The Chorus of Women strikes chord with audience
Amritsar, January 16
Sunday was all about women at the ongoing 14th Bharat Rang Mahotsav in Amritsar as the two plays for the day were staged by the women, for the women and made by the women. If one was a modern day tragic chorus about imposed traditions and stereotypes on women by the society the other was based on a classic story by Rabindranath Tagore telling the story of an untouchable girl.

Amritsar, January 16
The SAD-BJP combine may be harping about ‘development wave’ by claiming to dedicate over 22 projects with combined capital cost of over Rs 2,550 crore to the holy city, yet many of these projects have either failed to materialise or are running beyond their deadlines.

It was on July 20, when Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, during a review visit of some key development projects had announced to give a facelift to the city by the end of 2011, but it was not to be.

On December 12, Sukhbir Badal on his whirlwind tour of the city laid foundation stones of numerous projects on one day which included the introduction of magnetic pods under the Personal Rapid Transport System on bus stand/railway station to the Golden Temple route (Rs 220 crore), Amritsar-Ajnala Airport road (Rs 18.57 crore), four-laning of Majitha Road (Rs 8.35 crore), multilane high-level bridge on UBDC (Rs 25.30 crore), four-laning of road along the side of UBDC canal (Rs 9.21 crore) and eight-lane of Amritsar Gate to Bhandari Bridge (Rs 34 crore).

The above mentioned projects, though under process, could not meet their deadlines. Almost all the projects were slated to be completed by December, 2011 or February this year.

Started amid much fanfare in 2006, the elevated road project, major work on which was undertaken during the SAD-BJP regime, was scheduled to be completed within a span of three years by December 2010. Still after promising plenty of deadlines, the project is only half done. Although the 3.25-km stretch to the Bhandari Bridge and the 0.9-km elevation towards the Golden Temple has been made operational few months back, yet five years down the line, the ramps which lead to almost 10 destinations on the way are still struggling to meet the finishing line.

This delay has escalated the total project cost of this elevated road from Rs 173 crore to Rs 223 crore. Similarly, while laying the foundation stone of the magnetic pod system in December, the Deputy CM had announced that the project will be completed in 18 months.

Even as three years have lapsed since the administration has received Rs 25 lakh as initial instalment from the Union Ministry of Food Processing, to establish a food street, but this project could not take off for want of suitable site. The heritage village project also met the same fate. The project was to be set up at GND University at Rs 12 crore) two years back. Another major project to cover ‘ganda nullah’, which was the major poll plank of various political parties, could not be completed till date. Though, the work is in progress but the major portion of the nullah is lying uncovered, exposing residents to various health hazards.

The Kitchlew Chowk flyover project, which was to be completed by December, last year too is nowhere near complete.

Amritsar, January 16
A majority of the candidates, including representatives of the leading political parties, seeking to get elected from the five urban assembly constituencies of the city, are undergraduates. However, their minimum qualification is well “compensated” with their assets which run in crores.

BJP candidate for the North constituency Anil Joshi, 48, is only one with a higher secondary as his educational qualification. However, his total movable and immovable assets are worth a crore.

Congress candidate for the West segment Raj Kumar Verka, 49, could only pass the first year of his graduation degree in 1981 from Guru Nanak Dev University. Moveable asset worth Rs 1.47 crore are registered in his name. His annual income in fiscal year 2010-2011 was a little over Rs 7.49 lakh.

A little known political outfit Bharti Chetanya Party has fielded one Bal Krishan, who is only a matriculate.

Akali rebel from the South constituency, Gurpratap Singh Tikka, has completed the first year of graduation degree.

Contesting as an independent, Tikka owns assets worth a crore.

From the same constituency, the Congress nominee Jasbir Singh Gill aka Dimpa, 43, has total assets worth Rs 4 crore but his educational qualification is a ‘Giani’ dgree, which he finished in 1988.

Manpreet Singh Badal has fielded Jasbir Singh as the PPP candidate for the South segment who is simply a matriculate.

A social activist Dr Shyam Sunder Deepti, who is leading a campaign in the city to make the electorates aware about the necessity of casting votes said, “In the job market we have the minimum eligibility criteria. But when it comes to choosing MLAs and MPs this becomes an exception.”

He stressed that we should not question their wealth but their capacity to deliver results while holding esteemed constitutional posts were a matter of great concern.

He said it was another example of lack of accountability in the system.

He said the rule was simple if a person was not aware of the constitution how could he govern the country after merely taking an oath for the same. “If one does not know governance then one does not have the right to be in the government,” he feels.

Amritsar, January 16
Sunday was all about women at the ongoing 14th Bharat Rang Mahotsav in Amritsar as the two plays for the day were staged by the women, for the women and made by the women. If one was a modern day tragic chorus about imposed traditions and stereotypes on women by the society the other was based on a classic story by Rabindranath Tagore telling the story of an untouchable girl.

