|
|
|
|
|
Despite the crowd, vacant chairs at rally
Manpreet's key aides defect to Cong
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
After Heritage Walk, Panj Sarovar venture finds few takers
Enrol youth as voters, Kusumjit instructs DCs
Babbehali is banking on his rural vote bank
Youth brigade to the fore
SAD ticket aspirants try to impress leaders
Rebellion brewing within SAD over ticket to liquor baron
More women expected to enter poll arena this time
Poll Snippets
Power Corp subsidy issue hanging fire
Mid-day meal burns hole in teachers’ pocket
Kali Devi temple to get silver doors
Six PCS officers appointed SSPs
Four of family from UP asphyxiated near Fazilka
KCF militant arrested after 21-year chase
|
Despite the crowd, vacant chairs at rally
The Akali activists were seen roaming aimlessly outside the pandal. The empty chairs compelled Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to especially mention in his speech that at least six lakh people had come to the rally. “Our workers are stuck on the national highway and thousands of others are either taking lunch or roaming outside the pandal. It is like a mela”, he explained. People were seen sleeping under the pandal, spread over 250 acres, as their leaders addressed the audience. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders seated on a stage next to the main stage, were caught napping too.
Obviously embarrassed, those sitting beside them said: “They have not slept since last night as they were busy making preparations for the rally.” Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljeet Singh Cheema, who was the stage secretary, had to appeal to the people a number of times to remain seated. With the rally dragging on, the audience turned restless. When Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal got up to make the final speech, hundreds of people began moving out of the pandal, perhaps to avoid getting stuck in a jam. The Deputy Chief Minister reportedly undertook an aerial view of the crowd twice before his copter landed near the venue site.
|
|
Manpreet's key aides defect to Cong
Chandigarh, December 18 Levelling allegations of nepotism and favouritism against PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal, the duo (both senior vice-presidents of the PPP) were formally inducted into the PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress Legislature Party Leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and party's Punjab affairs in-charge Gulchain Singh Charak. Amarinder said the duo and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Sukhjit Singh Kaka had joined the Congress unconditionally, but that the party "would keep their political aspirations on mind while assigning them duties. All three, Kushaldeep (a former SAD MLA), Jagbir (MLA from Jalandhar Cantt who resigned on joining the PPP) and Kaka (SGPC member who defeated SAD official candidate by 76 votes), were present at the media conference along with other senior Congress leaders. Those who joined Congress today also included Balvir Singh (Block Samiti chairman) and Simarjit Kaur (SGPC member). "Manpreet spoke against family-run politics, corruption and ideals of Bhagat Singh. In the last PPP rally at Malout, Manpreet's wife and brother-in-law dominated the stage while other leaders were simply ignored. The PPP is run like a private company. There is no internal democracy," Jagbir said. Kushaldeep alleged that Manpreet and Bhagwant Mann had brought over US$ 50,000 given in donations from America, but no account had been given of the same. Even other donations were kept with Manpreet without maintaining any accounts. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon:A former SAD MLA and PPP founder member and senior vice-president Jagbir Singh Brar: A cousin of Manpreet and PPP founder member; only sitting MLA who stayed with Manpreet till now Others to join… Sukhjit Kaka, SGPC member Balvir Singh, Block Samiti chief Simarjit Kaur, SGPC member
|
||
|
After Heritage Walk, Panj Sarovar venture finds few takers
Amritsar, December 18 When The Tribune team visited the Town Hall, the starting point of the Panj Sarovar Walk, today morning, no tourist was present there. Leave apart tourists, even the guide who was supposed to take them for the walk was missing. A fellow guide who was there for the Heritage Walk that starts a bit later said he might have got late. When contacted over the phone, the guide said he had a meeting with “a VIP team” at 10 am and, therefore, he could not come for the walk, something that signifies the approach of the authorities towards the initiative launched by the government only a week ago. Even otherwise, the walk is not drawing many tourists apparently due to lack of coordination between various agencies apart from lack of promotion by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) in the entire exercise. This is evident from the poor state of “sarovars”, which are part of this walk, and insanitary conditions en-route. Ideally, the tourism authorities should have approached the SGPC for getting the “sarovars” cleaned and the MC for ensuring cleanliness on the route before launching the initiative. The route of the walk was dotted with heaps of garbage on its inaugural day itself. However, the authorities seem to have gone ahead with the launch in haste. Lack of promotion is another factor which has contributed to the walk’s failure. Neither any billboards have been put up nor any literature distributed to publicise the walk among the tourists. These are the same problems which grounded the Heritage Walk even before it could take off, but no lessons seem to have been learnt. PHTPB Chief General Manager Brig (Retd) Charanjit Singh said he was aware of the problems being faced by both the walks and attributed them to the involvement of multiple agencies. “We are making all efforts to get the things in shape. We have urged the MC to ensure cleanliness on the route. We are also getting billboards made to publicise the walk. Literature for Heritage Walk is now being re-printed after some mistakes came to the light.” On the absence of the guide, he said he would direct the officials concerned to make sure that the guides reported for duty on time.
