No-shows most of the time

L K Advanis Jan Chetna Yatra,which was in Punjab for three days,and his rallies drew hardly any crowds.

L K Advanis Jan Chetna Yatra,which was in Punjab for three days,and his rallies drew hardly any crowds. The only event that saw any significant audience was the rally in Jalandhar,unlike those in Ludhiana,Amritsar,Pathankot and most other places. The Jalandhar rally was organised by former minister Manoranjan Kalia. In the Ludhiana rally,after a speech by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,the crowds started to leave even as Advani began to speak. In Amritsar and Pathankot,the crowds were minimal. At many places,black flags were waved at him. At the Golden Temple,there were protests against him by a group that included SAD Amritsar president S S Mann.

Doping cloud

The second kabaddi World Cup,which is under way in the state,has come under a doping cloud. So far,of 60 players in the 20-day tournament that ends on November 20,over 30 have tested positive. The Australian team has been shown the door and the US team,leading Pool-B in the mens section,has been banned from the tournament,all of which has impacted the team standings. Hosts India and Canada have already reached the semi-finals. Pakistan too are set to reach the next round. The opening ceremony was held in Bathinda,while the final and the closing ceremony will be organised in Ludhiana.

Inauguration politics

The Khalsa Heritage Centres inauguration is turning out to be the centre of a political slugfest between the SAD and the Congress in the run-up to the elections. The Prime Minister,who had last month agreed in principle to visit Punjab in the second half of November after being invited by the Chief Minister to inaugurate the KHC,has now communicated to the state government his inability to come due to prior engagements. A Congress leader had,last month,written to the Prime Minister pointing out that the KHC had already been inaugurated in 2006 and his visit now would only be for a re-inauguration. Now the CM will inaugurate the KHC on November 25.

Act of marriage

The Sikh community has hailed Law Minister Salman Khursheeds statement that an amended version of the Anand Marriage Act would be implemented soon so that Sikh marriages can be registered separately under the Act. Sikhs have been demanding that marriages performed under their rites be registered under the Act. The jathedar of Akal Takht,Giani Gurbachan Singh,said,I appreciate Khursheeds gesture as it is an acknowledgment of Sikhs separate identity. The Centre had earlier ruled out a separate marriage Act for Sikhs,whose marriages at present are registered under the Hindu Marriage Act.