Chandigarh: In the arguable “kidney removal case,” the Punjab government has suspended Amritsar Medical College, principal, Dr. Jaswinderpal Kaur Shergill. Together with Dr. Shergill, the administration has also suspended emergency duty officer Dr. H S Grewal.

The government has ordered a detailed investigation of the case. The inquiry has been allotted to a three member group led by Dr. U S Dhaliwal, Principal Sri Guru Ram Das Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar.

The other investigation group members include Dr. A S Thind, additional professor forensic medicine at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot and Dr Jai Kishan Saini, head of the TB Department of Medical College at Patiala.

Amritsar, Sept.26 :Children of the Ram Ashram School in Amritsar today celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, a day earlier than scheduled.

Holding placards and photographs of Bhagat Singh during the felicitation ceremony, the children inspired a feeling of patriotism through the gathering.

Harkirat Singh, a student, dressed up like Bhagat Singh for the occasion.

Amritsar, Oct 26 : A Pakistani troupe is here to participate in the fourth Lahore-Amritsar Saanjh Festival, organised by Rafi peer theatre in collaboration with the Spring Will Education Society in India.

The festival takes place in two phases, the first in Lahore and the second in Amritsar. It showcases a diverse range of Punjabi performing arts including Sufi, folk and classical music.

The festival will end on October 27

The Pakistani troupe consists of 27 people, including musicians Surayya Khanum, Arif Lahori, Akmal Qadri and Waris Ali Ballo.

Team manager Sohrab Khan said that the purpose of the festival is to promote harmony and solidarity by the interaction of people of different cultures.

Amritsar, Oct 26 : Furious over police incompetence, locals in Amritsar vandalised public property worth lakhs on Friday.

A mob of angry locals, armed with swords, hockey sticks, batons, stones and bricks went around damaging cars, fuel stations and shops, following the death of a youth.

The deceased, a youth named Shankar, was killed by unidentified men on Thursday following an altercation.

Shop owners were the ones who suffered the most, as they said the police did nothing to protect them from the fury of the mob.

They said the police just stood by and watched as their shops were damaged and goods looted by the mob.

Amritsar, Oct 29: Jail inmates of Amritsar’s Central Jail had a whiff of homely memories within the drab prison walls on Monday, as they celebrated the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth.

Barracks in central prison jail here bustled as scores of women prisoners celebrated the festival for the well being of their husbands after receiving special permission from the jail authorities.

The Government of Punjab has allowed me to meet my husband and talk to him today. According to Hindu tradition, wives observe fast on Karva Chauth. The festival comes only once in a year. This is the first time we have got this opportunity," said Sunita, a jail inmate whose husband came to the jail on the special occasion.

Amritsar, Oct 30 :  Bhawna, the youngest BJP councillor of Punjab, could be a role model for many of her senior.  She has been working hard to eradicate drug abuse among the youth of her constituency.

Twenty one-year-old Bhawna, a second-year student of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), won the seat from ward number 61.

“Politics does seem to be a middle-aged man’s world. If chance is given to the young’s the result would be better,” she said.

She never thought of joining politics but it was the faith and determination to work for the welfare for the people especially for the youth who made it possible for her to bring her to politics.

New Delhi/Amritsar, Oct 31 : Sikhs on Wednesday took out protest rallies in different parts of the country, demanding justice for the victims of the  1984 anti- Sikh riots.

On this day in 1984, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards that triggered anti-Sikh riots in several parts of the country.

Official figures confirm that 2,733 people were killed during the rioting, while Rights groups put the toll at over 4000.

In New Delhi alone 600 cases of arson, killing and rioting were registered, but police closed half of them, ostensibly for lack of evidence. Only around 10 people have been convicted of murder.

Amritsar, Nov.23 : Avtar Singh Makkar was today elected President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) for a third consecutive time.
 
Former SGPC president Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar proposed Makkar's name, which was accepted by the house unopposed. Makkar was elected the 41st president of the SGPC, the single largest representative body of the Sikhs.
 
The general house meeting of SGPC members was held at Teja Singh Samundari Hall on Friday.
Barring two executive members, the whole executive committee, comprising of eleven members and all the office bearers, remained the same.
 

Amritsar, Nov.23 : The election of Avtar Singh Makkar as president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) for a third consecutive term has evoked a mixed response from the Sikh diaspora.
 
Former SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta said that it was unfortunate that Parkash Singh Badal, the Shiromani Akal Dal supremo, had once again selected dummy to run the SGPC to ensure his control over it.
 
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Parmjit Singh Sarna also criticized Badal, saying that he had bought disgrace to the community by choosing a non-functional man as SGPC president. He alleged that Badal was using the SGPC for his own political ends.
 

Amritsar, Nov 24: Sikh devotees in different parts of the country are celebrating the 538th birth anniversary of founder leader Guru Nanak Dev.

Scores of devotes have gathered at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to participate in the celebrations.

Devotees carried the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, amid chanting of hymns. The procession was led by "Punj Piaras" or the beloved five.

The procession started from the Akal Takht, the highest spiritual seat of the Sikhs, and passed through the decorated streets and bazaars of the city.

Amritsar, Nov 24: Can a bath in the pond cure all your ailments? Many believe so. It is believed that a dip in the holy pond at Gurudwara Nanaksar in Verka can make one hale and hearty.

Gurudwara Nanaksar or Nanak’s pool just lies five miles from Amritsar, where a bath is believed to have cured many a sick and destitute.

Every Sunday, huge crowds, majority of them sick and destitute, gather here to pay obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib and pray for their good health and prosperity.

The spot, where the gurudwara is located is the place where Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru, rested after returning from Batala.

Amritsar / Bhubaneswar, Nov 24: Sikh devotees today celebrated the 538th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first guru of Sikhs, while Hindu devotees performed prayers on the occasion of "Kartik Purnima" or the full moon day.

Hundreds of devotees paid obeisance in Amritsar at the Golden temple.

"Everyone is equal here, be it Hindus, Muslim or Christians. Everyone comes here,” said Budhram Bharadwaj, a devotee from Rohtak.

Devotees carried the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, amid chanting of hymns. The procession was led by "Punj Piaras" or the beloved five.

Amritsar, Nov.24 : Sikh celebrations of Guru Nanak's 538th birth anniversary in Pakistan were on Saturday confined to the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib due to security threats.

Over 20,000 Sikh devotees assembled at Nankana Sahib to celebrate the event.

Talking to ANI from Pakistan, Bishen Singh, the president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (PSGPC), informed that senior Pakistan Government officials and the PSGPC decided against the taking out of a nagar kirtan, but this had in no way dampened the spirit of Gurpurb.

The Jathedar of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, is also said to have advised Bishan Singh to abstain from holding gurmat samagam and nagar kirtan in the wake of the emergency in Pakistan.

Amritsar, Nov 27: Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has said that he supports India-China friendship, but adds that these ties should be genuine.

The Dalai Lama, who is here to attend the third meeting of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders on the theme of: "Sharing Wisdom: The Case of Love and Forgiveness" said that good relations between India and China are not only good for Asia, but also good for world peace.

"India and China are the two most populous nations so genuine friendship on the basis of mutual trust is interest of whole Asia. Because of sheer population, the good relation on the basis of mutual trust is very important for world peace,” said the Dalai Lama.

Amritsar, Nov 28: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama sought meaningful autonomy for Tibet, but expressed disappointment over not much progress being made on this issue with China.  

"We are not seeking independence from China because of our own interests. Everybody knows that Tibet was a materially backward area and needed modern development,” he said at the circuit house here.

"Tibet wants to remain within the People's Republic of China as far as material development is concerned. We gain more benefit provided, we should have meaningful autonomy so that our own unique culture, history, spirituality and delicate environment is protected,” he added.
 

Amritsar, Dec 8: Following the induction of Sikhs into various government bodies in Pakistan, a Sikh living in Pakistan has successfully made an entry into Pakistani Politics.

Kalyan Singh Kalyan, a writer by profession and hailing from the birthplace of Guru Nanak, filed his nomination paper for the reserved seats of minorities for four provincial assemblies and the National Assembly.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is supporting Kalyan Singh for the seat.

Out of the 377 Punjab Assembly seats, 10 seats are reserved for the minorities - six for Christians, two for Hindus one for the Quadian and one for the other five minorities, including Sikhs.

Amritsar, December 13: The Government of Punjab is likely to hand over a cheque of Rs. 100 crores to the Amritsar Municipal Corporation as a part of a Rs. 250 crores Master Plan for the development of Amritsar.

According to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the funds will be used for the maintenance of internal roads, improving drinking water and sewerage facilities and providing uninterrupted power supply to the city.

In a resolution passed by the Improvement Trust of Amritsar on December 6, stated that the trust has offered to transfer two plots of land, measuring 3.73 acres and 2.78 acres respectively, to the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA).

The two sites have been reserved for the construction of a multiplex.

Amritsar, Dec.27: History should promote secularism and democratic values, not hatred, said noted journalist Kuldeep Nayyar on Thursday.
 
Addressing the inaugural session of the 28th All India Persian teachers Conference here, Nayyar also lamented the lack of a common market between India and its neighbours in the Asian region.
 
"There should be one common market from Iran to Burma while keeping regional and national diversities. All borders should only be laqeers (lines).  India has good relations with Iran and Afghanistan. They are from one culture having similar way of living," said Nayyar.
 

Amritsar Dec. 28: Sikh leaders from around the world have condemned the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a suicide attack on Thursday.

Dr. Pritpal Singh, Convener of the American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC), said the assassination must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and called for democracy to restored in Pakistan at the earliest.

Wagah Border, Dec 28 : The body of Mohammad Noor Baux alias Noora, one of the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's aides, was handed over to Pakistan Rangers here on Friday.

None of the members of Noora's family was there to receive the body.

Noora, a sharpshooter of Dawood's gang was shot dead on October 24 in Lucknow in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police.

He was brought from Naini Jail in Allahabad for hearing in a Lucknow court. When he was being taken to court motorcycle borne youth hurled bomb at his van and gave a pistol to Noora to help him escape. The police retaliated and shot him dead.
 

Wagah Border, Dec 28 : The Pakistanis who came to India by Lahore-Delhi bus on Friday feel that the terrorists have taken control of the system in their country.

"Terrorists have taken over the system," said Anjum, a resident of Lahore.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who was assassinated in Rawalpindi on Thursday and was buried in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

Mohammad Sayyed of Peshawar said, "It (Benazir's assassination) is most unfortunate incident in the history of Pakistan and an appropriate time to give befitting reply to the forces inimical to peace."

Amritsar, Dec.29: The 116th Annual Convention or Jalsa Salana of Ahmadiyya Muslims started here today.

Nearly 20,000 Ahmadiyyas from around the world, including 4600 from Pakistan have reached here to take part in the event.

Amritsar, Dec. 31: It was a moment of great joy and pride for the 29 finalists of the third Mr. Singh International competition, when they walked on the ramp amidst a cheering crowd during the annual contest held here recently.

Short-listed out of 2,000 participants from 45 cities from India and abroad, these finalists had undergone a three-month personality grooming course.
 