|
||
|
Enrol youth as voters, Kusumjit instructs DCs
Chandigarh December 18 Addressing the deputy commissioners, Kusumjit Sidhu said the Election Commission would project Indian cricket team captain Mohinder Singh Dhoni and former President Dr Abdul Kalam as the icons whose messages to voters would inspire them to vote in the coming elections. Sidhu asked the deputy commissioners to ensure adequate publicity of their messages not only in electronic and print media but also on cable network in their respective districts. She also directed them to ensure the enrollment of maximum number of young voters in their respective districts, as per the directions of the Election Commission. The departments of Education, Medical as well as Technical Education had already been sent the guidelines to appoint a senior lecturer as a BLO who would make sure that the students were enrolled as voters in educational institutions.
|
||
Babbehali is banking on his rural vote bank
Sitting Gurdaspur SAD legislator Gurbachan Singh Babbehali was DCC president in 2007 but was denied the party ticket following which he joined the SAD at the insistence of the then SAD president Parkash Singh Badal. He is a politician who derives his strength from the rural vote bank. He is known to get the work of his supporters done, no matter what it takes. He enjoys an excellent rapport with villagers of the 160-odd panchayats falling under this Vidhan Sabha seat. Little wonder that in the last elections, while Congress candidate PS Bhinder secured a lead from Gurdaspur town, Babbehali emerged the winner by virtue of winning from a majority of villages. He won the seat by a margin of 4,000 votes. PROJECTS : The MLA’s biggest achievement is the construction of the state-of-the-art stadium at the Gurdaspur Government College where a couple of kabaddi world cup matches were played. “Funds were arranged so that a new stadium could be constructed and floodlights, a novelty in this backward district, installed. The seating capacity has been increased by a few thousands. We plan to hold more sporting events at the stadium regularly to wean away youngsters from drugs,” the MLA says. Even his political foes envy him for the way he organises ‘Chinj’, his village annual festival, which has become popular for inviting experts to educate youngsters on the evil effects of drugs. “Every third household in rural Gurdaspur is in the grip of drugs and it is essential that we educate people against the ill-effects of drugs,” he says. Babbehali’s pet project of providing proper sewerage system, is expected to see the light of the day soon as the Punjab Government has given Rs 30 crore to the Punjab Sewerage Board for the purpose. There are many unkept promises too, the prominent one being non- construction of a flyover on the Amritsar-Pathankot road. “Babbehali promised to get the flyover constructed but five years down the line, nothing has come up,” said a factory worker. VOX POPULI: Opinion on Babbehali’s effectiveness as MLA is divided. The MLA agrees that he has been unable to bring in industry. However, he talks of other developmental works. “I have impressed upon the Chief Minister to release Rs 7.50 crore for the streetlights and to ensure adequate drinking water supply. Some important roads, like the one in front of the Post Office Chowk, have been widened.” However, not many are impressed. A school principal claimed that thousands of youths of the area were on drugs as no employment opportunities were being generated. Locals acknowledge that the MLA went out of his way to get the PWD authorities to re-carpet roads rendered unfit for driving. “Accidents on these roads had become common. That is why he took up the task of proper maintenance of roads on a priority basis. Schools have been upgraded and a labour shed has come up,” said a schoolteacher. The MLA’s detractors complain that the mini secretariat has not been constructed. “This would have been a boon to the locals as all government offices would have come under one roof,” remarked a teacher. LOOKING BACK: In 2007 Babbehali won this seat, which has 1,33,722 voters, out of which 67,544 are male, beating PS Bhinder of the Congress by 4,000 votes. In the 2002, the seat was wrested by Kushal Bahl of the Congress while in 1997 Kartar Singh Pahra of the SAD reigned supreme. — TNS
Men: 67,544 Women: 66,178 Likely Candidates SAD: Sitting MLA GS Babbehali and Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan Congress: PS Bhinder, Raman Bahl, Sudhir Walia, Gurmeet Pahra, SS Chottepur, Maj Amardeep Manepur, (Mrs) Susheel Mahajan, and Neeraj Salhotra
|
||
|
Youth brigade to the fore
Killi Chahal, December 18 Youth Akali Dal activists manned every gate to the rally, regulated traffic, offered langar as well as manned the swelling crowd. Most of the Youth Akali Dal activists wore a dark blue turban with yellow ribbons, white kurta-payjamas and yellow scarves. Majithia, in his speech, said: “Chief Minister sahab, just give us the nod and we will show the Congress what we can do. If we are quiet, it doesn’t mean we are weak or that we can’t fight back.” Praising the Youth Akali Dal activists, he said: “Our activists did everything with their own hands, from laying the mattresses to decorating the pandal with party flags and flowers.” All senior leaders, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, lauded the efforts of the party’s youth brigade.
