Bathinda, April 22
The security cover provided for the prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally in Bathinda on April 25 does not seem to be going down well with the city residents.

Special barricades and check points have been laid at all the intersections of the city where round-the-clock checking is being conducted by the police and paramilitary forces.

The Gujarat Chief Minister is likely to reach the rally venue at Model Town Phase III to address a huge gathering.

Preparations to give a perfect look and security of the venue were in full swing and the policemen have already been deployed at the venue and at all the roads leading to the place.

The police claims to leave no choice for bad elements and put security on high alert by decoding all probabilities of every kind of threat in and around Bathinda. The city residents however fumes that they feel uncomfortable to get their vehicles checked at every nook and corner.

“My car was inspected thrice in the city and its outskirts while on my way to the college on Goniana Road and I got late for an urgent meeting,” said NK Gosain.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Bhullar said they leave no chinks in the security and have filled every gaping hole by deploying policemen all around the city and the neighbouring areas.

Apart from combing operation, taking suspected elements into custody, spreading the net of intelligence agencies and the CID, men and women police in plain clothes have also been deployed all over the area.

A senior citizen and educationist, Raj Gupta, lamented that her vehicle is checked every day twice while she pays a visit to her academy situated close to the rally’s venue.

“Despite knowing that I travel daily, my vehicle is forced to be parked in the long queue of the serpentine vehicles for checking. The checking is irritatingly slow and precious time is lost,” Gupta said. She added that the police should make the arrangements in such a manner that the ‘aam admi’ (common man) should not suffer during such rallies.

“What am I to do with the rally, which is held in the larger interest of those who are associated with a particular party? Why people are harassed in the name of security,” she questioned.

As per BJP spokesperson Sunil Singla, Narendra Modi is likely to visit Bathinda during the evening hours. Before reaching Bathinda, he would address rallies in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and before winding up, he will also visit Amritsar.

A section of the BJP workers said their routine work of encouraging people to vote for the BJP will affect Modi’s rally. “The workers associated with the party will visit the rally, but their interaction with the people at the grassroot will suffer for at least two to three days. Instead of meeting people, they will remain busy for the preparation of the rally,” said one of the party workers.

Sunil Singla also admitted that the preparations for the rally affects the routine campaigning and canvassing, but the rally would surely encourage the party workers and the public.

Senior police functionaries said it is the part of their duty and public will have to cooperate with the security agencies to carry out the checking.

“Such checking also keeps the bad elements at bay and instills a sense of security among the city residents. The sharp decline in the petty criminal activities in and around the city in view of the rising security is testimony to this fact,” said SSP Gurpreet Bhullar.

Chaos rules as Harsimrat campaigns in city Chaos rules the roost as the cavalcade of more than a dozen vehicles comprising SUVs, ambulance, police Gypsies and a Swaraj Mazda carrying commandos thronged the local Ajit Road today. It was a door-to-door meeting of Harsimrat Kaur Badal contesting the MP election on a SAD ticket.

“We have been told not to park even two-wheelers in front of our own shops. The policemen reached at 4 pm and ordered the people not to park their vehicles and even stand in groups on the road,” said the owner of a gift shop on Ajit Road.

City residents said though it was the campaigning for the Badal bahu, it was sheer harassment for the city residents as policemen keep nagging them between nearly one and-half-kilometer stretch between the Ghorewala Chowk and the Fauji Chowk on Ajit Road. Harsimrat met people at the residence of a city doctor on Ajit Road and visited the houses of a few workers in the evening at around 7.30 pm. The city residents were seen arguing with the cops blocking various streets on the road, not allowing even those residing nearby to cross through.

Bathinda, April 22
The videographers and drivers outsourced for the poll duty have not been paid even a single penny for the work they have been doing since March 6, when the model code of conduct came into being for the general elections.

Twenty videographers have been hired for the poll duty whose main task is to videograph the election rallies and political functions of the candidates. Based on these videos prepared, the video viewing teams and accounting teams view the violations of code of conduct as well as prepare accounts of the money spent on different political activities.

“We form the main chain of events. All of us are at the disposal of the Election Office round the corner and cover events at night too. Despite our hard work, we have not been paid even a single penny so far,” said a group of videographers who refused to work today and met the Returning Officer Kamal Kishore Yadav.

The videographers are paid Rs 1,600 per day. During the last assembly elections, the videographers and drivers were paid on weekly basis. The non-payment has led to resentment among the staff that met the District Election Officer (DEO) Kamal Kishore Yadav but could not find a solution to the problem.

“At times when the elections mean seasonal job opportunities for the outsourced staff, we are going around penniless,” lamented one of the videographers. Besides these videographers, a handful will be hired for the April 30 polling day. However, with the existing staff not being paid, the new batches of videographers are not ready to chip in for April 30.

Apart from this, the daily expenses are also being run on credit basis. Everyday around 30 to 35 CDs are being used as the events taped are made into several copies and are sent to the officers concerned. These articles, too, are being lifted on credit basis from the market.

