Sonia ‘helped’ Quattrochhi flee
JALANDHAR, Aug 29 — BJP General Secretary Narendra Modi today lambasted the Congress for having adopted an "anti-government and pro-Pakistan stance on the Kargil issue", and added that Pakistan authorities were using the Congress stand on Kargil as a big propaganda weapon by projecting it in a big way on Pakistan TV.


Ramoowalia refutes Badal’s claim
SANGRUR, Aug 29 — A former Union Minister and President, Lok Bhalai Manch, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, stated that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had claimed that Rs 300 crore had been granted as relief to the paddy growers in Punjab who had suffered huge financial losses as their paddy was badly damaged because of untimely rain that had lashed Punjab in October, 1998.

Ram mandir issue ‘pushed to background’
LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — Senior BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Public Works Kalraj Mishra today claimed that the National Democratic Alliance led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee would win with a thumping majority.

Woman beaten to death
LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — A woman, Manju Trikha, was allegedly murdered by her husband, Rakesh Kumar Trikha, in the Maharaj Nagar locality here last night.

2,000 hectares of paddy hit by mysterious disease
MOGA, Aug 29 — Nearly 2,000 hectares of paddy crop in villages under the Baghapurana police station in the district has been damaged due to a mysterious disease, according to farmers here yesterday.

Malika wins beauty contest
PATIALA, Aug 29 — Miss Malika was crowned Miss Sheifiton-99 while Miss Deepti and Miss Shweta were declared first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively, at a beauty contest held here last night.

Gurdwara committees’ poll likely on time
AMRITSAR, Aug 29 — The Chief Election Commission, Gurdwaras, is keen on holding elections to notified gurdwara committees on schedule in 2001.

Dal (Tohra) wants SHO shifted
LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has demanded the immediate transfer of Mr Baldev Singh SHO, Ballianwal police station of Bathinda district for canvassing in favour of the ruling SAD-BJP candidate.

Sonia ‘helped’ Quattrochhi flee

JALANDHAR, Aug 29 (UNI) — BJP General Secretary Narendra Modi today lambasted the Congress for having adopted an "anti-government and pro-Pakistan stance on the Kargil issue", and added that Pakistan authorities were using the Congress stand on Kargil as a big propaganda weapon by projecting it in a big way on Pakistan TV.

Addressing an election rally in support of Akali-BJP candidate Prabhjot Kaur in the city, he claimed that the Congress had violated its own election manifesto by reneging on its anti-coalition and anti-alliance stand.

The Congress was now talking in terms of forging electoral alliances and coalition at the Centre even before the first vote had been cast, he added.

While Sonia Gandhi and her daughter were seeking votes in Bellary in the name of the "family", BJP candidate Sushma Swaraj solicited votes in the name of "Bharat Mata" (Mother India, showing the vast difference in the approach and attitude of the two parties.

The BJP leader charged Sonia Gandhi with helping her Italian friend Ottavio Quattorocchi flee the country. He was to be interrogated by CBI in the Bofors case.

Mr Modi said while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was contesting on a common agenda and had issued a joint manifesto, the Congress despite entering into alliances with regional parties, has not yet issued any common agenda despite saying it was not averse to a coalition.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal continued his tirade against Sonia Gandhi, alleging that she still held her Italian passport and declared herself an Italian whenever she went abroad.

Punjab Health Minister Manoranjan Kalia said if the credit for wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 could go to the then Congress Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, then why couldn't Mr Vajpayee claim credit for the Kargil victory.

Relief to paddy growers
Ramoowalia refutes Badal’s claim
From Our Correspondent

SANGRUR, Aug 29 — A former Union Minister and President, Lok Bhalai Manch, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, stated that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had claimed that Rs 300 crore had been granted as relief to the paddy growers in Punjab who had suffered huge financial losses as their paddy was badly damaged because of untimely rain that had lashed Punjab in October, 1998.

Mr Badal, and Union Minister of state for Industries, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, had repeatedly assured Punjab farmers that the relief amount would be released soon by the Centre and disbursed among paddy growers around the middle of March, when the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, would pay a visit to Bathinda in connection with the refinery site there, Mr Ramoowalia said while talking to mediapersons here today.

He told reporters that the said amount of Rs 300 crore had never been sanctioned by the Centre as claimed by Mr Badal and Mr Barnala.

In support of his statements, he released a photo copy of the letter written by Mr Sompal, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, on April 23. The minister in the letter had written that the Punjab Government had demanded a financial relief of Rs 1140.60 crore from the Natural Calamity Relief Fund for the damage to paddy caused by untimely rain. A meeting of the Natural Calamity Relief Committee was held on March 15, where the request of the Punjab government was discussed. The committee, according to the letter, felt that the state government was in a position to meet the financial loss caused by untimely rain from its own resources. Hence, no relief amount was sanctioned by the central government as claimed by Mr Badal, Mr Ramoowalia stated.