The two plays, The Chorus of Women and Chandalika, witnessed packed audience, mostly women. The first one, Chorus of Women was a Polish presentation by Marta Gornicka, director and singer from Warsaw. More of an experiment and an attempt to break the cliché, something that the play preaches, the Chorus of Women used compilations of Polish songs, forgotten texts, voices and rhythm bringing together elements of performance, cabaret, pop and opera rather than mere words and sentences.

The director Marta Gornicka who is internationally acclaimed for her previous works that were showcased at Revealed/Hidden festival in Warsaw too agreed that the point was to treat words as music.

"The Chorus of Women had women from various professions and of various ages. 28 women and girls who could be anybody, a mother, girl scouts, chefs et al who are expressing their disagreement on imposed visions of feminity by shouting, whispering and singing. It undermines the linguistic clichés and reveals the language in its ideological dimension," she said.

The play highlighted the stereotypes piled on to a women starting from her childhood, being fed on fairytales and Prince Charming, and later on with numerous films selling ideas of beauty or obedience.

After in-your-face international treat, the audiences were shown another truth about our own society through Rabindranath Tagore's short story, Chandalika. Inspired from a Buddhist text, Chandalika portrayed the story of an untouchable girl Prakriti and her awakened sense of dignity and belongingness by the coming of a monk, Ananda.

Directed and presented by Usha Ganguly, one of the pioneers of Indian theatre, Chandalika is one of her most celebrated works on stage. The actor-director and winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi award apart from other credits, Isha Ganguly was quite impressed by the show in Amritsar. "I have come here for the first time and I am quite impressed by the audiences here."

Speaking about the play, she shared how her life and career was shaped through Tagore and his works. "Rabindranath Tagore occupied an important part in my thoughts all through my career as an actor and director. His stories and characters, especially strong female protagonists always inspired me to translate one of his works. Chandalika immediately struck me as one that can still be identified with in a society in which lower castes and their sufferings remain a reality. It was an enriching experience for me doing this play."

The SAD leaders statue in the park have been covered up in Amritsar following the Election Commission’s directions. Photo: Vishal Kumar

On the lines of covering the statues of UP Chief Minister Mayawati and the elephants for being BSP's the symbol of the BSP, the Election Commission has ordered to cover-up the plaque of a park constructed in Amritsar South constituency as well as the statue of SAD senior leader Raminder Singh Bolaria, after whose name this park was rechristened recently.

Raminder Singh Bolaria was father of SAD candidate Inderbir Singh Bolaria, who is representing the party from this constituency in the ensuing Assembly elections.

Barring the foundation stone which was unveiled on December 12 by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, the district electoral staff, got the name of the park 'Raminder Singh Memorial Park' written on top of its main entrance as well as the statue installed inside the park, covered with black polythene sheets as these were violating the election code of conduct, enforced since December 24.

On the other hand, the posters of Inderbir Bolaria, pasted on the boundary wall of another park situated near this park, escaped the attention of the election authorities.

The Election Commission guidelines demand that no political poster or hoarding can find place on the public property, from the moment the election code of conduct comes in force.

This park, originally known as 'Sakattri Bagh' had also raised controversy when the SAD leadership, got it renovated after spending Rs 5 crore and dedicated it to the party's senior leader posthumously.

Amritsar, January 16
Monday morning witnessed a grey sky coupled with a heavy downpour and even lower mercury levels than yesterday. The winter chill brought surprise showers for the city which continued till the morning today. The sudden deluge not only added to great inconvenience for the residents but further lowered the temperatures in the region.

The winter chill increased after the surprise rain immediately after Lohri. “Post Lohri, the cold weather usually retreats as the festival is said to mark the end of the winter season. But this time it is the opposite,” said Usha Raj Khanna, a resident of White Avenue. The minimum temperature recorded after the rain was 10 degree Celsius on Monday and it is predicted that it will be cloudy throughout the week.

“It was indeed a surprise to see rain after Lohri. We were expecting sunnier afternoons from then on,” said Lalit Saini, from Shori Nagar. He says the rain will bring some respite from the dry cold, “Rain is a positive sign as at least now the air will not be dry. It is considered good for health and keeps the usual winter problems away.”

While some residents are cribbing that the rain brings with it traffic jams, train delays, many are enjoying the cloudy weather. The coffee shops and dhabas in the city corners are packed with people enjoying the weather over piping hot cups of tea and pakoras. “It’s the best time to have pakoras and since you can’t go out much with friends when it rains, you have got to enjoy the weather whichever way possible,” feels Maninder Davar, a businessman from Ranjit Avenue.

