P U N J A B

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TOP STORIES

Punjab bans chickens from Maharashtra
Chandigarh, February 18
Responding quickly to the reports of the outbreak of bird flu, a contagious viral disease in certain parts of Maharashtra, the Punjab Government today banned the procurement of chicken and its meat in any form the from that state. Besides, the procuring of pork meat, wild and other live birds from Maharashtra region have also been stopped with immediate effect.

Woman ends life after son dies in mishap
Her husband suffers heart attack
Mansa, February 18
In a shocking incident, a woman committed suicide and her husband suffered a heart attack after their only son died on being hit by a train at a closed railway gate (No. C-206) when he tried to cross over the track on his scooter last night.

Badal promises sops to Dalits

Kartarpur (Jalandhar) February 18 Accusing the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, of running the Punjab Government like an old autocrat the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has warned that the party was making a list of police officers, who were allegedly coercing people at the behest of the ruling Congress government.

From left: Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, BJP state president Avinash Rai Khanna and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur at a Dalit rally at Kartarpur on Saturday. — PTI photo

Amritsar February 18 Pakistan-based Sain Mian Mir International Foundation, headed by Makhdom Syed Chan Pir Qadri, the 19th descendant of Sai Main Mir Sahib, who laid the foundation stone of Harmandar Sahib, today dissociated itself from the Indian foundation, led by Mr Harbhajan Singh Brar. Syed Qadri, who was on a visit to Amritsar to pay obeisance at Harmandar Sahib alleged that all Pakistani nationals (about 140) who had visited India in December last year had got visas “fraudulently” by using the name of Sain Mian Mir. Chan Pir Qadri, descendant of Sai Mian Mir, pays obeisance at Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar, on Saturday. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Sukhi ‘victim’ asks for police cover
Kapurthala, February 18
Even as Kapurthala SSP Rajiv Ahir has denied reports published in the media that a criminal case has been registered against Sukhvinder Singh Sukhi, a former terrorist on the run now, one Tejpal Singh from Jallowal village, in an application today, requested the SSP to provide him security cover claiming that he had received threats on his life from Sukhi.

Farida Khanum casts spell
Patiala, February 18
The classical extravaganza at the Patiala Heritage Festival ended with the sweet tunes of the shehnai and melody of ghazal queen Farida Khanum last night in the princely setting of Old Moti Bagh, which now houses the National Institute of Sports.

POLITICS

Barnala’s wife to contest Assembly poll
Barnala, February 18
Ms Surjit Kaur Barnala, wife of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor, Tamil Nadu, and a senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), leader, here today announced her decision to contest in the ensuing Punjab Assembly poll from Barnala Assembly constituency.

SAD meeting today
Chandigarh, February 18
A meeting of the Legislature party of the Shiromani Akali Dal( SAD) will be held at the official residence of the party president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on February 19.

COMMUNITY

Alleging slump, truck operators threaten stir
Bathinda, February 18
Truck operators of Punjab today issued an ultimatum to the state government to rescue their sector from slump and warned it of a state-level agitation if their grievances were not redressed.

SGPC member asks Akal Takht Jathedar to implement Act
Chandigarh, February 18
Mr Hardeep Singh, a Member of the SGPC, has urged the Jathedar of Akal Takht, the SGPC and the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to get the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, implemented in letter and spirit in the country.

Aiyar for more power to panches
Kila Raipur, February 18
Minister of State for Panchayati Raj and Sport Mani Shankar Aiyar today reiterated the resolve of the government to further empower the Panchayati Raj institutions so that the elected representatives had the final say in how funds were used for developmental activities in their area.

Haj minister must be arrested: Chawla
Amritsar, February 18
The BJP state vice-president, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, today called for the immediate arrest of Haj minister Haji Yakub Qureshi to stall any further move by him to arouse fundamentalist sentiments of Muslims.

Mann, party activists detained
Barnala, February 18
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and his party activists were detained by Barnala police district today as they were heading towards Dhaula and Fatehgarh Chhanna villages to ensure compensation and full rates for the land of farmers of Dhaula, Fatehgarh Chhanna and Sanghera which had been acquired for PSIDC-Trident Group of Industries joint venture of three new industrial units.

Abohar surgeon honoured
Abohar, February 18
Dr V.P. Sethi, Director, Sai Hospital and Laparoscopic Centre, has been honoured with this year’s Rashtriya Rattan Award by the International Study Circle (ISC).

COURTS

Badal gets exemption
Chandigarh, February 18
A local court today allowed exemption to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from appearing in a case of suit for damages filed by him against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Mr Badal had claimed damages to the tune of Rs 5 crore for defaming him in the eyes of the public.

AGRICULTURE

BKU: streamline loan recovery
Chandigarh, February 18
The Bharti Kisan Union, which organised a dharna in support of its demands here yesterday, urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to streamline the recovery of loans availed of by farmers from cooperative and Commercial banks, arthiyas and moneylenders.

BKU leader flays UPA govt
Abohar, February 18
Mr Rakesh Tikait, son of Mr Mohinder Singh Tikait, national president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, who led the BKU Mahapanchayat at the subdivisional complex here on Thursday, said the farmers would not hesitate in giving any kind of sacrifice to prevent import of wheat.

CRIME

Liquor worth Rs 20 lakh seized
Abohar, February 18
An attempt to smuggle 785 cases of country-made foreign liquor, valued at Rs 20 lakh, was foiled by the Rajasthan police by intercepting a truck loaded with kinnow packs last evening, official sources confirmed today. It was yet to be ascertained whether the consignment was to be delivered in Gujarat, a dry area, or in the neighboring Rajasthan, sources added.

EDUCATION

Competitions on teaching methods
Ropar, February 18
As many as 52 students from eight different colleges of education affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh participated in various competitions on teaching methods organised at the Rayat Institute of Education, Railmajra, here.

Striking jobless teachers earn cops’ wrath
Fazilka, February 18
Threat by agitating unemployed ETT Teachers Union to gherao Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, during his visit here today earned them the wrath of the police.

Varsity to establish Amrita Pritam Museum
Amritsar, February 18
Guru Nanak Dev University has decided to establish Amrita Pritam Museum to preserve her belongings, library books, manuscripts, rare books, photographs and paintings. It also decided to bestow life fellowship on noted painter Imroz for his contribution to Punjabi literature and art.

Course for teachers postponed
Amritsar, February 18
The general orientation course for university and college teachers to be conducted by the Academic Staff College (ASC) of Guru Nanak Dev University has been postponed to March 2.