The reply from the Union Agriculture Minister proved that Mr Badal and Mr Barnala had been keeping the Punjab farmers in the dark, he said.

Mr Ramoowalia said Mr Badal and Mr Barnala not only owe an explanation in this regard but also an apology for misleading them about the financial relief.

Bhattal predicts SAD rout
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Aug 29 — Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a former CM, while addressing a largely-attended election rally in support of Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, Congress candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency, at Dhariwal, 13 km from here, today said that the Badal government's lacklustre performance would lead to complete rout of the SAD-BJP alliance in the coming Lok Sabha poll in Punjab. It will be a god-sent opportunity for Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal to engineer the fall of the Badal government under the circumstances.

She said the Congress will have no role to play in bringing down the Badal government. Instead history would repeat itself. Mr Talwandi was instrumental in bringing down the Badal government formed in 1977. Mr Badal in turn was responsible for the fall of the Barnala government later on. No BJP-SAD government or SAD government formed in Punjab had completed its full term so far. The fall of Badal government in the near future will be a part of that sequence, she said.

Mrs Bhattal accused the SAD government of bringing economic ruin to the state and said she could improve financial position of the state within a month, given the chance. It only needs suitable financial measures. She said in her 52-days tenure as Chief Minister she had taken 51 measures to bring about integrated development of the state, including free-housing for homeless minorities and constituted a three-member subordinate services selection board to absorb 2500 unemployed youth in government jobs against vacant posts.

She accused Mr Badal of hijacking her programmes.

She said that the present conglomeration of 21 parties with the BJP as its major partner would not be able to give a stable government. Criticising the videshi label on Mrs Sonia Gandhi she asked why her critics were silent when Sonia assumed charge as AICC president.

She questioned the loyalty of Mr Vajpayee saying in 1942, during the quit India movement Mr Vajpayee had avoided arrest by giving in writing that he was not even remotely connected with the Quit India movement.

Mrs Bhattal appealed to voters to vote for Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder on the basis of her performances in the constituency during her long stay as their representative. Mrs Bhinder also addressed the meeting.

As many as 30 Akali leaders of Dhariwal assembly constituency joined the Congress on this occasion.

Ram mandir issue ‘pushed to background’
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — Senior BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Public Works Kalraj Mishra today claimed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee would win with a thumping majority.

Mr Mishra who visited Phagwara, Ludhiana and a few other constituencies in various states was addressing a press conference here.

Referring to the Ram mandir issue Mr Mishra said now that an alliance had been formed, they would thrash out issues on the basis of a common programme and the Ram mandir issue did not find much support from other parties in the NDA.

Commenting on the Udham Singh Nagar issue, Mr Mishra said the issue of its inclusion in Uttarakhand would be decided by a committee constituted for the purpose.

Amarinder warns poll officers
From Our Correspondent

FEROZEPORE, Aug 29 — Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh has categorically said that he does not apprehend large-scale "rigging" in the parliamentary elections by the SAD-BJP activists in Punjab, except the Faridkot parliamentary constituency.

At a press conference held here today, he said Congressmen had warned poll officers in the Faridkot parliamentary constituency to refrain from doing any favour to the nominee of the ruling party in Punjab, otherwise appropriate action would be initiated against them by the Punjab PCC.

To a question, Capt Amarinder Singh said the Punjab Congress was getting daily reports of the violation of model code of conduct from various parts of the state and these reports were being forwarded to the Election Commissioner for necessary action.

Sharply reacting to a statement of the Punjab Chief Minister and the SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, that Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s tour to Punjab had failed to cut ice with the voters, Capt Amarinder Singh said, "Mr Badal will realise the impact of Mrs Sonia’s visit after the poll results".

Capt Amarinder Singh said that there were no dissidents in the Punjab Congress and quipped,"the dissidents are created by you (the mediapersons)". He said that the ongoing controversy among leaders of the Ferozepore DCC had been removed on Saturday evening and now the Ferozepore DCC was united.

Earlier, on Saturday night, Capt Amarinder Singh addressed election rallies in the cantonment and the municipal areas here in favour of the Congress nominee for the Ferozepore parliamentary seat, Mr Hans Raj Josan. At these rallies he strongly criticised the SAD-BJP combine government. The rallies among others were attended by Mr Virender Kataria, a former MP.

BJP 'unnerved' by Sonia's appeal
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — The Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab is seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as it realises that the people of the state are sore with the SAD-BJP's lack of performance in the state and are likely to show them the door, says Punjab Youth Congress Chief, Mr Davinder Singh Babboo.