Meanwhile, the Assistant District Election Officer, Sonali Giri said that every ARO has been given allocated advance budget to meet the demands of things used on daily basis.

“The payments for videographers and drivers could only be cleared when the final bills are submitted and this will happen only after April 30. We have conveyed the same to staff which is demanding payments,” she said.

Bathinda, April 22
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate from the Bathinda parliamentary seat, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, has spent maximum on her campaigning, while the Congress candidate and her brother-in-law Manpreet Badal trails at the second place. Interestingly, Manpreet Badal, whose candidature is giving sleepless nights to the Congress, has spent only Rs 78,000 on his campaign.

With the second level checking of the candidates’ expenditures having been completed, the Election Office has found a yawning gap in the expenses of the SAD candidate. As per the office of the Returning Officer (RO), Bathinda, Harsimrat has spent Rs 21,13,986 on her campaign so far. However, this does not include the Rs 6,37,261 for which the SAD has been served a notice.

The RO’s office is maintaining shadow expense registers of all candidates wherein entries of money spent on campaigning are done. “The shadow register has all details of expenses incurred at different rallies and public functions. However, in the case of SAD, there is a yawning gap of Rs 6.37 lakh. “We have served a notice to the SAD and that’s why it has not added this amount to its expenses. The SAD has filed an application which is under consideration of a committee that includes the expenditure observer, the RO and other officials,” said the Election Office employees.

Similarly, the Congress-PPP candidate Manpreet Badal has spent Rs 13.78 lakh on campaigning so far. The expense of the Congress registers, too, had entries different than that of the shadow registers. However, the Congress willingly added increased expense to its account.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Jasraj Singh Longia has spent Rs 5,70,497 on his campaign, while the Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) candidate Kuldeep Singh has spent Rs 2.79 lakh. After the major political parties, it’s the Nav Bharat Democratic Party’s Jagdish Rai who has spent the maximum on campaign at Rs 1.63 lakh. Intriguingly, the independent candidate Manpreet Badal from Lambi, who is yet to be seen campaigning in the field has spent Rs 78,638 on “campaign” whereas the National Panther Party’s Shaminder Singh’s election expenses are nil.

Notices are being served to three candidates who have remained absent from getting their expenditure registers checked. These include Bhagwant Singh of the CPIL ML, Geeta Rani of the Akhil Bharatiya Shiv Sena Rashtravadi and independent candidate Jagdeep Singh.

The third phase of checking of expense registers will be conducted on April 27. Final expenses will also include expenses incurred on the polling day on April 30. 

Bathinda, April 22
Congress-PPP-CPI joint candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency Manpreet Singh Badal may be one of the five candidates from the constituency who didn’t accept police security, but his son and main campaigner Arjun Badal has two gunmen who follow him like a shadow wherever he goes to campaign.

On Monday, when the members of the youth wing of the People’s Party of Punjab held a roadshow, the gunmen looked around, scanning the crowd while Arjun waved at them and requested the public to vote for his father.

Security forces deployed for the VIPs and their wards has always been an issue with the general public. But in this election, several candidates have been denied security to improve rapport with the public. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) began this trend on a war footing when led by its chief, Arvind Kejriwal, the party leaders sought to mingle freely with the crowd and gave an impression that they were one of them.

“My father feels that although he doesn’t need security, we need it. While campaigning during the last assembly elections, there were instances when fights and brawls had taken place at venues where my mother, sister and I had gone to campaign. To avoid such untoward incidents and keep a watch on the crowd after the dark, my father got his gunmen to accompany me,” said Arjun Badal.

He added that the security personnel also accompany his mother, Veenu Badal, albeit in plainclothes.

“Given the law and order situation in the state, I fear for the safety of my family. The two gunmen accompanying my son are the ones who have been with me for years now. Since I am not a sitting duck for the opposition, I don’t need security and hence, preferred them to accompany my son instead,” said Manpreet Badal.

It is pertinent to mention here that Manpreet has been vehement in his opposition to the use of security personnel and red beacons by the politicians. “Beacons are required on ambulances and fire brigades to get them easy passage through the traffic. I wonder why politicians require the same?”  he said.

Bathinda, April 22
Claiming to make the people of Bathinda “aware” of the real Manpreet Badal, Ashok Garg and Pradeep Garg, seed traders from Gidderbaha today accused Manpreet of settling scores with them in 2007 and directing the Department of Agriculture of taking away seeds worth crores from their shop, Punjab Beeh Bhandar.

Meanwhile, brushing aside the allegation, Manpreet told the Bathinda Tribune that this was being “orchestrated by Sukhbir Singh Badal as his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal had no agenda but to malign his credibility by raking up a high-profile case in which the shop in question was blacklisted for selling spurious seeds.”

Accusing Manpreet of ruining their business, Ashok said, “In the 2007 elections, we had extended our support to Sant Singh Brar, the independent candidate contesting the Gidderbaha assembly seat against Manpreet. After he won and became the finance minister, he clandestinely directed the Department of Agriculture to blacklist our firm.”

