Chandigarh, March 20
The Election Commission today issued a notice to SAD Jalandhar parliamentary constituency candidate Hansraj Hans asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him for making an election speech at the Dosanjh village gurdwara in the constituency.

Hans had spoken at a function held at the community centre inside the gurdwara complex yesterday. The SDM, Phillaur, has been directed to procure a video recording of the speech to ascertain the facts of the case.

The commission has also asked the Amritsar deputy commissioner Bhagwant Singh to explain why he accompanied Punjab advocate-general HS Mattewal to the Darbar Sahib during the latter’s visit to the city.

Meanwhile, both BJP Amritsar candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu and Patiala DIG SK Asthana have been given clean chits in reports sent by the respective district administrations on the alleged violations committed by them. State chief electoral officer Kusumjit Sidhu said the Amritsar deputy commissioner had reported that Sidhu did not make any speech during a recent visit to a gurdwara in the constituency and that no election activity had taken place in the gurdwara. Similarly in the case of Asthana, the Patiala DIG has reported that no specific complaint had been received against the officer.

Kusumjit Sidhu also said that as far as a renewed request by the state agriculture department was concerned, urging that subsidies be allowed on paddy transplanters, laser levellers and green manure seed, the case had been sent to the Election Commission. “The commission has asked for the previous record in the case”, she said.

In the case of giving connections under the Own Your Tubewell (OTS) scheme, the secretary, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has submitted that farmers will suffer in case the connections were not released. The PSEB has requested that money taken for connections before February this year be released. The CEO said the case had been sent to the commission. The CEO also stated that as far as the charge of distribution of electricity meters was concerned, the deputy commissioners of Bathinda and Mansa had reported that no such act had been conducted in their districts. 

Patiala, March 20
The state has witnessed a surge in its revenue kitty with over Rs 2,000 crore pouring in from the allotment of over 6,000 liquor vends in the state as against Rs 1,700 crore, the revenue earned by the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department from the liquor vends sale last year.

Not only has the revenue increased, but the department has also made a mark for itself by earning more than Rs 120 crore from the sale of application forms alone. The department had earned a mere Rs 38 crore by selling application forms last year.

Over 92,000 aspirants had applied for the allotment of liquor vends this time for over 6,000 liquor vends situated in urban and rural areas. Though the revenue has witnessed a considerable leap this time, the number of liquor vends has been dropped by the department from 6,400 to around 6,000 due to “non-viability” or “over-clustering” of vends in some cities like Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

Officials sources in the department said the allotment of liquor vends, supervised by the Deputy Commissioners acting as observers at their respective district headquarters, was conducted in a very “fair and transparent” manner as lottery draws were opened by the common public and even mediapersons at most 
of the places.

“The method adopted by us was so foolproof that no problem or complaints erupted anywhere in the state,” said one of the top officials of the department on the condition of anonymity.

Interestingly, the Malwa belt, known for the highest rate of liquor consumption and misuse of drugs, wrested the top slot once again as far as the hot race for owning liquor vends is concerned. “The number of applications from most of the Malwa areas had got doubled this time as compared to last year particularly in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar and Ferozepur districts. It was from these district that the department has earned a major share in the enhanced revenue of Rs 120 crore generated from the sale of application forms this time,” said one of the officials associated with the allotment process.

Bathinda, March 20
After a report filed in The Tribune recently regarding gross violation of the model code of conduct in Bathinda, former SAD minister Sikander Singh Malooka, who is chairman of the district planning committee, has come under the scrutiny of the Election Commission of India.

On the orders of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Rahul Tewari issued a show-cause notice to him. Meanwhile, an inquiry was also marked to the Subdivisional Magistrate, Bathinda.

Though the reply was submitted to the CEO Thursday evening, it is silent on some points related to the allegations.

