M A I N   N E W S

Morcha, BSP forge alliance

Rode, November 20
The Panthic Morcha, a conglomerate of Akali factions opposed to the Badal-led ruling SAD, and the Bahujan Samaj Party today announced their electoral alliance to oust the “corrupt SAD-BJP ruling coalition” and the Congress in the coming state Assembly election likely to be held in February next.

The announcement was made jointly by BSP supremo Kanshi Ram and Morcha convener Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi at a public rally held on the occasion of the eighth death anniversary of Baba Joginder Singh, father of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, at his native village here. UNI

Badal operated upon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who underwent a successful operation at Ganga Ram Hospital here today is likely to return to Chandigarh within five days, according to family sources.

Mr Badal,75, suffered an upper femur bone fracture (left side) when he slipped in a bathroom of the Guru Nanak Dev University guesthouse on Sunday morning.

A bulletin issued by the hospital here said that Mr Badal is stable and fully conscious. He is expected to be discharged in seven to 10 days when he is mobile with support.

According to the bulletin, Mr Badal was operated upon by Dr P.S. Maini, Chairman, Department of Orthopaedics in the hospital and his team of doctors for corrective surgery “using modern internal fixation techniques.’’

The bulletin stated that the operation began at about 9.30 am and ended at about 11.15 am.

The Chairman, Board of Management of the hospital, Dr S.K. Sama, told TNS here that Mr Badal stood the operation very well and all his vital functions are normal. He said that the CM was given an epidural anaesthesia. The surgery entailed permanent fixture of steel plates in the thigh along the bones.

Dr Sama said that the Chief Minister would be able to move about in about 10 to 15 days with the help of a walker or a wheelchair.

The Chief Minister’s son and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Sukhbir Badal said that his father would return to Chandigarh in four to five days. Asked why the family decided to have Mr Badal operated upon in Delhi in preference to Amritsar, he said, “When the Prime Minister called on the Chief Minister, he insisted that he come to Delhi for treatment. Besides, Dr P.S Maini, Chairman, Department of Orthopaedics, who operated on the CM has had a long association with him.’’

He said that his father was determined to participate in the campaign for the forthcoming Assembly poll in Punjab.

Prominent among those who have called on Mr Badal are Vice-President Krishan Kant, senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana and senior Akali leaders from Punjab Simranjit Singh Mann and Gurcharan Singh Tohra.