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SETTING AGENDA FOR NEW GOVT-III
Issues that wait to be tackled
Chandigarh
Elections are held within a time frame. But governance is a continuous process. If that be so, should people not be concerned more with governance than politics? And for correct political voting, should people not try to understand the nuts and bolts of governance and administration enabling them to make the right choice? Should people not be educated in this?
Amarinder seeks quashing
of defamation complaint
Chandigarh, February 8
The Punjab Congress chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, today sought the quashing of the defamation complaint filed against him by the Punjab Chief Minister’s son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal.
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Bhattal granted bail in criminal case
Bathinda, February 8
Mr B.C. Rajput, Special Judge-cum-District and Sessions Judge, today allowed the bail application moved by former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur
Bhattal, in a criminal case registered against her under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code for her alleged involvement in bungling of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
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| Former
Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal comes out from a court
in Bathinda on Friday. — Photo Kulbir Beera |
CBI swoop on rice godowns
Chandigarh, February 8
Special teams of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yesterday descended on various godowns of the Food Corporation of India
(FCI) at Nabha to investigate complaints of supply and storage of substandard paddy and rice.
Experience vs exuberance
Chandigarh, February 8
It is experience on one side pitted against exuberance and the vigour of youth, which threatens to ride on the anti-incumbency factor. Long-standing BJP stalwart, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, who has won thrice from Nangal, is pitted against Mr K.P.S. Rana of the Congress.
A face-to-face with candidates
Bathinda, February 8
A local non-government organisation, the Vigilant Citizens Forum (VCF), today kicked-up a hot debate by organising the first of its kind face-to-face open meeting of six main contestants of this Assembly constituency. The contestants were asked to answer 10 questions in the presence of mediapersons, representatives of various (NGOs, employee organisations, and prominent citizens of the district regarding their future plans.
Nine women contesting in Sangrur
Sangrur, February 8
As many as nine women candidates, including five of the Congress and two of the
BSP, are in the fray in seven of the 10 constituencies in the district.
All women candidates emphasise on development of their respective constituencies.
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SAD friend of farmers: Sukhbir
Fatehgarh Sahib, February
8
Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP and
General Secretary of the SAD while addressing an impressive election
rally at Badali Ala Singh in support of Didar Singh Bhatti, the SAD
candidate from the Sirhind constituency, warned the people of the
state that certain forces are making all-out efforts to break the
“duo” of Badal and Vajpayee; which benefited the farmers and
commission agents of the state.
Cong promises pro-farmer
policies
Amritsar, February 8
Dr Manmohan Singh, former Union Finance Minister, today said that bankruptcy in leadership had resulted in suicides by farmers and rotting of grain in godowns in this state.
10 hurt as rival groups clash
Gurdaspur, February 8
More than 10 supporters of Mr Such Singh Langah and Mr Sucha Singh
Chhotepur, who are contesting as the SAD and Independent candidates from the Dhariwal assembly segment respectively, were injured in scuffles between the two groups Roaidna and the Primary Health Centre, Kalanaur in this constituency.
2 eves pitted in battle
Khanna, February 8
The Khanna Assembly constituency is witnessing a battle between two high-profile women, both with a sound political backing. On one side is SAD candidate Satwinder Kaur
Dhaliwal, who was twice elected to Parliament from Ropar (1996 byelections and 1997 general elections). Battling her is Congress candidate Harbans Kaur
Dullo, backed by MP husband Shamsher Singh Dullo.
PROFILE OF CONSTITUENCIES
Do or die: clash of titans in Congress bastion
Jalandhar, February 8
Almost all 10 Assembly constituencies of this district will witness a direct fight between the ruling combine and the Congress.
During the last Assembly poll in 1997, while the SAD-BJP had swept the polls elsewhere, Jalandharhad given five of the total 10 seats to the Congress, which had a total of 14 members in the Punjab Assembly.
HP Govt helping
SAD-BJP?
Ropar, February 8
The Himachal Government was misusing the official machinery to help the
SAD-BJP candidates in the constituencies bordering the state. The Cabinet ministers of the state were pressurising the government employees in Punjab to vote for the
SAD-BJP candidates.