According to the allegations, Malooka had held a meeting in the office of the district planning board on Monday, at its “formal” inauguration. A number of SAD-BJP leaders had felicitated him, offering garlands and bouquets. Further he had greeted visitors by offering them lunch and sweets, making it appear like a family function. A number of stalls of eatables and a tandoor were set up on the premises of the mini secretariat.

Though Malooka was asked to file his reply on Wednesday, he took the plea of being out of station and got a relaxation of one day.

Sources in the DC’s office said Malooka filed his reply Thursday evening. Malooka, terming it a normal affair, mentioned that some people visited him in his office with ladoos and sweets. He added that the bills for tea were paid from his own pocket.

Though he denied any violation of code of conduct, he did not give any explanation about the tandoor and stalls that were put up outside his office (inside the mini secretariat) from where lunch was served to visitors.

Ironically, the SDM’s report too lacked details on some counts.

After receiving Malooka’s and SDM’s versions, the DC today submitted his report to the CEO for consideration.

The CEO is reportedly not much satisfied with investigation reports he has received regarding the complaints of Bathinda district.

Amritsar, March 20
President of the District Congress Committee (rural) Sukhjinder Raj Singh (Lalli) Majithia yesterday alleged that BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu addressed a political rally at Gurdwara Baba Sadhu Singh at Chawinda Kalan village in the Rajasansi area.

Releasing a CD containing photographs, Majithia said earlier during the day Sidhu had also addressed rallies organised in diwan halls of various gurdwaras to grab votes by raising Sikh sentiments.

He said he would complain to the Chief Election Commission with all documentary evidence in this regard. He said it was clear that Sidhu was violating the model code of conduct to invite the wrath of the Chief Election Commission to keep himself out of the election fray.

However, refuting allegations, Sidhu said he had not addressed any political rally in any gurdwara. Rallies were being organised by the local MLAs, who had sought prior permission from the government authorities in this regard, he added.

He further stated that specific directions had been given to all MLAs and party workers for not organising any rally in a gurdwara or other religious shrine.

He said as Opposition parties had failed to find suitable candidate for this parliamentary seat, they were now raising petty issues.

SAD MLA Amarpal Singh Boney had organised a rally at a gurdwara in Ramdas on March 16, but Sidhu preferred not to address the election rally held in a gurdwara complex here yesterday.

Lashing out at president of the SGPC Avtar Singh, Majithia said Avtar and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were trying to exploit feelings of the Sikh masses to translate them into votes, besides creating disturbance in the state. 

Amritsar, March 20
Former Akali minister and president of five-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) Inderjit Singh Zira has informally joined the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Though he has been bestowed with siropa in the presence of Baba Lakha Singh of Nanaksar by the Deputy Chief Minister, formal announcement in this regard is likely to be made in the coming days. Zira also confirmed receiving siropa from the Deputy Chief Minister. He is likely to meet him here tomorrow, where he is coming to inaugurate the first five-star hotel of the city.

Though Zira has not made any pre-condition for joining the ruling SAD, his supporters have started compelling him to contest from Khadoor Sahib.

However, the ruling party finds it hard to change the official nominee, Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, who is seeking re-election from Khadoor Sahib.

Supporters of Zira are of the view that he will be the best candidate from Khadoor Sahib since Zira Assembly segment has been included in Khadoor Sahib after delimitation of the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha constituency. Moreover, Zira had won from this constituency in 1992 and remained minister in the Akali Ministry. He had been instrumental in getting a number of radical Sikhs released during peak of militancy when his close relative, MS Bhullar, was IGP (border zone). Later, Bhullar became DGP, Punjab.

The SAD (Longowal) was formed during the previous LS elections with Prem Singh Chandumajra its founder president. However, when Chandumajra re-joined the ruling SAD, Zira became its president.

Chandigarh, March 20
Delhi-based NGO Gyan Sewa Trust will be approaching the Election Commission of India to review its decision regarding the printing of written material to be used by thousands of government students of Punjab for the pre- engineering and pre-medical crash course.