Amritsar, January 16
The police has booked eight persons for allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old girl on the promise of marriage. The accused include Roshan Deen, his brother Makhan Deen, residents of Rohi Dera Gujran, Bandala, Moju of Sangat Pura, Dera Gujran, Roshan Deen of Ghanupur Kale and three other unidentified persons.

The police has registered a case under Section 363, 366-A and 120-B IPC on the basis of the statement of the victim's mother Nazira, a resident of MK Factory, Verka Bypas.

Nazira alleged that the accused barged into their house and kidnapped her daughter.

In another incident, Kotwali police has booked a dozen persons for allegedly threatening to kidnap a girl.

The accused were allegedly pressurizing the girl's family to marry the victim to their son Raju.

The police has registered a case under Section 366, 452, 506 and other relevant sections of IPC.

The accused have been identified as Raju, his brother Sohrab Puri, their mother Manju Bala, father Rampal Puri and eight other unidentified persons.

Victim's father Jagdish Chand, in his statement to the police alleged that the accused barged into their house last evening and forced them to marry their daughter to their son Raju.

He said when they refused to comply, the accused threatened to kidnap their daughter.

Amritsar, January 16
The health authorities have failed to check the sale of habit forming drugs. Sale of these drugs goes on with impunity especially in the urban slum areas such as Guru Ki Wadali, Chetuana, Maqboolpura, Chheharta, Ghannupur, Kale, Verka etc.

Persons selling these drugs are devising new ways to distribute the same to avoid the law enforcement agencies. If the residents are to be believed, several notorious medical stores have hired youths to supply a daily dose of the drug to addicts at their doorstep. The trend is more visible in the slum areas in the holy city.

According to the data of Narcotic Control Bureau as many as 16 per cent of residents in border state of Punjab is hooked to hard drugs and any political party can win over this vulnerable group of voters by supplying drugs. A resident of Guru Ki Wadali said drug addiction has assumed alarming proportions in the area while no efforts have been made so far to nail the problem. The authorities only take action when the situation goes out of hands, he alleged.

Rajat Aggarwal, deputy commissioner, said static surveillance teams constituted by the electoral authorities are conducting raids at suspected complexes. “The drive will be intensified. The police and the health department officials are on their toes. With paramilitary forces being deployed in the city, we have planned flag marches and setting up of nakas in the sensitive areas on alternate days,” he said. Civil Surgeon, Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, said he will look into this and ask drug inspectors to conduct raids and keep a close eye on medical stores which are involved in such illegal practice.

Amritsar, January 16
The Amritsar Bar Association is on a warpath over the alleged police inaction in the incident in which an advocate, Kuljit Singh, was assaulted and seriously injured by several "political connected" unscrupulous elements in Rishi Nagar area on January 3.

Kuljit Singh was attacked at his private property after he had opposed a move to lay public sewerage pipes on his land. He had claimed that he had even procured stay orders from the local courts after there was an attempt to illegally occupy his land.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohan Lal, was entrusted with the inquiry into the case. As many as 11 persons were booked by the police in this connection on January 5.

However, Pardeep Kumar Saini, president, Amritsar Bar Association, in a press conference here today alleged that a counter case of attempt to murder was registered against the lawyer under the political pressure of MLA Anil Joshi who was also responsible for the attack. He alleged it was Joshi who had given oral instructions to the accused for the attack.

"We had met the Police Commissioner at that time who had assured us of action against the accused unscrupulous persons. However, even after two weeks, the police has failed to take any concrete action in this regard," said Saini.

Saini, who was accompanied by NS Turna, general secretary of the association, threatened that if the police failed to withdraw the alleged counter case registered against the lawyer besides arresting the accused responsible for the attack by 12 pm tomorrow, the advocates would be forced to stop work of the courts.

"After this we would present ourselves for court arrest outside Sadar police station where the case has been registered against the lawyer," said Saini.

RP Mittal, Police Commissioner, said the action would be taken on merit. He said the investigations delayed as ADCP who was probing the case went on leave due to some unavoidable circumstances.

"I have told the ADCP in very clear cut words to take action on the merit of case," said Mittal.

Amritsar, January 16
A group of folk artists from Poland today interacted with the students of Khalsa College of Education (KCE) and exchanged views on education. The visiting students said the major focus of the education in Poland was to identify uniqueness in students and then sharpen their skills in their respective fields.

Having come here on the invitation of KCE Principal Dr Jaswinder Singh

Dhillon, Kasia Jompovski, leader of the artists' group, said they were overwhelmed to see that the stress of education in India was not only on creating professionals, but also inculcating values among the students to make them better human being.

She said English is taught in Polish schools as a foreign language and their primary motive is to enhance the creativity of students in the classrooms.

Dr Dhillon said that the interaction was valuable as it provided exposure to the college students.