COMMITTEE Chandigarh: To provide better municipal services, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today constituted a sub-committee in the department of local government to implement urban sector reforms in an efficient manner. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister during a review meeting of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) here, an official release said. Presiding over the meeting, the Chief Minister gave his nod for constituting a sub committee comprising Local Bodies Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Local Bodies Som Parkash and other officers to work out the modalities for implementing Urban Sector Reforms in the state. Underlining the need for imparting quality municipal services, the chief minister asked this committee to submit its report at the earliest so as to develop an efficient system in this regard. ______________________________ BYPOLL-SAD Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal will start campaigning for the SAD-BJP coalition candidate Joginderpal Jain in Moga by-election from tomorrow whereas party Patron and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will start election meetings from February 10. Party Secretary and Spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said that the SAD Patron would hold three meetings in the rural areas of the constituency during the day and three in the urban areas in the evening. All senior leaders of the party including Ministers, Members of Parliament, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs, District Presidents and other senior office bearers have reached Moga. ______________________________ DALKHALSA-RAPE Amritsar: Expressing outrage over the alleged gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Jalandhar, radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa today urged the Punjab government to arrest the culprits and ensure that such incidents do not recur. Addressing a press conference here, Dal Khalsa's general secretary Manjinder Singh and youth wing head Ranvir Singh said the Jalandhar incident has once again shamed the society. Everyday, there are reports of sexual violence against women in one or the other place. Despite reports of fast track courts, stringent laws and raising the quantum of punishment to rapists, incidents of rape continue to hit headlines, they said A 14-year-old girl was abducted and brutally raped by three persons in Mandhala Channa village in Jalandhar on January 28 while she was out of her home to relieve herself. The condition of the girl, whose ruptured uterus was removed and intestines repaired, continued to remain critical.
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