L U D H I A N A

Illegal structures around Baddowal ammunition depot to be razed
Ludhiana, May 1
The district administration has decided to demolish all illegal structures, mostly big marriage palaces, within a 1,000-yard radius of the 17 Field Ammunition Depot at Baddowal near here. This follows a March 19 decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Trade unions seek better deal for workers
Ludhiana, May 1
May Day was observed here today by a number of trade unions in the private and public sector. The unions organised seminars, meetings and cultural programmes to raise various labour issues. Thousands of workers attended these functions. Most of the unions criticised the policies of the state and central government and demanded better facilities for the workers in the organised and unorganised sectors.

MAY DAY — THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE: Despite labour laws, generations of workers in the unorganised sector, who comprise most of the Indian workforce, continue to live in poverty. 
— Photos Inderjit Verma

‘Decision to invest staff PF in Punwire was collective’
Ludhiana, May 1
‘‘The decision to invest the provident fund money of the PAU employees in Punwire, a private company that later went bankrupt, was a collective decision of the Board of Management based on the recommendation of two committees, and thus no individual person was responsible for the action’’.

Strange are the ways of the city police
Ludhiana, May 1
Mystery continues to shroud the facts of the shocking incident of the alleged molestation of a minor girl, thanks to the strange ways of the city police. 

Rural industrial dream turns sour
Ludhiana, May 1
The rural focal point scheme has failed to click in the state. The panchayats that had donated their land to the government, hoping that the scheme would promote industrial development and employment in their areas, are now repenting. Even skilled village youths have not been able to get loans under different schemes.

Scramble for post of district Akali jatha chief
Ludhiana, May 1
With the assembly elections in the state barely a year away, at the most, and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who also heads the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), indicating during his ‘sangat darshan’ programme here on Sunday last that the district Akali Jatha (Urban) will soon have a president, there is a virtual scramble among the contenders to the coveted post.

3 injured in shootout at Khanna
Ludhiana, May 1
Three persons received gunshot injuries in a clash between two families that took place in Nayi Abaadi, Khanna, here this morning.

LUDHIANA CALLING
RAPID industrialisation in Ludhiana seems to have pushed cultural life into the oblivious background, without much ado or remorse. Although another culture influenced by the West is evolving in the megacity, the traditional symbols of our culture are fast being relegated to nostalgic memories. However, there is a silver lining. Some people in the megacity are still left with some aesthetic taste. While earlier it was the Kala Smriti headed by Satish Mahendroo which would invoke life into Ludhiana’s culture, it also went into slumber after remaining active for some time.

Politicians’ love for garlands Use pressure horns without fear! May Day with a difference Tehelka

Chalta hai Who cares Shovna: humility personified Novel way Theatre culture comes alive

COMMUNITY

Govt discriminating against poor: Mehmi
Ludhiana, May 1
“The SAD-BJP government in Punjab has failed on all fronts and the very survival of the common man was threatened under the burden of soaring taxes, bureaucratic controls, corruption and high handedness of the administration.” This was stated by state president of the Lok Janshakti, Mr Amar Singh Mehmi, while addressing a dharna staged by party activists at mini secretariat here to register their protest against the “anti-people policies” of the government.

MC committed to providing better civic amenities: Mayor
Ludhiana, May 1
The City Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, has reiterated the commitment of the civic body to provide all basic amenities to the city residents and to vigorously pursue the development works in the city to make it a better place to live in.

Salary scandal in FCI alleged
Khanna, May 1
Mr Raj Singh Kheri, an ex-MLA and a leader of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha, has alleged that labourers relating to his party who are working in Khanna depot of the Food Corporation of India since January 11, 2000, have not been paid their salaries and the amount has been given to some other persons. These allegations were levelled at a press conference by Mr Kheri in the presence of Mr Raghbir Singh Badla, President, BSMO, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Mr Paramjit, President of Patiala district and Mr Avtar Singh, President, Majdoor Dal, Khanna unit.

CRIME

Man found murdered
Ludhiana, May 1
An unidentified man was found murdered in the second phase Focal Point last night. The body bore symptoms of strangulation on the neck with a rope. Similar marks were also found on hands and other parts of the body.

AGRICULTURE

Fire destroys trees, wheat
Ludhiana, May 1
Wheat crop and about 225 poplar trees in over one acre were destroyed in a fire near Nurpur Khehra village yesterday. Mr Manjit Singh, an affected farmer, said the fire had been caused due to loose power cables over his fields. He said every year, farmers lost their crop due to fires caused by sparks from these wires.

Non-lifting of wheat angers agents
Khanna, May 1
There is resentment among commission agents of the local grain market because a contractor has not lifted the procured wheat. They say that there is a shortage of trucks for lifting the wheat, so, the contractor lifts the stock of only of those persons who pay him Rs 100 per truck as bribe.

Fire destroys 8 acres of wheat crop
Kharar, May 1
Standing wheat crop in 8 acre of land was reduced to ashes in two villages near Kharar today before fire control engines from SAS Nagar could control the fire.

EDUCATION

‘Keep pace with advances in IT sector’
Ludhiana, May 1
Dr Mohinder Singh Bajwa, Director of Research in Punjab Agricultural University, has exhorted youth to keep pace with global advances in the information technology sector to effectively meet the challenges posed by the opening up of the economy.

School blowing its own trumpet
Ludhiana, May 1
A school in the Model Town area here is giving information regarding admissions in the school via a loud-speakerwala.

COURTS

Telecom Department penalised
Ludhiana, May 1
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Telecom Department to pay Rs 2,000 as compensation on account of deficiency in services to Mr Surinder Mohan Sharma, a resident of Basant Vihar Colony. The forum further directed the department to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation.

CULTURE

‘Preserve heritage of state’ 
Ludhiana, May 1
The youth should come forward to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state, said Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, at a cultural function organised by the Punjab Cultural Promotion Council here last evening. Mr Dhindsa was also felicitated on the occasion. He urged the artists to present refined family programmes and appreciated the role being played by the council in this direction.