He said here today that the Chief Minister Mr Badal was quite unnerved by the success of Mrs Sonia Gandhi's rallies in Punjab and was, therefore, indulging in character lashing.

He also criticised Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Mr Parmod Mahajan for their comments against Mr Manmohan Singh and Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

He announced the appointment of Mr Sumeet Batish as the general secretary of Punjab Youth Congress.

Dawar takes charge of DCC office
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — Mr Surinder Dawar assumed office as the newly elected president of District Congress Committee (Urban) amidst tight security here today following apprehensions of a clash between the supporters of Mr Dawar and the former DCC(U) president, Mr Rakesh Panday. Senior party functionaries Davinder Singh Babbo, president of Punjab Youth Congress, Mohinder Singh Kalyan, Pawan Diwan and Nahar Singh Gill were present. However, Mr Rakesh Panday did not attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr Rakesh Panday asserted that he still continues to be the DCC president and that the party high command had conveyed this message through Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mr Rajinder Saini, coordinator between the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and the All-India Congress Committee, to the PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh.

Mr Panday reportedly also complained to the police that the party office was forced open and ransacked by Mr Dawar and his supporters.

Umrao Singh AICC observer for Haryana

JALANDHAR, Aug 29 (PTI) — Former Congress MP Umrao Singh who is currently staying away from the campaign of official party candidate for Jalandhar Balbir Singh after losing the race for the ticket has been appointed AICC observer for Haryana.

A fax message sent by AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes informing Mr Umrao Singh of the party’s decision was received by the former MP today.

Mr Umrao Singh had put up a stiff fight against Mr Balbir Singh for the Congress ticket from this Lok Sabha seat which he had contested unsuccessfully against former Prime Minister I K Gujral in 1998.

Mr Balbir Singh is pitted against the SAD’s Prabhjot Kaur, wife of former Rajasthan Governor Darbara Singh. Both Mr Umrao Singh and former Rajya Sabha MP Iqbal Singh have so far kept away from electioneering with Mr Iqbal Singh even saying that Mr Balbir Singh has no mass base and social acceptability.

Kairon complains of code violations
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Aug 29 — In a complaint to the Election Commission (EC) Gurinder Singh Kairon, a Congress candidate from Tarn Taran has urged that the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha constituency be treated at par with Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency as the code of conduct was being violated with equal impunity by relatives of the Chief Minister.

Mr Kairon urged the EC to depute the CRPF for the Patti assembly segment and take suitable action against a DSP, SHO, DDPO, a Naib Tehsildar and other officials posted in various parts of the constituency who were violating the code. The Patti assembly is represented by the son-in-law of the Chief Minister and a nephew of Mr Gurinder Kairon-the Congress candidate.

Contest between Cong, SHSAD: Tohra
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug 29 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) President, Mr G.S. Tohra, has said that the contest in the state is between the Congress and the SHSAD and its allies and the SAD is at the third position. He was talking to this reporter at Nabipur village today where he had gone to Canvass for the party candidate for the Ropar (R) parliamentary seat.

The former SGPC chief declared that if any of the SHSAD candidate secured less votes than those of the SAD nominees, he would retire from active politics. He also urged Mr Parkash Singh Badal that if he was confident of the victory of his party, he should also make such a declaration so that the issue of the leadership of the SAD could be decided. He said the third front was getting an overwhelming response.

Answering a question, he said BJP workers were not taking active part in the elections as they were also fed up with the corruption of party ministers. He ridiculed the statement of Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the PPCC, that all Hindus would vote for the Congress. He said in the sensitive state, the issue of Hindus and Sikhs should not be raised.

Later addressing workers, he said Mr Badal deserted Akal Takht and even suspended its Jathedar.

Posters & heaps of garbage
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR: Election posters are everywhere, notwithstanding the ban.

The order of the District Election Officer reads: "No political party would be allowed to use land building, compound wall without prior permission for creating flag, stalls, placing banners and other election materials and writing of slogans". However, these orders are not being implemented in toto. The photograph accompanying the report was clicked by a volunteer of the Citizens' Forum here.

There are posters on traffic islands, freshly painted walls monuments and electric polls.

The president of the forum, Mr Brij Bedi, says, "We are so shameless that we let our national leaders get degraded by letting their posters pasted near heaps of garbage". Mr Bedi says due to alleged "callous attitude" of the authorities concerned, the heaps of garbage can be seen in various parts of the city.

The posters of Bhagat Puran Singh, the founder of Pingalwara, use for space with these national leaders amidst heaps of garbage.

The forum has urged the government either to direct the authorities concerned to launch a cleanliness drive or entrust the job to an NGO.