|
||
|
SAD ticket aspirants try to impress leaders All ticket aspirants tried to outdo their rivals in bringing in crowds to the rally. “The ticket contenders were directed to get a large number of supporters to the rally, saying that this would be a major deciding factor for the allotment of ticket,” said Harpreet Singh, Malout MLA. A former MLA, who pleaded anonymity, said that duties were assigned to some activists to maintain a register on the number of supporters that accompanied the ticket seekers. The contenders also tried to outdo one another in sloganeering. Many supporters carried posters with a picture of their leader.
|
||
|
Rebellion brewing within SAD over ticket to liquor baron
Faridkot, December 18 Even though the leadership has clearly told the disgruntled leaders to fall in line with the party decision, some leaders are holding area panchayats to stake claim to the party ticket. One of them has been inaugurating water treatment plants in various villages, leaving the party leadership and the district authorities stunned. The party had decided to inaugurate these plants with the reverse osmosis (RO) system in certain villages to make an impact on the voters before the assembly elections. Faridkot MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan was scheduled to inaugurate the plants. But in a game of political one-upmanship, these were inaugurated days ahead of the planned date by a ticket aspirant. Accompanied by panchayat members, an Akali leader reportedly reached Bhalaiana village in Muktsar to meet Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal some days back. He demanded that he be allotted the ticket for Faridkot. The CM, in no uncertain terms, told him that the powers to allot the ticket were with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. After former Ever since SAD MLA Kushaldeep Dhillon abandoned the party to first join hands with Manpreet Badal and then the Congress, the party has been facing a leadership crisis in Faridkot. Earlier, there was talk of Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon of being fielded from Faridkot, but after the latter was declared the party candidate for the Maur seat in Mansa district, the SAD decided on liquor baron Deep Malhotra. Brushing aside any opposition to his candidature, Malhotra claimed there were no differences in the party over his name. However, sources revealed that two leaders had chosen to abstain from the Deputy Chief Minister’s meeting at Bathinda prior to the Moga rally.
|
||
|
More women expected to enter poll arena this time
Patiala, December 18 The representation of women in the Punjab Assembly has never touched the double figures since 1960. The present House has just seven women members. During the 2007 assembly poll, of the total 1,043 candidates in the fray, only 56 (approximately 5 per cent) were women. With Preneet Kaur of the Congress holding the portfolio of Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr Upinderjit Kaur of the Shiromani Akali Dal that of Punjab Finance Minister and Harsimrat Kaur emerging as one of the most vocal Shiromani Akali Dal MPs, the participation of the fair sex in the coming elections is expected to increase. President of the Punjab Mahila Congress Malti Thapar said: "This time 453 women activists have applied for the party ticket. This indicates that more and more women are eager to to join active politics. In the last assembly elections, the Congress had fielded 10 women candidates. This time our party is likely to field at least 15 women candidates". The Shiromani Akali Dalpresident, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has also stated at various rallies that adequate representation would be given to women ticket aspirants. Last time, the Shiromani Akali Dal had fielded just five women candidates. The number is likely to go up this time, say senior Akali leaders.
|
||
|
Poll Snippets
Moga: A retired constable, Bhupinder Singh Sahoke, is in the race for the SAD ticket from the nearby Nihalsinghwala (reserve) constituency. Sahoke took pre-mature retirement in 2007 after 20 years in service and joined the SAD. He successfully contested the Moga Municipal Council elections and is also a member of the local Improvement Trust. He was made district president of the SC wing of the SAD in 2009.
