Taliban deputy claims responsibility for Pakistan bomb attacks

A senior leader of the Taliban in Pakistin today claimed responsibility for the bomb attack in Lahore that killed at least 24 people and wounded hundreds more, saying it was revenge for the army offensive against militants in Swat valley.

Hakimullah Mehsud, a deputy to the Pakistani Taliban chief, Baitullah Mehsud, told the Associated Press that the attack on the offices of the police chief and Pakistan's main spy agency, the ISI, was connected to the military operation.

"It was in response to the Swat operation where innocent people have been killed," Mehsud said. The little-known group Taliban Movement in Punjab has also claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack was the third in Lahore in as many months and Pakistanis have been bracing themselves for violent retaliation since the army launched a sweeping operation against the Taliban in Swat valley three weeks ago.

"These terrorists were defeated in Fata [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] and Swat and now they have come here," the interior minister, Rehman Malik, said yesterday. "This is a war, and it is a war for our survival."

As Malik spoke, rescuers were scrambling to pull the dead and wounded from the wreckage of destroyed buildings. Twelve police officers and one child were among the dead, a television station reported. Twenty people were injured when the roof of the operating theatre in a nearby hospital collapsed on them.

Sajjad Bhutto, a senior government official, said four men had leapt from a car that pulled up outside a police building near the ISI headquarters. The men, who were described as young and clean-shaven by witnesses, started shooting.

Guards outside the spy agency returned fire, sparking a short gun battle that ended when the car, which had crashed into a security barrier, exploded. The blast levelled an emergency response building across the street and sheared a wall from the ISI office, where two intelligence officers and six others were killed.

It left a scene of devastation along the mall – a tree-lined, colonial-era thoroughfare. A petrol station was destroyed, and broken glass and crushed vehicles littered the road. Later distraught relatives turned up, looking for family members.

Bhutto said 100kg of explosives were used in the bomb.

The attack was no surprise, said Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi, a Lahore-based defence analyst. "We were expecting there would be some kind of retaliation," he said, drawing a link with the ongoing operations in Swat. "The surprise was that it was such a massive attack."

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/28/pakistan-bomb

Punjab situation under control, says Parkash Singh Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said the situation in the state, hit by violence following the death of a Sikh religious leader in a clash in Vienna, was "under control" and that normalcy will return soon.

"We all are very hurt with the developments in the state but it is a religious issue and it is very difficult to control the emotions. But at some places the protestors turned very violent and we are trying our level best to curb them," Badal told reporters here.

He also confirmed that one person was killed and eight others injured when police opened fire on protestors in Jalandhar city.

"All this happened suddenly and chaos spread rapidly in different towns that made it difficult for us to control the situation. However, now the situation is under control and very soon things would become normal," he added.

"I have also talked to Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna over the phone and told him to ask the Austrian government to catch the guilty at the earliest," he said.

Violence erupted after followers of Dera Sachh Khand burnt train, blocked key highways and destroyed public and private property to protest an attack Sunday on its leaders in a gurdwara in the Austrian capital Vienna.

Sant Rama Nand, the second-in-command of the sect, died in a hospital in Vienna after being attacked by a rival Sikh group. The clash also left 16 people injured.

The condition of the sect head Sant Niranjan Dass, 68, who was the second guest speaker at the Vienna gurdwara, was stable after undergoing emergency surgery, doctors in Vienna said.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/

INLD launches campaign

Sirsa (PTI): Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Thursday launched its campaign "Chalo Matdata Ki Aur" (let's go to the voters) in Haryana.
The campaign was launched by INLD chief and former Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala here.
Mr. Chautala alleged said that the people were highly disappointed with the Congress party as it had failed to keep any of its election promises.
He called upon the people to teach a suitable lesson to the Congress party and support INLD-BJP candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
The INLD chief said that BJP and INLD alliance is not only a coalition between two parties "but union of hearts".
He said that "whenever the two parties have come together, they have formed the government at the state and national level."
He said that the spiralling inflation, water-electricity scarcity, deteriorating law and order situation and corruption has made the life of common man difficult.
Mr. Chautala said under this campaign, the party activists will reach out to each and every voter in all the districts and Vidhan Sabha constituencies of the state. Various party leaders have been asked to look after the seven day campaign.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903122022.htm

My Best Dish Makke di Roti/ Sarson Da Sag

Sarson Ka Saag Makke Di Roti Punjab is the right place to be if you want to know what culinery delights are. A typical Indian Punjabi meal comprises of Sarson ka saag and makke di roti with a lot of other mouth watering dishes. However sarson ka saag is a world famous delicacy that activates one's taste buds and leaves you asking for more. Sarson ka saag is a luscious green gravy, made out of mustard seeds. Cooked with masalas and enhanced with oil seasoning, this dish is relished countrywide. Sarson ka saag is often accompanied by Indian bread- Makki ki roti (corn bread). They both compliment and eachother and the roti is presented with a dash of ghee, that makes it a total delight to relish!
This is my best dish.......

