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MC proposes Rs 338 cr budget
Estimate unrealistic, say SAD councillors
Ludhiana, March 25
Having fallen short of the budgeted estimated income of Rs 300.68 crore for the year ending on March 31, 2002 and forced to go in for a revised estimated income of Rs 218.80 crore, which seems within reach, the Municipal Corporation General House today unanimously adopted yet another unrealistic Rs 338-crore budget for the next financial year.

Mr Pran Bhatia, leader of BJP councillors; and (right) the MC Commissioner, Mr R.L. Kalsia, shows a copy of the notification issued by the Punjab Government on the forthcoming civic poll in the general house meeting of the Ludhiana Municipal Council held on Monday. —Photos Inderjit Verma

Redressing public grievances
Ludhiana, March 25
The decision of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, to “streamline” the grievances redressal system in the district has taken many people by surprise, including those who have remained associated with the Sangat Darshan programmes.

SPEAKING OUT
Alas! No luck third time
‘Lagaan’ loses Oscar match
Ludhiana, March 25
Millions of Indians, who had prayed for the success of ‘Lagaan’, the only Indian film nominated for this year’s 74th Academy Awards in Los Angeles in the best foreign film category, were disappointed.

Major clash averted during Moharram procession 
Ludhiana, March 25
A major clash was averted here today during the Moharram procession near Sherpur Chowk after the BJP, the Shiv Sena and other Hindu organisations protested against the display of green flags with a crescent on them, alleging that these were Pakistani flags.

COMMUNITY

Minister assures MC staff of salary
Amloh, March 25
A deputation of municipal employees, who had agitated against the abolition of octroi, led by Mr Som Nath, local president of the Class-IV employees union, met Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa, State Minister for Public Health, here on Sunday. They told the minister that they had not been paid their salaries for the past two months.

Coming to terms with tragedy
Ahmedgarh, March 25
He dreamt of celebrating the birth of his grandson with a party which could have been attended by dozens of senior defence personnel besides members of his family, friends and relatives, but nature has left him all alone to mourn the death of the five persons whom he loved the most including his wife Baljit Kaur, daughter Rupinder Kaur, son-in-law, Major Arvinder Paul Singh Garcha, grand daughter Alisha and six-day-old grandson who was yet to be named.

A man with many faces
Ludhiana, March 25
Baljit Gaddu is an ordinary man. But he becomes extra-ordinary when he changes his face, his expression, his entire get up and assumes a total different personality. Baljit saw in films, villains like Amrish Puri, Ranjeet, appearing in different get-ups. This aspect of personality change fascinated him. 

Sahit Academy poll 
Ludhiana, March 25
The elections of the Punjabi Sahit Academy will be held on March 31. As many as 838 writers and intellectuals staying in India and abroad will cast their votes. Fortythree candidates are in the fray. The last date for the withdrawal of forms was yesterday.

Train blast case transferred
Khanna, March 25
The Doraha train bomb blast case has been transferred to the Khanna police from the Railway Police for further investigation. SSP Khanna Devinder Singh Garcha said Pakistan-based ISI’s hand was suspected in the blast. 

Seminar on Punjab economy
Ludhiana, March 25
Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Director and Chief Executive, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, will deliver a lecture on ‘Punjab Economy—challenges ahead’ on March 27 at a seminar on the state’s economy. 

Doctor, industrialist commit suicide
Ahmedgarh, March 25
The body of a homoeopathic doctor, Bakhshish Singh, was found hanging from a girder in his house on Sunday night. The body was first seen by his brother. According to the wife of the deceased, her husband had committed suicide.

CRIME

Tipsy cop fires in air, injures relative
Ludhiana, March 25
The Salem Tabri police has booked an ASI posted at PAP, Jalandhar, on charges of firing in the air from his service revolver and injuring one of his relatives in an inebriated condition at a marriage party, here last night.

BUSINESS

Traders’ reminder on ST barriers
Ludhiana, March 25
The pressure of industrial and trade associations to implement pre-election promises, has put the Punjab Government in a tight spot. It is finding it difficult to implement its promises, made by senior party leaders before elections without realising the financial implications for a debt-ridden state.

PCTE girl tops  in BBA-I
Ludhiana, March 25
Students of the Punjab College of Technical Education, Ludhiana, bagged first two positions in the university in BBA first-year examination. The PCTE students got three out of the first 10 positions in BBA first semester examination.

Youth exhorted to stay away from drugs
Jagraon, March 25
The Nehru Youth Centre, Ludhiana, organised a seminar ‘Today’s Youth and Drugs’ at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) here. The seminar was attended by dignitaries and staff members of the institute, as many as 400 ETT students.

School holds function
Ludhiana, March 25
The annual and prize distribution function of Ekta Public Senior Secondary School, Block I, BRS Nagar, was held here yesterday. The programme started with rendering of a melodious prayer. Students presented bhangra and a play based on the life of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

CULTURE

Nachle sohniye, sings Sukhbir

Ludhiana, March 25 “If I were to produce music videos, I would not have half-clad girls in the songs-rather I would have the girls dressed in Punjabi suits. I am a true Punjabi at heart though I have spent 20 years in Nairobi and live abroad,” said the popular Punjabi singer Sukhbir. He was in the city to launch Ethos Embassy, a professional event management company and for showing of his latest video “Nachle soniye” from his album “Dil kare” at Park Plaza this morning. Punjabi pop singer Sukhbir performs at Doraha on Sunday.

Narinder Biba Mela on March 27
Narinder Biba was one of the few best folk singers who stayed on in the field for four decades. Canada- based Punjabi singer Baldev Singh, is organising a Narinder Biba memorial Cultural Mela on March 27 under the aegis of Punjabi Sangeet Sabha at Sabzi Mandi grounds, Dugri. 

Plans for more theatre
Ludhiana, March 25
World Theatre Day falls on March 27. Nine theatre groups of Ludhiana have come together and to further the cause of theatre in the district Dr. S.N. Sewak, a theatre person, informed that a meeting of these leading theatre groups was held in Punjabi Bhawan in January.

DC warns of stern action for flouting PNDT Act
Ludhiana, March 25
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, today warned the diagnostic and ultrasound scan centres in the city of stern action for violating the Pre-Natal Determination Test (PNDT) Act.

Children’s park case: SDM records statements
Mandi Gobindgarh, March 25
On the directions given by Mr Vikas Partap Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Raghbir Kaur Khera, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Amloh, has recorded the statements of municipal authorities and members of the Jymkhana Club in connection with the alleged demolition of a dividing wall between children’s park and the club.

Jamalpur to have new dairy complex
Ludhiana, March 25
In the wake of hundreds of unauthorised dairy units, operating in a dozen localities here, the Municipal Corporation has decided to develop a dairy complex in the Jamalpur locality. An area of 40 acre has been earmarked for the complex.