They were taught skills related to Gatka (the traditional Sikh martial art), theatre performance, Gurmat (the Guru’s teachings and Sikh code of conduct) and basic mannerisms before the grand finale.

Promoted by Akal Purakh Ki Fauj, Mr. Singh International evoked a new wave of joy among the Sikh youth who consider themselves as upholders of modern Sikhism.

UP/New Delhi/Amritsar/Srinagar, Jan 3: Intense cold wave conditions prevailing in North India claimed at least 90 lives across the country.

Uttar Pradesh has reported 72 deaths, Gujarat eight, Bihar and Punjab four each and Himachal Pradesh two.

Delhi recorded the season's coldest morning with the minimum temperature plunging to 1.9 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal yesterday.

In Uttar Pradesh, where most of the deaths were reported, temperature plunged 2-5 degrees below normal at several places.

Amritsar, Jan. 7 : Having triumphed at the Grasim Mr. India 2002 contest, the Mumbai-born Jaspal Singh Sehgal is today a big inspiration for every Sikh youngster eager to enter the pageant world.

As a youngster Jaspal’s dream was to walk the ramp. But being a Sikh boy to contest among all non-Sikhs only invited discouraging remarks from almost all near and dear ones.

But Jaspal decided not to get bogged down by cynical remarks. He became the first-runner up in Grasim Mr. India competition 2002. He became the first Sikh in decades to have come so far in such a competition.

Amritsar, Jan 12: The Indian International Friendship Society has presented the "Glory of India Award" to Dr. Shivinder Singh Sandhu, an orthopaedic surgeon based in USA, at a recently held Sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi.

Amir Raj Bansi, Minister for Sports and Culture, Government of Africa presented him the award.

Dr. Sandhu has been awarded for his meritorious accomplishments in diversified fields of medicine, education and social sensitisation such as female feticides, drug addiction and rural sustainability activities.

Amritsar, Jan 15: Traders in Amritsar have demanded a passage through Pakistan to export Indian goods via Wagah land route to Afghanistan in view of the increasing trade between the two countries.

At present, Pakistan allows only one-sided transit facility to Afghan traders to export dry fruits to India using its land route, while denying the same facility to Indian traders.

Indian traders contend that with Islamabad allowing land route facility for transit of goods both ways would increase Indo-Afghanistan bilateral trade many fold.

Wagah (Amritsar) January 18 : Inadvertent crossing into Pakistan could take many years for an Indian to return home, but this is not the case with Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who crossed Indo-Pak border to take a stroll in neighbour's territory without any legal travel documents on Friday.

Accompanied by some Indian officials, including Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, K S Pannu and some Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, Ramesh went up to the conference hall of Pakistan Ranges, about 40 yards inside Pakistan.

Amritsar, Jan 21 : The Government of Indian Punjab has strongly rebutted Pakistan Radio allegations that the Indian Government misused the anti-terror laws like POTA against minorities in the state.

A Punjab Government Cabinet Minister, Gulzar Singh Ranike, said: “This is absolutely false allegation. I have myself served in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland, Laddakh and other parts of the country, and I haven’t witnessed any incident in which the authorities have discriminated against minorities.”

Amritsar Jan 21: A team comprising of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials visited the Golden Temple complex here recently to monitor its surroundings for pollution levels.

In its initial study, the team has suggested that vehicular traffic should be banned around 500-meter radius around the temple to protect it from the effects of air pollution.

Amritsar, January 23: A delegation of Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) met Jérôme Bonnafont, the French Ambassador to India at his residence in New Delhi to apprise him of the Sikh concerns on the turban issue in France.

The three-member delegation comprising of former IAS officer, Professor Gurtej Singh, Profesor Jagmohan Singh and Kanwarpal Singh, spokesperson of KAC presented a memorandum seeking a solution to the problem of Sikh school children in France, saying that while the Sikhs were conscious of the secular ideals of France, they earnestly believe that the French have significantly erred in this particular case.

Amritsar, Jan 23: Sikh Diaspora has hailed Pakistan Cabinet's approval of the Sikh Marriage Ordinance 2008.

Now, Sikhs can get their marriages registered in Pakistan under the ordinance.

Pakistan has become the first country to enact a separate law for registration of Sikh marriages.

Speaking to Asian News International (ANI) over phone, Pakistan Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Syed Afzal Haider, said Pakistan's Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Sikh Marriage Ordinance 2008.

Amritsar, Jan 25: The border district of Amritsar today witnessed a "development wave," as Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP and the Working President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), laid the foundation stone of 16 projects in Majitha constituency in Punjab's Amritsar District, to be completed at the cost of Rs. 32 crores.

Amritsar, Jan 28: Dry fruits imported from Afghanistan add flavour to sweets made in Amritsar.

Sweet-makers in Amritsar prefer almond kernels, raisins, apricots and pistas from Afghanistan. Amritsar has traditionally been a transit hub for a wide variety of dry fruits from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

An importer of various items from across the border, the city is the market for fresh and quality dry fruits coming from Afghanistan.

Amritsar, February 18 : Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti has sought suggestions from members of the Sikh community on the Nanakshahi calendar, which has been objected by some Sikh oganisations.

Joginder Singh Vedanti told this to reporters here today after his meeting with Dr. Darshan Singh, the Convener of the 11-member committee constituted by the Akal Takht.

Joginder Singh Vedanti said the suggestions would be referred to the committee headed by Dr. Darshan Singh for further discussion.

Amritsar Feb 22: The Sikh hijackers of the Indian Airliners in 1981 and 1984 , who have taken refuge in Switzerland, may soon be deported to India.

The Switzerland Government had asked them to leave the country by February 22, failing to which they may be deported to their native country.

Harminder Singh Khalsa and Dalip Singh involved in the 1984 hijacking case and Master Karan Singh and Jasvir Singh allegedly involved in the 1981 hijacking case were asked to leave Switzerland with their families.

Amritsar, Feb 25: Pakistan Radio has been attempting to spread communal strife in the border areas of Punjab through making allegations that the recruitment of Sikhs into the Indian Army is on the decrease due to the anti-Sikh policies of the Government.

In one of its recent Punjabi Darbar broadcasts, it also alleged that the India’s development and prosperity is limited only to the procurement of arms and ammunition through corrupt means.

Countering these allegations, Lt. Colonel (retired.) Atma Singh said: “This is very simple to understand that Pakistan is trying to exploit Sikhs for their own interests. They are trying to keep their moral high while saying all this in an effort to demoralize us.”

Wagah, Mar 4, : Departing with tears from Pakistan, Indian detainee, Kashmir Singh got a fresh leash of a “real life” on returning home to India after languishing 35 years in various jails of Pakistan.

Singh was given a warm and rousing welcome at the Wagah border.

Terming the event as historical, Singh said that he had got a “nayan janam” (a new birth) and described Pakistan’s caretaker Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney as a “farishta” (an angel).

Amritsar, Mar 6: Sarabjit Singh who is on the death row in Pakistan fails to gain clemency, and his family is grief stricken following the rejection of his mercy plea by President Pervez Musharraf.

The rejection comes close on the heels of the release of Kashmir Singh, another death row prisoner who was recently released by Pakistan.

President Musharraf has reportedly rejected the mercy petition of Sarabjit Singh, and he is condemned to death for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990.

Amritsar, Mar 6 : Sarabjit Singh who is on the death row in Pakistan fails to gain clemency, and his family is grief stricken following the rejection of his mercy plea by President Pervez Musharraf.

The rejection comes close on the heels of the release of Kashmir Singh, another death row prisoner who was recently released by Pakistan.

President Musharraf has reportedly rejected the mercy petition of Sarabjit Singh, and he is condemned to death for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990.

Amritsar, March 6, : Scarcity of water for irrigation in Punjab has lead farmers to switch to adopting new irrigation techniques while cultivating sugarcane.

Although sugarcane consumes more water than wheat and paddy, the farmers of Majah and Doaba belt have taken to sugarcane cultivation.

The Government of Punjab has been arranging awareness and demonstration camps in the villages to make farmers awake of the problems of scarcity of water persuade farmers to adopt drip irrigation techniques in sugarcane cultivation.

Wagah March 10,: Indian authorities on Monday handed over the dead body of a Pakistani cricket fan to Pakistan Rangers here.

The dead body of Khalid Mohammad, who hails from Lahore and arrived in India on cricket visa on April 15, 2005 to watch India-Pakistan cricket match at Mohali, was handed over to neighbouring country, said Lakhvir Singh, a BSF official.

It would be interesting to note that Pakistan security forces has allowed its media to cover the incident, while authorities in India prevented handful of media persons from capturing the photograph of Khalid.

Amritsar, March 14 : A large number of Sikhs visited the Golden Temple on Friday to mark the beginning of the Nanakshahi Samvat (New Year).

They took a dip in the holy pond in the shrine and offered special prayers.

The Nanakshahi Calendar is a solar calendar adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to determine the dates for important Sikh events. It was created by Pal Singh Purewal and replaced the Hindu calendar in 1998. The calendar begins from the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Nanak Dev in 1469.

According to the calendar, the year 2008 is the 540th year of the calendar.

Amritsar, Mar. 21 : The family of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian detenu to be hanged in Pakistan on April 30 this year, has approached the United Nations and human rights watchdog Amnesty International to save him from the gallows.

According to informed sources, the family is also all set to leave for Pakistan to personally urge that country's government to grant clemency to Sarabjit, who has already spent over 17 years in jail and on death row.

Talking to ANI, Sarabjit's elder daughter, Swapandeep Kaur, said the family had submitted a memorandum to U. N. Secretary General Ban ki-Moon and Amnesty International, and had urged them to exert pressure on Islamabad to withdraw the death penalty awarded to Singh.

Amritsar, Mar 22: To check the rapid depletion of ground water, the District Administration of Amritsar has launched a campaign to educate the farmers, and also decided to take strict action against those farmers who would sow paddy before May 10.

District Magistrate of Amritsar Kahan Singh Pannu has prohibited sowing of paddy before May 10 and transplantation of paddy before June 10, as it could lead to further depletion of the ground water.

Amritsar, March 24,: Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Vijender Jain has said that the Indian Judicial System is the most independent and fair judicial system in the world.

Speaking during the 2nd Annual Convocation of Khalsa College, Chief Justice Jain said: "Judicial System of India is the strongest pillar of our democracy."

"Each person or party is free to file any case at any point of time but the Judiciary gives decision solely on the basis of witnesses and evidences," said Justice Vijender Jain while addressing college students during the convocation programme.

Amritsar March 24, : Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 22 kilograms of Heroin worth rupees 220 million in the international market here. The Heroin supply was to be smuggled to Canada from Amritsar International Airport.

Packets of Heroin, each weighing nearly half kilogram, were kept inside the folds of ladies suit pieces and were wrapped in carbon paper to avoid detection by the X ray machines at the airport, said officials.

Wagah Border, Mar 26 : Pakistan and India will hold talks on the release of prisoners of war (POW) of 1965 and 1971 conflicts.

“This issue is being taken up at higher level between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on both sides, and both sides are working on it and there is certain hope of release of prisoners,” said Mohammad Haroon Aslam, Major General, Pakistan Rangers.