Fiza slaps criminal case on Chand, alleges rape

Former Haryana Assistant Advocate General Anuradha Bali alias Fiza followed through on her threat of filing a case against now-estranged husband Chand Mohammad and formally levelled charges of ‘rape, hurting religious sentiments, cheating, defamation and criminal intimidation’ against him.

In a criminal complaint filed before Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jatinder Singh Aulakh and others, Fiza claimed that he ‘betrayed, used, blackmailed, intimidated and ditched’ her under the garb of ‘religion and marriage’.

Seeking registration of an FIR under Section 376 (Rape), 420 (Cheating), 295-A (Hurting religious sentiments), 500 (Defamation) and 506 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, Fiza said that she was devastated by Chand’s betrayal. “I have lost everything and am unable to face society,” she said.

Fiza said that Chand along with his family may try to run away abroad to avoid legal action, she also sought security since she feared he may try to harm her.

Fiza submitted that she came into contact with the 43-year-old Chand in 2004 when he was elected to the Haryana Legislative Assembly for the fourth time. She said that he pursued her relentlessly, even visiting her residence in Mohali, till she relented and married him in December 2008.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fiza/424348/

To Rival Azadpur Mandi, Himachal Plans Fruit Market In Haryana

Unable to move the Delhi government into enforcing the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act in Azadpur fruit and vegetable market, the Himachal government intends to set up a separate market at Kundli in Haryana in the national capital region.
Horticulture minister Narinder Bragta stated that the government plans to set a separate ’subzi mandi’ at Kundli in Haryana.
“The state is taking the step because of the raw treatment being meted out to Himachali fruit and vegetables growers in Asia’s biggest subzi mandi at Azadpur,” said Bragta.
The fruit and vegetable market at Kundli would be set up in about 14,000 square yard land area, which is owned by the state government, he said.

The proposed market would meet long term needs of farmers from Himachal, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, who are meted out a raw deal by commission agents based in the Azadpur market, he added.

He said that controlled atmosphere stores will be set up in proposed Subzi Mandi and it will act as main sales centre for entire Himachali fruits, vegetables, floriculture and other organic products.

The model APMC Act would be implemented in this subzi mandi and no commission will be charged from farm producers.

The APMC Act have been made specifically responsible for ensuring complete transparency in pricing system and transactions taking place in market area; providing market-led extension services to farmers; ensuring payment for agricultural produce sold by farmers on the same day; promoting agricultural processing including activities for value addition in agricultural produce; and publicizing data on arrivals and rates of agricultural produce brought into the market area for sale.

The state government would continue its fights for justice and will again take up the case of waiving of commission from growers at the Azadpur subzi mandi by asking the Delhi government to implement its commitments to implement model APMC Act.

The issue of overcharging commission from present rate of 6 per cent to 8 per cent will be taken up with Delhi Government and Azadpur Mandi Authorities.

1. Vegetables

2. Fruits

3. Fruits

India, north of border

TORONTO - Strolling along King Street West, it's easy to be distracted by all the restaurants, wine bars, pubs, clubs, and theaters that line this lively street in the heart of Toronto's Entertainment District. If you don't look up, you might miss the bright orange letters that say, "Dhaba." And that would be a shame.

The complete name of this second-floor restaurant is 309 Dhaba Indian Excellence. This longer moniker combines both the address and the essence of this chef-owned establishment. Climbing the stairs to the deep and narrow, stylish space, one leaves behind North American sensibilities and enters a welcoming environment full of the smells and sensuous spices of India. "In India, a dhaba is a roadside joint," says owner and chef P.K. Ahluwalia. "You get the freshest and best food at a dhaba. The farmers live behind the road. They farm and cook."