The EC has asked the state not to go ahead with the printing of written material that supplements the free coaching classes telecast by the Edusat Society due to the model code of conduct.

Over 10,000 poor students of Class XII of government schools across the state have enrolled for the free pre-medical and pre- engineering crash course. These virtual coaching sessions are to be “received” at hundreds of centres across the state while the teachers deliver the lectures at the Edusat hub in Mohali.

The teachers for the course are made available by the Gyan Sewa Trust free of cost. The trust also provides free master copies of the written material to the Edusat Society. The society then gets these printed at its own cost but distributes these for free to the enrolled students.

“Without the written material, the crash course is useless. The material includes assignments and tests and the teachers delivering the lectures also follow the themes and topics given in the printed material,” said HS Phoolka, chairman of the Gyan Sewa Trust.

Phoolka added that unlike last year when only a five-week crash course was organised by the Edusat Society with the help of their trust, this year the society had been running regular classes for Class XII since July 15, 2008. “These daily classes were suspended in November 2008 so that students could focus on their board exams. The last phase of these regular classes is the nine-week crash course. The crash course is not a fresh decision,” said Phoolka.

Phoolka added that the decision of the EC was bound to affect the fate of several poor students who depended solely on these free coaching classes to prepare for entrance tests. “If we are not able to convince the EC, we will be approaching the courts for relief. But we cannot allow the careers of several thousand needy students to go down the drain like this,” he said.

Last year the crash course was held at 95 centres across the state through Edusat. Every Class XII student studying in a government school and appearing for various pre-engineering and pre-medical tests can take this coaching free of cost.

More than 350 students, who took these “virtual” coaching classes last year were selected in engineering and medical colleges. 

Ludhiana, March 20
The state exchequer pocketed revenue of Rs 284 crore from the draw of lots of 200 liquor vends in Ludhiana district today.

There has also been a 12 per cent rise in the revenue received from the applications of the district. Last year, the revenue earned from the application fee was Rs 6.6 crore, while this year’s amount is Rs 25 crore.

The number of applications received by the Excise and Taxation Department was 1 lakh as compared to 57,000 last year. For the district, the number had almost doubled from 8,607 last year to 16,588 this year.

D Malhotra got the maximum number of 55 vends, while Garcha-Chadha group could only stake a claim on nine units (45 vends). Trailing behind both groups was Singla group from the neighbouring state of Haryana with six units (30 vends). Babu Lal group, also from Haryana, managed to get five units (25 vends), while Amrik Singh got three (15 vends).

Kler group of Chandigarh and Garg group went home with two units (10 vends) each, while Taranjeet Singh and an individual from Rajasthan walked away with one unit (5 vends) each.

Excise and Taxation Commissioner V Venugopal said the maximum numbers of applications were received from Ludhiana and its periphery. The total number of applications received for vends in Ludhiana district I (urban) was 4,219, for vends in Ludhiana district II was 5,001 and for Ludhiana district III was 3,572.

From the periphery, the maximum number of applications were received from Bhairon Munna (560) followed by Jhandiala with 524 applications. Tibba village was the next with 334 applications, while 357 applications were received from Gill. Forty draws were held for 200 vends in Ludhiana city.

Sangrur, March 20
Though using of any religious place as a forum for election propaganda during the Lok Sabha (LS) elections is a violation of the election model code of conduct, Punjab PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa today allegedly violated the code while addressing a meeting of members and activists of the Student Organisation of India (SOI) in a hall constructed in the Gurdwara Nanakiana Sahib complex here.

Addressing the SOI meeting, attended by hundreds of members and activists of the organisation, on the one hand the PWD minister said due to the imposition of the code he could not make any comment, on the other hand he could not stop himself from doing so when he asked the SOI members and activists that the current elections were the biggest fight which all had to fight with full strength.

After the meeting when reporters asked the minister about the alleged violation of the code by him, he could not give a proper reply in this regard. Parminder Singh Dhindsa’s father Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is a candidate of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from the Sangrur LS seat.