Major General Aslam is leading the Pakistani side for the four-day bi-annual meeting between Border Security Forces (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers that commenced here on Wednesday.

Amritsar March 29,: Reiterating its demand to scrap the 'black list' of Sikhs living aboard, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) has appealed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene into the auction of the Guru Gobind Singh's rare piece of body armour in the UK.

On April 9, Sotheby's plans to auction off historic body armour, which may have belonged to the tenth Sikh Guru.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar has urged every Indian to stand against the proposed auction of relics of the Guru Gobind Singh.

Tarsika (Amritsar) April 1, : They may be brilliant graduates from country’s premier management school, they have a dream to become entrepreneurs.

As a first step, they have formed a women club at a village, 40 kilometers from Amritsar.

After completing their daily chores, these household women gather to prepare various products. Working in two separate groups like "Parkash" and "Aman", these women are developing their latent talent and creating a market for various household traditional items prepared by them. These items have always been part of their family life for ages but were never sold commercially.

Amritsar, Apr 2: Pakistan's human rights activist Ansar Burney will meet Sarabjit Singh's family here this afternoon.

The visit is being undertaken on the invitation of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Earlier, Burney had said that he would meet Sarabjit's family and his sister Dalbir Kaur to gather evidence, which, the latter claim, supports their contention that he was a victim of mistaken identity.

"This will make it easier for me to work for his case," he added.

Amritsar, Apr 11: Border Security Force (BSF) seized 20 kg heroin worth 10 billion rupees in the international market from Khemkaran region of Punjab's Tarn Taran District.

BSF Inspector General Himmat Singh said that two suspected drug smugglers were also nabbed.

"We planned a strategy to dodge the smugglers who were trying to pass on a consignment of heroin. While they were trying to hand over the consignment, we nabbed them," he said.

India is viewed as a major transit point for drug smuggling to the West.

Amritsar, Apr 11 : Over a thousand Sikhs have begun a pilgrimage to gurdwaras in Pakistan, ahead of Baisakhi, the Sikh New Year.

The three-day programme will commence on Saturday by three trains.

Pilgrims will arrive at the Wagah border and proceed to the Gurdwara Panja Sahib at Hassan Abdal.

The group of 1413 pilgrims is scheduled to visit the Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sucha Sodha, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Rorri Sahib, and Kartarpur.

Amritsar, Apr 12 : Bhai Lal of Pakistan will lead a10-member religious group (jatha) to perform a kirtan at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence.

A descendant of Bhai Mardana, Bhai Lal will be accompanied by Jahed Ahmad and Dr. Tahir Mehmood. They arrived here from Attari on Friday.

The chief of the Bhai Mardana Kirtan Darbar, Harpal Singh Bhullar, said the jatha would visit the Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab and other parts of the country. (ANI)

Amritsar/Hyderabad, Apr 18 : From north to south, protests have started mounting across the country over the price rise, said to be the highest in more than three years.

While the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) held a demonstration in Punjab, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), staged a protest in Andhra Pradesh.

"We demand that taxes and duties that have been increased should be reduced. The poor man should be spared of all the increased taxes and duties. This is what we want to appeal to the government," said Gurpreet Singh, an SAD protestor.

In Hyderabad, women offered vegetables kept in a basket to TDP party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Amritsar, Apr 18: Anritsar’s Special Narcotics Cell (SNC) busted an Indo-Nigerian drug racket today, after the arrest of a Mumbai based teenaged girl Premka, who had arrived in the city to deliver narcotics consignment.

The police seized around 10 kilograms of heroin from drug pushers and the narcotics consignment.

"As per our system, we will produce her in the court and then further investigations will be carried. We will try to investigate about the destination of the delivery," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Amritsar Special Narcotic Cell.

Amritsar, Apr 25 : Punjab police on Friday seized 18 kilograms of heroin from Amritsar, from a gang of drug peddlers with links to foreign countries.

Acting on a tip off, the police arrested three people Jagjit Singh, Mahavir Singh and Kirpal Singh, as a part of their special operation undertaken to check drug peddling in the region.

The police allege that the gang is involved in drug pushing at the international level with links to Pakistan and other countries.

Amritsar April 27: The Pakistan Government’s laxity has kept around two hundred fifty truckloads of red chillies, for which orders were placed by that country’s importers, lying at Amritsar for over 24 days.

The trucks, which have arrived here from far way places, are standing here as Pakistan fails to provide railway rakes to take the consignments.

The stranded trucks are not only bringing losses for exporters, but also causing problems for truck owners. The truck owners and traders have urged the government to intervene in to the issue at the earliest.

Amritsar, April 28 : A group of 20 individuals have taken upon themselves the task of reviving lost glory of traditional instruments which reverberated the environment before suffering the onslaught of modernization in Punjab.

Coming from varied backgrounds like engineering, police and college, the group members are popularizing the yesteryears’ musical instruments by using them during private shows performed across Punjab and outside.

Traditional musical instruments of yore including Ek-tara, Dafli, Sarangi, Been (wind pipe) are used prominently at public places by this group named “.“Sohal Group of Arts”.

Amritsar, Apr 29 : The family of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian man on death row in Pakistan, on Tuesday returned to India with a hope that the Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani Government would pardon him.

“It (their meeting with Sarabjit) is a step towards our campaign,” said Dalbir Kaur who returned with his wife Sukhpreet Kaur and his daughters Swapandeep and Poonam.

“My brother is a victim of bad luck,” she added.

Amritsar, Apr 30, : Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested three smugglers, including a woman and recovered 12 kilograms of heroin from their possession.

This is the second arrest within a week by the Punjab Police. Earlier on April 25, police had seized 18 kilograms of heroin from three smugglers.

The consignment was brought from Pakistan via Jammu and it was to be sent to Delhi.

Those arrested include Vidyasagar (Jammu), Baldev Singh (Ludhiana) and Rajbir Kaur (Amritsar).

Amritsar, May 1 : Dr. Amarjit Singh, Director of the Washington-based radical Sikh leader suggested on Thursday in a press statement to the Akal Takht Jathedar, Joginder Singh Vedanti, that he will have the support of the three million strong Sikh Diaspora if he seeks political asylum abroad.

Dr. Singh was reacting to a report headlined, “Flays Vedianti on Khalistan” published in Chandigarh-based newspaper Tribune which broadcasted the reaction and intentions of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to a speech delivered by the Akal Takht Jathedar, Vedanti, in the US.

Amritsar, May 3 : The beleaguered family members of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian national on death row in Pakistan for the last 17 years, erupted in ecstasy in Amritsar after the Pakistani Government deferred Singh's execution.

The Pakistani government deferred the execution of Sarabjit Singh who was condemned to death for spying and carrying out bombings in 1990, the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday.

Amritsar, May 10 : Punjabi is spoken as the first language by 45 percent of Pakistan’s population, and yet it does not have any official status in Pakistan.

Given this surprising fact, it causes amazement when a propagandist entity like Radio Pakistan blatantly suggests that the language is losing its ground in East or the Indian side of Punjab.

In Pakistan and India, the Punjabi language has many dialects, developed over a period of over 1000 years. Some of the more popular ones are: Majhi, Jhangvi, Shahpuri, Pothowari and Hindko to name a few.

Amritsar, May 10, : Punjab today crossed the mark of 100 lakh metric tons of wheat procurement despite many hurdles faced due to delayed and shortest procurement season this year.

Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Information Technology in a statement said that Punjab government had very smoothly and successfully almost completed the wheat procurement.

Amritsar, May 20, : The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) has asked the Central Government to include the Gurdwara Kartarpur Corridor issue in the agenda of the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s proposed visit to Pakistan.

According to the SGPC, the largest and oldest body of the Sikhs, it has already given several memorandums to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to treat the issue as priority in view of the Sikh diaspora’s sentiments.

Before conducting the Prime Minister level meet between India and Pakistan, the two neighbours are holding foreign minister level talks on May 21.

Wagah May 23, : Similar to the Hindu legend about Mathura King Krishna meeting his poor childhood friend Sudama after years of separation, a school friend of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is seeking a personal audience with him.

When Dr. Manmohan Singh took over as Prime Minister of India, Raja Ali Mohammad had sent his personal greetings through his nephew, a Deputy Commissioner in Pakistan, along with a set of embroidered golden Punjabi slippers, popularly called "Tille Wali Jutti", as a gift.

Amritsar May 24, : Raja Ali Muhammad from Gah in Chakwal district of Pakistan is going to gift 110-years old lachcha (shawl) from family heirloom to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Muhammad has also brought two embroidered salwar kameez suits and chakwali jutti (Golden Punjabi slippers) for Gursharan Kaur, wife of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

In a special interaction with students and staff of the DAV Public School today at school premises here, Muhammad unpacked and showed photographs of Katasraj Shrines and Village Gah that he wanted to gift to Dr. Singh

Attari (Amritsar), May 24 : Ninety-nine Indian prisoners, including 96 fishermen, who were freed from Pakistan jails on Friday, were handed over to Indian authorities at Wagha border here.

Three civilians from Jammu and Kashmir also arrived here. All of them were issued emergency travel certificates by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

Three prisoners were identified as Parvez Ahmed from Kashmir, Mangal Singh from Jammu and Shabudin from Poonch.

Parvez was arrested in 1992, while Mangal Singh was arrested in 1997 and Shabudin was arrested in 1991.

Amritsar, May 26 : About 35 to 40 per cent polling has been reported in Punjab in the second phase of Panchayat elections held today.

Polling was conducted in about 12,000 Panchayats. Each Panchayat has about 8 to 10 Village Heads. Those elected will further elect the Village Headman from among themselves.

These elections are not contested on a party basis and symbols of political parties are not used.

Wagah Border (Amritsar), May 28 : In August 1947, Sir Cyril Radcliffe drew a line demarcating the boundary that created the separated countries of India and Pakistan. Since then, the 'Radcliffe Line' has separated millions of families and neighbours, unmindful of the fact of whether they were Hindus or Muslims in what was once known as Hindustan.

The 1947 Partition saw the world's biggest exodus of people by road and train. At that time, a board was hurriedly put up that announced that Wagah would be regarded as a joint outpost.

However, over six decades later, the demarcation at the Wagah border has turned into an attraction and a place for many Indians and Pakistanis to unite, sans anger or hostility.

Amritsar, June 6 : The 24th anniversary of “Operation Blue Star” marking the Indian Army’s storming of the Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his group of armed extremists was observed here today.

The extremists had set up their base in the temple complex.

The Akal Takht, the spiritual seat of the Sikhs, was badly damaged during the operations.

Amritsar, June 7 : Visually impaired people without jobs took their shirts off in a bid to draw attention to their plight during a march in Amritsar.

The visually challenged people resorted to the 'bare chest protest' to open the eyes of the authorities to the fact that they were entitled to reservation in jobs.

The protesters alleged that government was deliberately delaying in meeting their rights.

"They are not providing us reservation for last eight to ten years. Even if there are vacancies, no visually impaired person is recruited," said Jagmeet Singh, a protestor.

The demonstrators threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands were not met.

