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November 7, 2011

Cops in trouble over Dhanola’s arrest


Chandigarh, November 7
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the State of Punjab to explain as to how rebel SAD leader and former SGPC executive member Tek Singh Dhanola was arrested by the police, despite orders directing the issuance of a five-day pre-arrest notice.
The direction was verbally issued by Justice MMS Bedi after the High Court was informed about Tek Singh’s arrest. The case will come up for further hearing tomorrow.
Dhanola had unsuccessfully contested the SGPC poll on the Panthic Morcha ticke. Available information suggests he was bundled into a car and taken to an undisclosed location soon after he appeared before the Barnala police to join investigations in a case on Saturday.
Late in the evening, it was disclosed that Dhanola was arrested in a case registered on October 24. 

Film on female foeticide on Dutch TV


Patiala, November 7
India has always attracted foreign filmmakers and documentary makers for numerous reasons. They are fascinated by Indian culture and tradition and like to focus on real-life social problems that afflict society.
Dutch television, through its researcher Marnel Breure, is planning a series of seven documentaries on modern India. One of these documentaries is about Punjab and focuses on the problems of female foeticide, domestic violence and drug abuse. In this context, Nr Jelle Brandt, a Dutch journalist and collaborator with Marnel, visited Patiala and nearby villages to find out more about these problems.
Using Patiala-based doctor Dr Harshinder's book “Female Foeticide: a curse” as the base of their documentary, he visited Mallan Kheri village of Patiala district to get a first-hand account of the situation prevailing in the villages of Punjab. He was accompanied by Dr Harshinder Kaur who acted as a mediator between him and villagers.
Talking to The Tribune, Brandt said that he interviewed the villagers and discussed the reasons behind the killing of the girlchild in the womb. "The unanimous opinion was that the main reason that prompted the killing of the female foetus is dowry and unless this practice is curtailed or stopped it would be really difficult to curb this menace," he added.
He further informed that they had selected various states for highlighting different issues. They would be shooting a documentary each in Mumbai, Hayana, Delhi and Punjab.
"I was thrilled to see India as I had a totally different picture in my mind. Despite the fact that there were some problems, one cannot deny the fact that Indian was no less than other developed countries. I interacted with a large number of people and collected enough information as to how we could highlight the issue of female foeticide and convince people to shun this practice. I will return with my team in February 2012 and shoot the entire documentary," added Brandt.

Ahmadinejad warns against attack on Iran

Says US and Israel mustering international backing for a military strike

Cairo, November 7
As tensions mounted in the Persian Gulf over accusations that Iran is close to making nuclear weapons, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today warned of any attacks against his country.

Alleging that US and Israel were mustering international backing for a military strike on Iran, Ahmadinejad claimed that Tehran had capabilities to deal such threats.
Iranian President's remarks came in an interview with Egypt's state-owned al-Akhbar newspaper and assumed significance in the wake of American media reports quoting UN experts that Tehran is on the threshold of making a nuclear bomb and had mastered the critical steps needed to build a weapon after receiving assistance from a foreign scientist.
"It is Israel that has about 300 nuclear warheads. Iran is only keen to have nuclear capability for peaceful means," he said, accusing Washington of lumping Iran with Syria, the Islamist Hamas movement that rules Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The US portrays those four as "the Axis of Evil to save the Zionist entity. But the Zionists are bound to go out of existence," he said.
Ahmadinejad also talked of Iran's growing military power, which has fuelled fear from the US that Iran is now able to compete with Israel and the West, he said.
"Yes, we have military capabilities that are different from any other country in the region," al-Akhbar cited Ahmadinejad as saying.
"Iran is increasing in capability and advancement and therefore we are able to compete with Israel and the West and especially the United States." "The US fears Iran's capability," he told the paper. "Iran will not permit anyone making a move against it."
Ahmadinejad accused Washington of inventing conspiracies to discredit Iran and sowing discord with its near neighbour Saudi Arabia.
Iran's Islamic rulers, who say Israel has no right to exist, deny accusations that they are seeking nuclear weapons and have warned they will respond to any attacks by striking at Israel and U.S. interests in the Gulf.
A senior U.S. military official said on Friday Iran had become the biggest threat to the United States and Israel's president said the military option to stop the Islamic republic from obtaining nuclear weapons was nearer.
Ahmadinejad repeated that Iran does not own a nuclear bomb, but said Israel's end was inevitable.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, is expected this week to issue its most detailed report yet on research in Iran seen as geared to developing atomic bombs.
Responding to a U.S. claim that Iran was involved in a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Ahmadinejad said: "Iran is farthest from thinking of carrying out such crimes but the U.S. is always inventing conspiracies against Iran". "The U.S. fears any friendship between us and Saudi Arabia and therefore incites disagreements," he said.
"To stop the U.S. in its tracks we must deepen the elements of friendship... We are ready for this and the relation between Saudi and Iran already exists and has not been cut off." — PTI/Reuters