Singla campaigns for Parneet
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Aug 29 — Senior Congress leader Sant Ram Singla today said the coming election was a referendum on whether people wanted a stable, honest and secular government or wanted to be misled by false slogans.

Addressing an election rally in favour of Congress candidate Parneet Kaur at a market here, Mr Singla said due to wrong doings of the SAD-BJP government all sections of society were dissatisfied with its performance and wanted change.

Mr Singla emphatically declared that no one could surpass Mrs Parneet Kaur, the Congress candidate, who had more contacts with common people than other candidates. He also appealed to the voters to vote in favour of Mrs Parneet Kaur if they wanted to maintain the dignity and status of the historic city.

BJP alliance ‘anti-minority’
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Aug 29 — Lok Bhalai Party Punjab secretary Mr Manjit Singh Malerkotla has described the SAD election manifesto as old wine in new bottles and a bundle of false promises.

Talking to newsmen here today he alleged that the SAD-BJP alliance adopted anti-minority policies and people had realised this.

Woman beaten to death
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — A woman, Manju Trikha, was allegedly murdered by her husband, Rakesh Kumar Trikha, in the Maharaj Nagar locality here last night.

According to the information available with the police, Manju was beaten on her head with a hammer by her husband after an altercation between the two. Other family members rushed Manju to the hospital where she was declared as brought dead.

It is learnt that the accused, Rakesh Kumar consumed poison after committing the crime. He is recuperating in the local Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and is stated to be out of danger.

A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered.

2,000 hectares of paddy hit by mysterious disease
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Aug 29 — Nearly 2,000 hectares of paddy crop in villages under the Baghapurana police station in the district has been damaged due to a mysterious disease, according to farmers here yesterday.

A deputation of farmers led by Mr Lal Singh, Sarpanch of Chhota Ghar village in the district, said here yesterday that the crop had been damaged due to a disease called "jhulas rog" which turned the paddy crop pale and dry with little chance of its survival, he said. It was intriguing that the crop was damaged when it was likely to be harvested as harvesting of paddy starts in the first week of September. He added that the affected villages included Chhota Ghar, Bara Ghar, Manuke and others. He added that the deputation of farmers on Friday met experts of Punjab Agricultural University apprising them of the disease and also the damage caused. The experts, he added, said at present there were no medicines available to deal with situation. They urged the state government to make arrangements to compensate the farmers for the loss they suffered due to this disease.

Malika wins beauty contest
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Aug 29 — Miss Malika was crowned Miss Sheifiton-99 while Miss Deepti and Miss Shweta were declared first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively, at a beauty contest held here last night.

A dance group, best-17 on Nandan and Nandan Company of Chandigarh, and local theatre personalities entertained the audience.

Miss Malika also won the title of Miss Beautiful Eyes. Miss Deepti and Miss Shweta also won the Miss Perfect and Miss Beautiful smile titles and the Best Catwalk Award, respectively. The number one and number six contestants won the Miss Charming and Miss Beautiful Hair titles, respectively.

The judges were former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, Prof Yogesh Gambhir of the Department of Theatre and Television, Punjabi University, Mr Nasib Singh, an entrepreneur, fashion expert Payal Midha, and noted choreographer. Anil Agnihotri.

The dresses were designed by students of the local Polytechnic for Women. Designs of students of the National Institute of Fashion Design here were on display in the evening dress round. The show was choreographed by Vinod Verma and his wife, Anju Verma.

Gurdwara committees’ poll likely on time
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Aug 29 — The Chief Election Commission, Gurdwaras, is keen on holding elections to notified gurdwara committees on schedule in 2001.

Justice Harbans Singh, Chief Election Commissioner, Gurdwaras, in a communication to the secretary, SGPC, a copy of which was sent to the SGPC chief, has directed that the delimitation of the constituencies should be done at the earliest.

Talking to this reporter, Mr Kulwant Singh, secretary of the SGPC, said this was the first time that the elections to the notified gurdwara committees were likely to be held on schedule. Earlier, the elections were held after 35 years.

However, the state government has not so for issued a notification about the nomination of an SC member each for the notified gurdwara committees. Mr Surjit Singh, a former secretary of the SGPC, alleged that the government had deliberately withheld the notification.

Dal (Tohra) wants SHO shifted
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 29 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has demanded the immediate transfer of Mr Baldev Singh SHO, Ballianwal police station of Bathinda district for canvassing in favour of the ruling SAD-BJP candidate.

In a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab Dr Brajendra Singh with a copy to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M.S. Gill, from the Central Election Office here yesterday the Secretary General of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur alleged that the SHO had been threatening panchayat members and influential persons in the favour of ruling SAD-BJP candidates.