Amritsar, June 8 : Nearly one thousand Sikh pilgrims left for Pakistan today to mark the 402nd martyrdom anniversary of fifth guru of Sikhs, Guru Arjun Dev, at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

The jatha (Sikh delegation) will stay in Pakistan for 10 days and visit historical Sikh shrines like Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birthplace in Sri Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Aimanabad and other places.

Amritsar, June 21, : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has demanded of the Maharashtra government to immediately arrest Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh over the killing of one person by his security guards last evening in Mumbai.

Talking to media persons at the Golden Temple, Badal said that he talked to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and also the State Director General of Police about the incident, and conveyed his concern over the incident.

Chandigarh/Amritsar, June 23: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has convened a meeting of the core committee of the party here today to discuss the situation arising out of Saturday’s firing incident that took place in Mumbai.

Party President Sukhbir Singh will preside over the meeting. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is expected to attend the meeting.

On Sunday, Sikhs spearheading protests against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda sect, decided to intensify their protests if the government failed to meet their demand.

Amritsar, June 25: A large number of Sikhs, protesting against the Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, blocked several trains in Punjab today.

The Amritsar-Delhi Shatabdi and the Sach Khand Express, the Abha Tufan, the Abohar-Haridwar Express and the intercity between Abohar and Ganganagar were held up by protestors at the Amritsar and Abohar railway stations.

Sikhs have been protesting against the killing of a man in Mumbai allegedly by the security guards of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Sirhind (Amritsar), June 25 : Sikh demonstrators on Wednesday blocked railway routes in Punjab demanding action against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, over the alleged murder of a sikh youth by his bodyguards.

On June 21, a Sikh man in Mulund, a suburb of Mumbai, was allegedly killed by the security guards of Ram Rahim, who opened fire on Sikh protesters outside a shopping mall.

Damdami Taksal, a hardline Sikh organization had called for a blockade on the busy Delhi-Amritsar train route.

Amritsar June 26, : Amritsar’s Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said that the setting up of a passport centre and the starting of a bus service to Pakistan from Amritsar without the setting up of a visa centre here was like taking one step ahead and two steps behind by the Congress led UPA Government.

Though Sidhu welcomed the proposed June 28 inauguration of the passport office by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, he demanded that Punjab should no longer be described as a disturbed area, and the setting up of a visa centre at Wagah.

Amritsar, July 3 : Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, the governing body of the Sikhs, has sent a letter to the U. S Ambassador to India David Mulford concerning various incidents that occurred recently in the U. S against Sikhs.

The body has also sent a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

There were news reports recent that a Sikh truck driver in New York was arrested for wearing a Kirpan and his turban "forcibly" removed while he was entering a Connecticut court to contest a traffic violation charge, a community advocacy group pointed out on Tuesday.

Amritsar July 17,  Leaders of the Sikh community in the United States have said that they have reservations about the US-India civilian nuclear cooperation deal, and are determined to continue their campaign against it.

Several of these leaders feel that South Asia should be a nuclear free region, and they have appealed to the eleven Sikh members of the Indian parliament, belonging to different parties, to vote against the deal.

They believe the deal is against the interests of Punjab. These Members of Parliament have also been asked to forget about (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh being a Sikh.

Amritsar July 18 : Condemning the killing of a Sikh in a clash between followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda Sect and a group of Sikhs in Haryana’s Dabwali town today, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) demanded the immediate arrest of Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of the sect.

According to available reports, Mandar Singh was killed on Friday during a clash between Dera followers and a group of Sikhs. Witnesses said that he received a head injury.

Amritsar, July 21, 2008 : While various political leaders are putting up their best argumentative skills during the ongoing vote of confidence in the Indian Parliament in the national capital, religious prayers have been held here for Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh success.

Several Congress leaders attended the Ardas (prayer) ceremony along with their families at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s brother’s residence here.

The prayers were performed for continuation of Dr. Singh as prime minister after the United Progress Alliance Government’s vote of confidence in the Parliament on July 22.

Amritsar July 21,  While political parties are maneuvering for the final showdown on July 22, the common man is questioning the sincerity of our political leaders in bringing down inflation.

Activists of the idiot club here presented a skit today on horse trading by political parties.

Ravinder Rikhi, the president of the club, said the MP''s should barter support in favor of the UPA Government in exchange of cheaper food grains for their respective constituencies.

Amritsar, July 22: Amritsar Police have seized seven kilograms of heroin from four people, including one Pakistan national.

Acting on a tip off, a police squad nabbed the four smugglers including one Muneer Ahmed from Pakistan as they were trying to strike a deal for the contraband.

The heroin was being smuggled through the riverside area of Ferozpur, bordering Pakistan, said Amritsar District''s Senior Superintendent of Police, Tulsi Ram.

India is viewed as a major transit point for drug smuggling to the West.

Heroin is derived from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant, and is marketed as a white or brown powder. (ANI)

Kotla Sultan (Amritsar),
July 31 (ANI): Mere mention of Mohammad Rafi (December 24, 1924 – July
31, 1980) can make many of the leaders start humming his immortal
songs. But at the legendary play back singer’s native place, his
friends rue the ignorance shown by political leaders towards his
reputation.

It was his 28th death anniversary on Thursday. 

Amritsar, Aug. 5: Giani Gurbachan Singh was today named the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, a day after his predecessor, Joginder Singh Vedanti, resigned from the same post.

The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) had asked for Vedanti's resignation on Monday night, and on Tuesday, it accepted it formally.

Earlier, Vedanti told reporters that SGPC General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Executive Member Rajinder Singh Mehta had asked for his resignation.

Amritsar, Aug. 7 : Heads of various Sikh organizations on Thursday witnessed the annointment and coronation of Giani Gurbachan Singh as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), the largest representative body of the Sikhs, had appointed Giani Gurbachan Singh as a new acting Jathedar of Akal Takht on Tuesday following the resignation of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti.

Amritsar, August 8 : Bollywood''s latest release ''Singh is Kinng'' drew wrath from Sikh community when a mob of irate protesters disrupted the screening of the film on Friday in Amritsar in Punjab.

''Singh is Kinng'' which released on Friday, ran into trouble when a group of protesters brandishing naked swords and sticks, gathered outside Annan theatre in the city and damaged the film posters and display windows at the theatre, causing disruption in the show.

Amritsar, Sept 5 : Punjab police has seized fake currency worth one million rupees from a woman who arrived here from Pakistan on Thursday.

Additional Commissioner, Customs Jasbir Singh informed the media in Amritsar on Friday.

According to the police, the movements of the woman, who had gone to Pakistan apparently to visit her relatives were suspicious.

When the officials carried out search they recovered from her counterfeit currency notes concealed in her belongings.

Amritsar, Sep. 5 : Punjab agriculture department has developed a novel method to preserve green fodder by making silage and hay to feed the cattle when there is shortage of green fodder around September and October every year.

The novel technique recently formulated by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Punjab which has been successfully implemented in the border areas of Amritsar.

Due to the sowing of new crops, the scarcity of non-leguminous fodders such as maize, Jowar, Bajra and ryegrass has become real.

Amritsar, September 5, : Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Dr. M. S. Gill has expressed a wish and hope that Indian sportspersons bring more glory to the country by increasing their medal tally at the 2012 London Olympics.

Citing the example of China, which got its first medal in Olympics in 1982 and now stood first in the medal list of Olympics, Gill said; “Though we have won three medals in Beijing Olympics, we would certainly achieve more medals in the next London Olympics in many more games.”

Amritsar, Sept 10 : Public Diplomacy Officers from US Embassy Lisa Swenarski said on Wednesday that US is ashamed over the killing of the Sikhs in America post September 11 due to hate crime.

“We feel great shame over the killing of the Sikhs in US post 9/11 due to hate crime,” said Swenarski while talking to media at Amritsar today.

A delegation of American embassy is currently on a visit to Amritsar under “America Day” program initiated by the US Embassy in New Delhi.

Amritsar, September 18 : A Sikh Jatha (group) comprising nearly 500 devotees left for Pakistan on Thursday morning by train for the death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru.

They will observe the occasion at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, situated in Pakistan’s Narowal district on September 22.

Besides Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, the Jatha would also visit pay respects at various others historical Sikh shrines including Punjab Sahib, Dera Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sancha Saudah Sahib and Rahra Sahib during their 10-day tour to Pakistan.

Amritsar, Sep. 19 : With winters approaching, the over two centuries old Amritsar Shawl industry is experiencing a boom in the domestic as well as international market.

The industry, which was known for traditional hand-woven and embroidered shawls, has now mechanized its production by installing world class machines.

Though the Kashmiri shawls that are popularly known to have dominated the Indian shawl industry for ages, shawls from Amritsar have also grown to earn a distinct recognition on national and international level.

It is said that Kashmiri migrants established the shawl industry here during 19th century. With political patronage, the industry flourished.

Amritsar, September 24, : Popular for his jibes on political opponents, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu of the Bharatiya Janta Party on Wednesday hailed Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi''s visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

"Rahul Gandhi is a leader of the Congress Party. It felt nice that he visited the Sri Amritsar Sahib. I welcome this gesture. This place, in philosophy, always seeks "Sarbat Da Bhala" (welfare of all). He paid obeisance and bowed before the almighty here. It felt good. I wish him all the best," said Sidhu, a Member of Parliament from Amritsar .

An elderly NRI couple was caught red-handed with 3.7 kg of heroin. The couple was caught while boarding Birmingham-Toronto ‘Air India’ flight from Amritsar’s Rajasansi airport on Sunday.

The drug consignment was seized when the Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) searched their luggage. The Air India flight was preparing for its take-off when the former got hold of the couple. Raminder Singh Nagra, 60 and his wife Harjinder Kaur, 56 were accused of violating the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Amritsar, October 6 : Family of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner in Pakistan jail on death roll, is eagerly looking forward to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, together in India.

Despite the meeting of Pakistani Law minister, Farooq H. Naek, with Sarabjit Singh at Lahore''s Kot Lakhpat Jail on Monday, there is uncertainty about his future.

Amritsar, Oct. 6 : Radio Pakistan in its latest edition of Punjabi Durbar programme has discovered that the Central and Punjab State governments are following anti- farmer policies which are causing miseries in their lives.

Amritsar, October 6 : Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), the premiere governing body of Sikhs, has today sent a delegation of nearly 100 Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan to attend the 474th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ram Das, the 4th great Guru of Sikhs.

This is for the first time since partition of India that a delegation of Sikhs is visiting Pakistan especially for birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ram Das. The devotees will mark the occasion at Gurdwara Chuna Mandi, the birthplace of Guru Ram Dass, situated in Lahore on October 9.

Amritsar, Oct 7 : Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni has inaugurated a tourist resort, Aman Umeed Bhawan, earlier popularly known as Neem Chameli at Attari-Wagha international border in Amritsar.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal was also present on the occasion.

After inaugurating the complex, Soni said the flow of tourists from across the border will help in further promoting peace between the two countries.

"Tourism has vast potential for employment generation and Institute of Hotel Management set up in the area will provide opportunities for youth to work in the sector," she added.

(Attari-Wagah Road) (Amritsar), Oct. 7 : Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni inaugurated a tourist resort – the Aman Umeed Bhawan – here on Tuesday.

It was earlier known as Neem Chameli.