Ahmadinejad states
Tehran has capabilities to deal with such threats
Washington is inventing conspiracies
Israel has 300 nuclear warheads
Iran is only keen to have nuclear capability for peaceful means
The trigger
American media reports quoted UN experts that Tehran is on the threshold of making a nuclear bomb and had mastered the critical steps needed to build a weapon after receiving assistance from a foreign scientist.

ਸਾਊਥਾਲ ਵਿਖੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸਜਾਇਆ


ਲੰਡਨ, 7 ਨਵੰਬਰ (ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਧਨੀ ਕਲਾਂ)-ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੰਘਣੀ ਵਸੋਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਮਿੰਨੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਸਾਊਥਾਲ ਵਿਖੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਪੁਰਬ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸਜਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ। ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਦੀ ਆਰੰਭਤਾ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਹੈਵਲਾਕ ਰੋਡ ਤੋਂ ਹੋਈ ਅਤੇ ਕਿੰਗ ਸਟਰੀਟ, ਦ ਗਰੀਨ, ਸਾਊਥ ਰੋਡ ਅਤੇ ਬਰਾਡਵੇਅ ਤੋਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਦਾ ਆਖਰੀ ਪੜਾਅ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਭਾ ਪਾਰਕ ਐਵੇਨਿਊ ਵਿਖੇ ਸਮਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਭਾ ਸਾਊਥਾਲ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸ੍ਰ. ਹਿੰਮਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਹੀ, ਐਮ. ਪੀ. ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਰਿੰਦਰ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ, ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਬੀਬੀ ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ, ਲੰਡਨ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਮੇਅਰ ਰਿਚਰਡ ਬਾਂਸ, ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਨੇ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਨੁੰ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦੀ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਬਾਰੋ ਦੇ ਲੀਡਰ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਜੁਲੀਅਨ ਬਿੱਲ, ਡਾ: ਉਂਕਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ ਜੀ. ਐਲ. ਏ. ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਲੇਬਰ, ਈਲਿੰਗ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਮੇਅਰ, ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੇਅਰ ਰਾਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਾਨ, ਸ਼ੇਰ ਗਰੁੱਪ ਦੇ ਲੀਡਰ ਸ: ਗੁਰਮੇਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ, ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਪੰਚ, ਸੋਹਣ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਾਮਰਾ, ਸਿੱਖ ਸਟੂਡੈਂਟਸ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਮਹਿਤਾ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਪਰਮਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਰਾਜੂ ਸੰਸਾਰਪੁਰੀ, ਹਰਜਾਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੰਗਲ ਆਦਿ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਥਾਂ-ਥਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵੰਨ ਸੁਵੰਨੇ ਪਕਵਾਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੰਡੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮ ਮੰਦਰ, ਹਿੰਦੂ ਮੰਦਰ, ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਮੀਰੀ-ਪੀਰੀ, ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਮਰਦਾਸ, ਸਿੱਖ ਮਿਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਦਾ ਭਰਵਾਂ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।

