News, Views and Information about NRIs.

A NRI Sabha of Canada's trusted source of News & Views for NRIs around the World.



September 5, 2011

Gurdaspur family tried for murder that never was


 Seeks impartial inquiry into case; HC issues notice of motion to Punjab
Chandigarh, September 5If allegations in a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court are to be believed, a Gurdaspur district resident and his family are facing criminal proceedings for a murder that never took place.
Seeking directions to the State of Punjab for a fair and impartial inquiry through the CBI or some other independent agency, Satnam Singh has alleged that complainant Amrik Singh got a murder case registered against him and six of his family members on June 9 under Sections 302, 201 and 404 of the IPC at the Civil Lines police station, Batala, after one Jagroop Singh disappeared and a body was found.
The petitioner added that he and his family were picked up by the police and tortured. However, they were released from illegal custody after the forensic examination of the body revealed that it was of a 40-year-old man, while Jagroop Singh was only 18.
The petitioner claimed that his cousin Gurparkash Singh was married to Paramjit Kaur, but she had an illicit relation.
On May 26, Paramjit Kaur in connivance with Jagroop Singh and his family administered sleeping pills to her husband Gurparkash Singh and mother-in-law before taking away gold and cash.
He added that the police till date had not carried out further investigations to find out the truth.
Taking up the petition filed through counsel Simranjit Singh, the high court has issued a notice of motion to the state of Punjab and other respondents.

Gang behind fake degrees busted



Patiala, September 5
Numerous candidates seeking government jobs and those who recently bagged these are under the scanner with a fake degree racket busted by the district police. More than 1,700 persons are believed to have benefited from fake certificates, showing affiliation with Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala, and the Punjab School Education Board, in the past over four years.

The police claims to have arrested Balvir Singh and Gurpreet Singh, alias Ginny, both residents of Mohali. Another suspect Jaswinder Singh is yet to be arrested. His arrest is crucial as he is believed to have “ arranged for potential candidates.”
Patiala SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill said that Balvir and Gurpreet had revealed during preliminary questioning that marks sheets of Panjab University, Punjabi University and the school board were sold for as low as Rs 7,000.
“In some cases, marks were shown awarded to candidates who had either failed or had not appeared for the examination at all ”, Gill said.
On the modus operandi, the SSP said while one of the gang members looked for customers, the other two made certificates on a scanner using paper similar to that used by the two universities. “We are probing the matter and the role of university insiders cannot be ruled out. The certificates looked impeccable at first glance”, he said.
Police officials investigating the case said the recent recruitments, including those in the police wing, in the past three years were under the scanner. “We will try to recover all the certificates from the accused, verify these from the universities and then zero in on the candidates who benefited from them ”, said SI Bhinder Singh.
The police have got in touch with officials of the two universities as well as the school board for details pertaining to the degrees recovered from the computer records.
“Our teams will tally the records recovered with the original ones and summon all those suspected to be involved in the scam”, said CIA incharge Sukhminder Chauhan.
A case has been registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC at the Tripuri police station.

Sehajdhari Row


UT’s special cell to probe Harbhagwan’s claim 
Chandigarh, September 5
The UT police will hold an inquiry to determine as to who had contacted senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh in the Punjab and Haryana High Court last week during the hearing of a bunch of petitions relating to the voting right of Sehajdhari Sikhs in the SGPC elections.

The UT SSP, Naunihal Singh, said he had formed a special cell to probe the matter after a complaint in his regard.
Senior counsel Harbhagwan Singh had told the Punjab and Haryana High court that the 2003 notification barring the Sehajdharis from voting had been withdrawn by the Centre.
Harbhagwan Singh claims that he was approached by a stranger who said he had a message for him. He says the stranger gave him his cell phone. Identifying himself as an officer in the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, he was instructed by the caller to inform the Full Bench about the decision on the withdrawal of the notification.


Accept invites with caution, CJI tells Judges



Chandigarh, September 5
Taking cognisance of Judges sharing the stage with litigants during inaugural and other functions, Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia has asked the Judges of the high courts across the country to accept invites for delivering lectures or inaugurating functions with caution.

