New turn to Dasam Granth row
Muktsar, August 24
Contrary to the statement of Giani Gurbachan Singh, head granthi of Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar, regarding the recitation of Bani of Dasam Granth during his stint at Darbar Sahib, Muktsar, his successor Giani Gurcharan Singh today said neither was Dasam Granth installed at Darbar Sahib nor its Bani recited during his term.

SGPC, govt to hold parallel tercentenary celebrations
Bathinda, August 24
The stage is set for parallel celebrations of the tercentenary of the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib by the SGPC and the state government, both of whom have come out with their programmes.

POLITICS

SAD to probe CM’s Dubai visits
Moga, August 24
If voted to power, the Shiromani Akali Dal would look into the visits of Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to Dubai. SAD general secretary and MP, Sukhbir Badal stated this while talking to mediapersons here today. He had come to Moga district to address public rallies in different parts.

COMMUNITY

Vets oppose pharmacists as service providers
Amritsar, August 24
The decision of the state government to appoint veterinary pharmacists as service providers in rural veterinary dispensaries has come in for sharp criticism. A general body meeting of the local and Tarn Taran Veterinary Officers’ Association here today passed a resolution condemning the decision.

Centre delaying waiving of special term loan
Chandigarh, August 24
The Union Government continues to dodge the Punjab Government on the issue of waiving the special term loan of Rs 3,772 crore. The loan was availed by the government to combat “insurgency and militancy” in 1984-85.

Peace award conferred on Amarinder
Chandigarh, August 24
The president of the Pakistan Chapter of World Peace Foundation and former Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Chowdhary Jamil Ahmed Khan, conferred a Peace award on the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, here this evening.

Voter card-making from September 1
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 24
As per the recent guidelines of the Election Commission of India, the Election Voter Identity Card (EPIC) will be mandatory for casting vote in the ensuing Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections.

ADGP alleges intimidation
Chandigarh, August 24
An Additional Director-General of the Punjab Police has shot off a letter to the DGP, Mr S.S. Virk, informing him that one of the DGP-rank officials tried to “intimidate” him. Other than Mr Virk, the state has three other DGPs.

AGRICULTURE

Paddy MSP hike hailed
Chandigarh, August 24
Happy over the increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy by Rs 40 per quintal, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said today that he was thankful to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

PAU annual kisan melas
Ludhiana, August 24
Annual kisan melas, organised by Punjab Agricultural University, will be held at Ludhiana on September 21 and 22, Gurdaspur on September 6; at Ballowal Saunkri near Balchaur on September 13; at Rauni (Patiala) on September 19 ; and Bathinda on September 29.

ADMINISTRATION

Inside Babudom
Another honour for police officer
Chandigarh, August 24
Mr Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, an IPS officer of the 1990 batch belonging to the Bihar cadre, belongs to a rare band of members of the Central civil service from Punjab who remains in headlines.

Nominated

CRIME

MBBS student found dead in hostel
Patiala, August 24
Vivek Gupta, who hailed from Mohali and was a student of MBBS at the Government Medical College, was found dead in the senior boys hostel today morning. The body was found lying in a pool of blood at the roof of the hostel by the deceased boy’s classmates when they went to wake him up.

Tantric slays wife
Hoshiarpur, August 24
A self-proclaimed tantric, Lakhbir Singh, of Mohalla Rambagh, murdered his 36-year-old wife, Sapna Devi, with sharp-edged weapons at Bhangala village in Mukerian on the night of August 22.

EDUCATION

Proposal to re-employ retired teachers up to 65 yrs with PU
Chandigarh, August 24
Even as the country reels under the burden of educated unemployed youth the Central Government has proposed that retired teachers be re-employed to teach till the age of 65 years. The proposal, which was sent to the Chief Secretary, Punjab, has now landed at Panjab University for comments. The university Syndicate members will be considering the proposal in their forthcoming meeting to be held on August 26.

DEOs sans formal approval
Tarn Taran, August 24
The District Education Officer (Secondary) and the District Education Officer (Elementary Education) of this newly formed district are working without the formal approval of the Education Department. Appointments of these officers were made about two weeks back by Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, for the smooth functioning of the department.

Pak delegation honours Punjabi varsity VC
Patiala, August 24
Chaudhary Jali Ahmed Khan, president, World Peace Foundation and former Member parliament, Pakistan, has said that there was a great need of strong economic relations between India and Pakistan.