LUDHIANA:Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's presence was not enough to attract people to the "mega" Congress rally at Government College for Women (GCW) ground on Tuesday. Not more than 3,000 people turned up at the venue which wore a desolate look, with rows of chairs kept folded at the back. Not even all the 40 Congress councillors from the city were present at the rally. This, despite Monday's briefing at a special meeting where all councillors and block presidents were given the target of bringing 200 persons each from their respective areas. They had, in fact, promised to bring 500 each. The media, however, were present in full strength. Two whole galleries were filled up by mediapersons, Congress block presidents, other workers and supporters of the party. Nap timeLudhiana: Enjoying the bright sunny weather, Congress candidates Surinder Dawar and Harnam Dass Johar were seen taking a nap while the programme was on. Following suit was Punjabi singer Mohammad Sadik after his performance. He was called to sit on the stage, but he dozed off there also.Poster boysLudhiana: Congress workers were seen distributing posters printed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Delhi. These posters had photos of Dr Manmohan Singh, Army chief Gen J J Singh and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The posters said the trio was a gift of Congress to Punjab and Sikhs.UNLF accuses Manipur CM of fund bunglingImphal: With barely a day left for the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections, militant outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has accused Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh of withdrawing nearly Rs 5 crore from the PWD funds since October, 2006, by presenting “Akash Bills” (bills presented for non-existent work), in collusion with PWD minister Govindas Konthoujam. Ibobi Singh will be contesting in the first phase from Thoubal and Khangabok assembly constituencies. In a statement, the UNLF has claimed that a total amount of Rs 4,81,69,500 was surrendered to the UNLF by the ministers and officials concerned after the outift’s Central Special Force came to know about the bungling of funds and confronted the alleged culprits. The reason behind this investigation was to present the true face of the CM and others, and not to combat corruption, which is a part and parcel of the Indian system of administration, it added. Rains bring cheer in UttarakhandDehra dun: Rainfall in large parts of the state has imbued Congressmen in the state with enthusiam. Reason: The party had been fearing that the prevailing drought-like situation and the rising prices due to inflation would mar their chances of retaining power in in the February 21 election. Rains lashed several areas like Mussoorie, Tehri and Rudraprayag, Nainital and Almora.