In a letter to the Chief Justices, the CJI asserted: “Time has come for introspection that Judges need to be more cautious and circumspect while accepting such invitations. You may discuss the matter with the Judges of the high court and advise them to exercise due care and caution before accepting such invitations.”
It would be advisable if beforehand discreet verification was done as to whether such an organisation or its members were embroiled in any litigation in any tier of the judicial system, he said. “In case they are litigating parties, it is advisable to refrain from there.” Going into the reasons necessitating the issuance of advice, the CJI asserted that he would like to draw attention to the rising trend of Judges delivering lectures or inaugurating functions on invitations by different organisations.
“Instances have come to fore that some of such organisations or its members are litigants in the courts and have shared the dais with the Judges. Such organisations, or its members may not be having cases pending with a particular judge, but his participation sends unwarranted indelible impression to the litigants and the public at large, he held.
At times, the CJI maintained, members of the subordinate judiciary also attend the function and open interaction with such litigants...
“Various complaints in this regard are being received, which are followed up by the complainants who are desirous to know the outcome thereof. Acting on his letter, the Full Court of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 23 resolved that “due care and caution be exercised, while accepting invitations to deliver lectures or inaugurate functions; and discreet verification be done beforehand whether the organisation or its members have any litigation in any tier of the judicial system. In case they are litigating parties, it is advisable to refrain from accepting such invitations”.

Bhullar can amend his plea, says Supreme Court


New Delhi, September 5
The Supreme Court today permitted Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, sentenced to death for the 1993 bomb attack on the then Youth Congress chief MS Bitta, to amend his petition, raising additional grounds to strengthen his plea for commuting the death penalty to life term.

A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and HL Dattu asked Bhullar’s senior counsel KTS Tulsi to file the amended petition within a week. The Bench also directed Additional Solicitor- General HP Rawal to come out with the government’s response in two weeks thereafter. In the original petition, Bhullar had sought commutation primarily on the ground of eight years’ delay in the rejection of his mercy plea. As a result, he was kept in solitary confinement all these years at Tihar. This was worse than serving the life term, which did not entail solitary confinement, he had contended in the petition.
The death sentence should be commuted to life as he could not be forced to undergo two punishments - death and incarceration for years - for the bomb attack.
The apex court had issued a notice to the Delhi Government on May 23 this year, seeking its response to Bhullar’s contention.
Bhullar’s counsel today said he would add two more reasons for sparing the life of his client. One, the Law Commission had recommended that cases involving death sentences should be decided only by Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court. Second, the sentence should be commuted if the apex court verdict upholding the death sentence was not unanimous. Bhullar’s death penalty was confirmed by a 2-1 majority verdict of the apex court.
In the original plea, Tulsi had cited Bhullar’s mental status as a reason against sending him to the gallows. The agony of waiting to be hanged had made him a mental wreck and he was being treated at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Science at Shahdara. There was no legal provision for hanging convicts with such a mental condition, he had pleaded.
  • Senior counsel Tulsi asked to file amended petition within a week;
  • Tulsi says he would add two more reasons for sparing the life of his client Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar;
  • One, the Law Commission had recommended that cases involving death sentences be decided only by Constitution Benches;
  • Second, it had said the sentence should be commuted if the apex court verdict upholding the death sentence is not unanimous;
  • Bhullar’s death penalty was confirmed by a 2-1 majority verdict of the apex court;

Dollar dream goes up in smoke in Iraq


Youth from Punjab auctioned for $400 each to clear landmines
Chandigarh, September 5
Lured into taking loans by mortgaging gold and properties, the Punjabi youngsters who went to Iraq in search of dollars, and greener pastures, found themselves sold off like common commodities before slaving in the fields to clear land mines.

They were beaten with batons, kicked around, and burnt with cigarette buts. They say the Sikhs were told to shave off their hair. Food was literally thrown across. Refusal to eat was often met with hostile reaction. To make the matters worse, their passports were taken away. Against the promised amount of $ 700, they were offered $ 300. Even this amount was often not paid.
For at least 10 of them, the ordeal would have continued, but for the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Intervention by a Division Bench headed by Justice M.M. Kumar, in fact, facilitated their return.
Back home before departure, so many of them were running tractors across the fields to plough land, before they heard from “people” around that money literally grows in foreign lands.
They talk in sullen voices in the Sector 22 office of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority upon their return to India and reveal how they sold off their ancestral jewellery and even pestered their parents into borrowing money with a promise of reaping much more there than would back home.
But, in Baghdad and other cities of Iraq, they found their sweat mingle with the earth below, as they worked in the fields to dig deep the bombs that were planted during the turmoil.
They also found themselves running after the tractors to gather the uprooted explosives and shells. All this, and much more, for less than the amount assured by their travel agents.
When they took the flight to fancy in January and February, little did the youngsters realise their plans of flying money back home to their elders would soon be grounded. And, they would find themselves exchanging hands for paltry sum of US $ 400.
“We watched helplessly as we were put in vehicles and taken from one city to another after being bought over again and again by people - the identity of whom we never knew,” says Ripan Kumar. “All we knew was that on each transaction, the seller would gain $ 200”.
Those who recalled the sordid memories were Tehal Singh, Kamaljeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Ripan Kumar, Gurminder Singh, Prem Pal and others.
“Shells and bombs were strewn across the fields like potatoes and other veggies,” recalls 22-year-old Tehal Singh of Hoshiarpur. “Every time my reluctant fingers went up to pick a shell or a bomb, something exploded in my head and I would find myself offering prayers to the Lord above”.
Their automatic fingers involuntarily touch their ears before they fold their hand and say in one voice: “There’s enough in India. Don’t lose you way in foreign lands”.
Source: TNS

