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TOP STORIES

Prez rule: Centre may ask Guv for opinion
New Delhi, May 16
Citing total anarchy in Punjab and misrule by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government, the Congress today demanded that President rule be imposed in the state.

These aspirants for gram panchayats don’t find a chair to sit in while waiting for their turn to file papers on the last day of nominations in Abohar on Friday. — Photo by Raj Sadosh

• Central forces for Asr likely

Govt cold to fire brigade
Bathinda/Sangrur, May 16
The town has been expanding and growing industrially, but fire-fighting service here is a shambles and the authorities have to seek help of the Indian Air Force and Army in case of a major fire incident.

A view of Bathinda fire station. — Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera

BJP braces for Gram Panchayat polls
Amritsar, May 16
The BJP said today that it would continue to expand its base in rural areas of the state at any cost.


Minister for local bodies Manoranjan Kalia, state BJP chief Rajinder Bhandari, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and other BJP leaders at a press conference in Amrtsar on Friday. — Photo by Vishal Kumar

• ‘Shift DC, SSP immediately’
• SAD-BJP consensus on civic body posts

COMMUNITY

Amritsar Cantt Poll
Objection over added constituencies
Amritsar, May 16
A resident of the Amritsar Cantonment area has raised many issues with regard to the Cantonment elections to be held on May 18 after a gap of more than one decade.

Loan Repayment
Banks fear politicians, cops, journalists 
Patiala, May 16
All banks do the profiling of potential customers before extending loans to them. They put certain people in the category of “negative profile”. Do you know who are in the “negative profile” category? — Police officials, politicians, mediapersons and farmers.

Luthra takes jibe at Bush’s remark
Amritsar, May 16
US President George W. Bush’s remark of the Indian middle-class consuming more than ever before has evoked widespread criticism in India. Even Vandana Luthra, the woman who has changed the world of hundreds of ‘plus-sized’ persons, yesterday took a jibe over Bush’s statement.
Vandana Luthra, VLCC chief, who was in Amritsar recently. — Photo by Vishal Kumar

Nihangs hold parallel akhand path for Baba Santa Singh
Kotkapura, May 16
Parallel to the rituals being held by a Patiala group of Nihangs, akhand path to perform the last rituals of late Baba Santa Singh Jathedar of the Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal (Panjwan Takht) began at Gurdwara Dasmi Patshahi here today. The bhog and antim ardas would be held on Sunday.

COURTS

High Court
Treat action against Cheema as criminal contempt
Chandigarh, May 16
The High Court today ordered proceedings against Punjab Financial Commissioner G. S. Cheema to be treated as criminal contempt. Taking up the matter, Justice Surya Kant referred it to Chief Justice Vijender Jain for listing before a Division Bench.

AGRICULTURE

Farmers to get one-hour power supply daily
Patiala, May 16
Lakhs of Punjab farmers deprived of electricity will get an assured minimum one-hour daily power supply at least for the next 10 days. For this purpose, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has chalked out a comprehensive plan under which farmers of various districts of the state have been divided into night and day groups. 

Helping farmers ‘net’ profits
New technology ensures pest-free, bounty crop
Mohali, May 16
The Punjab State Farmer’s Commission here has asked farmers across the state to use net houses for the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. The commission, worried about the increasing number of small and marginal farmers has stated that net house cultivation of vegetables can rake in good profits from even small chunks of land.
A farmer in Jaspalon village, Ludhiana, stand next to his net house. — A Tribune photograph