Ten costly sports divorces

On Oct. 31, 2011, the world was blindsided by the news that reality TV star Kim Kardashian was divorcing her husband, National Basketball Association star Kris Humphries. The couple had married on Aug. 20, 2011, in a storybook wedding worth $10 million. A mere 72 days later, however, Kardashian had filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Fortunately, the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place, so each party is likely to walk away with their finances intact.
This puts Humphries in a better situation than many of his fellow divorced sports personalities, many of whom never had such a contract in place prior to exchanging vows. Maybe they believed they truly would live happily ever after with their spouses, or perhaps they never knew they needed one in the first place.
Either way, they failed to protect themselves, and it cost them dearly.
Some players were involved in unions that only lasted a year, while others ended marriages that had stood for decades. However long they were married, the price of ending the union was huge – sometimes even reaching nine figures.
So, who are some of the athletes whose divorces cost them millions? Check out the list.
The list:
Jeff Gordon and Brooke Sealey
Gordon’s first wife, Brooke Sealey, filed for divorce in 2002, citing “marital misconduct.” Although the full details of the settlement were not disclosed, the Associated Press reported that Sealey would receive a guaranteed $15.3 million from the sale of two homes.
Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy
In 2002, the couple filed for divorce. They reconciled, but in 2006 they filed papers again, and that time it stuck. Juanita Vanoy Jordan was awarded $168 million in the divorce settlement.
Greg Norman and Laura Andrassy
In 2006, Norman announced that he and Andrassy were divorcing after 25 years of marriage, refusing to give a reason for the dissolution and flatly denying that there had been a third party involved. Whatever the reasons for the split, Andrassy walked away with a settlement of $105 million.
Lance Armstrong and Kristin Richard
The couple had three children together, but the marriage didn’t last – the couple filed for divorce in 2003. According to Daniel Coyle’s 2005 book “Lance Armstrong’s War,” Richard received $14 million from the settlement.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
In November 2009, allegations emerged that Woods had been unfaithful to his wife. Nordegren filed for divorce almost immediately. The final amount of the divorce settlement was never disclosed, but a source close to Nordegren claimed that the former model walked away with $100 million.

Quarter-mile-wide asteroid coming close to Earth next Tuesday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An asteroid bigger than an aircraft carrier will dart between the Earth and moon on Tuesday — the closest encounter by such a huge rock in 35 years.
But scientists say not to worry. It won't hit.
"We're extremely confident, 100 per cent confident, that this is not a threat," said the manager of NASA's Near Earth Object Program, Don Yeomans. "But it is an opportunity."
The asteroid named 2005 YU55 is being watched by ground antennas as it approaches from the direction of the sun. The last time it came within so-called shouting distance was 200 years ago.
Closest approach will occur at 6:28 p.m. EST Tuesday when the asteroid passes within 202,000 miles of Earth. That's closer than the roughly 240,000 miles between the Earth and the moon.
The moon will be just under 150,000 miles from the asteroid at the time of closest approach.
Both the Earth and moon are safe — "this time," said Jay Melosh, professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University.
If 2005 YU55 were to plow into the home planet, it would blast out a crater four miles across and 1,700 feet deep, according to Melosh's calculations. Think a magnitude-7 earthquake and 70-foot-high tsunami waves.
Scientists have been tracking the slowly spinning, spherical, dark-colored object since its discovery in 2005, and are positive it won't do any damage.
"We know the orbit of this object very well," Yeomans said.
The asteroid stretches a quarter-mile across. Smaller objects come close all the time, Yeomans noted, but nothing this big will have ventured so close since 1976. And nothing this large will again until 2028.
Radar observations from California and Puerto Rico will help scientists ascertain whether the asteroid is pockmarked with craters and holds any water-bearing minerals or even frozen water.
Amateur astronomers would need a 6-inch-or-bigger telescope and know exactly where to look to spot it.
Astronomers consider 2005 YU55 a C-type asteroid — one containing carbon-based materials. "It's not just a whirling rock like most of them," Yeomans said.
Such objects are believed to have brought carbon-based materials and water to the early Earth, planting the seeds for life. The discovery of water-bearing minerals or ice would support that theory, Yeomans said.
This is the type of asteroid that NASA would want to aim for, with astronauts, Yeomans said, especially if frozen water is found. Such asteroids could serve as watering holes and fueling stations for future explorers, he said.
An asteroid is actually on NASA's short list for destinations.
President Barack Obama wants astronauts headed to an asteroid and then Mars in the coming decades. That's why the 30-year space shuttle program ceased this summer — so NASA could have enough money to get cracking on these new destinations.
As for an actual strike by an asteroid this size, that's estimated to occur once every 100,000 years or so.
An asteroid named Apophis — estimated to be 885 feet across — will venture extremely close on April 13, 2029 — but will not strike. It has a remote chance of hitting Earth when it comes around again on April 13, 2036.
Scientists said information gleaned from 2005 YU55, as well as other asteroids, will prove useful if and when it becomes necessary to deflect an incoming Armageddon-style rock.

