The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

It’s by hook or crook for desperate candidates
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 7
A day before the civic body poll, desperate to woo the voters in their favour, some candidates of various parties today allegedly resorted to unfair practises.

There were widespread reports of free distribution of freebies, including liquor, consumable items and other stuff, by candidates of various parties at discreet locations to the voters today. At a dairy in Makhdoompura, falling in Ward 35, supporters of a candidate reportedly distributed sacks of wheat flour, pulses and suit pieces to women voters

There had been a spate of reports of free distribution of freebies including liquor, consumable items and other stuff by candidates of various parties at discreet locations to the voters today.

At a dairy in Makhdoompura today, falling in Ward 35, supporters of BJP candidate reportedly distributed sacks of wheat flour, pulses and suit pieces to women voters carrying their voter cards there.

At the dairy today, the women were seen queuing up since morning carrying three to four voter cards of their family members. The men doing the job at the dairy reportedly noted a few details from the voter cards and handed over these back to the residents along with sacks full of ration items primarily including wheat flour and pulses.

The dairy is said to be owned by a Congress leader who had lost to an independent candidate Joginder Singh Tony during the last MC election. The Congress leader, however, is said to be doing this to oblige a BJP minister to seek help for his DSP brother booked for narcotics trade by the vigilance. Also, BJP candidate is said to be the right hand man of this minister these days as he was given the ticket at the last moment cancelling that of Subhash Sood from the ward.

Meanwhile, Tony, who has twice been a councillor from the ward, is being seen as a major threat by desperate candidates from the ward as has been apparent by revoking of his NOC and registration of case for alleged stamp duty evasion against him under alleged political pressure. Tony has termed the incident as yet another attempt by his anxious rivals to win the polls. The BJP candidate, however, could not be contacted for his comments as he did not take the call.

In yet another case, two line officers at PAP were allegedly found with three cases of IMFL on their TVS bike PB-08-AW-7081 for distributing it among voters of the PAP falling in Ward 14. A BJP Yuva Morcha leader, supporter of BJP candidate Ashok Gandhi and a resident of PAP, Harminder Singh Babbu, said he had seen the two men get the liquor and store it in PAP quarters. The men who were interrogated by PAP security are said to have procured the liquor after showing a slip given to him by supporters of Kuljit Singh Babbi, Congress candidate, from a liquor shop at Namdev Chowk. Babbi, however, outrightly denied his involvement in the incident saying that the complainants would have perhaps themselves given the slip in his name and got them nabbed to malign him.

In another case, the supporters of a Congress candidate from Ward 7 near Domoria Bridge today gheraoed a tempo carrying sacks of wheat and other consumable products alleging that the goods were being supplied for free distribution by the BJP candidate there. The supporters said they kept on calling the police for action but when no one appeared, they themselves had to resort to action. SHO of police station division number 3, however, said that the supplier had showed him bills and was a genuine trader; so he was let off.

A case under Excise Act was registered at police station division number 8 against one Joginder Singh, a resident of Ekta Nagar and a supporter of a Congress candidate Manmohan Raju from ward 15, after he was nabbed with a case of liquor near Chogiti. The SHO, Balbir Singh, said even as the vehicle of the accused did not bear any party sticker, his links with the Congress candidate had been established.

Meanwhile, there also were reports of free flow of liquor in ward 56 outside one of the offices of Akali candidate Jaswinder Singh Billa on 68 feet road. Scores of voters and supporters enjoyed the free booze for a pretty long session.

60 per cent booths sensitive in city
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 7
The district police has made elaborate arrangements to ensure free, fair and peaceful municipal corporation elections in the city on August 8.

Talking about the arrangements, SSP (city I) S.K. Kalia said, “The city has 70 hyper-sensitive polling booths. For peaceful polling the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would be deployed at hyper-sensitive polling booths and for patrolling in sensitive areas.”

He said, “There are a total of 455 polling booths in the city and 263 among them are considered to be sensitive. Out of these 263 booths, 70 fall under the category of hyper-sensitive.” Keeping security in mind, police personnel had also been called up from Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala, Kalia added.

The SSP said, “A DSP has been deputed as sector officer in each of the police station and an SP will be supervisory officer over two or three DSPs.” Kalia added 25 special nakas would be laid in the city during the poll from 8 am and would be there till counting got over.

Meanwhile, city Congress chief Arun Walia met deputy commissioner-cum-district returning officer Ajit Singh Pannu on Monday for the conduct of fair elections. Walia has also sent a letter to the Punjab chief election commissioner requesting him to deploy the CRPF at the booths of sensitive wards, including wards 8, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 24, 26, 29, 30, 33, 38, 39, 43, 55 and 60.

