Ex-student leader supportes attacked on media in Sector 16 Hospital

CHANDIGARH: A student politics-based rivalry between two erstwhile leaders of Panjab University on today took an ugly turn when four former members of Student Organization of Panjab University allegedly attacked the ex-president of Haryana Student Association, Narinder Singh Gujjar in Sector 17.
Gujjar is an advocate. Cops said he was attacked in front of police colony with blunt and sharp-edged weapons and an advocate and colleague of his, Ashish Kumar was also hurt in the assault. Gujjar was taken to Government Multi-speciality Hospital, Sector 16, with an injured right leg and referred to PGI from there, said police officials. Cops have managed to arrest one of the alleged assailants, Karnbir Singh of Ludhiana, and raids are being conducted to nab others. Gujjar's car was also damaged in the attack and three of the assailants managed to escape in their vehicle. The incident took place when Gujjar and the alleged assailants were coming from district courts, Sector 17, after attending some hearings.SSP Naunihal Singh said Gujjar said former SOPU leader Brinder Dhillon was the prime accused in the case.
Rivalry between the two leaders has been reported since 2008, when Gujjar allegedly attacked Dhillon outside the residence of Panjab University vice-chancellor RC Sobti, said the SSP. Scores of advocates from district courts, Sector 17, gathered near the roundabout of Sector 16 to protest the attack on Gujjar and demanded strict action against assailants. There was also the incident of one of Gujjar's supporters slapping a photo journalist at GMH-16, which left the mediapersons enraged.

Rose Festival begins in city from 25th

CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh Administration will be celebrating Rose Festival from 25th to 27th February 2011 at the Asia’s largest Zakir Rose Garden in Chandigarh which is one of the Mega Annual events of the Administration, enlisted in the National calendar of Fair and Festival of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. To chalk out the plans of the forthcoming Rose Festival 2011, a meeting was convened by the Secretary Tourism Ram Niwas with the Commissioner, Mayor MC, Chief Engineer, Chief Architect, Director Tourism UT, SSP UT and other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration. The event will have a gamut of activities on all three days being organised by the Chandigarh Administration in association with the Municipal Corporation UT at Rose Garden Sector 16 and Leisure Valley Sector 10. The event will be inaugurated on 25 February amidst beautiful flower decoration at Rose Garden with thousand of visitors will throng to be a part of this festivity. Since, Rose Festival is an event dipped in entertainment and topped up with glamour quotient therefore three musical nites will be held on all three days. There will be a live
Performance by Hans Raj Hans and Team on the opening day whereas Singer Priyani Vani, Performer Rishika Kaushal, Comedian Uday Dahiya will perform on 26 feb. The last day will be concluded with a stunning Performance by Mohit Chauhan, a renowned Bollywood singer who sang for A.R .Rahman in the 2006 film Rang De Basanti , he won the filmfare award. His hits include Pehli Baar Mohabbat (From Kaminey), Masakali
(From Delhi 6), Tune Jo Na Kaha (From New York), Tum Se Hi (From Jab We Met) Kuch Khaas (Fashion) in addition to this flower competition, Rose Prince and princess competition, Brass and pipe bad competition, on the spot painting competition, Rose Quiz competition, Folk dance competition, photography competition, Antakshri competition and Kite flying competition will make this mega event a big attraction for all age groups. Besides these other programs during Rose Festival will include
exhibitions by local artists; events for children, photographers and craftsmen, Food Street, cuisine & culture display during the celebration of Festival. The festival will also showcase a wide array of flower arrangements and hold competitions in different categories of flowers. There will be day-long cultural performances at the open air platform in Rose Garden and evening performances at the Leisure Valley. To add taste to the visitors’ palate, there will be a large variety of eateries, comprising different cuisines from neighbouring states. The Rose Festival is held in the month of February when the tourist arrival is the highest as compared to the other month. The festival attracts the people to visit the beautiful rose garden of the city and enjoy the grandeur of the blooming flowers. The Home Secretary said that the Entrance gate of the Rose garden will be based on the flower vase on the both sides fully festooned with flowers on it.

Fire in Punjab and Haryana High Court Record Room

CHANDIGARH: A major fire broke out in the record room of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here in the early morning today, gutting many old files, fire officials said. Four fire tenders were pressed into service. We got a call at around 3.45 a.m. about a fire in the high court's record room. We immediately reached the spot and started the rescue operation. We managed to control the fire in about four hour's time, Sandeep Kumar, a fire brigade official, said. He sustained some injuries in the rescue operation. He added: Right now, it is difficult to comment up on the reason behind this fire. Our investigation is on. CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) experts are also scrutinizing the spot to gather clues about the reason behind the fire. Many old files were damaged in the flames. Police sources said that from preliminary investigation it seems that short-circuit was the cause of this fire.