The new tourist resort has been set with the expectation that it will draw more tourists through the Wagah – Attari land route in the future.

Attari-Wagah Road, (Amritsar), Oct. 7 : Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni inaugurated a tourist resort – the Aman Umeed Bhawan – here on Tuesday.

It was earlier known as Neem Chameli.

The new tourist resort has been set with the expectation that it will draw more tourists through the Wagah – Attari land route in the future.

Spread over 1.75 acres of land, the Aman Umeed Bhawan has a built up area of about 10,000 square feet. It has facilities like restaurants, a bar, shops and resting rooms for domestic and foreign tourists, particularly those from Pakistan.

Amritsar, Oct. 13 : For the last few days, the media in India and Pakistan have been reporting various statements issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Zardari which emphasise confidence building steps.

But the Punjabi Durbar programme of Pakistan Radio has been busy broadcasting that India is not interested in building

cordial relations and has stopped the Samjhauta Express train service that operates between the two countries.

Amritsar, Oct. 20: While Hindus around the world celebrate their biggest festival of lights Diwali with full enthusiasm, Sikhs celebrate the day as `Bandi Chor Diwas'' or, the day of release of detainees.

Sikh history traces these celebrations way back to the 17th century. It was during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir when they got into conflict with Sikhs.

The Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind secured the release of not only himself but also 56 other kings who had been imprisoned at the Gwalior Fort. And, on this day the Guru and the Kings returned to Amritsar to a glorious welcome.

Since then Diwali festival means the marking of the historical event for the Sikhs.

Chandigarh/Amritsar, Oct. 20: As a growing number of people in the cities prefer giving chocolates and cakes as gifts on Diwali festival, many traditional sweets are being replaced.

Many confectioners say that the recent trends have proved to be a boon for bakers.

One such shop is of Nik Baker''s in Chandigarh who are keeping busy these days cashing in the festive mood ahead of Diwali.

Nikhil Mitta, owner of the Nik Baer’s IK BAKER''S, said: “I see a big change. People used to buy a lot of sweets last year, now they have shifted to chocolates and cakes. People don’t relish much Indian traditional `mithai''.

“A Lot of people are giving chocolate as a Diwali gift like dry cakes, fruit cakes and plum cakes,” he added.

Amritsar, Oct. 20 : Thousands of music lovers converged here on Sunday evening (Oct. 19) to enjoy the musical celebration of Indian and Pakistani culture through “Saanjh 2008”, a music festival in its fifth edition this year.

Amritsar, Oct. 20 : While Hindus around the world celebrate their biggest festival of lights Diwali with full enthusiasm, Sikhs celebrate the day as `Bandi Chor Diwas'' or, the day of release of detainees.

Sikh history traces these celebrations way back to the 17th century. It was during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir when they got into conflict with Sikhs.

Chandigarh/Amritsar, Oct. 20: As a growing number of people in the cities prefer giving chocolates and cakes as gifts on Diwali festival, many traditional sweets are being replaced.

Many confectioners say that the recent trends have proved to be a boon for bakers.

One such shop is of Nik Baker''s in Chandigarh who are keeping busy these days cashing in the festive mood ahead of Diwali.

Amritsar, Oct. 21 : The Punjabi Durbar programme of Radio Pakistan has been having a staple diet talking about the status of Sikhs in India. Now the radio has a new object to patronize - the Dalits in India.

In broadcasts directed to the border areas in Punjab, the Punjabi Durbar programme has blamed the Government of India for neglecting the Dalit community, including the scheduled casts and tribes.

This has provoked anger among the scheduled castes and tribes in the border areas.

Amritsar, Oct. 23 Hundreds of schoolchildren took out a march here on Thursday to spread general awareness and appeal children to not burn fireworks to celebrate the upcoming Diwali festival.

Participating in the march, the children carried placards reading messages like “ Say, no to crackers”.

Students appealed all children not to waste their parents’ hard-earned money on fire-crackers. The gesture was also aimed at preventing air and noise pollution through public awareness.

The participants in the march said the fireworks also cause harmful effects on everyone’s health with their poisonous gases.

Amritsar, Oct. 26: Punjab police on Saturday night seized 15-kilogram of heroine, which is valued at  750 million rupees in the international market.

According to the Senior Superintendent of Police of Amritsar (rural) police, Iqbal Singh, the heroine was recovered from one Mahabir Singh alias Tota Singh, a resident of Sarai Amanat Khan. He was currently residing at village Dhannu Harikae in Taran Taran district of Punjab.

“Mahabir Singh had buried 32 packets (15-kg) of heroine in the ground near defense drain, which is close to border village Raniaan,” said Iqbal Singh.

It was later discovered that Amritsar (Urban) police had recovered 17 packets of heroine from the same Mahabir Singh on some earlier occasion.

Amritsar, Oct. 29 : People living in the border areas in Punjab are perplexed to hear Radio Pakistan making allegations that Hindus are ‘fundamentalists’ in nature.

People, including prominent Hindu seers, in Amritsar have taken offence to such allegations.

“One should not forget that Hindus in India have existed as an open-minded community. This is the reason why there could be three Muslim Presidents in the country, one Muslim Chief Justice of India, Home minister, and Chief Ministers in the past. If Hindus were not liberal, this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Swami Neeschalananda Saraswathi, Shankaracharya of Puri Goverdhan Peeth.

Amritsar, Oct. 31 : Apart from its agricultural success, Punjab has also excelled in educational field, with universities and institutions imparting quality education and carrying out research work.

The State’s Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar is one among the five existing universities in the state that focus on nurturing and rewarding talent.

Established in 1969, to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar is today viewed as ‘a leader in education''. Having demonstrated its impact on the national level in nurturing talents, the university is now all set to scale new heights internationally.

Amritsar, Nov. 10 : With efforts to revive and strengthen cultural relations between India and Pakistan being taken to create a congenial atmosphere among people on both sides of the divide, sports is also holding a lot of promise.

The second match of the Kabaddi series was played at Gopalpur Stadium in Majitha city on Sunday (Nov. 9).

The cheers for Indo-Pak Kabaddi players by sports loving villagers of Majitha literally pushed partition into oblivion here.

Amritsar, Nov 13: The 540th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru, is being celebrated across the nation today. Devotees thronged Gurudwaras to pay their obeisance

Hundreds of devotees thronged to the Golden Temple early this morning to pay obeisance at the Sikhs'' holiest shrine.

"Devotees are coming in large numbers to offer prayers. Everybody is excited and they are thronging the temple in large numbers," said Avtar Singh Makkar, President, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.

Amritsar, Nov. 18 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday described anti Sikh riots of Delhi as “wrong” and incidents in Punjab that took place in 1984 as a “tragedy”.

He added that guilty people of the 1984 riots that followed his grandmother’s assassination ought to be brought to justice.

Amritsar, Nov. 18 : Radio Pakistan’s latest installment of Punjabi Durbar programme was oblivious of the festival being celebrated at Nankana Saheb where pilgrims in their thousands visited the birthplace of Guru Nanak.

The programme producer was also not aware that both Sikhs and Hindus visited the Golden temple to pray there.

Wagah Border (Amritsar), Nov 21 : The 15-year-old Pakistani boy, Nasir Sultan, who had illegally crossed over to India to meet Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, was released after nearly three months of detention and sent back to his country on Friday.

Sultan crossed over to Pakistan at Wagah border check post.

Amritsar, Nov 24 : Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta looks forward to addressing various security related aspects during the Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan which begin in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Gupta is leading the India delegation at the talks.

Speaking to reporters here on his way to Pakistan, he said New Delhi expects proactive cooperation from Islamabad in dealing with security matters.

Wagah Border (Amritsar), Nov 27 : A group of 101 Indian prisoners released by Pakistan as a goodwill gesture crossed over to their homeland on Wednesday.

Pakistan released 101 prisoners including 99 Indian fishermen prisons on Tuesday ahead of a meeting between the interior secretaries of the two countries.

The fishermen were arrested in a period ranging between two to six years while the two other Indian citizens were in prison for longer time.

"We are going home so we are really happy. The moment we stepped on our nation''s land we were really glad," said Manoj, a released prisoner.

The fishermen appealed to the authorities concerned to take steps to release those prisoners languishing in both the countries.

Amritsar, Dec 4 : Pakistan traders in Amritsar fear that the recent terrorist strikes in Mumbai could hamper trade and economic co-operation between India and Pakistan.

Pakistani traders participating in the Punjab International Trade Expo 2008 (PITEX) apprehend that if circumstances do not change, trade between both countries will decline.

"Trade has been affected. We are mentally perturbed by what has been happening here," said Mohammed Afzal, a Pakistani exporter.

Several Pakistani traders were expecting to participate in this trade fair, but abstained for security reasons.

Amritsar, Dec. 15: There was a time when Dhadhis, the traditional Sikh musicians and singers, used to educate and inspire people by singing the sagas of Gurus'' heroic deeds and valour. It was done in the service of their community.

With the passage of time, not many individuals have been volunteering to become Dhadhis. This is steadily becoming a major concern for many members of the Sikh community who wish to see the Sikh culture gain popularity and respect among the new-age children.

Amritsar, Dec. 15: An engineer by profession and a successful entrepreneur, Jitender Brar''s passion to revive Punjabi theatre evokes admiration when one gets to know how he has dedicated himself to highlight social causes through theatre.

Jiternder Brar, 60, has devoted himself to raise social issues plaguing the society at large today. He is doing so through his ''Punjab Naat Shala'', the theatre.

Jitender describes the theatre form of art as something vital for civilization.

Amritsar, Dec. 27 : Lakhwinder Wadali's grandfather Thakur Dass Wadali was a famous vocalist of his time whose two sons formed India''s most celebrated Sufi Qawali duo, the Wadali brothers. And, today he has decided to carry forward this musical legacy and touch hearts all around.

Lakhwinder Wadali is today known for his singing which is stated to have a fine blend of classical and contemporary music.

Amritsar/Patna, Jan. 3 : Millions of Sikh devotees participated in the 342nd birth anniversary celebrations of their tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

In Patna, the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh, processions were taken out on Friday ahead of the celebrations on Saturday.

Free langars (meals) are also arranged and prasad (holy food) distributed.

"This is the birth place of our tenth and last Sikh leader Guru, Gobind Singh. He was the one who came with the concept of Khalsa

Amritsar, Jan 5: The 343rd birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru Sri Guru Govind Singh is being celebrated today with great fervour.

Devotees began thronging at the ''Golden Temple'' here to pray and to listen to Shabad Kirtans.

" We celebrate this day as ''Gurupurab''. A religious procession is taken out on this occasion, devotees sing religious hymns. It is a secular day and people from all walks of life take part in the celebrations," said Surinder Singh, a devotee.

Amritsar/Shimla, Jan 6 : Strong cold wind rose in the North India after snowfall in the upper reaches of the country.

The biting cold coupled with dense fog shrouding over Amritsar crippled normal life. School children found going to school tough.

"The weather is as cold as in Kashmir. We are facing difficulties in commuting to the schools. Because of the fog, we can hardly see anything outside," said Abhay Sharma, a student.

The minimum temperature fell to zero degrees Celsius in Amritsar on Tuesday.