Dhindsa also said national president of the SOI Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna had made a successful effort to associate the youth with the SAD through the SOI, which had been created by Sukhbir Singh Badal.

He said the enrolled youth should perform a good role against social evils like drugs etc.

The meeting was organised in the gurdwara complex here to announce office-bearers of the district unit of the SOI. As per announcement, Gurpreet Singh Gogi has been made district president of the organisation, while Rajwinder Singh Lehra, Gurmeet Singh Waraich and Jagsir Singh have been made senior vice-president, vice-president and general secretary, respectively.

Addressing the meeting, Khanna said due to the code no policy announcement could be made for the youth at this stage, but everything would be done after the elections. He also said Congress leaders were issuing statements against the SOI, seeing their defeat (in elections). 

Amritsar , March 20
A wall built during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign, along with 12 gates with Nanakshahi bricks for the city’s defence, has been virtually destroyed. Earlier, the British demolished the wall on the western side facing Gobindgarh Fort. 

Balvinder Singh, Reader, Guru Ram Das School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, and conservator Binny Chatha said the wall had completely disappeared. Amritsar district Gazetteer,1893, says the British again reconstructed the wall from Lahori Gate to Rambagh Gate in 1866-68.

They said the failure of government agencies to implement the Act, The Punjab Regional, Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, which was amended for the incorporation of Listed Buildings and Heritage Zones led to the destruction of the heritage buildings.

Earlier, the wall along Lahori Gate had disappeared following renovation/ expansion of police station D-division and other private buildings.

Earlier, the British, not only renamed historical buildings, but also demolished many sites on the pretext of development. Now, the local administration is doing it.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh took a keen interest in the development and beautification of Amritsar. He followed the Mughal pattern and laid beautiful gardens and constructed beautiful buildings, including forts, most of these now on the brink of ruin. He had Sri Harmandar Sahib gold-plated. The Sikh school of art got much-needed patronage.

However, state governments, including the Badal government, that had promised “Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule” and the SGPC failed to preserve art of the Maharaja’s time. Amritsar looked like a fortified city in the days of the Maharaja. 

The fortification consisted of rampart of earth and wide ditch, apart from 12 gates, to save the town from invaders. While most of the gates have been demolished, there is no trace of the ditch. Most of the gates were pulled down. After the death of the Maharaja, many old buildings were replaced by “modern monuments” by the British. 

Hoshiarpur, March 20
Strict enforcement of the election code of conduct has been adversely affecting sowing of kharif crops, including pulses and maize and plantation of nursery fruit plants these days.

Paramjit Singh of Kaluwal and Narbir Singh Nandi of Bassi Gulam Hussain, both farmers, told this correspondent here today that the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments had stopped the supply of subsidised farm inputs, including agricultural implements, seeds of pulses, turmeric, maize and fruit plants, after the enforcement of the election code of conduct.

Besides, the agriculture department had also stopped holding farmers’ training camps in which modern and latest technology training was being imparted to them by experts. It would affect the sowing and production of kharif crops during this season, they added.

President of the Agriculture Officers’ Association, Hoshiarpur, Dr Chaman Lal Vashisht said the department had adequate stock of certified seeds lying in its godowns and meant for supplying to farmers on 50 per cent subsidised rates. An acute shortage of technical staff in the department had been affecting farm works, he added.

He said the state agriculture department had already taken up the matter with the Election Commission. He urged all district election officers in the state not to depute the technical staff of the department for holding the Lok Sabha elections, as it would further hit agriculture production in the state.

Chandigarh, March 20
The electoral battle between the SAD-BJP and the Congress threatens to singe some more bureaucrats. In two separate letters written to the Election Commission (EC), Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has asked the EC to suspend Punjab Vigilance Bureau chief Sumedh Singh Saini and remove advocate-general HS Mattewal so that “free and fair elections could be held in Punjab”.

Though Khaira has shot off the letter, apparently neither the Vigilance Bureau nor the office of the advocate-general has anything to do with the conduct of the elections.

