M A I N   N E W S

MAJITHA BYELECTION
Proxy pension camps to woo voters
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

MAJITHA, Feb 7 — The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has found a novel way to woo voters of this constituency.

As the aged were running from pillar to post to get their pensions sanctioned, activists of the SAD have spread all over the constituency to hold “proxy pension camps” where forms are being filled. In most of the cases, pension is being given in cash on the spot. In some cases, officials of the Social Welfare Department can be seen accompanying the activists.

While reports have been coming that cash is being distributed by both SAD and Congress, these pension camps are an innovative way to woo the voters.

During a visit to villages of Majitha, the TNS team saw people thronging these camps.

During the first few days of electioneering, many voters had complained to the Chief Minister that they could not get the old-age pensions.

Shavinder Kaur (69) of Chachowali village said “officials” were now going from door to door for giving pensions in advance. She alleged that she could not get the pension though she had been making efforts for the past four years. However, she is unaware of the fact that “advance pension” is another form of “money” to woo the voters. She said a few days ago such a camp was organised at Jaintipur village where a number of forms were filled and cash was distributed.

Swarn Kaur of the same village said she could not get the pension sanctioned in the past two years as “agents” were demanding huge money for this work.

Dalip Singh (71) said though his pension was sanctioned earlier, he could not get the amount so far. “It is my luck that the byelection has been announced and now old people are getting cash in advance”.

Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC, however, has sent a complaint to the Election Commission, regarding the “mock pension camps”. He alleged that the code of conduct was being violated.

Though Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, talking to TNS, claimed that everybody in the state was getting pensions, the ruling party MLA, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, said only 10 per cent were getting the pensions.

Majitha poll: Cong leaders meet Gill
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Feb 7 — The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M.S. Gill, has assured a delegation of Punjab Congress leaders that their complaints pertaining to the Majitha byelection would be looked into and corrective measures taken.

A delegation of the Punjab Congress leaders, including Mr Surinder Singla and Mr H S Hanspal, both former MPs, and Ms S.K. Bhinder, former minister, met Mr Gill last evening and complained that the state government was not only misusing official machinery for the bypoll but also certain officers were being posted to the area.

Citing a secret letter written by Punjab Police IG (Border) K.P. Pandey to seven district police chiefs, Mr Singla said that the IG had instructed that 19 police officers be spared for the Majitha byelection. The letter contained the names of these 19 officers, he said.

He said that the state government had increased development work in the constituency after the bypoll was announced. “The Chief Minister is virtually camping in the constituency and moving about in a huge cavalcade of cars,” Mr Singla said.

The Congress leaders alleged that the Punjab Government was giving undue favours to senior officials having influence in Majitha.