Sahoke said his family had remained loyal to the Akali Dal for the past three generations. His elder brother had been elected sarpanch of Sahoke village on the Akali ticket for three terms. He said though Nihalsinghwala was the citadel of the Left parties, “people in every village of this constituency know me well”. — TNS Shanta Kumar warns workers Chandigarh: The BJP Punjab affairs incharge, Shanta Kumar, has sent a terse message to party leaders that “acts of indiscipline” will not be tolerated. The BJP has been in a disarray ever since the arrest of its leader Raj Khurana and the subsequent reshuffle in the BJP Legislature Party. The BJP that won 19 of the 23 Vidhan Sabha seats that it contested during the 2007 elections, is keen on swapping the Ludhiana (West), Garhshankar, Batala and Amritsar (East) seats. Meanwhile, the BJP is busy preparing for its two-day BJP conclave at Jalandhar beginning December 23. The rally will mark the beginning of its poll campaign. — TNS Greenhorns and delimitation Amritsar: As assembly elections near, ticket aspirants start making a beeline to the offices of various political parties. In each constituency, every party has two to three main contenders, thus, leaving hardly any scope for new aspirants to make it to the poll arena. However, delimitation seems to have opened a window of opportunity for such aspirants. With the carving out of new constituencies and a section of seats declared reserved, the list of ticket aspirants in all such constituencies is getting longer. For instance, 17 aspirants have applied for the Congress ticket in Amritsar (East), which has been carved out from areas falling under Verka, Jandiala and Amritsar (South) seats. Similarly, Amritsar (West), which has been declared reserved, has 11 aspirants vying for the ticket. — TNS
|
|
Power Corp subsidy issue hanging fire
Patiala, December 18 It is learnt that the cash-strapped PSPCL is finding it difficult to manage funds for its smooth functioning and the authorities had sent a letter to the State Government requesting that loans/principal should not be adjusted with the annual subsidy for free power. Notably, as per the tariff order for 2011-12 dated May 9, 2011, issued by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), the Punjab Government was to pay Rs 4,188.92 crore for the free power subsidy. However, as per the documents available with The Tribune, the principal amount of tax free power bonds, along with 8.5 per cent interest, paid by the State Government to the Power Corporation from 2003-04 to 2010-11, an amount of Rs 981.93 crore was pending towards the PSPCL. Subsequently, on May 24 this year, the State Government issued an order through which Rs 981.93 crore was adjusted with the total annual power subsidy of Rs 4,188.92 crore. The order, a copy of which is with the TNS, reads, "Net subsidy payable for the year 2011-12 to the PSPCL works out to be Rs 3,206.99 crore." However, in view of the fact that the PSPCL is in a serious debt-trap, the authorities of the Finance Department of the Power Corporation had taken up the matter with the state government. The PSPCL authorities had requested the Government that subsidy amount payable by the State Government should not be adjusted with the principal/loan pending towards the PSPCL. Despite repeated requests, the functionaries of the PSPCL Finance Department were not ready to comment on the matter. However, senior officers requesting anonymity confirmed that the PSPCL had again requested the State Government that free power subsidy should be paid to the PSPCL without adjusting any principal/loan pending towards the Power Corporation. When contacted, Secretary, Power, Punjab, Anirudh Tiwari said that the State Finance Department had adjusted an amount of Rs 981.93 crore against the free power subsidy. "We are preparing our case and will send it to the Finance Department that Rs 981.93 crore should not be adjusted against free power subsidy", he added.