Chandigarh celebrates 62nd Republic Day

CHANDIGARH : City celebrated the 62nd Republic Day very enthusiastically in Parade Ground, Sector 17. Adviser to the UT Administrator, Pradip Mehra, was the chief guest on the occasion. Adviser unfurled the National Flag and took salute from the various contingents participating in the Republic Day Parade. Tricolor balloons were also released to mark the day. Addressing the gathering Mehra said that the year is just starting and it should be our aim to make concerted efforts to ensure harmony and growth of the nation. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of you great success in all your endeavours in the coming times, on behalf of the Chandigarh Administration, hope that we will all work together to make our nation a shining example of progress while staying true to our traditions, values and heritage. I appeal to all to come forward in contributing towards the growth of not just our country but that of the entire human race. I implore you all to become leading examples of brotherhood, warmth, generosity and mutual understanding.
Tableaus aesthetically decorated, full of information, from different departments, colleges and societies including Dy. Conservator of Forests,U.T., Govt. College of Arts, Chandigarh Architecture College, Director Of Industries, Dean Students Welfare, PEC University of Technology, Director, Census Operation, Adult Education,Chandigarh, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society, Indian Red Cross Society were the major attraction. A colorful cultural programme was also presented by the students of Government Model High School, Sector 28 and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10. The Chandigarh Administration also announced holiday of January 27, 2011 for Government and Private Schools of Chandigarh. On the occasion Adviser awarded the Police officials with Administrator’s Police Medal for their distinguished and meritorious services. Commendation certificates were also given to 15 public personalities for their outstanding services in various fields including Public Service, Social Service, Art, Culture and Sports. Adviser also awarded various contingents and schools for their remarkable performances. Chandigarh Police received the overall best contingent award. In Police category, the first prize was bagged by I.R.B.Chandigarh Police where as the Chandigarh Police took second position and Haryana Armed Police came third. In NCC contingents, NCC Naval Wing bagged the first position, NCC Girls Battalion came second and Army Wing came third. In the Civil Defense category Chandigarh Home Guard received the first prize, Chandigarh Fire Services second and Chandigarh Civil Defense got the third position. Home Secretary, Ram Niwas, Finance Secretary, V.K.Singh, IG of Police PK Shrivastava, SSP, Naunihaal Singh, Chairman CHB, Mohanjeet Singh, Deputy Commissioner Brijendra Singh, Commissioner Roshan Sankaria, Special Secretary Finance Ajoy Sharma, Mayor Ravinder Pall, other senior officials of UT Administration, Municipal Corporation and Police along with the residents of the city were during the function.

Social service day organised

CHANDIGARH : The NSS Units of MCM DAV College organized Social Service Day today at the college campus. Essay competitions, declamation and open discussions were organized for the students on the necessity of social resource. The aim of the event was to sensitive the students about the importance and need of social resource and their role in the uplifting of our society. They were informed that they hold social as well as moral responsibility towards our society as each and everyone from the society in contributing to their education and growth. Social Service is an integral parts of NSS and their education. They were also informed about the various works and Zeal for the betterment of the society. They were sensitized regarding the fact that individual growth and development depends upon the growth and development of the society. While progressing one should take care of the progress of the society in which he or she in living.
The volunteers activity took part in the competitions and expressed their views on different aspects of the important of social service. They also vowed that they will certainly do something for the welfare of our society. The college Principal appreciated the efforts of NSS units and motivated the students to do their best for the welfare of their brothers and sisters.

Students Protest for their Education

CHANDIGARH : A large numbers of students of Chandigarh schools, colleges and Panjab university including parents and some teachers gathered at Panjab University Students Centre for protest against the reluctance of management of private schools in Chandigarh to the implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009. As per the RTE Act Act 25% of the students from the poor families are are to be admitted in the private schools whose expenses of education would be borne by the govt. It is worth remembering that it took seven years to pass the act in 2009 and was suppoesed to be implimented from the last academic session. The management of private schools on one or the other pretext are not willing to implement the Act even from the forthcoming session in 2011. Seventy two private schiools in Chandigarh and if students from neighbourhood are not admitted this year it will amount to the violation of the basic premises of the Act. Educationb is not be reduced to profit making business. It is sad that some private schools instead of making ventures of making education as their mission and social service have reduced it to profit making ventures at the cost of helpless parents. Gathering reminded that nearly half of the children of poor people are still deprived of quality edication and they are eventally forced to end up working as child labour. The Act is the revelutionary provision and it is the duty of every parents and conscious citizen to see the act is implemented n the is letter and spirit.

Centre to frame smokeless tobacco specific policy: Azad

CHANDIGARH : Noting that 26 per cent of the total population is chewing cancer-causing tobacco, the Centre today said it was formulating a smokeless tobacco specificpolicy. So far the Health Ministry's anti-tobacco programmesrevolved around cigarettees...there is another monster as 26 percent of the population is using smokeless tobacco withpotential to create cancer, Union Health Minister Ghulam NabiAzad said inaugurating a block of HSJ Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital of Panjab University here.
Quoting a survey by a reputed international agency, hesaid around 35 per cent adults of the total population were smoking. It is shocking that out of this total 35 percent population, 26 percent are consuming smokeless tobacco, Azad said adding eighty percent of oral cancer was a result of chewing tobacco. Azad said only nine percent of the population was smoking cigarettees and bidi. With the smokeless tobacco having the potential tocreate 80 per cent of oral cancer, the Health Ministry is formulating a policy which is smokeless tobacco specific, Azad said.
Azad said according to a survey between 60 to 65 years of age 12 percent of population lose its teeth and more than 30 percent population lose its teeth over 70 years of age.
Tobacco is one of the contributory factors in loss ofteeths as well, Azad said adding the role of dentistry was far behind the implantation. Azad said the thrust of the Health Ministry was to produce more MBBS doctors and bring sweeping changes in the Medical Council of India. He said the Ministry had last year decided to set up10 centers of excellence in para medics.