Khaira has written, “Ever since the formation of the SAD-BJP government, the state government has embarked on a well-planned strategy to misuse the services of the police as well as the civil administration.

Under this conspiracy to browbeat, muzzle and intimidate its political opponents, the state government has particularly used the Vigilance Bureau as a handy tool.”

The MLA from Bholath has said, "Saini, in order to please his political masters, unleashed a reign of terror on the Congress leadership in the state. The Vigilance Bureau under Saini has registered four FIRs against former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and also tried its best to arrest him.”

The letter released to the Press further objects to the manner in which Virk was arrested (like a petty criminal) despite being a senior police officer.

In a similarly worded letter, Khaira has demanded the removal of advocate-general HS Mattewal saying "the AG has been taking keen interest in protecting the individual interests of the Parkash Singh Badal family in the Supreme Court... the AG has also been engaging high-profile private lawyers to prosecute Amarinder in cases filed against him by the state despite the presence of many standing counsels in the Supreme Court and in the attorney- general's office".

Meanwhile, The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee said today that the letter sent by Khaira, demanding removal of Saini and Mattewal, was in his personal capacity and the committee had nothing to do with it.

Patiala, March 20
Former Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has predicted and claimed that the SAD-BJP would register a clean sweep in Punjab by winning all the parliamentary seats and defeating the comibine’s rival Congress in the state.

Majithia has also slammed the Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for their “anti-Punjab” policies and for “doing nothing” worthwhile for Punjab and its people. He also asserted the SAD-BJP combine would be contesting the polls on the issue of development.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a puppet in the hands of Sonia Gandhi.

Despite being a Punjabi and Sikh, he has done nothing for development of the state. In fact, the UPA government under his leadership has been continuing with “anti-Punjab policies” of earlier Congress governments.

The Prime Minister should have accorded some kind of special package for Punjab, said Majithia, who was speaking to mediapersons at Abdulpur village near here on Thursday evening.

Majithia also criticised former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for “discouraging” industry in Punjab during his regime. 

His (Varun’s) elders, particularly Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, have practised divisive and destructive politics and ruined national honour and prestige of the minorities besides playing havoc with their lives.” 

The alleged hate speech by Varun had neither surprised anyone nor was it unexpected, he pointed out. 

Chandigarh, March 20
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken cognisance of apparent “large scale and rampant mis-utilization of funds” for Red Cross activities in the region and has asked two former judge to look into it.

Reports indicate the funds have been used for paying electricity bills, buying water coolers and repairing the escort vehicles of a Deputy Commissioner. Tsunami funds have not been deposited, Cyclone funds have met the same fate.

Taking up the matter, the high court today ruled: There has been rampant and gross mis-utilisation and emblezzment of Red Cross funds, arising out of a totally arbitrary, insensitive, directionless and, if we may say, a despotic, lackadaisical or cavalier approach adopted by the Deputy Commissioners towards these funds…”

“We request Justice AL Bahri and Justice RK Nehru, former judges of this court, to donate some time for the noble cause of putting the working of the Red Cross societies of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh, on proper track by making suitable recommendations for improving and streamlining their financial and administrative affairs.”

The Bench of Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice K Kannan asserted the committee shall be free to examine: “Are there any cases of patent acts of misappropriation, embezzlement, mis-utilisation or mis-direction of the funds by any functionary of the societies?

If so, what is the nature and the extent thereof and what action ought to be taken in the matter against those responsible for such acts and for preventing the recurrence thereof in future.

“Are the accounts of the state and district societies being audited? If so, have any irregularity ever been pointed out in the audit reports and what steps, if any, have been taken by the societies for remedying such irregularities”.

In its detailed judgement, the Bench asserted: Reports received from the divisional commissioners of Patiala, Ferozepur and Jalandhar divisions have been placed on record. From a reading, it appears that there has been a large scale and rampant mis-utilisation of the funds…”