Jalandhar, July 7
Punjab BJP chief Rajinder Bhandari has made it clear that the issue of the post of Deputy Chief Minister was still alive. Addressing media persons at Circuit House here on Saturday, Bhandari said, “It’s not a prestige issue for us as our demand is genuine.”

Regarding difference of opinion between the two alliance partners - Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP - over the Dera Sacha Sauda episode, he said the party had decided to play it safe on certain sensitive issues. “We do not want any more controversies,” he added.

Revealing his strategies for the forthcoming municipal corporation poll, the BJP president said the party was trying to increase its seat share.

“We have performed exceptionally well in the urban areas of the state in the Assembly elections and therefore we need to be rewarded for it. Our reach among the masses has increased and we can bring much better results,” said Bhandari, adding that he was hopeful of a sizable increase in Jalandhar seats this time.

He further said the BJP was trying to make its working very systematic.

“We are planning to improve our communication channel right up to the grassroots level. Not just me, even our top national leaders would be in touch with the workers over the phone,” he claimed.

Bhandari also pointed out that the national leadership of the party was meeting at Chandigarh on Sunday. Among others, MPs, MLAs of the two parties and NDA allies from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir would participate in the event. Answering a query regarding the MC elections schedule, local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia said, “It’s a decision to be taken by the Election Commission. We expect it to happen before August 15.”

Defending honouring Jagjit Singh Chohan, who died in April this year, Bhandari said, “The man was a former member of the Vidhan Sabha. It’s a protocol to pay homage to ex-members who pass away.”

Nawanshahr, July 7
Residents of a number of colonies developed along the Rahon and Chandigarh roads have been devoid of the basic civic amenities, including sewerage, drinking water, streets, drains and street lights, for the past many years.

The colonies are Vikas Nagar, Friends Colony, Bhatti Colony, Guru Angad Nagar, Nakhan Wala Bagh and New Teachers Colony. “Instead of providing the basic facilities, the government has launched big projects merely to get the electoral benefit,” residents said.

“The work on implementing sewerage and drinking water facilities in the town is being done at a snail’s pace,” they added.

Extension sought

The State Democratic Teachers Front has requested the National Foundation for Teacher Welfare to extend the last date of accepting the applications from school teachers for the financial assistance to their wards for pursuing professional education.

Notably, under the scheme the wards of teachers, undergoing professional courses, get a financial assistance of Rs 15,000 per annum.

Front’s state president Bhupinder Singh Warraich said since the district education office had not received application forms yet, the teachers were not able to submit the applications on the last date.

Jalandhar, July 7
The Technical Services Union, an employees’ body of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), started its session at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall here today in the presence of hundreds of board delegates and employees.

TSU president Amarjit Singh Sodhi and general secretary Ranjit Singh hold the management responsible for not filling the vacant posts despite an increase in the workload.

Apart from delegates, presidents of various employees’ organisations of the board also participated in the two-day session. Ranjit Singh presented a report about its activities.

The employees also had a serious discussion on the ongoing privatisation of the PSEB by the state government.

“Outsourcing of work and employment of retired employees were posing a threat to the existing work force,” said TSU representatives. Representative of the junior engineers’ council of the board R.K. Chaudhary also addressed the delegates.