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਉਤਸਵ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ 'ਪੰਜ ਪਾਣੀ' 95.1 ਐਫ. ਐਮ. ਰੇਡੀਓ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ

ਲੈਸਟਰ (ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡ), 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ (ਸੁਖਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੱਡੇ)-ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਉਤਸਵ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ ਲੈਸਟਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ 'ਪੰਜ ਪਾਣੀ' 95.1 ਐਫ. ਐਮ. ਰੇਡੀਓ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਉਦਘਾਟਨ ਬੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਨ ਉਪਰੰਤ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਪ੍ਰਜੈਟਰ ਸ: ਸੁਖਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਔਜਲਾ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਪਹਿਲੂਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਚਰਚਾ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ 'ਤੇ ਲੈਸਟਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਲੇਰ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ, ਮੰਗਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਈਸਟ ਪਾਰਕ ਰੋਡ, ਅਮਰੀਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ ਜਨਰਲ ਸੈਕਟਰੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਹੋਲੀਬੋਨ ਰੋਡ, ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜਿਪਸੀ ਲੇਨ, ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਪੰਚ, ਜਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੱਡੇ, ਗੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮਰਾ, ਗੁਰਬਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮਰਾ, ਅਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੱਸਲ, ਪੀਪਲਜ਼ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਆਫ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਆਗੂ ਧਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੀਨਾ, ਸੁੱਚਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਹੁੰਦਲ, ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ, ਲਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੌਹਲ, ਖੇਡ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਈਸਟ ਪਾਰਕ ਰੋਡ, ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਘਣੀਏ ਕੇ ਬਾਂਗਰ, ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੌੜਾ, ਸੁਖਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੱਡਾ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਬੀ ਛੀਨਾ, ਬਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੰਨੀ, ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਾਊ, ਜੈਮਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਬੱਲੂ ਬੱਬੇਹਾਲੀ ਸਮੇਤ ਹੋਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂ ਅਤੇ ਲੈਸਟਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਪਤਵੰਤੇ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ 'ਤੇ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਪ੍ਰਜੈਟਰ ਸੁਖਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਔਜਲਾ ਨੇ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਜੀ ਆਇਆਂ ਆਖਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ

ਭਾਰਤੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਨੂੰ ਘੱਟ ਪੈਸੇ ਦੇਣ 'ਤੇ ਅਦਾਲਤ 'ਚ ਕੇਸ ਦਰਜ

ਮੈਲਬੌਰਨ, 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ (ਸਰਤਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਧੌਲ)-ਭਾਰਤੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਨੂੰ ਘੱਟ ਪੈਸੇ ਦੇਣ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ 'ਚ ਫੈਡਰਲ ਅਦਾਲਤ 'ਚ ਇਕ ਕੇਸ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਉਸਮਾਨ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਅਲੀ ਬਾਬਾ ਕੈਬਾਬ ਦੀ ਦੁਕਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ, ਦਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ 3 ਡਾਲਰ 30 ਸੈਂਟ ਦੇ ਹਿਸਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਘੰਟਾ ਪੈਸੇ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਸੀ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਅਦਾਲਤ ਨੇ ਸ਼ੋਸ਼ਣ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਹੈ। ਫੈਡਰਲ ਮੈਜਿਸਟ੍ਰੇਟ ਕੋਰਟ 'ਚ ਲੱਗੇ ਇਸ ਕੇਸ 'ਚ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਤਿੰਨ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਪੈਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਓਸਮਾਨ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਆਪਣੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਦੇ 572 ਸਟੂਡੈਂਟ ਵੀਜ਼ਾ 'ਤੇ ਇਥੇ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਹ 20 ਘੰਟੇ ਤੱਕ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੇਸ 'ਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਨੇ 70 ਘੰਟੇ ਹਰ ਹਫਤੇ ਕੰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੈਸੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਮਿਲੇ। ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਦਰਾਂ ਡਾਲਰ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਘੰਟੇ ਤੋਂ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਪੈਸੇ ਦੇਣੇ ਬਣਦੇ ਸਨ ਪਰ ਦੁਕਾਨ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੋਸ਼ਣ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਅਦਾਲਤ ਇਸ ਕੇਸ ਦੀ ਘੋਖ-ਪੜਤਾਲ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਫੀਲਡ ਹਾਕੀ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਸਮਾਪਤ

ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ, 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ (ਵਤਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ)-ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਯੂਥ ਫੀਲਡ ਹਾਕੀ ਕਲੱਬ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਆਊਟ ਡੋਰ ਦੋ ਰੋਜ਼ਾ ਹਾਕੀ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਮਿਲਵੁਡਜ਼ ਰਿਕਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨਾਂ 'ਚ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ। ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਅੰਡਰ 14 ਉਮਰ ਵਰਗ 'ਚ ਰਿਜ਼ੈਨਾ, ਕੈਲਗਰੀ, ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਪੀ ਐਚ ਏ, ਈਮਲ ਫੀਲਡ ਹਾਕੀ ਕਲੱਬ ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਅਤੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ 'ਚ ਵਿੰਨੀਪੈਗ, ਟਰਾਂਟੋ, ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਬ੍ਰਦਰਜ਼ ਸਰੀ, ਕੈਲਗਰੀ, ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਰੈੱਡ ਤੇ ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਵਾਇਟ ਦੀਆਂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਜਬਰਦਸਤ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਹੋਏ। ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਜੂਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ ਦੇ ਫਾਈਨਲ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਈਮਲ ਫੀਲਡ ਹਾਕੀ ਕਲੱਬ, ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਨੇ ਰਿਜ਼ੈਨਾ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਨੂੰ ਦੋ ਇਕ ਨਾਲ ਹਰਾ ਕੇ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸਥਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ ਵਿਚ ਕੈਲਗਰੀ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਨੇ ਟੋਰਾਂਟੋ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਨੂੰ ਹਰਾ ਕੇ ਗੋਲਡ ਕੱਪ 'ਤੇ ਕਬਜ਼ਾ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ। ਇਨਾਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਵੰਡ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸ: ਟਿੰਮ ਉਪਲ ਅਤੇ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸੋਹੀ ਨੇ ਕੀਤੀ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਬੋਲਦਿਆਂ ਸ: ਉਪਲ ਤੇ ਸੋਹੀ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਪੁੱਜੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਹਾਕੀ ਟੀਮ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਕਪਤਾਨ ਰਮਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮਾਂ ਖੇਡ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ-ਨਾਲ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਖੇਡ ਹਾਕੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਪੱਧਰ 'ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਫੁੱਲਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਸਮੂਹ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ, ਸਪਾਂਸਰਜ਼ ਤੇ ਮੀਡੀਏ ਦੇ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ। ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਦੀ ਕੁਮੈਂਟਰੀ ਰਾਜੂ ਦਿਉਲ ਨੇ ਬਾਖੂਬੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਦੋਵੇਂ ਵਰਗ ਮੁਕਾਬਲਿਆਂ 'ਚੋਂ ਜੇਤੂ ਤੇ ਉਪ ਜੇਤੂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਨਾਮ ਏ ਬੀ ਐਸ ਟਰੱਕਿੰਗ ਗਰੁੱਪ ਦੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਤੇ ਬਲਜੀਤ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ, ਕੈਲ ਤੂਰ, ਪ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਸੇਖੋਂ ਪਵਾਰ ਹੋਮਜ਼ ਦੇ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਪਵਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਡਾ: ਗੁਰਦੀਪ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਜੈਜ ਸੰਧੂ, ਸੋਨੀ ਗਿੱਲ, ਜਸਕਰਨ ਭੱਟੀ, ਰਣਯੋਧ ਰਾਣੂ, ਭੋਲਾ ਰੂਮੀ, ਸੋਨੂ ਥਿੰਦ, ਜੱਸਾ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ, ਪਾਲ ਭੰਵਰਾ, ਸੁਖਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰਨੂ, ਦਿਲਬਾਗ ਡੋਗਰਾ, ਟੋਨੀ ਥਿੰਦ ਆਦਿ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਾ ਕਾਫੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ 'ਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਸੀ।

ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ ਰੱਦ ਕਰਨ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਰੋਸ ਵਜੋਂ ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ

ਲੈਸਟਰ (ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡ), 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ (ਸੁਖਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੱਡੇ)-ਲੈਸਟਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਦੀ ਇਕ ਭਰਵੀਂ ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ ਹੋਈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ ਰੱਦ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਜ਼ੋਰਦਾਰ ਨਿਖੇਧੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ। ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ 'ਚ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਈਸਟਰ ਪਾਰਕ ਰੋਡ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਭਾਈ ਮੰਗਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਹੋਲੀਬੋਨ ਦੇ ਜਨਰਲ ਸੈਕਟਰੀ ਅਮਰੀਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ, ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਦੇ ਖੇਡ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਲਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੌਹਲ, ਪੀਪਲਜ਼ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਆਫ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਆਗੂ ਸ: ਧਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੀਨਾ, ਜਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੱਡੇ, ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੌੜਾ, ਕੁਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੌਹਲ, ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਪੰਚ, ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਘਣੀਏ ਕੇ ਬਾਂਗਰ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਬੀ ਛੀਨਾ, ਜੈਮਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਾਊ, ਸੁਖਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਅਤੇ ਸ: ਬਾਹੀਆ ਸਮੇਤ ਹੋਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ ਰੱਦ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਖਤ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ 'ਚ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਹ ਨਵਾਂ ਵਿਵਾਦ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਅੰਦਰ ਦੁਬਿੱਧਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ।

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ 'ਤੇ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸਜਾਇਆ

ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ, 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ (ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ)-ਖੂਬਸੂਰਤ ਫਰੇਜ਼ਰ ਵੈਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਹਾੜੀਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਉਸਰੇ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕਲਗੀਧਰ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ ਵਿਖੇ ਉੱਤਰੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੱਗਤਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸਜਾਏ ਗਏ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਬ੍ਰਿਟਿਸ਼ ਕੋਲੰਬੀਆ ਦੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਕੈਲਗਿਰੀ, ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ, ਸਿਆਟਲ, ਕੈਲੇਫੋਰਨੀਆ ਅਤੇ ਮੈਨੀਟੋਬਾ ਤੋਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਜਥਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਲੁਆਈ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ 'ਤੇ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਪੰਥ ਦੇ ਦਰਪੇਸ਼ ਮਸਲਿਆਂ ਪ੍ਰੋ: ਦਵਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੁੱਲਰ ਦੀ ਫਾਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਦੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਅੰਦਰ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ ਦੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਦੇ ਹੱਕ 'ਚ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ। ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਾਈ ਭਾਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਈ ਬਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਯਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਕਲਗੀਧਰ ਪਾਰਕ 'ਚ ਸਜੀ ਸਟੇਜ 'ਤੇ ਬੋਲਦਿਆਂ ਬ੍ਰਿਟਿਸ਼ ਕੋਲੰਬੀਆ ਦੇ ਸਿਹਤ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮਾਈਕਲ ਡੀਜੋਂਗ, ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਜੌਹਨ ਵੈਨਡੌਂਗਨ, ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਜਗਰੂਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ, ਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਮੇਅਰ ਜੇਮਜ਼ ਅਬਟੇ, ਡਿਪਟੀ ਮੇਅਰ ਤਰਲੋਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਧਾ, ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਮੇਅਰ ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ, ਸਾਬਕਾ ਸਿਹਤ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਡਾ: ਗੁਲਜ਼ਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੀਮਾ, ਸਕੂਲ ਟਰੱਸਟੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ, ਸਾਬਕਾ ਸਕੂਲ ਟਰੱਸਟੀ ਸਤਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੱਤ ਗਿੱਲ, ਸਾਬਕਾ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਤੀ ਸਿੱਧੂ, ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਐਨ. ਆਰ. ਆਈ. ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਤੇ ਸ਼ੇਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਦੇ ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟਰ ਸ: ਅਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਧ, ਪੀਪਲਜ਼ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਆਫ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਤੋਂ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦੇ ਪੁਸ਼ਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਦਲਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਿਰਕ ਸਮੇਤ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ। ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਵਿਦਵਾਨ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੇਵਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਰਦੋਸ਼ ਦੀ 19ਵੀਂ ਪੁਸਤਕ 'ਗੈਰਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੂਹੇ ਫੁੱਲ' ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ 'ਤੇ ਰਿਲੀਜ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਸਬੰਧ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਡਮੁੱਲਾ ਸਾਹਿਤ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ 'ਚ ਵੰਡਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਸ਼ਾਨੇ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਦੇ 5 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਹਰਿ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸਟੇਜ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਭਾਈ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੱਗੂ ਤੇ ਭਾਈ ਬਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੱਸਲ ਨੇ ਸ: ਸੁਰਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਟਾਣਾ ਦੇ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਭਾਈ। ਐਬੀ ਰੈਸਲਿੰਗ ਕਲੱਬ ਦੇ ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ ਸੌਕਰ ਕਲੱਬ ਨੇ ਸਮੁੱਚੀ ਸਫਾਈ ਲਈ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਨਿਭਾਈਆਂ।

Los Angeles is a heaven on earth


By Birinder Dhillon

Chandigarh, July 17. 2011
On  June 20, United Airlines Plane landed me at Los Angeles International Airport. The weather was like weather of February month in Punjab. My old friend Surjit Singh a Lawyer from Chandigarh now settled in California was waiting for me. We reached his city in Bakersfield in his Silver colored Mercedes car in two hours. I stayed with him for five days. I wanted to see Los Angeles, a home of Hollywood. Next five days we regularly visited L A for sight seeing.
 Often known as LA, and its residents call it the City of Angels, Los Angeles is the most populous city in California    and the second one in the United States. Its population is 5 million and area is 500 square miles. The City was founded on September4, 1781 by a Spanish governor. In 1821   it became a part of Mexico, but in 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War, Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased by U.S.A., thereby becoming part of the United States.  Los Angeles is a world centre of business, international trade, entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, technology, and education.  Los Angeles has been ranked the fifth most powerful and influential city in the world, behind only New York City in the United States. As the base of Hollywood, it is known as the Film City, leading the world in the creation of motion pictures, television production, video games, and recorded music.
 The importance of the entertainment business to the city has led many celebrities to call Los Angeles and its surrounding suburbs home. The Los Angeles coastal area was first settled by the two Native-American tribes, thousands of years ago, before the arrivals of Europeans in 1542, in an expedition a Portuguese-born explorer who claimed the area of southern California for the Spain. The town was officially founded in 1781Two-thirds of the settlers were from African, American-indian, and European ancestry. They were intermarrying. Oil was discovered in 1892, and by 1923 Los Angeles alone was producing one-quarter of the world's petroleum. In the 1920s, the movie and aviation industries flocked to Los Angeles, with continuing growth. In 1969, Los Angeles became one of the birthplaces of the Internet, as the first ARPANET transmission was sent from the University of CA Los Angeles to SRI in the Bay Area. During the remaining decades of the 20th century, the city was plagued by increasing gang warfare, drug trades, and corruption.
 The city is divided into many neighborhoods that were annexed by the city. There are also several independent cities around Los Angeles, but they are popularly grouped with the city of Los Angeles. Generally, the city is divided into the following areas: Downtown Los Angeles, The Eastside and Northeast Los Angeles, South LA, The Harbor Area, Greater Hollywood, Wilshire, the Westside, and Crescent Valley. Los Angeles is irregularly shaped and covers a total area of 498.3 square miles.
 It is the major city in the United States bisected by a mountain range .Los Angeles is both flat and hilly. The Los Angeles River, a major river which is largely seasonal, is the primary drainage channel. It was straightened and lined in concrete by the Army Corps of Engineers for almost its entire length to act as a flood control channel. The river flows east along the north edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, then south through the city center, on its way to its mouth in the Port of Long Beach at the Pacific Ocean. Los Angeles is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire which cause approximately 10,000 earthquakes annually. A few earthquakes are of low intensity and are not felt. In 1994, the earthquake shook the city, causing $12.5 billion in damage and 72 deaths.
 Los Angeles enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of only 35 days with  measurable precipitation annually. The average annual temperature in downtown is 20 °C. In day it is 24 °C and at night is 14 °C. In the coldest month, January, the temperature typically ranges from 15 to 23 °C during the day and 7 to 13 °C at night. In the warmest month – August – the temperature ranges from 26 to 32 °C during the day and around 18 °C at night. Los Angeles averages 15.14 inches (384.6 mm) of precipitation annually, which mainly occurs during the winter and spring (November through April) with generally moderate rain showers, but usually as heavy rainfall and thunderstorms during winter storms. The coast gets less rainfall, while the mountains get  more. Snowfall is extremely rare in the city basin, but the mountains within city limits typically receive snowfall every winter.
 The Los Angeles area is rich in native plant species due in part to a diversity in habitats, including beaches, and mountains. The name given by the tribe of Native Americans for the area translates to the valley of smoke, because of the smog from native campfires. Owing to heavy reliance on automobiles, and the Los Angeles Long Beach port complex, Los Angeles suffers from air pollution in the form of smog. The state of California has led the nation in working to limit pollution by mandating low emission vehicles. Smog levels are only high during summers because it is dry and warm. In the winter, storms help to clear the smog and it is not as much of a problem. The city continues to take aggressive steps to improve air and water conditions.
 Sources of income of Los Angeles are international trade, entertainment (television, motion pictures, video games, and recorded music), aerospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, apparel, and tourism. Los Angeles is also the largest manufacturing center in the western United States. The city is home to seven Fortune 500 companies. Many Other companies headquartered in Los Angeles .
 Los Angeles is often billed as the "Creative Capital of the World", due to the fact that one in every six of its residents works in a creative industry. There are more artists, writers, filmmakers, actors, dancers and musicians living and working in Los Angeles than any other city at any time in the history. Los Angeles is home to Hollywood, globally recognized as the epicenter of the motion picture industry. A testament to its preeminence in film, the city plays host to the annual Academy Awards, the oldest and one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world. Furthermore, there are 54 film festivals every year, which translates into more than one every week. The performing arts play a major role in Los Angeles' cultural identity. There are over 1,000 musical, theater, dance, and performing groups.