"It is very difficult to wake up early in the morning to come to my shop, It seems that the weather in Amritsar is similar to that of Kashmir right now," said Krishan Gopal, a shopkeeper.

Amritsar, Jan. 12 : Indian and Pakistani social and peace activists besides religious leaders attended a special seminar on Sunday, intended to defuse the growing tensions between countries since the Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11.

The seminar titled "Atankwad Ki Chunauti aur Dharam ki Bhumika" (the challenge of terrorism and the role of religion) held here at the S. R. Government College here.

Amritsar, Jan. 12 : Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Monday said that Indians live in a plural society and should cherish their cultural heritage and diversity.

In a speech delivered after inaugurating the 14th National Youth Festival here, Ansari said this diversity presents itself in terms of regions, languages, religions, food habits and in a multitude of other ways.

"Yet each of these is Indian and is equally authentic. The challenge, then, is to think Indian and act Indian within the framework of this unity and diversity," he added.

Amritsar, Jan. 21 : Sukhbir Singh Badal, the son of of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab on Wednesday.

Punjab Governor General (retired) S F Rodrigues administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh at a ceremony here.

Several senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were present on the occassion.

They included BJP president Rajnath Singh and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundra Raje Scindia.

This is probably the first instance when a father-son duo will be sharing the top two posts of a state India.

Amritsar, Jan. 21 : Sukhbir Singh Badal, the son of of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab on Wednesday.

Punjab Governor General (retired) S F Rodrigues administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh at a ceremony here.

Several senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were present on the occassion.

They included BJP president Rajnath Singh and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundra Raje Scindia.

This is probably the first instance when a father-son duo will be sharing the top two posts of a state India.

Amritsar, Feb. 5 : Amritsar recently hosted the second Punjabi Film festival which was attended by eminent Punjabi artists who used this opportunity to promote Punjabi films.

An idea conceived a year ago by prominent film lover Navtej Sandhu, it has now evolved into a major platform to encourage Punjabi films.

The second edition of the festival showcased this fact and much more when it was organized under the aegis of Sur-Saanjh Productions promoted by a group of Punjabi film fans here recently.

Their aim was to promote the Punjabi language and culture through films that have received good reviews in India and abroad.

Amritsar, Feb 16 : To mark the Saka Nankana Sahib anniversary on February 21, a Sikh Jatha (group) comprising nearly 150 devotees left for Pakistan this morning.

Chatin Singh, Former MP and member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) is leading the Jatha.

The event is being held to commemorate the anniversary of a movement launched in 1920 to free Gurdwaras from the control of Mahants who were supported by the British.

Singh said that this is for the first time that an SGPC-led Jatha is going to Pakistan to mark the Saka Nankana Sahib anniversary.

Amritsar, Feb 22 : A three-day cultural extravaganza, featuring the rich heritage of Amritsar, got underway with a colourful procession.

People from all walks of life in the city are participating in the annual heritage festival.

The festival is a major draw with caparisoned elephants, camels and horses, Bhangra and Giddha groups.

Authorities say that the festival helps in reviving the link between youngsters and their heritage.

Not with army, says Antony; 'white lie' says SGPC

Even 25 years after Operation Bluestar, the controversy over missing Sikh manuscripts from the Golden Temple's Sikh Reference Library refuses to die down.

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday asked the Centre to come clean and treat the issue with respect as Sikh sentiments were involved.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee (SGPC) is up in arms ever since defence minister AK Anthony told Rajya Sabha last week that the army did not possess the documents.

Amritsar, March 3 : To bring change in public life by active participation, a novel beginning has been made here under which 100 village heads have extended their support to district administration to fight social evils and ensure development.

The coming together of 100 village heads is a quite an unusual event in Amritsar city and has made the local governing bodies speed up their efficiency.

Amritsar Mar 6 : Describing the militant attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore as "unfortunate" and condemning the evil designs of terrorists, passengers of the Amritsar-Nankana bus service said the government should speed up the peace process between the two nations.

Though less in number, eight passengers, including one Pakistani, the passengers want the government not to discontinue public transportation between the two countries.

Amritsar, Mar 9 : To pay tributes to the people who lost their lives in the Mumbai terror attacks, renowned artists from Maharashtra performed inspiring patriotic songs and drew a colorful Rangoli on the theme of the attack.

Eight artists from Maharashtra prepared Rangoli images of Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi, and folk singer Gurmeet Bawa.

Amritsar, Mar 9 : To explore trade potential between Punjab and East Midland (UK), a high-level delegation visited Punjab from February 28 to March 7 in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Punjab Link Council, UK.

During their stay in India, the delegation met several business groups from Punjab.

Khalchain (Amritsar), Mar 9 : Khaidan Khalchain Diyan, the sports meet organized here has inspired village youth in the region to be disciplined and become sportsmen.

Village Khalchain, located near Amritsar, has been holding the rural sports meet since 1952. Since then, event is growing bigger by the year.

The event was started by four sports teachers, who wanted to turn the village youth towards sports to prevent them from getting addicted to drugs.

Amritsar, March 18 : At a time when all political parties are announcing their lists of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the recently formed party of popular satirist and comedian Jaspal Bhatti has also announced its candidate.

Jaspal Bhatti has announced "Ghulle Shah" (comedian) alias Surinder Farishta, as the candidate of his Recession Party for Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Amritsar, March 19 : Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the highest governing body of Sikhs, has written a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over the reported fire incident of a Gurdwara in East London (UK).

“The SGPC has written a letter to Dr. Manmohan Singh about Gurdwara Sahib burnt in East London (UK). It has also demanded a police investigation to know if it was an accident or anything else,” said Avtar Singh Makkar, the President SGPC.

Amritsar March 19, : The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), on Thursday issued 541 Nanak Shahi Calendar despite objections raised by many Sikh organisations.

Avtar Singh Makkar, the President SGPC and Jathedar Akal Takhat Gurbachan Singh unwrapped the Sikh Calendar and the “Jantri” (Calendar with Sikh festivals and other religious important dates) at the information office of SGPC.

The calendar depicts the picture of smashed building of Akal Takht in 1984 during the “Operation Blue Star”.

Amritsar, Mar. 21 : Punjab authorities have asked local licensed arms holders to deposit their arms to ensure fair and safe polling.

According to standard election norms in India, arm holders are asked to deposit their arms temporarily in their area''s local police station or to arms dealers.

"It is government''s policy to get the arms deposited that people cannot resort to unfair means during the elections," said Balwinder Singh, an arms dealer.

Amritsar, Mar 23 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar today.

During his visit, Dr. Singh will also visit the Durgiyana Mandir.

This will be his first trip outside Delhi since he underwent a coronary by-pass surgery.

Seventy-six-year-old Dr. Singh underwent a `redo' coronary artery bypass surgery to remove five blockages in his heart at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on January 24 and has since been recuperating. (ANI)

Amritsar, Mar 24: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday morning paid obeisance at the Sri Harmandir Sahib also known as the Golden Temple.

Dr. Singh along with his wife Gursharan Kaur offered thanks giving prayers after his successful coronary by-pass surgery.

Before entering the sanctom sanctorum, the Prime Minister did ''Parikrama'' of Sri Harmandir Sahib and then listened to the ''path'' and ''ardaas''. He spent more than half-an-hour there.

Before leaving for New Delhi, Dr. Singh also visited the Durgiana Temple.

Amritsar, March 29 : The biggest festival in politics—the Lok Sabha elections—has not only intensified political activities, but also brought a big cheer to the faces of boozers and liquor manufacturers.

A visit to villages in Punjab in the run-up to elections shows that it is party time in the countryside. Country liquor is being offered to all those who fancy it with gusto and without gumption.

Like political leaders, who are busy campaigning to woo voters by hook or crook, liquor manufacturers are meeting the high demand for ambrosia.

Amritsar, Mar 30 : Police seized four kilograms of heroin and fake currency worth rupees one million from three suspects in Amritsar.

The three suspects were from neighbouring Tarn Taran district, said P K Rai, Senior Superintendent of Police, Special Narcotic Cell of Punjab police.

New Delhi/Amritsar, Apr 4 : Sikhs have stepped up protests against the clean chit given by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

"The clean chit given to Tytler has left the entire Sikh community infuriated," said Kuldeep Singh, a protester.

Sikhs want the government to take action against Tytler, who the report said, may have instigated rioters after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

Amritsar, Apr 13: The Sikh community on Monday celebrated the annual spring harvest festival of Baisakhi.

Farmers, dressed in colourful attires, danced to `Bhangra' beats in middle of the fields.

Throughout the year, farmers work hard for good crop yields and during the harvest festival of Baisakhi, they dance and make merry.

After the celebrations, the farmers start cutting the crop.

Amritsar/ Jorhat, Apr 14 : Residents in different parts of the country indulged in fun and frolic as they rang in the traditional New Year in some states.

In Amritsar, devotees waited patiently to pay their respects at the Golden Temple on the occasion of Baisakhi.

After offering initial prayers, the devotees took a dip in the holy pond meant to cleanse them of their sins and purify their souls.

Parminder Singh, a devotee, who came along with his family, said he was visiting the Golden Temple to celebrate Baisakhi.

Amritsar, April 22: The Sikhs in Punjab are still in the ‘Baisakhi’ mood. Baisakhi is the commencement of the New Year, the day when harvesting is done and it also holds religious significance for the Sikh community, as it also happens to be the day when the Panth Khalsa was founded.

Sikhs from across the country and abroad take a holy dip in the Harminder Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple on the occasion of Baisakhi.

Guru Gobind Singh the 10th Sikh guru, had established the Khalsa Panth (the Order of the Pure Ones) on April 13, 1699.

Amritsar, May 1: Activists of various Sikh organizations burnt an effigy of the Taliban here on Friday to express their anguish and protest against the barbarism being meted out to Sikhs in Pakistan's North West Front Povince (NWFP).

Holding placards, the protestors shouted slogans against Taliban and the Pakistan Government.

They demanded that Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government should intervene in the matter and ensure the security and safety of the monitories living in Pakistan.

Amritsar, May 1: Thousands of Sikh devotees participated in a religious procession on Friday to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth master of the Sikhs.

The religious procession was carried out from Akal Takht Sahib and included students of various schools besides devotees. It concluded after being taken around the city, it concluded at the same place in the evening.

Guru Arjan dev was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr. He gave away his life for the pride of Sikh people.

Amritsar, May 4 : With most of northern India reeling from the intense heat wave, residents in Punjab are fighting nature''s fury with traditional drinks and beverages.

"Lassi" has been an instant hit among residents who prefer it over aerated soft drinks marketed by multinational companies.

"Heat has been intensifying. We are taking "Lassi" to cool ourselves. It gives energy and cannot be compared with cold drinks. It is also good for health," said Balbir Singh, a customer.

"Lassi" has so far maintained its niche in the market despite the presence of soft drinks like Pepsi and Coke and is also affordable by all.

Amritsar May 8: The customs staff posted at the Attari railway station, Amritsar, seized fake Indian currency worth Rs one lakh fifty thousand from a lady passenger Shakila, coming from Pakistan in Samjhauta Express last night.

