Jalandhar, July 31
With just eight days left for the MC polls, rival candidates from various wards have begun campaigning aggressively. From door-to-door canvassing at 6 am, to using various publicity materials and holding nukkad meetings in the evening, the contestants are trying various means to mingle with the voters and strike cordial relations with them. To win their voters’ hearts the candidates are more than ready to get petty works done. Candidate are engaged in even running down their rivals for vote bank.

One of the most keenly-contested seat is from Ward 33 where sitting Congress councillor Harkishen Bawa is fighting against the district president, BJP Shiv Dayal Chugh. While Chugh is leaving no stone unturned to win the seat to keep up his image in the party, Bawa is in no mood to leave his citadel. Bawa is, in fact, at an advantageous position as the ward that mostly comprises of Akali followers has some independent candidates who have left the party after the seat went to BJP’s kitty.

Harbhajan Singh Multani, Captain (retired), one of the independent candidates, has the support of members of the Golden Avenue Welfare Society, a teachers’ union, Makhan Shah Lubana Society as well as serving and retired officers of the Indian Army living in the area.

The SAD candidates find themselves more secure in Jalandhar South wards ever since former Congress mayor Surinder Mahey has withdrew from this seat. The fact that Mahey is at loggerheads with former MLA from the constituency, Mahinder Singh Kaypee, suits them even more as Mahey is expected to work against the councillors chosen by Kaypee. SAD has also managed to adjust rebel Congress workers, including Narinder Kaur as candidate from ward 54 and Aruna Arora, wife of Kaypee’s aide Manoj Arora, from ward 55.

Ward 14 promises a tough fight as the sitting Congress councillor, Kuljit Singh Babbi, is pitted against BJP’s Ashok Gandhi, an advocate. Babbi’s respite is that Suresh Marwaha whose ticket was cancelled in favour of Ashok Gandhi is said to have turned rebel.

Babbi is also reportedly preparing pamphlets highlighting various civic works accomplished by him over the past five years.

The outcome wards where the kin of sitting MLAs are contesting, like Adampur MLA Sarbjit Makkar’s nephew Harsimar Singh Makkar in ward number 60, are drawing much interest. His rival here is Rajiv Thakur, who just left the BJP after the seat went to the SAD. He joined Congress and managed a seat from the party. Also seen with interest will be the fate of Shekhar Kalia, kin of local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia, who is fighting from ward 26. Former MLA Raj Kumar Gupta’s son and a sitting councillor, Pawan Kumar Gupta, too is trying for a comeback from ward 24. SAD district president, Gurcharan Singh Channi’s brother, Amarjit Singh Amri, is contesting on BJP ticket from ward 30.

Jalandhar, July 31
His words tore out of the eerie silence of some of the worst times India has faced, be it the time of emergency or terrorism.

Surinder Dhanjal’s name stands tall among revolutionary poets of our times. Known for his fiery views which still instill the zeal to fight against social evils, Dhanjal says he believes in the light of the dazzling Suns in hearts of masses, the light which burns bright to change order of our times.

The poet has undertaken a journey from the burning sand dunes of his Chakk Bhaika village in Raikot, Ludhiana, to crossing the seven seas to teach in various prestigious universities in Canada. He was recently honoured with Surinder Hem Jyoti Award in Jalandhar.

“There were only four chaubare in our village back then and we walked barefoot on hot sand dunes to reach school. Despite every odd, the path of brotherhood shown by the communist movement paved way for my revolutionary poetry,” he adds.

The village of simple people, who stood dignified in their poverty with the richness of ideas, suffered due to unjust distribution of wealth, says Dhanjal.

The poet says he wants to make his parents’ kachcha house pukka. And same he wanted for all those he grew up watching suffering life’s hardships because of an unjust order.

“Poetry to me is the meaning which is created in words when there is talent for creative expression and the words convey the pain felt by the people,” says Dhanjal.

On his generation of poets, he appreciates the contribution of youth poets like Harbhajan Halwarvi, Darshan Khatkar, Gurdeep Grewal, Waryam Sandhu, Sant Sandhu, Sant Ram Udasi in carrying out revolutionary message.

Our poetry goes above movements caught in political contents as the meaning of poetry is much deeper the effect much wider and the voice of continuing struggle against darkness-eternal,” Dhanjal signs off.

Jalandhar, July 31
Call up anyone contesting the MC poll and you will find one thing common. Almost all candidates have caller tunes on their mobile phones, which are soft, musical hymns either in the form of a bhajan, shlok or a shabad.

Call up Akali candidate Manjit Singh Titu from ward number 47 and you will hear “Ikonkar Satnam” softly buzzing on his phone as in film “Rang De Basanti.” BJP district president Shiv Dyal Chugh from ward number 33 has shlok “Raja Rana Chhatrapati” as his ring tone.

