Govt to approach Centre
Tackling waterlogging in Malout-Muktsar belt
Chandigarh, January 31
As seepage from Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind feeder in addition to Abohar branch and Bikaner canal has been playing havoc in vast area of the Muktsar-Malout belt of the state, Punjab government has approached the Union government to deal with the issue arguing waterlogging of the area was impacting national food security.

 

POLITICS

SAD vows to fight for transfer of Chandigarh
Amritsar, January 31
Without mentioning the Anandpur Sahib resolution of 1973 , the Shiromani Akali Dal today resolved to fight for the transfer of Chandigarh and other left out Punjabi- speaking areas to Punjab, fair adjudication of inter state river waters and autonomy to states through federal structure .

Badals promoting dynasty, says Youth Cong
Chandigarh, January 31
President of the Punjab Youth Congress Vijay Inder Singla, while complimenting Sukhbir Singh Badal on becoming the president of the SAD, said the Badals and the SAD had been following the same policy for which they had criticised the Congress.

Indirect Election of Sarpanches
Cong to move HC
Chandigarh, January 31
Opposing the Badal government decision to hold indirect elections of sarpanches in the state, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Commmittee today decided to challenge it in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

COMMUNITY

Gas agencies minting money illegally
Ludhiana, January 31
While the common man is suffering shortage of LPG cylinders in the state, a number of gas agency owners is allegedly minting money by diverting domestic use cylinders to industrial houses or for use in vehicles, thus causing a dearth of kitchen fuel gas.

Govt to fund doctors’ studies abroad Amritsar, January 31 The Punjab government will bear all expenses of doctors who want to go abroad for specialisation in their respective fields. This was stated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal after inaugurating the first phase of the Rs 140-crore Guru Ram Das Centre for Emergency, Trauma and Multi-speciality Care at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here today. Deputy chairman planning board Dr J.S. Bajaj shows model of Bebe Nanki Centre for Mother and Childcare and Guru Teg Bahadur block for Imaging and Diagnostic Services to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on Thursday. — Photo by Vishal Kumar

Cold Wave 
Primary schools closed for one week
Amritsar, January 31
Keeping in view intense cold wave in the northern region, Punjab Chief Minister. Parkash Singh Badal today announced to exempt the children of class I to V from attending classes in all government and private primary schools of the state for a week from tomorrow onwards.

Patna Takht Chief Issue
SGPC seeks direction from Akal Takht chief
Amritsar, January 31
Terming the challenging of the supremacy of Akal Takht by Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar of Patna Sahib, the emergency meeting of SGPC executive today urged the Akal Takht chief, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, to give directions to resolve the matter.

Chawla hurt in clash with NCB official
Amritsar, January 31
An unsavoury situation arose when an official of the Narcotics Cell Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh, who caught a notorious smuggler here this evening, allegedly clashed with health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla here this evening. The minister sustained minor injuries in the melee.

Mahant’s selection sparks row
Bathinda, January 31
The “selection” of Mahant Paramjit Singh of Rohtak as the designated president of Seva Panthi Adam Shahi Sabha, Amritsar, has created a controversy. The Mahant had succeeded Baba Tirath Singh of Dera Bhai Tikana Sahib, Goniana, who passed away on January 6.

No-trust move against MC chief falls
Nabha, January 31
The Congress Party supported no-confidence motion against Gautam Batish, president of the Municipal Council fell yesterday. Gautam Batish recently joined the SAD (Badal) alleging indifferent attitude of the Congress towards his service to the party. 

COURTS

Court raps doc for false medical slip
Chandigarh, January 31
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has filed a criminal complaint in the District Courts against a Moga-based doctor for interrupting court proceedings and issuing a false medical slip.

EDUCATION

NDA courses in Army society schools soon
Bathinda, January 31
The Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) will launch crash courses for NDA in the 123-odd schools run by the society. These schools are already running courses for preparing the students appearing in competitive exams like CET and PMT.

AGRICULTURE

CRIME

Land Dispute Amarinder’s aide, others booked
Ferozepur, January 31
Following instructions from the IG (Zonal), Bathinda, CSR Reddy, the police has registered a case against former OSD and aide of Capt Amarinder Singh, Major Harminder Singh Bhullar (retd), his father Sukhdev Singh and four others, identified as Varun Sharma, Tripta Sharma, Rajesh Kumar and Gurdas Puri, under Sections 420, 467, 471 and 120-B of the IPC in connection with a property dispute.

College firing case: 4 held
Sangrur, January 31
The local police today arrested Kamalpreet Singh, Mangeet Singh, Raman Kumar and Gagandeep Singh in connection with the firing in the local Government Ranbir College on January 29, in which two youths, Amandeep Singh and Jatinderjit Singh, had sustained bullet injuries.