Greece PM to resign as part of debt deal

Greek party leaders to pick new premier for 15-week power-sharing government

ATHENS, Greece - The leaders of Greece's two biggest political parties were in talks Monday to choose the head of a new interim government, after reaching a historic power-sharing deal to accept a massive financial rescue package and prevent imminent bankruptcy.
Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou and conservative leader Antonis Samaras held fresh negotiations on the telephone to hammer out the composition of the new 15-week government. The new administration will be tasked with passing the €130 billion ($179 billion) package — agreed by international creditors on Oct. 27 — before elections.
Fellow European governments will want concrete progress by the evening, when eurozone finance ministers meet to discuss the crisis. Beyond Greece, investors are becoming increasingly concerned about Italy, where Premier Silvio Berlusconi is under pressure to resign.
The eurozone ministers will not discuss unfreezing Greece's bailout loans that had been kept on hold while the country sorted its political turmoil, according to a European official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Paying out those loans will depend on the Greelk government approving the rescue package agreed on Oct. 27, the official said.
"Things are headed in the right direction. Today, the national unity seems to be forming in Greece, which is a positive development," said French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe. "But what's important is that the bailout plan for Greece gets ratified."
Former European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos is being tipped as the most likely new head of the Greek government that would serve until a Feb. 19 general election.
Officials in Greece's two main political parties have confirmed the 64-year-old former central banker is a candidate though there's no indication yet he would want the job.
Finance chief Evangelos Venizelos, who had earlier been tipped as a possible candidate, was already in Brussels for the eurozone ministers' talks.
None of the people being considered have been announced publicly.
The power-sharing talks were due to be concluded by the end of the day, with former EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, a conservative, also being considered for a senior government position, according to two conservative officials with knowledge of the talks who spoke to the AP. The officials asked not to be named, citing the sensitivity of the negotiations.
Papandreou and Samaras agreed on the interim coalition late Sunday under mounting international pressure for cross-party acceptance of the deal following a week of turmoil in the markets as investors fretted over a disorderly Greek default and the country's possible exit from the euro.
As part of the deal, Papandreou agreed to step down halfway through his four-year term. Elected after a landslide victory a little over two years ago, Papandreou's stock took a big battering last week after his call for a referendum on Greece's latest rescue package, that was agreed less than two weeks ago.
Though the referendum pledge was pulled after Greece's main conservative opposition said it agreed to the broad outlines of the rescue deal, markets remain in a jittery state, especially as the country needs the next batch of bailout cash within weeks to pay off debts.
"There are cool-headed people in both parties," Justice Minister Miltiadis Papaioannou told private Antenna television. "This was not a card game; it was about keeping the country on its feet."
Senior conservative officials conceded they had come under strong pressure from European Union officials before withdrawing their demand for an immediate general election.
European markets were broadly lower Monday, though a Greek banking rally saw shares on the Athens Stock Exchange buck the trend, up 1.1 per cent at 758.92.
"What is clear is that the European partners are becoming more and more intransigent with Greece and they will want evidence of concrete advances on Monday evening," said Silvio Peruzzo, an analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland.
Papandreou spoke by telephone Monday with top EU officials and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the impending power hand-over and thanked her for their "close and good co-operation over recent months," according to a spokesman from Merkel's office.
"For us, what counts is the economic and financial policy of a Greek government, and ... we are counting on the incoming transitional government getting to work quickly on implementing, and implementing fully, the decisions from Brussels," spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
"Europe, and the German government too, must be able to see that the Greeks are serious, that it is not just about announcements but about actions."
Frustrated with Greece's political disagreements, the country's creditors have threatened to withhold the next critical €8 billion ($11 billion) loan installment until the new debt deal is formally approved in Greece.
Greece is surviving on a €110 billion ($150 billion) rescue-loan program from eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund. The new government's main task is to push through the second €130 billion deal, that involves private creditors agreeing to cancel 50 per cent of their Greek debt.
Punishing austerity imposed in exchange for the rescue loans brought Papandreou's government to its knees. Its efforts to keep the country solvent have prompted violent protests, crippling strikes and a sharp decline in living standards for most Greeks.
"I don't expect anything," Athens resident Stavros Stournaras said of the new political agreement. "When people truly go hungry and there's an uprising, then things will change."