Sitting Congress councillor from ward number 14, who is re-contesting this time, Kuljit Singh Babbi has shabad “Bisr gayee sab taat parayee” as the caller music. Ravi Mahendru, BJP press secretary and contestant from ward number 37, has chosen the bhajan “Chhoti chhoti kanjkan,” while Akali candidate from ward number 21 Kamaljit Singh Gandhi has picked shabad “Mere Ram Rai” for his tone.

Ask them if this was to project themselves as god-fearing persons to the callers, the reply comes in the negative. Instead everyone come up with a very diplomatic reply as they have been talking with their electorate of their ward these days.

Says Chugh, “I have asked for this tone so that the caller just keeps on listening to the divine music till my phone remains occupied or I am able to take the call. This certainly is not to bemuse my voters or give any impression about myself to them.”

Gandhi comes up with even a more subtle reply, “Basically, I am a very religious person and I like to listen to shabads even in my car and at home. It purifies my mind and my soul and lends a very soothing effect. I want my callers to have a similar experience.”

Babbi goes far ahead as he tries to assert, “Gurbani is the only respite for me. It gives me hope and helps me attain my goals, so this tone for everyone calling me. I am not taking the elections lightly for I can see a tough contest ahead. God is helping me and my supporters attain strength and face the challenge.”

Jalandhar, July 31
The Congress got another setback today when Vijay K. Kumar, a former municipal councillor, and his supporters joined the BJP just a few days before the MC poll. Vijay, who had been associated with the Congress for the past 45 years, cited treatment met out to him by Congress leaders as the reason for his decision to leave the party.

His wife Urmila Rani also switched over to the BJP and resigned from the post of senior vice-president of the Mahila Congress.

The couple said they were persuaded by senior BJP and SAD leaders, including Manoranjan Kalia, MLA K.D. Bhandari and SAD MLA Jagbir Singh Brar.

According to speculations, differences between Vijay and senior Congress leader Avtaar Henry may be the reason for Vijay’s decision.

Disappointed by the Congress attitude, Vijay said, “The Congress did not recognise my 45 years of hard work. I was a like a prisoner in the Congress. But, now I feel like a free soul.”

Meanwhile, Manoranjan Kalia said, “The SAD-BJP alliance would get strengthened after Vijay’s joining the party.

We are heading for an unprecedented victory in the civic body poll and the Congress is going to get wiped out. The BJP would have its mayor to head the Jalandhar MC. We are going to elicit a great degree of benefit with Vijay’s arrival in the BJP,” said Kalia.

Among the other Congress members who joined the BJP included Kamal Krishan Sharma, Raminder Jolly, Shree Ram Jaggi, Hukam Singh Bittu, Sunny and Rinku Kapur.

Jalandhar, July 31
Go-Yuva, an organisation of the youth, by the youth and for the youth, which includes a bunch of teenager’s committed to work for the cause of youngsters, is the latest to hit the city teens circuit.

Unlike their contemporaries, this bunch of 14 teenagers has found a motive in life - to rake up various issues related to the young generation from metamorphosis in juvenile attitude to social problems like drug addiction, female foeticide, AIDS, discrimination against women and not to forget the generation gap. The group comprises Anubhav Chopra, Priya Kanda, Pallavi Khera, Rasadhika Sharma, Usha Ahuja, Shivansh Malhotra, Varun Sharma, Purva Bhalla, Rahul Singal, Aayushi Jain, Apoorva Soni, Ridhima Sharma, Nitish Verma and Ankit Chadha.

The bunch is preparing a series of events, including a road show, plantation drive and a play, in the coming days.

Terming themselves as a theatrical troop of enthusiasts, who are not only passionate about acting and dancing but also aim at performing their bit of social responsibilities, Anubhav Chopra, the leader of the troupe, says since we are young we understand the problems of our generation in a much better way and also the ways to tackle the same.

“It would also help the youths having problems to connect them with us in finding the solution to their problems. The biggest being faced by youths in the present day is the drug menace, which has spread its fangs in every nook and corner of the state,” said Anubhav.

“We are not professionals but all we can do is try to take the youth out of their problems,” he added.

“The troupe is also planning to enact a play titled ‘Apni Story - Apna Funda’ in the mid of August.

It will be our first project and first attempt to show the masses a glimpse of what goes in the young brains of the nation. In the play we will try to take the audience on a musical sojourn whose memoirs will linger endlessly and dwell deep into the contemplation on how we can empower ourselves in bringing a positive change in the society,” said Rasadhika, a troupe member.

This group, which was inspired by the movie, “Rang De Basanti,” has been invited to perform at the Pushpa Gujral Science City to mark Youth Day on August 8.

“We are trying to involve more youths. It will help widen our reach,” said Varun. For all those who wish to join the group or extend their help can call 0181- 2223221.