Acid test for BJP top gun Kalia
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 7
The MC poll on Wednesday in four cities of Punjab is being considered as the first litmus test of BJP-SAD government. However, for Punjab local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia, the elections have a wider significance as his prestige is directly at stake, especially in his home city.

The BJP leader, who has a considerable clout in Badal cabinet, was frequently seen camping in the city to campaign for the alliance candidates. He has also made claims that the combine would score a thumping win

Kalia, who has a considerable clout in Badal cabinet, was frequently seen camping in the city to campaign for his candidates. The BJP leader has also made claims that the alliance would score a thumping win not only in Jalandhar but also in other three cities. Notably, the alliance had won all the four Jalandhar assembly seats in February. “We would repeat the success of assembly poll,” Kalia had claimed during his rallies. Many other heavyweights, including Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD acting president Sukhbir Badal and BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu have visited the city in the past few days and campaigned in favour of alliance candidates.

On the contrary, the Congress urban president Arun Walia said the residents of Jalandhar city were fed up with the Badal government’s performance. He claimed that the Congress candidates would clearly emerge victorious in the corporation elections.

Young World
Stars descend on Lovely campus
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 7
Shooting of Punjabi film “Lakh Pardesi Hoye” is in progress on Lovely Professional University campus. The entire crew of the film, including Kulbushan Kharbanda, Gracy Singh and Rajat Bedi was present at the varsity on Tuesday. The movie, based on the problems of NRIs in the foreign countries, is being directed by Dr Swaran Singh, divisional commissioner Jalandhar.

Models on display

An exhibition of models was organised at CT Public School. Various projects prepared by students during their summer vacations were on display. Principal Lakhvinder Kaur appreciated the efforts made by the participants.

Shabad singing

Shabad singing contest was held at MGN Public School, Urban Estate-II. There were a total of seven participants representing all the four houses. First position went to Sahibzada Jujhar Singh House.

Poetry recitation

A poetry recitation contest was held at Darshan Academy. Students from nursery and KG class participated in the competition. Principal M.K. Vaid distributed prizes to the winners. An inter-class Hindi poem recitation contest was held at Innocent Hearts School for the students of classes V and VI.

Thirtyone students participated in th event. Among class V participants, Sonam Dhall bagged the first prize, while Tejaswini and Vivien Jain stood second and third respectively. Aastha Bowry, Shruti and Alisha Chawla were first, second and third, respectively among class VI stduents.

Health drive

A health awareness drive was launched at State Public School, Nakodar. SMO Nakodar Dr R.M. Bassan spoke at length about causal factors, symptoms of water-borne diseases and other general ailments like malaria, hepatitis, cholera, dengue and AIDS.

Merit holders honoured

A ceremony was organised at Apeejay College of Fine Arts to honour merit holders. Over 240 students received prizes.

Deputy excise and taxation commissioner of Jalandhar P.S. Gill was the chief guest.

A musical item, showcasing a rare confluence of traditional and modern music was presented by the students.

On cloud nine

A student of PCM SD College for Women Sony Tuli has topped in the diploma course in dress designing and tailoring, the examination of which was conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University. Meenu, a student of Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, has stood second in M.Com-I examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University. She secured 618 marks out of 750. Arun Kaushal, a student of mechanical engineering, Lovely Institute, has stood third in Punjab Technical University examination. He scored 86.40 per cent marks in the eighth semester.

Adelaide scholarship

Mayank Tiwari and Gurleen Kaur, students of BBA first year from Lovely Professional University, have been selected by University of South Australia for a six-month articulation programme. The students will fly to Adelaide to pursue a component of their study at the university campus. The entire tuition fee of the two students will be borne by the university, in addition to the living and flying expenses.

Painting contest

Bal Kalyan Sabha, an NGO, organised a painting contest for students of various schools at Red Cross Bhavan on Tuesday. Over 350 students from 37 schools participated in the event. Participants were segregated in three groups with children from 5 to 8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13 to 16 years. Students from special schools of the city also participated in a special category.

Talent search exam

Holy Faith International Ltd, a concern of MBD group, organised a talent search examination and awarded the toppers at a prize distribution function on Sunday. Master Mohan Lal, transport minister, was the chief guest. As many as 43,000 students appeared for the test, out of which 13,437 students belonged to Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh.

Ashok Malhotra, chairman and managing director, said the aim of the test was to identify brilliant students and prepare them for top medical, engineering, managerial, technical services through competitive examinations.