Miss Venezuela wins Miss World crown


Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, is crowned Miss World 2011 in Earls Court in west London November 6, 2011

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, is crowned Miss World 2011 in Earls Court in west London November 6, 2011

LONDON, Nov 6, 2011 (AFP) - Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colimenares, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant at a glittering final ceremony in London on Sunday.
Miss Philippines, Gwendoline Gaelle Sandrine Ruais, was named the runner-up, while Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Victoria Vilanova Perez, came third.
Sarcos Colimenares, 22, who works for a broadcasting company and has a degree in human resources, gasped and threw her hands to her face as she was announced the winner.
Some 113 beauty queens from Albania to Zimbabwe took their place on the stage, with the show being broadcast live to an estimated audience of more than one billion viewers in 150 countries.

Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, (born July 26, 1989, in Guanare, Portuguesa, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan beauty queen who won the Miss World 2011 and Miss World Venezuela 2010 titles[1][2]. Ivian is a Diplomacy student who stands 1.80 m (5'11") tall. She was studying to be a nun[3][4]. Being an orphan at the age of 8 as her parents passed away, Sarcos was raised by the nuns in a convent in Cojedes. She intended to become a nun, but she eventually gave up the idea and realized that her appearance would give her a chance to become famed and she started her career as a model.
Sarcos, who was brought up in a nunnery after being orphaned aged eight, has a human resources degree and works for a broadcasting company.
Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant on Sunday at a glittering final ceremony in London.
Wearing a pink dress with diamante studs that had a giant cascade of frills slashed below the waist, the 22-year-old gasped and threw her hands to her face as she was declared the winner.
"I felt the most gorgeous woman in the world. I was so happy and I wanted to shout, to cry, to stand still and to smile. So many emotions," she told AFP.
"I'm incredibly happy for this moment, for this opportunity and for winning and I'm grateful with my life."
Last year's Miss World, Alexandria Mills of the United States, took off her sparkling crown and placed it on her successor's head as Sarcos sat in a shimmering silver throne.
Miss Philippines, Gwendoline Ruais, was named the runner-up, while Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Perez, came third in the contest, which was back in its home city to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Some 113 beauty queens from Albania to Zimbabwe took their place on the stage at the Earls Court Two auditorium in west London, with the show being broadcast live to an estimated audience of more than one billion viewers in 150 countries.