“During the raids, officials of the Department of Agriculture took away seed stocks worth Rs 5.5 crore and left us fending for ourselves. After ruining our business, a fake case of attempt to murder, under Section 307 of the IPC was also registered against my brother Keval Krishan Garg. The case proved to be the final nail in the coffin and my brother died in 2012,” he added.

Speaking to Tribune News Service, Manpreet said, “Since I was the Finance Minister in 2007, I couldn’t have issued directions to the Department of Agriculture. Their firm was blacklisted for selling spurious seeds and causing losses to thousands of farmers. This blast from the past has been orchestrated by the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal. Since Harsimrat Kaur Badal has no agenda of her own, the husband-wife duo is out to attack my credibility. Similar reports will keep surfacing till April 30 as part of SAD poll stunt.”

Bathinda, April 22
The Baba Farid College of Engineering and Technology organised a seminar on “World Earth Day” here today. Deputy Director (Activities) of the BFGI, BD Sharma, gave a warm welcome to the keynote speaker, Professor, Dean and Coordinator, the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Dr AK Sharma.

Prof Sharma explained world’s energy scenario through a powerpoint presentation. “Saving environment is essential for us, it’s unbelievable to know that we don’t even have the species of many birds which used to exist 50 years ago and this is because of the changing weather and pollution. Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. As the urban population grows and the effects of the climate change worsen, our cities will also have to evolve accordingly,” he said.

“It’s time for us to invest in efficiency and renewable energy, rebuild our cities and towns, and begin to solve the climate crisis. With smart investments in sustainable technology, forward-thinking public policy, and an educated and active public, we can transform our cities and forge a sustainable future. Nothing is more powerful than the collective action of a billion people,” he added.

A special programme was also organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Maisarkhana, under the supervision of principal Varinder Pal Kaur.

Addressing the students, teachers and parents, the Eco Club in-charge Rakesh Narula said World Earth Day is celebrated all over the world for spreading awareness for a greener and safer Earth. Smoke emitting from the industries, use of plastic, cutting of trees, improper disposal of sewage, excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have added to the woes on the planet, he added.

With the motivation of the principal, students pledged that they will change their habits and will adopt the eco-friendly measures to make earth green and worth living. Teachers Loveleen and Amarjit Kaur told the students that Punjab State Council for Science and Technology is rendering useful service through the Eco Clubs in Punjab as these clubs organise eco-friendly activities.

RBDAV School also organised an event to observe the day. Students of Classes III to X participated in the event. While the students of primary classes planted trees and promised to look after them as they grow, students of Classes VI and VII made paper bags. Students of Class VIII participated in poster-making competition. Students of Class IX participated in a banner making competition while students of Class X participated in a badge making contest.

Bathinda, April 22
The Sports Department will now take the land of Multipurpose Sports Stadium from the Waqf Board on lease for 99 years.

The department will pay the rent on monthly basis as per the terms and conditions, as it had lost the case in the Supreme Court recently.

The department and the board had been at loggerheads for quite sometime, first fighting the case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court claiming that the land belongs to them. Then after losing the case, the Sports Department approached the Supreme Court, challenging the verdict of the high court.

It is learnt that on the directions of the Supreme Court, the Sports Department and the Waqf Board reached a compromise, in which the department had agreed that the land belonged to the board, and in turn, the board agreed to give the land to the department on lease on monthly rent.

The Waqf Board had started the process to take the land for which they had even measured the area in January to decide the rate of the lease.

District Sports Officer (DSO) Darshan Singh while talking to Bathinda Tribune said the department had lost the case and now the department would take the land of Multipurpose Sports Stadium from the board on lease for 99 years.

When asked about the rent, he said this had been discussed by the higher authorities and only he knew that the rent would be paid on a monthly basis and would be borne by the District Administration or the State Sports Department.

He said the department would pay the rent for the land which was only being utilised by it. As over the years, several parts of the land were used for building other facilities like the Government Elementary School, a part of the land was also used to develop the Jaipalgarh village.

While Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav said the Sports Department had lost the case in the Supreme Court and he was waiting for the court’s copy of the case for further action.

A Waqf Board official said the land belonged to the board and the Sport Department was bound to give us the rent for the whole area as the department is responsible for the land used by the school and development of the Jaipalgarh village.

Bathinda, April 22
Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, the BJP-SAD candidate from Faridkot, got a shot in the arm when more than 100 families earlier supporting the Congress joined the Shiromani Akali Dal under the leadership of Bathinda Zila Parishad chairman Gurpreet Singh Maluka at Rampura Phul today.

Maluka, while campaigning in Ghanda Banna, Dulewal, Burj Rajgarh, Bhai Rupa and Fulewala villages welcomed the families into the party fold and assured them of full support.Maluka appealed that for the betterment and development of the area, they should vote for SAD-BJP candidate.