Son against father
Phagwara, February 8
Mr Mohan Lal Behram, who had basked in Akali power as MLA for five years, deserted the party last month after being denied ticket. He today campaigned against his father Swarna Ram, Punjab Tourism
Minister-cum-SAD-BJP candidate from Phagwara.
Cong promises to ‘accommodate’ dissidents
Amritsar, February 8
To win over rebels, the Congress high command today appealed to them to work for the victory of party candidates, promising to accommodate them after coming to power in Punjab.
All eyes on Morinda seat: Kanshi
Kharar, February 8
Mr Kanshi Ram today appealed to the voters of Ropar district to vote for the BSP-Panthic Morcha candidate in the coming elections. He said the contest in the Morinda constituency was not for the election of MLA alone, but for making Mr Ravi Inder Singh as the next Chief Minister of Punjab.
POLL BRIEFS
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Lok bhalai
party
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‘Vote for
Akalis'
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Setback for
SAD (A)
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BJP gets boost
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Additional
force
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Patriotic
songs
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Lakhmirwala
wighed
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Workers anti-govt
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Rana weighed
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Congress rally
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Amritsar DC seeks more para forces
Chandigarh, February 8
Eight companies of paramilitary forces (PMF) are being deployed in Patti and Naushera Pannuan area for maintenance of law and order, sources in the Punjab Government said today.
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BKU men resort to ‘rail roko’ stir
Lehra Mohabat, February 8
Hundreds of activists of the BKU (E) today staged a sit in on the Bathinda-Ambala rail track near here as part of the statewide ‘rail roko’ agitation to press the government for the acceptance of their demands.
Activists of BKU (E)
stages a sit-in on the Bathinda-Ambala rail track near Lehra Mohabat village on Friday. —
Photo KB |
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Patrolling intensified in Amritsar
Amritsar, February 8
The SSPs of police districts falling in this border district, including Tarn Taran, Majitha and Amritsar, have been directed to intensify patrolling in their areas. In another development, four constituencies — Patti from where son-in-law of Chief Minister is seeking re-election, Beas, Naushehra Pannuan, Ajnala and Amritsar (West) — have been declared sensitive by the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections.
Candidates, voters thrash it out
Hoshiarpur, February 8
The Indian Medical Association (Hoshiarpur) in collaboration with Intelligentsia Forum has taken an initiative to organise a face-to-face interaction with a view to understanding the level of political aspirants and also to act as opinion makers and watchdogs for the future.
Fighting against female foeticide
Fatehgarh sahib
The district has to its credit a renowned doctor-cum-social worker, Dr N.S.
Bawa, district president, Indian Medical Association (IMA), who was recently honoured by the Medical Council of India at a state-level function for writing a book, “Female foeticide: A crime let us fight it out”.
Stop PPSC interviews: Preneet
Patiala, February 8
Lok Sabha Member Preneet Kaur today appealed to the State Election Commission to immediately stop the interviews being organised by the Punjab Public Service Commission
(PPSC).
BDPO suspended for violating code
Ferozepore, February 8
Block Development and Panchayat Officer Suraj Singh posted at Khuiya Sarwar in the district has been suspended from service with immediate effect.
7
Akali, 2 Congress
workers booked
Kapurthala, February 8
The police has registered a case against seven Akali workers alleged supporters of Dr Upinderjit
Kaur, Housing and Urban Development Minister, and two Congress workers supporters of Mr Rajanbir Singh Congress nominee from the Sultanpur Lodhi Assembly constituency, in connection with a clash that took place at Saddowal village on February 6.
10-year RI for raping minor
Kapurthala, February 8
Mr Gurdev Singh, Sessions Judge, today convicted Harbhajan Singh a resident of Manjit Nagar locality, Ludhiana, under Sections 366-A and 376 of the IPC on charges of abducting and raping a minor girl of the Model Town locality here.
Gang loots 2 temples
Phillaur, February 8
While the election fever is on, anti-social elements have become active in robbery and looting instances in some areas. A gang of kale kachchewala struck again in Noormahal town last night.
In videos |
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Defence Minister
George Fernandes says India will not withdraw its massive troop
deployment along the border with Pakistan until it stops
"cross-border terrorism" in the country.
(28k,
56k) |
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The Police in
Punjab tightens security arrangements in areas bordering Pakistan for
the forthcoming assembly polls.
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56k) |
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