Uttarakhand Govt defers formation of new districts

Dehradun, November 6
The Uttarakhand Government has deferred the formation of four new districts in the poll-bound hill state and appointed a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to study the matter further.
“The report on the formation of four new districts will be submitted to the government shortly,” Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar told mediapersons after a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister BC Khanduri here yesterday.
Former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, in his Independence Day speech, had announced the formation of the four new districts of Ranikhet, Didihaat, Kotdwar and Yamunotri.
In another development, the government has decided to regularise the services of 24,000 contractual employees provided they have completed 10 years of service in their respective departments.

Spectacular kalash yatra taken out

Gayatri Parivar Centenary Celebrations


Gayatri Parivar actiivists take part in a kalash yatra in Haridwar on Sunday.
Gayatri Parivar actiivists take part in a kalash yatra in Haridwar on Sunday.

Haridwar, November 6
A massive kalash yatra today heralded the commencement of the centenary celebrations of Shantikunj-Akhil Bharatiya Gayatri Parivar. Presenting a unique example of brotherhood, a large number of Muslim devotees too participated in the 7-km procession. Women from Europe taking part in the yatra gave it a global touch.
Women from several states, including host Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, participated in the yatra, which, according to the local people, was the biggest such procession in recent times in Haridwar.
A whopping 24,000 saffron-clad women led the procession which saw a turnout of more than a lakh participants. A helicopter showered flower petals on the women carrying traditional clay pots on their heads. It was an occasion reminiscent of the royal processions of different akhadas carried out during the Maha Kumbh.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat and Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik also took part in the procession which started from a yagyashala situated at Laljiwala.
Two other similar processions were also taken out from Shantikunj-Bhooptawala and the BHEL areas. These later merged with the main kalash procession at Braham Kund, Har-ki-Pauri. Later at the yagyashala, religious rituals were performed with the water fetched from the holy Ganga.
The procession included 17 tableaus depicting the life, struggle and philosophy of social reformer Pt Acharya Shri Ram Sharma.
Accompanying the procession were 11,000 artists, 108 musical bands, 1,551 priests, 1,008 brahamcharis, 108 conch blowers, 2,001 dhapli players, 501 motorcyclists, 501 bicyclists and 108 vehicles carrying portraits and signages on Acharya Shri Ram Sharma’s life.
Presenting diversified culture of different states of the country, 51 cultural troupes enthralled the bystanders with folk items. Lending melody to the occasion were shehnai, mridang and flute artistes.
Addressing the devotees at the yagyashala, chief of the Vishwa Gayatri family, Dr Pranav Pandya, termed the mass participation in the procession as an indication of people’s interest in the philosophy of the Gayatri family which augurs well for society.
“The yellow colour on the kalash personifies sanctity and good thoughts which disseminate in society as the Sun’s rays reflect from them. We hope this is the dawn of a new era of simplicity, ethics, morality, truth, peace and mutual harmony,” said Dr Pandya.
For next three days a variety of programmes will be taking place at the venue of the celebrations at Laljiwala-Rodibelwala, that falls in the Kumbh mela zone.
A “kala manch” has been erected where artistes from across the country will be making their presentations while at the “vichar manch” dignitaries and orators will be addressing the people.
A book and khadi exhibition is on at the venue. A huge 1,551 hawankund yagyashala has been set up while the whole mela area falling in the mountainous terrain between the Mata Mansa Devi and Mata Chandi Devi shrines adjacent to the Ganga has been beautifully decorated and
illuminated.
An ideal example of communal harmony
Haridwar, November 6
Though Haridwar is known worldwide as a Hindu pilgrimage centre, the city has a substantial population of Muslims too and both the communities have been living peacefully here for centuries.
This strong mutual bond was further strengthened today with a large number of Muslim brothers enthusiastically participating in the kalash procession organised as part of the 100th birth anniversary of the Gayatri family founder Pt Shri Ram Sharma.
Clad in their traditional attire, the Muslims participated in the procession which passed through the inner lanes of the city, along the Har-ki-Pauri Kumbh Mela zone.
The local Muslims and the members of the World Organisation of Religion and Knowledge termed their participation as an event that would spread out the message of communal harmony and peace throughout the world.
Later, an interactive session was organised at Shantikunj where the Muslim and Hindu orators highlighted the works of the Gayatri family and the mutual aspects that both the religion teach.
Chairperson of the organisation Sayyed Abdullah Tarik said an era was heralding where humanity, peace and development would reign making people realise that for trifle issues dividing people and sects had done only harm to society.
The religious guru also termed the principles of the Gayatri family almost similar to those as taught by Islam and also related three Islamic ayaets of “Sureha Fateha” almost same as the meaning of Gayatri Mantra in Hinduism.
Recently, the Gayatri family started its publication “Yug Sahitya”, carrying the teachings of Acharya Shri Ram Sharma, in Urdu too. Tomorrow, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha, the Muslim brothers will be attending the various programmes of the celebrations after performing the Eid rituals.
Gauri Shankar Sharma, coordinator of the convention, termed the mass participation of the Muslims as historical and said it was the impact of Acharya Shri Ram Sharma’s teaching. He urged all the communities to work for communal harmony.