 The major daily newspaper in the area is the Los Angeles Times, La Opinion is the city's major Spanish-language paper.  There are also a number of smaller regional newspapers, alternative weeklies and magazines. In addition to the English- and Spanish-language papers, numerous local periodicals serve immigrant communities in their native languages, including Armenian, Korean, Persian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. The city has major broadcast channels as well as three PBS stations.
 City student population is 800,000 in the City. The city and the rest of the metropolitan area is served by an extensive network of freeway and highway. Los Angeles road traffic as the most congested in the United States. The average traveler in Los Angeles experienced 72 hours of traffic delay per year according to the study. Among the major highways that connect LA to the rest of the nation include Interstate 5, which runs south through San Diego to Tijuana in Mexico and then north to the Canadian Border. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transport Authority and other agencies operate an extensive system of bus lines, as well as Subway and light rail lines across Los Angeles County, with a combined daily rider ship of 1.7 million. The majority of this (1.4 million) is taken up by the city's bus system, the second busiest in the country. The main Los Angeles airport is Los Angeles International Airport. The sixth busiest commercial airport in the world and the third busiest in the United States, LAX handles over 62 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo. The world's third busiest general-aviation airport is also located in Los Angeles.
 The Port Of Los Angeles is located in San Pedro Bay approximately 20 miles south of Downtown. Also called Los Angeles Harbor and worldport LA, the port complex occupies 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront. Singly, the Port of Los Angeles is the busiest container port in the United States and the largest cruise ship center on the West Coast. Passenger ferry service from San Pedro to the city of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island is provided by Catalina Express.
 The residents of Los Angeles are White 50%, Black 10%, Native American 0.6%,Asian 10.4%,rest other races 29%. The 42.2% spoke English and 41.7% Spanish, rest are other languages. Los Angeles residents are from more than 140 countries speaking 224 different identified languages.Los Angeles has had a high degree of income disparity as compared to the rest of the country The median household income of the wealthiest neighborhood was $207,938, while in the poorest it was $15,003.
 Here is a beautiful fun centre known as ‘Golf 'N Stuff Family Fun Center’. With two locations not far from the main hub in Los Angeles, this family fun center has a wide variety of games and attractions. The center features three 18-hole miniature golf courses, laser tag, bumper boats and cars, a kid train and two arcades. The beach encompasses a total of five acres filled with dining, night clubs, shopping and beach activities like water sports, surfing, swimming and sun bathing. Enjoy people watching as Venice Beach attracts visitors from all over the globe.
Known as one of the busiest ports and marinas in the world, Long Beach is bustling all day long. There are many things for visitors to do along the beach. The beach stretches along 5 ½ miles of coastline. Beautiful and busy, watch many different types of boats and yachts as they dock along the beach or just lay out and enjoy the beautiful California sun.
If you love to surf you won't want to miss out on Malibu beach. Known as one of the premier surfing beaches in the world the beach is over 22 miles of gardens, beaches and wetlands, an ocean lovers paradise. Malibu pier offers excellent salt water fishing and guided tours are available. Known as a popular celebrity hangout, The ‘Ivy caters’ to the top echelon of the LA crowd. Visitors were watching Jennifer Anniston and Keanu Reeves film Stars, eating there. Although the interior is simple, the menu offers a wide range of tempting dishes. Make sure to make reservations.
  Another famous hot spot in LA is the House of Blues. Featuring blues bands and live performers this is a great place to have a fun night. Visitors can visit their web site, before stopping in, to see who will be playing and when. Many famous performers have made a stop by the House of Blues, so you should not to miss it when in town. Executives from Paramount Studios dine here frequently so visitors have a good chance of some great Caleb spotting. The menu is exceptional as is the wine list. The specials changes nightly, so whatever night you are in you are sure to be in for a treat.
 Aquarium of the Pacific is a place where your kids will love discovering life under the sea. The aquarium offers 3 main galleries and a Shark Lagoon with some sharks that kids can touch. Take a tour of the Universal Studios a place where fantasy comes to life by the creators of Jurassic Park, Jaws, and E.T., and see the soundstages and movie sets where the magic of these and other films were created. On the tour guests are conveyed in trams equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video systems, with narration by celebrities such as Ron Howard, or Jason Alexander, explaining the inner workings of the industry. This great chunk of land at the east end of Santa Monica Mountains was donated by Griffith J Griffith, who was a miner and made his fortune in gold. The park features Golf Courses, the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, Los Angeles Zoo, the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round with 68 ornately crafted and decorated horses, Pony Rides, and Train. Also in the park is a natural amphitheatre known as the Greek Theatre, which holds summer concerts.
From Malibu in the North to Long Beach in the South, the coastline of Los Angeles consists of over 70 miles long beautiful area of sun kissed white golden sand with dozen beaches. Out of all these famous beaches are Malibu Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Marina Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Long Beach. I have visited in the evening Malibu Beach. Most northerly beach in Los Angeles and is most famous. Malibu Beach is not the vibrant bustling beach that is portrayed in the movies. It is in fact a relatively quiet beach, no entertainers or beach side shops here, ideal to escape the hustle and bustle of LA for a day. Take a walk along the shoreline to see  the fabulous celebrity  homes that front the beach, watch the surfers or hire a board yourself or take a stroll around the local shops and shopping mall. For the more cultured there is the original J. Paul Getty Museum a fabulous roman villa set on a hillside which houses countless works of art, splendid gardens and J. Paul Getty's grave. Really LA is a heaven on earth.
Writer is a Freelancer writer.