Taking to reporters here, S. K. Luthra, Assistant Commissioner Custom, said after interrogation the lady reveled out that another Indian lady presently residing at Lahore given her bag that would further collected by his son at New Delhi railway station.

However, the accused denied of being involved in the whole case.

Amritsar, May 11 : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday described Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as the "pride of Punjab and the country".

Sharing the stage for the first time with Dr. Singh at an election rally here, he said: " The Prime Minister is the "pride of Punjab and the country", who had taken India forward in all spheres."

Amritsar, May 11: Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate and senior leader Lal Krishna Advani on Monday said that the 21st century will belong to India even though in the last century it belonged to the United States, United Kingdom or Russia.

Addressing a big rally in support of Navjot Sigh Sidhu, the cricketer-turned-politician, here on Monday, Advani said that India could become a super power in this century.

Amritsar, May 10: Even though summers make life difficult people in Punjab want to move out.

To cater to them, the stalls along the roadside offer a variety of drinks which are both therapeutic and cooling.

You can choose Jalzeera, the tangy masala drink, Chusky (the ice Gola) or the all time favourite Lassi.

Amritsar, May 11: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that his party would always stand for the ordinary man unlike the National Democratic Alliance, which ignored various sections of society, including the poor, the farmers and the Dalits during its tenure.

Amritsar, May 13 : The city of Golden Temple started voting on a not so enthusiastic note on Wednesday in the fifth phase of general elections, with not many people turning up at polling booths despite wide awareness.

Though polling started at 7 a. m, in the urban areas of Amritsar despite a dull beginning the voting is likely to pick up later in the day.

However, the people visiting the polling booth early morning said, one must cast his or her vote. It is every citizen’s privilege and he or she must exercise this right.

Amritsar-headquartered Shore to Shore Logistics India Ltd is planning to set up a Rs 100-crore warehouse-cum-logistics park and an inland container depot (ICD) in region, followed by Gujarat and other parts of the country.

According to company officials, the park will cater to domestic as well as international movement. Further, it would also provide supporting activities like loading, unloading, customs clearance, packing, and cold storage.

It should be noted that recently, the company has acquired about 100 acres of land in Amritsar for the proposed project, which once approved will take a year's time to complete.

India gets ready for the first of Wal-Mart’s ‘cash-and-carry’ centre next week! The 50:50 joint venture formed by Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart will open its first centre in Amritsar, sans the Wal-Mart label – the company has chosen to name its Indian outlets ‘Best Price Modern Wholesale.’

Wal-Mart’s debut outlet will essentially be a ‘wholesale-only’ enterprise, selling mainly to vegetable vendors, hospitals, hotels and restaurants. Though consumers will not be able to avail everyday low prices advantage at the Amritsar outlet, officials opine that the retailers’ bargains would ultimately benefit end consumers.

Amritsar, May 21: As the news flashed on television channels with Dr. Manmohan Singh stating that the President Pratibha Patil gave him letter of appointment to take oath as Prime Minister, there was a wave of cheer at the Amritsar’s Hindu college here.

Students and faculty of Hindu College here celebrated on learing the news and everyone here took pride in the fact that Dr. Singh would be Prime Minister for the second time in row on Friday (May 22).

Amritsar, May 24 : Sikh organizations will observe the 25th anniversary of their protest against the Indian Army''s storming of the Golden Temple complex in June 1984 to evict heavily armed Sikh extremists.

The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and others plan to hold several events in the Golden Temple in the first week of June to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, the army''s code name for the operation.

Amritsar, May 27 : Sikh leaders and diaspora across world have condemned the violence in Vienna and in Punjab.

Talking from San Francisco, Dr. Pritpal Singh, the convener of the American Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC), said: "Violence has never been a solution of any problem. If there are any differences, they should be solved through dialogue."

Bharti Wal-Mart Pvt. Ltd, the joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and the US retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is all set to open its first cash-and-carry centre in Amritsar, Punjab.

The company informed that it would open its Wholesale cash-and-carry stores next week, under the brand name of 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale'.

According to an official release, the conventional cash and carry store will occupy 50,000 to 100,000 sq. feet and sell a wide range of fruits and vegetables, groceries, footwear, clothing and other general merchandise.

Amritsar, June 2 : Punjab is known for its rural sports like Kabaddi and wrestling. But, an increasing number of youth in rural areas are today taking to modern-day sports to carve out of career out of them.

The trend can be prominently witnessed in the State's Amritsar District where the popularity of modern sports is on the rise.

Mazwind village is Majitha District despite not being economically well-off, is commended for its breed of sportspersons.

Amritsar, June 2 : Known for his robust acting performances in various films and serials Deep Dhillion is today a well known face. Though he has appeared in negative roles in reel life, he is actually a thorough gentleman in real life.

Born in Patti area of Punjab's Amritsar district, Dhillion remembers how he visited Mumbai for the first carrying a trunk box and around rupees 3,000 (60 dollars) in search of work. Today, he has earned fame as an actor with dozens of films and TV serials in his kitty that bespeak his success.

Amritsar, June 3 : Sikh radicals on Wednesday took out a ''genocide remembrance march'' in Amritsar to mark the start of events linked to the 25th anniversary of ‘Bluestar’ the military operation.

Amritsar, June 6 : Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar and some Sikh leaders gathered at the Akal Takht on Saturday to perform the "Akhand Path bhog" held in remembrance of those who had died during Operation Blue Star in 1984.

The radical leaders, who were raising slogans in favour of Khalistan, were condemned by common devotees, who had arrived there for paying obeisance.

Amritsar, June 8 : Agitated activists owing allegiance to Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (PPMCC) blocked roads and chanted slogans in Amritsar on Monday to protest against various politicians who were opposing the Women''s Reservation bill in the parliament.

Sharad Yadav, chief of Janata Dal (United) had threatened to consume poison if the Women Reservation Bill is passed in the parliament in its present form.

These activists offered poison to an effigy of Yadav and burnt his effigy after beating it with slippers.

Amritsar, June 14 : Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports M. S. Gill is generally known for treating the fourth estate roughly, but on Sunday, he had a rather unusual experience at a media briefing here.

When his attention was drawn to his `strange style' of dealing with journalists during a media interaction, Gill was figuratively made to eat humble pie.

The media interaction started off with Gill declaring that he would `choose' only five journalists out of the over 20-odd media men present.

Amritsar, June 24 : A pall of gloom descended over the family of Sarabjeet Singh, the Indian national facing gallows in Pakistani jails for 18 years, on Wednesday after learning that the Pakistan's apex court has rejected his mercy plea.

Pakistan''s Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by Sarabjeet Singh's lawyer seeking a review of a death sentence imposed on him for spying and carrying out bombings in the 1990s in Pakistan.

Amritsar, July 13 : Known for its rich Punjabi culture, religious environment, and sumptuous food, Amritsar has been a draw for visitors from across the country and abroad for a long time.

Though tourists visit this holy city in big numbers, but to attract more visitors plans are underway to promote it as a major tourist destination.

Founded in Circa 1577 by Guru Ram Das, the 4th guru of the Sikhs, Amritsar literally means a pool of nectar. It derives its name from the sacred pool, Amrit Sarovar, that surrounds the holy Sri Harmandir Sahib popularly known as Golden Temple.

Amritsar, July 21 : In a major breakthrough, the Punjab narcotics cell arrested a heroin peddler with four kilograms of drugs in Amritsar on Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off, a specially constituted police party from the state special operation cell apprehended the notorious smuggler from the Umra Nangal area while he was waiting to deliver a consignment.

Amritsar, July 22 : A coach of a stationary train caught fire here on Wednesday.

However, no casualties were reported.

The air-conditioned coach of the ''''Golden Temple'''' Express was charred in the fire that broke out while the train was parked at Amritsar railway station.

The railway authorities are assessing the loss to the property. Investigations were underway to ascertain the cause of fire.

Amritsar, Aug. 11 : Punjab has traditionally been a paradise for those who love traditional jewellery, gold, platinum and silver items studded with precious stones.

However, Amritsar city, known for its Golden Temple, also produces a fascinating variety of traditional and latest designs in studded jewellery.

Traditional gold ornaments encrusted with precious stones are the pride of Amritsar.

Amritsar, Aug. 13 : Close on the heels of the proposal of forming a separate committee for gurdwaras in Haryana, Sikhs in Rajasthan have threatened to intensify their demand for a separate Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee which would attend to the concerns of Sikhs in Rajasthan.

Wagah/Amritsar, Aug. 14 : To give a fillip to the "Save Sarabjit" movement, eminent film maker Mahesh Bhatt on Friday said that there is a tremendous need to build a pressure group to save Sarabjit from the death sentence that has been handed down to him by Pakistan''s Supreme Court.

He was addressing a press conference at Amritsar along with Awais Sheikh, Pakistani advocate of Sarabjit Singh.

Bhatt said: "when Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarbjit tied Rakhis on his wrist, I promised her to help her in this case up to end".

Amritsar, Aug. 16: Dressed in white, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here on Sunday.

Recalling his childhood, Varun reminiscenced how he once visited the Golden Temple along with his mother (Maneka Gandhi) to participate in “Kar Sewa” (community service).

Varun’s mother Maneka is the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel T. Singh Anand and Amteshwar Anand. Her husband Sanjay Gandhi was the son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Amritsar Aug. 20 : Punjab police claimed to have busted an Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) sponsored espionage ring with the arrest a man on Thursday.

The Punjab police’s State Special Operation Cell arrested Sabir Bakshi, son of Noor Mohammad Muslim, a resident of Mohalla Channe Street, Islami Gate Maler Kotla, District Sangrur of the State.

Amritsar, Aug 27: An Air France plane was intercepted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG 29 aircraft over Amritsar on Thursday morning as it crossed into Indian airspace.

IAF radars picked up the aircraft, flying at a flight level of 37,000 feet, as it entered Indian airspace on an established border entry point on the ATS route.

The aircraft was not in communication and also the secondary radar response code or the Squawk code of the aircraft, was not correct. The aircraft was then identified as `Unknown'.

Amritsar. Aug. 28 : In a step to give shape to a proposed Baba Guru Nanak International University (BGNIU) the Government of Pakistan has announced the name of its members of the governing committee for project management unit on Friday.

The first meeting of the governing committee is likely to be held in Islamabad in September this year. The Chairman of the PETPB would head the Committee.

Amritsar, Aug 31: A stamp collector from Punjab’s Amritsar district, Neeraj Jain has received the first stamp of the ''Pride of India'' series, which was introduced by the Government on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of First War of Independence.

Jain had started collecting stamps from a very early age of thirteen and has continued with his passion since then. He has so far collected 1,50,000 million Indian stamps, which include the 2100 stamps issued after independence.

Amritsar, Aug. 31 : Punjab farmers were full of optimism of harvesting a bumper crop of paddy despite a delayed monsoon, but now they fear crop damage due to attack of “Blight”, a bacterial disease.

Worried farmers allege that the agriculture department is not guiding them how to protect their crop from Blight.

Amritsar, Sep 4 : Socially and economically deprived women in Punjab’s Amritsar district have found a saviour in Shree Lakshmi Narayan Stitching School, which has come ahead to help those women who are aspiring to become self-reliant.