Open daily for lunch and dinner, the restaurant attracts tourists as well as Torontonians to sample dishes such as New Zealand lamb tikka with masala sauce, chicken vindaloo, and prawns biryani. "I like to cook very simple but the flavors have to be complex, with many layers," says the chef.

His complex flavors come from marinades made every day with a wide range of spices that Ahluwalia imports whole from India and then grinds, including fenugreek, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and allspice. "Before the food is cooked, the marinade is important. I make it so you can eat the marinade with bread. It's not a dressing - it's a base of food. Still, you want the lamb to taste like lamb. If the marinade is too strong, the chicken won't taste like chicken," he says.

Ahluwalia, 44, took a circuitous path to this successful restaurant, which he's been operating for eight years. Born in Punjab, Ahluwalia studied economics, psychology, law, and hotel management before moving to England to study food service at Thames Valley University in Berkshire. A corporate job in a hotel restaurant brought him and his family to Toronto, where he also worked a stint driving rigs to and from New York State. In 1998, Ahluwalia opened a small restaurant in a Toronto suburb. Great reviews led him to move to this downtown location.

Punjab, in northern India, is a region known for its moderately spicy and thick curries, its use of dairy products, especially yogurt, and for its many breads. Dhaba offers a wide selection of the latter, including garlic or fenugreek naan, whole wheat roti, tandoori naan, flaky stuffed parathas, and onion or paneer stuffed kulchas, made from flour dough. The roti and naan are made in a traditional clay oven known as a tandoor.

If where you are going is Toronto, make sure you get directions to Dhaba.

Ch Ranbir Hooda Passes away, funeral today at Native Village in Rohtak

02 February, 2009
AT A condolence meeting of the faculty, the non-teaching staff and the students held in the local Ch. Devilal University today the sad demise of Ch. Ranbir Singh Hooda the lone surviving member of the Constituent Assembly of India and the father of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was mourned. While paying rich tributes to the departed leader and a great freedom fighter, the Registrar of the University R.K. Sehgal said that the Late Mr. Hooda remained a crusader for the cause of the poor and the down trodden throughout his life. At the end of the meeting two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
Funeral Today at his Native Village Sanghi (Rohtak)
State Morning for 3 days; Schools and offices shall remain closed on Monday
About Ch Ranbir Singh Hooda:

Ranbir Singh Hooda (26 November 1914 – 1 February 2009) is well known in Haryana's Jat heartland for his role in India's freedom struggle as a leading member of the Indian National Congress.

Born on November 26, 1914, in the house of Matu Ram in Sanghi village Rohtak district, Hooda studied at Vaish High School, Rohtak, Government College, Rohtak and Ramjas College, Delhi from where he graduated in early thirties. He was imprisoned four times for participating in nationalist movements. Taking a greater interest in education, he founded Subash High School at Kharkhande and primary schools in villages of Munger Bilbilan and Polangi. He also started a weekly called the Hindi Haryana and headed the Haryana Vidya Parcharani Sabha at Rohtak.

He was a minister in the Punjab Government for a number of years.

At the time of his death, he was the president of All India Freedom Fighter Organization. His another notable contribution included the role he played in development of Bakhra Nangal Power Project as the then Irrigation Minister of joint Punjab. His son, Ch. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is the current Chief Minister of Haryana and his grandson Shri Deepender Hooda is the M.P. from Rohtak.

Hooda, a member of the first Constituent Assembly that framed the Indian Constitution died on February 1, 2009 after a prolonged sickness.
The was lone surviving member of the Constituent Assembly of India, He took active part in the making of the Constitution of the country and drew the attention of that august house to the problems of the village and the workers and peasants. During this period, he was also a member of the Provisional Parliament and served it from 1950 to 52
source : http://sirsanews.blogspot.com/

Dillu Ram unfurls National Flag on 60th Republic Day in Sirsa

60TH REPUBLIC DAY was celebrated here with great patriotic fervor and devotion. Dillu Ram Parliamentary Secretary unfurled the National Flag in the local Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium and took the salute. People from all sections of society including a large number of School and College students participated. In his address Dillu Ram said that our country had attained freedom by making many sacrifices and now it was on the shoulders of the country’s youth to take a pledge to safeguard this hard earned freedom and national integrity. He said that our constitution guarantees equality for all without any distinction of sex caste or creed which was a unique feature and sustains our Parliamentary democracy.
source: http://sirsanews.blogspot.com/