NRI Farmer, Harchavari Cheema 'best' farmer in Ghana


Mumbai textile worker now 'best' farmer in Ghana

Accra (Ghana), July 17, 2011: Former Mumbai textile worker Harchavari Singh Cheema, who came to Ghana 40 years ago, is today a celebrated farmer and one of the most successful Indians in the west African country.

From an initial export of about 70 tonnes a year, today Cheema's Param Farms exports 120 tonnes of vegetables a year. Ghana, a country of 24 million people, is known the world over for cocoa exports.

"I arrived in Ghana in 1972 to work as a manager for the then Glamour Stores - a supermarket chain - but some years later, the country's economy started to go down and this affected the textile industry and I had to leave the chain to do something on my own," Cheema, 64, told IANS in an interview.

Cheema, who hails from Amritsar in Punjab, said: "I initially started a poultry farm at Gomoa Pamfokrom in the Central Region. I used to grow maize to use as feed."

Unfortunately, the poultry sector also started having problems, so he started a small textile manufacturing unit in Accra, Ghana's capital. "But this also suffered a lot because of the trade liberation that the government initiated in the 1980s."

"Coming from a farming background, I had no choice but to get back to farming again. I decided to produce 25 different varieties of Asian vegetables for export to Europe," he added.

He has been awarded by two presidents - as the Best National Farmer in the vegetable sector in 2006 and the Best National Farmer award in the food crop sector in 2004.

From a small farm in Weija in Accra, he moved to other areas outside Accra, including Bawjiase in the Central Region, Akatsi in the Volta Region, Old Akrade and Nsawam in the Eastern Region.

"The idea to spread was necessary because we did not want to become victims of the weather. Therefore, the spread of the farms enabled us to succeed even when the weather failed in other areas," Cheema said.

Asked why he chose to remain in the country when Glamour Stores went down, he said: "Ghana is a nice place to live and my children were attending school which I did not want to disturb by returning back to India."

Cheema described working in Ghana as a very good experience. "The people are nice and if you do a good job, pay your workers proper wages and meet your tax obligations, you would never encounter any problem."

He said because of his success in Ghana other Indian investors looking for opportunities had sought his assistance to establish businesses here.

Cheema and a group of investors are in the process of establishing a packaging company at Tema, near Accra