animal Husbandry has been re-occupied by the district Animal Husbandry Department.

Candidates in quandary over test timings
Patiala, November 16
A goof-up by Patiala Central Cooperative Bank Limited has put several candidates in a quandary as they have been asked to take two different tests on the same day at the same time.

CRIME

Couple hurt as miscreants open fire
Amritsar, November 16
Some miscreants allegedly opened fire at Surjit Singh and his wife, Surinder Kaur, residents of the Ganga building locality here at their home, late last evening. The couple sustained injuries.

EDUCATION

Trust honours fifty teachers, 44 students
Bathinda, November 16
The Teachers Home Management, Welfare and Education Trust honoured 50 teachers and 44 meritorious wards of teachers, who had excelled in examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) here today.

BUSINESS

Market Committee complex opened
Phagwara, November 16
The Union Minister for Fertilisers and Chemicals, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has indicated that there was no possibility of the intervention of the Central BJP leadership in the Akali unity issue. Mr Dhindsa, who inaugurated the Market Committee administration complex at the grain market here today, told reporters that SAD would not have alliance with any Congress-supporting party.