|
|
|
Mid-day meal burns hole in teachers’ pocket
Patiala, December 18 Sources in the Education Department informed that an amount of Rs 1 crore was pending in Patiala district alone and teachers were perturbed over the money not being released despite repeated requests. Teachers rued that in case they discontinued the scheme, senior authorities would most likely initiate an inquiry against them and continuing the scheme would dig holes in their pockets. One of the teachers said, "The mid-day meal scheme has more or less become a burden on us because we often have to pay from our pockets to continue the scheme." "Sometimes, schools don't get money for two months together due to which it becomes really difficult to provide meal to students. Though, we are still providing mid-day meals, but we are managing it with great difficulty. We continue to purchase ration because of our association with shopkeepers and somehow convince them to take money when we receive the payment, but sometimes even they refuse to give ration," he added. Another teacher said that earlier they used to manage the scheme as they had PTA funds, but after the government discontinued charging fees from the girls of government schools till Class XII and boys till Class VIII, they were finding it difficult to run the scheme smoothly. He said, "I have spent thousands of rupees from my pocket but the department has not yet cleared our payment. Moreover, no payment has been made for November and December." DEO (Elementary) Balbir Kaur Gill said she would release the money as soon as it reaches her.
|
|
|
Kali Devi temple to get silver doors
Patiala, December 18 Talking to The Tribune, Dr Naveen Saronwal, member of the temple advisory committee, said that the temple doors would be made of silver. "We already have more than 100 kg silver with us for this project and would soon begin the work on new doors. Moreover, we are also planning to upgrade few other parts of the temple in order to further enhance its looks," he informed. Notably, the Kali Devi temple draws large number of devotees from near and far away places due to its architectural marvel and aesthetic appeal. The walls of the temple have beautiful paintings and sceneries that enhance the beauty of the monument. Meanwhile, keeping in view the problems being faced by pilgrims in parking their vehicles, the B&R Department has prepared a plan map for construction of parking in front of the temple. An estimate of Rs 1.95 crore has been made for this parking. The plan is yet to be finalised in consultation with the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, but pilgrims are happy that they would get a suitable place to park their vehicles. Earlier, they used to park their vehicles on the road due to which there was lot of traffic problems.
|
|
|
Six PCS officers appointed SSPs
Chandigarh, December 18 The Government also transferred three IPS officers, including Sanjeev Gupta, who has been posted as ADGP (Railways) at Chandigarh, Paramjit Singh Grewal has been posted as IGP (Border Range), Amritsar and Hardeep Singh Dhillon has been given the additional charge of ADGP (Crime) at Chandigarh. Sukhdev Singh, PPS, has been posted as SSP, Mansa, Surinder Pal Singh Parmar has been posted as SSP, Amritsar (Rural), Gurmeet Singh Chouhan has been posted as SSP, Faridkot, Surjit Singh has been posted as SSP, Barnala, Hardial Singh Mann is SSP, Ferozepur, Yurinder Singh has been posted as SSP, Jalandhar (Rural), Tulsi Ram is DCP, Jalandhar and Satpal Singh has been posted as AIG (Railways),
Patiala.
|
|
|
Four of family from UP asphyxiated near Fazilka
Fazilka, December 18 According to the police, the victims, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, had been residing at the non-functional rice mill since the past few years. The deceased have been identified as Naresh Kumar (45), his wife Bimla Rani (38), their daughter Khushboo (13) and Bimla's brother Barhe Lal (37). Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims slept leaving charcoal hearth (source of carbon monoxide) burning inside the room last night, which led to asphyxiation. When they did not open the door till late morning, their relative Sangeeta Rani, who resides in an adjacent room, broke it open and found them dead. She also informed the police. Investigation officer Gurlal Singh said a post-mortem examination of the deceased was conducted at the Civil Hospital. Dr Hansraj confirmed asphyxiation as the cause of death.
|
|
KCF militant arrested after 21-year chase
Jalandhar, December 18 A resident of Jagrawan village near Adampur, Kulwant was arrested following a tip-off at a 'naka' laid on the Jalandhar bypass road near Lidhran village, said SSP (Rural) Hardyal Singh Mann. A .32 bore gun and a country made pistol with six live cartridges were also recovered from his possession. He was wanted in several criminal cases registered during the militancy era. Mann said a fake driving licence was also recovered, which he had got made in the name of Naresh Kumar Garg of Ramganj road in Moga. Kulwant had been declared a proclaimed offender in 14 cases, including that of murder, loot, firing and attempt to murder, registered in different police stations of Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts. He was arrested by the police in 1987 after the recovery of a .455 bore revolver, the SSP said. The accused was bailed out in 1990, following which he went abroad illegally and returned to India in 2007. The very same year, he re-started his criminal activities and looted two petrol pumps along with his accomplices, the police said, adding the accused had even started selling weapons illegally in Jalandhar district.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Patiala, December 18
Killi Chahal, December 18
Voters: 1,33,722