Aping ‘Munnabhai’ not girls’ play

Chandigarh, November 6
Using hidden mobile phones, two girls tried to clear the entrance examination for post of teacher in perfect ‘Munnabhai’ style today. Inspired by the Sanjay Dutt blockbuster, they were caught using mobile phones while writing.
The police arrested Nisha Tishir of Nangal Kalan and Sumeet of Nahri, both in Sonepat district, for cheating and impersonation and booked them under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC.
The appeared in the Haryana teacher eligibility test at Government Model School, Sector 28. Invigilators caught them and summoned the police. Headmistress Raj Bala lodged a written complaint, following which the two girls were arrested and a case registered at the Sector-26 police station. Inspector Sri Parkash, the SHO concerned, said Nisha was receiving SMSes on her mobile phone and Sumeet was talking on her phone through bluetooth.

Kidnap accused attempts suicide in sensational case of 'princess'


Chandigarh, November 6
Raising a question mark on police functioning, 21-year-old Inderjit Malik, arrested in the case of kidnapping of a ‘princess’, attempted suicide in police custody today. He slit his veins in a lock-up at the Sector-3 police station.
The incident occurred this morning. Inderjit slit the veins of his right hand using a blade. The blade was recovered from his possession. He was rushed to a hospital and administered first-aid. He was later sent to judicial custody.
The police slapped a case of attempt-to-suicide on the youth under Section 309 of the IPC. Senior police officials were scrutinising CCTV footage inside the police station to see the circumstances under which Inderjit took the extreme step.
He was arrested three days back for kidnapping a 16-year-old student of Carmel Convent School, who was a ‘princess’ from an erstwhile principality in Himachal Pradesh.

Believe it or not!

This tower will be 100m in height
 
Highest in region Officials of the public works department supervising the work say standing at about 100 metres, with the dome, it will be the highest structure north of Delhi. A high-rise worth mention coming up at Mohali is the 84-metre-high Quark City at Industrial Area in Phase VIII.

Chappar Chidi (Mohali), November 6
It seems that leaves of history have been shuffled through as one goes to Chappar Chidi, where Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his brave soldiers had won a famous battle over the Mughals about 300 years ago.
Fateh-e-Minar, a 100-metre-high octagonal tower to commemorate ‘Fateh Divas’ in the historic battle, is nearing completion. The imposing structure, signifying victory, is coming up amid ‘chidis’ (low-lying areas) and ‘tibis’ (mounds), spread over 10 acres.
Six artificial mounds and water bodies have been created to depict the scene of battle. Sculptures of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Fateh Singh and others have been placed on these mounds. The the original mounds have been damaged long back.
The mounds have been raised to a height of six metres to support the sculptures of the warriors. Architect Reenu Khanna, who has planned the memorial, has said the memorial is symbolic of Sikh faith and valour.
The depiction of scenes of battle will be one of the main attractions. Coming up on 21 acres, a life-size sculpture of Banda Bahadur, engaged in battle with the Mughals, will be another key feature of the landmark.
The historic significance of the battle will be illustrated through a light-and-sound programme. Among the main elements of the ambitious project are Fateh-e-Minar, an open-air theatre to conduct the light-and-sound show, an exhibition hall and the battlefield.
Officials have said work on the project, worth about Rs 434.40-crore, has been allotted to the construction company L&T. The memorial is scheduled to be inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on November 30.

