Briefly State

Punjab releases additional DA

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has released 6 per cent additional dearness allowance (ADA) installment with effect from January 1,2011,on the Central pattern to its employees and pensioners. According to a notification issued by the state here on Wednesday,with this decision,the present 45 per cent dearness allowance would be increased to 51 per cent. The government has also decided to pay the increased DA in cash with effect from May 1,2011,whereas the arrears with effect from January 1,2011 to April 30,2011,will be credited to the GPF accounts of employees. Retired employees would get the same in cash,the spokesman added.

Oz minister in Amritsar

AMRITSAR: Australian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Grace Portolesi visited the Golden Temple and met the families of students who had been affected by violence in Australia. She assured the families that Indian students and citizens in general were welcome to Australia and a few isolated incidents should not come in the way of the relations between the two countries.

Wrong photo of Guru in book,SGPC sees red

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Avtar Singh Makkar on Wednesday condemned the publication of a wrong photograph of Guru Gobind Singh in a Hindi book published by the Delhi-based Manoj Publications. In a statement issued here,he said the Guru’s clothes had been altered,which was a blasphemous act on part of the publisher and they should immediately withdraw the book from the market. “The sentiments of Sikhs have been hurt. The government should act against the publisher,” said Makkar.

CTU alleges bungling in Gandhi Ashram

AMRITSAR: CTU leader Jagtar Singh Karampura has sought strict action against three employees of Gandhi Ashram,running Khadi Udyog. In a statement issued on Wednesday,he said: “They have bungled the money meant for PF accounts to the tune of lakhs. The authorities despite directions from the High Court in this regard are not acting against the erring staff.”

Teachers protest privatisation of Khalsa College

AMRITSAR: College teachers,belonging to government,non-government and aided colleges,continued their protest against the conversion of the historic Khalsa College into a private university. The teachers said they had given enough time to the government and Khalsa College Governing Council to withdraw the proposal,but they were paying any heed.

Gikki murder: Remand extended

JALANDHAR: The police remand of all four accused in the Gurkirat Singh Sekhon alias Gikki murder case was extended by two more days by a local court on Wednesday. Sekhon’s advocate argued that though the police had recovered the arms used in the crime,they were yet to reveal the place where the accused were hiding after the murder. It was also argued that the arms licences of both Sunny Sahdeva and Prince Makkar,who were carrying their revolvers during the crime,had expired last year but they were still getting ammunition for their revolvers. SAD Councillor Ram Simran Singh Makkar alias Prince Makkar,who is the nephew of sitting SAD MLA from Adampur Sarabjit Singh Makkar,had allegedly shot Gikki after a scuffle. Police had arrested four accused in the case,including Prince Makkar,Sunny Sachdeva,Prince Narula and Jasdeep Jassu.