A charge of carrying a concealed weapon has been dropped against a Sikh cleric who carries a 6-inch knife as a sign of his religious faith.

The case of Gurbachan Singh Bhatia had sparked a letter-writing and phone-call campaign led by fellow Sikhs in Bhatia’s gurudwara and aimed at officials in the city. Bhatia and his supporters said his arrest following a minor traffic accident in September violated his right to practice his religion.

Former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste, the US Ambassador to India, was among those who wrote in support of Bhatia who is 69 years old, living in Cleveland. He began wearing the kirpan 20 years ago when he was baptized in India.

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As a millennium gift to the tourists in India and abroad, the Central Government has decided to throw open the Taj Mahal, the world famous monument of Agra, in the nights also.

The government has permitted the night-viewing of the Taj on Purnima, the full moon night and eight nights before and after the full moon night, besides the normal visiting hours, subject to proper security arrangements by the Uttar Pradesh police. The night-viewing was suspended 15 years ago in view of a possible security threat to the monument.

As part of the Tourism Department’s efforts to make the last Purnima of this millennium, falling on December 22, a memorable occasion, a cultural programme to mark the opening of the Taj in the nights also will be organised on that date.

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Separate guidelines for money market mutual funds (MMMFs) will be issued after discussions between Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Major areas under consideration for MMMFs include investments and borrowing and allowing third party cheques to be issued, Sebi executive director (MF division), Ashok Kacker said at a seminar on money markets organised by Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At present, MMMFs are allowed to invest only in money market instruments with high risk, while there is a ceiling of three per cent on investments in commercial papers (CP) of a single corporate.

- 081299EI (Business)

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The Punjab National Bank has got its 12 offices in the state, including three offices in Amritsar, accredited with the ISO 9002, according to Deputy General Manager Harwant Singh. The three branches in Amritsar are the international banking branch, specialised SSI branch and the regional office, he added.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is a global body, which consists of representatives from more than 90 countries, each represented by its national standards body.

Harwant Singh said the ISO 9002 certificate was given by Det Norske Vertas (DNV), a Dutch company after an inspection of the working of these branches. The next ones to be made as per with the ISO 9002 standards in Amritsar were the Lawrence Road and Hall Bazar branches, Singh said.

The PNB would soon seek accreditation of its rural branches of Patti and Jandiala with quality-oriented service with committed and customer-focused management, consistent and transparent process and conducive work management.

He added that special customer feedback forms would be provided at these branches to know the response towards the improvised services.

- 081299IE (Business)

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has made wide-ranging suggestions and recommendations for integrated development of food processing and agro-based industries, in a note submitted to the Punjab government by chamber president Ashok Khanna.

The note says that the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables to the agro-processing units can be improved if a proper drainage system is developed and the dependence on rain minimised. The range of horticulture produce should also be diversified and supply of quality seeds of exportable products be ensured. The chamber has also suggested special infrastructure facilities like a cold chain system comprising pre-cooling facilities, cold storages and refrigerated transportation.

The government should develop comprehensive post-harvest handling system consisting of picking, cleaning, storing, grading, processing, packing and transportation, so that the agricultural produce is safely shifted from farms to the retail market.

The chamber also suggested a change in the present tax structure of wheat products, establishment of focal points for food processing industry to provide common infrastructural facilities, need to provide financial assistance for research and development efforts by institutes and agricultural universities for specific projects and government assistance to develop modern marketing techniques.

- 081299EI (Business)

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Bimal Jalan, on Tuesday launched Global Trust Bank (GTB)’s Internet banking service, including customer access to their depository accounts here. Speaking on the occasion, Jalan said banks in the country would have to go in for new technologies like electronic and Internet banking to become more competitive and successful. GTB’s chairman and managing director Ramesh Gelli said launch of Internet banking was part of the bank’s strategy to provide customers with world class products.

- 081299EI (Business)