Now, register vehicles online in Fatehgarh Sahib

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 6
Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner Yashveer Mahajan on Saturday inaugurated online registration of vehicles at Supreme Motors, Mandi Gobindgarh. With this, people would not be required to visit the DTO offices for registering their vehicles.
Elaborating on the scheme, the Deputy Commissioner said it would help in providing registration certificates to the vehicle owners on the spot by the dealers. He said now road tax and other fees could also be paid online.

Indo-US ties on firmer ground, says US official

Patiala, November 6
Senior Strategic Adviser (South Asia), State Department, US, Anish Goel said today that India had full cooperation of the US on the crucial issue of elimination of terrorism.
In an interview with The Tribune at his uncle’s residence in Patiala, Anish said despite the tall claims by Pakistan of having taken decisive steps to curb terrorism, there were reports of training camps for terrorists on its soil. On the diplomatic ties with the US, he said these had strengthened since Barack Obama taking over as President in 2009.
Anish, who was part of the negotiating team on the Indo-US nuclear deal, said India and the US were working jointly in several other sectors, including science and technology and education.
Anish (35), son of Dr Vijay Goel, a renowned bio-medical engineer, is settled in the US. Born in Sydney (Australia), Anish has done Ph.D in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, US. He took part in a NASA-sponsored research project and experiments in zero gravity. 

PM Manmohan Singh failed to provide justice to ’84 victims: Baba Ramdev

Kapurthala, November 6
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev today blamed the Congress for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and even accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of having "failed" to provide justice to the victims.
Addressing a gathering during a function held at local Shalamar Bagh under the aegis of Patanjali Yoga Peeth, Ramdev said it's been 28 years since the riots took place but still the victims were "awaiting justice".
On education policy, he said education should be provided in the languages of our own country, as was being done in several other countries of the world, including in China, France and Japan.
Terming it as unfortunate that in our country preference was given to English, he said, "Giving preference to a foreign language is a sign of slavery and a policy should be drafted for providing education in our own languages for national pride among the new generation."
Blaming the Congress for having "failed" to check rampant "corruption", spiraling high prices of essential commodities and unemployment, Baba Ramdev appealed the gathering to wipe out Congress in the coming assembly elections scheduled for February.
Dubbing the United Progressive Alliance as a "sinking ship", the yoga guru claimed that several of its alliance partners would leave it due to unchecked spiralling prices of essential commodities, including petroleum products.
He said he was mobilising public opinion for bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks. Subsequently, he would write a letter to the PM in this regard, he siad. 

Yet another Punjabi youth dies in Malaysia

Jagraon, November 6
The search for greener pastures in foreign lands proved fatal for 26-year-old Hansraj Singh of Jhorran village near Raikot who died in Malaysia after being tormented by a travel agent for months.
His family was informed about his demise by members of the Punjabi community in Malaysia.
Swaran Singh, sarpanch of Jhorran village, said Hansraj went to Malaysia in December 2010 through a travel agent after paying a sum of 1.5 lakh. “On reaching Malaysia, he met another travel agent there who took away his passport on the plea that he would help him find employment. But he began exploiting Hansraj, making him do excessive work for a pittance,” he alleged. On the complaint of Hansraj’s family, a case has been registered against the travel agent, who hails from the same village, but he has absconded.
The inconsolable family members of the victim said they had approached leaders of the ruling party to help them bring Hansraj back but to no avail.
It is learnt that apart from Hansraj, the travel agent, identified as Daljit Singh, has sent 12 more youths of the area to Malaysia, who too are living there in inhuman conditions.
The families of these youths have appealed to the Punjab Government for help.