Chief Minister seeks better India Pakistan relations

PunjabNewspaper.com

S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, has underlined the need for improving bilateral cultural ties with Pakistan to strengthen 'people to people' contact of two neighbouring countries.

Speaking after honouring Begum Madeeha Gouhar and her husband Janab Shahid Nadeem, Pakistani couple who directed and wrote Bullha-a play on the life and times of Baba Bulleh Shah, staged at Rock Garden, last night, Mr. Badal recalled the 'Golden period' spent by him as a student of FC College, Lahore, from 1945 to 1947. He said that when he had a chance to visit Lahore again with former Prime Minister, Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee, he found that the roots of Punjabi Cultural were much stronger in Pakistani part of Punjab than in our own. "We share same culture, same language and same ethos", he added. ...

   ... Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured Begum Madeeha Gohar and her husband Janab Shahid Nadeem with mementos. He said that he had been greatly impressed by the direction, choreography and over all impact of the play, Bullha. Former Member Parliament, Chandigarh, Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Councilors of MC Chandigarh, Senior Police and Administrative Officers from Punjab and Chandigarh including Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh Mr. PS Aujla, were also present in the function...

Dhumal flays EC for FIR against BJP chief

TribuneIndia.com

Former Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal with lawyer Satpal Jain at the district courts in Shimla on Saturday where hearing in a corruption case is in progress. [Image Courtesy: TribuneIndia.com Photo by S. Chandan]

Jaitley predicts mid-term poll

TribuneIndia.com

Chandigarh, April 6

Claiming that the BJP was at the centrestage of Indian politics, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley today predicted a mid-term poll, saying the Congress was a "sinking ship" as it had lost a number of assembly elections recently.

... Answering a question on the appointment of parliamentary secretaries in Punjab when senior BJP leader Satya Pal Jain had fought a case against their appointments, Jaitley said the constitutional provisions would be taken care of in this regard.

Need to introspect, says Jaitley

The BJP has redefined the concept of secularism which is considered to be majority-bashing and minority-appeasement, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said here today.

... "There was a need to introspect to review the party's policies and programmes to keep pace with the changing times," he added. ...

... Former member of parliament Satya Pal Jain claimed that merit alone was the criterion for leadership in the BJP, as opposed to other parties, which banked upon family and caste considerations. ...