The school established by Shri Durgiana Temple Management Committee in 1992, imparts training in stitching and embroidery free of cost to women belonging to the weaker sections of the society.

Amritsar, Sep 4: Growing awareness and rising incomes have brought about greater brand consciousness in Punjab, as people of all ages are now willing to pay extra for the brand mania, which has taken the State in its grip.

Many people identify branded clothes with better social status and believe that there is no harm in spending on them.

Nag Khurd (Amritsar), Sep. 5 : Farmers in Punjab are confronted with an unusual problem these days. A weed described as "Congress Grass" has covered all soil-bunds in the fields here and the administration is taking up measures to educate farmers about how to obviate it.

The “Congress Grass” is said to be a major biological pollutant of the environment. It is described as one of the seven most destructive weeds of the world.

Amritsar, Sep. 10 : An endeavour is underway to preserve various heritage buildings of Punjab State in a bid to treasure the cultural heritage including historical monuments, which can help in boosting tourism in Punjab.

The palaces and Havelis across Punjab bespeak glorious heritage. These historically important buildings include religious places belonging to different faiths and can attract tourists to Punjab.

Amritsar, Sep. 12 : India on Saturday registered a strong protest with Pakistan over firing of rockets from across the border that exploded two kilometres inside Punjab.

It was second instance of firing by Pakistan in a span of two months.

During the flag meeting held between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistani Rangers held in the wee hours of Saturday, the issue was raised strongly by the Indian side.

Amritsar, Sep. 21 : Around 500 Sikh devotees from Amritsar left for Pakistan to attend the death anniversary of founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, on Monday.

The "jatha", under the aegis of Sikh apex body Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC), would be visiting Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib situated in Narowal district of Pakistan.

The devotees urged the governments of both the nations to abolish the visas for the pilgrimages.

Amritsar, Sep. 21 : Former Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shaharyar M. Khan on Monday said that Musharraf Government did not take any ` sincere' steps to curb terrorism from Pakistan soil.

Khan, who is in India to attend a book release function, also said that Pakistan's nuclear scientist Abdul Qyum Khan was being made a scapegoat.

Amritsar, Sep. 21 : A group of local Congress party leaders in Amritsar on Monday lodged an `online complaint' about the `missing' BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who represents their Amritsar constituency in Parliament.

Rajkumar Verka, a former Congress MLA, told media persons that he had lodged an online complaint in the Civil Lines police station here for registration of an FIR on behalf of the public of Amritsar, stating Sidhu has gone missing from his LS constituency.

Amritsar, Sep 22 : The Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Makan, has said that India will continuously put pressure on Pakistan to curb terrorism originating from its soil, and added that Islamabad’s response in the Mumbai attacks mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief, Hafeez Saeed’s, case is unsatisfactory.

Talking to reporters after tour of border districts of Punjab, Makan reiterated India’s stand that government was not happy with the way Pakistan was dealing with the Saeed’s case.

He further said that the government has not adopted any soft stance towards Pakistan.

Amritsar Sep. 28 : Opposing the demand to form a separate Sikh committee for Sikhs in Haryana, thousands of Sikhs from the State appeared before Akal Takht and presented a memorandum.

The group urged Jathedar Akal Takht to ex-communicate Jagdish Singh Jhinda and others those who were responsible for the attack on the historical shrine—Chevin Patshahi, dedicated to the sixth Sikh Guru Guru Hargobind Singh--on September 13 in Kurukshetra.

Amritsar, Sep. 29 : Farmers in Punjab are complaining that the State government has not yet started the procurement of paddy and they are forced to sell the grain in local grain markets at lower rates.

Punjab farmers have been able to get a good yield in spite of the drought-like conditions prevailing in many parts of the country.

According to sources, Punjab is likely to produce about 14 million tonnes of paddy for the central pool during this season, which would be higher than the last year’s produce.

Amritsar, Sep 29 : The rice exporters from Punjab on Tuesday claimed that the 1121 basmati rice produced in the state is safe for consumption throughout the world, having no contents of lead, cadmium or arsenic.

Reportedly an Iranian laboratory had raised some doubts over the Indian basmati rice, raising doubt among the exporters.

India is leading exporter of rice to Iran and other countries in the world and businessmen have been in this trade for more than three decades.

Amritsar, Sep 30 : At least four people including a woman were injured when a boiler in a butter factory exploded here early on Wednesday.

The impact of the blast was such that windowpanes of the nearby buildings were smashed.

The explosion occurred at a health aid factory situated in a residential area at around 6.15 a. m.

Fire brigades were pressed into service to douse the flames out.

Kulwinder Kaur, who was injured in the incident, said she was at her home when a hot object hit her arm.

Amritsar, Oct 8 : Feeling depressed on the day of Karva Chauth, a festival in which Hindu women fast for their husbands' long life, a young widow in this Punjab city killed her two minor sons and committed suicide, police said Thursday.

Baljit Kaur, 32, gave poison to her two sons, aged 10 and six, and consumed it herself at her home in Dashmesh Nagar Wednesday night.

Her husband, Rajinder, a sub-inspector with the Punjab police, died two months back.

Baljit Kaur and her sons were taken to a government hospital where doctors declared them dead.

Amritsar, Oct 9 : Sikh devotees took dip in the holy pond of Golden Temple, here on the occasion of 475th birth anniversary of Guru Ram Dass, the fourth great Guru of Sikhs.

Scores of devotees offered prayers at the Golden Temple shrine.

The occasion is considered very auspicious among Sikhs and many people also bathe their children in the holy pond.

Amritsar, Oct 15 : At least four people were killed and several others injured Thursday afternoon when a private mini-bus fell into a drain near Punjab's Attari town.

District and police officials rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations. Cranes were pressed into service to pull out the bus from the drain in the town, 25 km from here.    

The bus was on its way from Mawa village near Attari to Amritsar.

Amritsar, Oct 18 - Zillions of lights, tens of thousands of devout and a scintillating fireworks display were part of the Diwali celebrations at the holiest of Sikh shrines Harmandar Sahib (popularly called Golden Temple).

The Golden Temple complex was Saturday night decorated with lighting on every inch of space and in the midst of singing of Sikh religious hymns, hundreds of devout became part of the celebration.

A fireworks display was also organised to mark the occasion.

Amritsar, Oct. 22 : Indian and Pakistani shared the stage at the ongonig South Asia Festival (SAF) here on Wednesday, lending fillip to efforts for peace and brotherhood.

The SAF is a secular, non-political and non-profit event for the promotion of regional cooperation.

The programme was hosted by SAF promoters in collaboration with Punarjyot, a local voluntary forum and the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop from Lahore.

Amritsar, Oct 30 : The special narcotics cell of the Punjab police Friday arrested one person and recovered 10 kg of heroin from his possession.

Police said the heroin consignment was worth Rs. 50 crore (Rs. 500 million) in the international market.    

The arrested person, Subheg Singh, was intercepted by the police near Novelty chowk here following a tip-off.    

Punjab is a major transit and delivery point for drugs consignment coming from the Afghanistan-Pakistan side.(IANS)

Amritsar/Chandigarh, Nov 2 - Millions of devotees lined up at gurdwaras across Punjab and elsewhere in the country early Monday morning to celebrate Gurparab -- the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

A heavy rush of devotees were seen outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar as people came to pay obeisance.

Hundreds of other gurdwaras in cities, towns and villages also saw a stream of devotees since morning.

Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan's Punjab province).

Amritsar , Nov. 9 : BJP activists in Amritsar staged a protest against the rising prices of essential commodities on Monday.

Holding placards and raising slogans against the Congress party, protestors burned effigies of leaders of the UPA Government.

“The government is making unprecedented profit, which is pinching the pockets of the common man. It is a set up lay showing that the sugar and lentils prices are running low, whereas they make billions of profits while we are experiencing a price rise,” said Anil Joshi, a BJP MLA.

Amritsar, Nov 13 : Reaching out to serve and uplift humanity as an expression or devotion to the creator, the Sri Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple in Amritsar is a living example of communal harmony in the country.

Built in 1577 by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ramdas, its foundation stone was laid by the great Muslim Sufi saint of Lahore, Hazrat Mian Mir.

The Golden Temple is surrounded by water and has four entrances, which reflects acceptance, openness and invites all regardless of race or religion into the temple complex.

Amritsar, Nov 12 : In an initiative to bring the world closer by breaking the barriers of language, a music festival was organized here to bridge the gap between the people of India and Pakistan.

The brainchild of late Manveen Sandhu and Faizaan Peerzada, the Sanjh Festival, currently in its sixth year, strengthens cultural links through the arts between the two countries.

Amritsar, Nov 14 : Ten Punjabi youngsters, who were duped by travel agents, recently managed to return to their homes from Iran after a year.

They were allegedly taken to Iran a year ago by a travel agent, who had assured them that it had better opportunities to offer. The agent had also taken over Rs. 100,000 from each of them.

But, soon their dreams were shattered. They were told that they would have to work for a construction company as laborers and that too without any salary.

Amritsar, Nov. 14 : Indian police arrest two Afghan nationals with two kilograms of heroin from Amritsar district.

Officials said the contraband was seized after the police intercepted a car.

The seized heroin, worth at least 430,000 dollars was displayed before the media in Amritsar.

"State Special Operation Cell has made biggest recovery in which two Afghani smugglers who were based in Delhi have been arrested and the police has recovered two kilograms of heroin have been recovered from them.

Amritsar, Nov 16 - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will arrive in this Punjab city Tuesday and visit the famed Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines.

Harper will arrive here by a special flight at Amritsar's Rajasansi airport and drive straight to the shrine. He will be received at the airport by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Amritsar, Nov 17 - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will arrive in this Punjab city Wednesday and visit the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines.

Harper will arrive here by a special flight at Amritsar's Rajasansi airport and drive straight to the shrine around noon. He will be received at the airport by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal and accompanied to the shrine complex.

Amritsar, Nov 18 - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Wednesday arrived in Amritsar at the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine, to pay obeisance.

Harper was accorded a warm welcome by Sikh religious leaders at the Golden Temple complex when he arrived here with a big entourage.

Dressed in a black suit, Harper covered his head with a white cloth-scarf.

Amritsar, Nov. 18 : A group of Canadian and Indian citizens on Wednesday registered their protest against the Canadian government over the infamous Komagata Maru ship incident of 1914, which involved 300 Indians mostly Sikhs seeking entry into Canada through sea but were disallowed to enter Canada.

On their return journey, having left to wander in the sea, at least 20 of those 200-odd persons had died.

Amritsar Nov. 18 : The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), the premeir body of the Sikhs, has sought the help of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to resolve the issue of Sikh identity being faced by the community in various countries.

Harper on Wednesday visited the Golden Temple, the holy place of the Sikhs, while on a three-day visit to India.

Covering his head with white scarf Harper entered in to the Golden Temple amid tight security.

Amritsar, Nov 18 : Visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Wednesday said that the Punjabi community settled in his country had contributed to its development and acknowledged them as "partners in progress".

Harper told Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal during his brief visit to this city that Canada owed its development to the "hard work and grit of 1.2 million Punjabis who since more than 10 decades have become partners in the progress of this country".