Chandigarh, Sept 26 : Punjab police used water canons to disperse a mob of protesting students in Chandigarh on Friday.

The students were staging a protest against the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation deal in the city, which soon flared up as police tried to stop them.

The protest comes in the wake of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh''s visit to Washington where he met US President George W. Bush to seal the agreement between the two countries, but could not do so in the absence of a nod from the US Congress.

Amritsar, September 24, : Popular for his jibes on political opponents, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu of the Bharatiya Janta Party on Wednesday hailed Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi''s visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

"Rahul Gandhi is a leader of the Congress Party. It felt nice that he visited the Sri Amritsar Sahib. I welcome this gesture. This place, in philosophy, always seeks "Sarbat Da Bhala" (welfare of all). He paid obeisance and bowed before the almighty here. It felt good. I wish him all the best," said Sidhu, a Member of Parliament from Amritsar .

Jalandhar, Sept 24 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the country needed stronger laws to fight terrorism, but dismissed suggestions for bringing back POTA, saying it was a failed law.

On the final day of his three-day tour to Punjab, the Amethi MP told reporters here that fighting terror was more about having a strong political will than having tough laws like POTA.

“And our Prime Minister has that political will,” he added.

He pointed out that the terror attack on Parliament (December 2001) and the Kandahar hijack (December 1999) happened when POTA was in operation.

Lahore, Sept 23 : Militants in tribal areas in the NWFP have firmly set up their network in the Punjab province and young boys were being recruited from there, warned NWFP Governor Owais Ghani.

He said that Punjab was fast turning into a hotbed for terrorists.

“Militants in the tribal areas of the NWFP have established firm networking (with jihadi groups) in southern Punjab and most fresh recruits for suicide attacks are coming from there. Militant leaders and commanders are also coming from Punjab. The militants’ field commander in Swat too is from Punjab,” the Dawn quoted Ghani as saying at a press conference.

Abohar (Ferozepur), Sep. 22 : The Punjabi Durbar programme of the Pakistan Radio its new series of broadcasts has been trying to promote insecurity among Indian Muslims living in Abohar.

According to the Pakistan Radio, Hindus are exploiting Muslims and other minority groups. The allegation is that these members of these communities are not allowed to follow their religion freely. And, the minorities don’t have equal rights as enjoyed by the Hindus.

Muslims, residing in Abohar town of Punjab’s Ferozepur district, have reacted angrily to such a baseless propaganda.

Amritsar, Sept 22: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi began his three-day Punjab visit from here today.

The Amethi MP started his visit by paying obeisance at Golden Temple. He listened to the recital of Gurbani kirtan for few minutes in the morning. Amidst tight security, he also visited the community kitchen and had langer (meals) there.

He said that he is starting his Punjab visit with the blessings of Vahe Guru. He also paid tributes to the martyrs in the Jallianwala Bagh and visited Durgiana Mandir.