Bathinda, April 1
Congress contender for the Bathinda Lok Sabha (LS) seat Raninder Singh today launched his poll campaign after formal declaration of his candidature with a massive road show indicating that the electoral contest here would be the closest among all 13 LS seats in Punjab.

A rousing response from thousands of party activists awaited Raninder who was followed by his supporters in a huge cavalcade in a massive show of strength likely to ring alarm bells for the SAD (B).

Raninder, after the finalisation of his candidature, started his campaign from Mansa today. Later, moving in a cavalcade, he entered Bathinda district from village Jaga Ram Tirath, where hundreds of people accorded him an overwhelming reception. He paid obeisance at the Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo and left for Bathinda.

Reaching here, he addressed the crowd at his party office. He urged people to attend the political conference of the party at Talwandi Sabo on April 14, where his father, former CM Amarinder Singh would address the gathering along with other leaders.

In the cavalcade, vehicles with stickers of party leaders from nearby districts were also seen. Supporters waiting at the T-point in Jaga Ram Tirath village were found straining themselves for his glimpse.

“Eh taan sirf panj ghante late hai, jekar do din vi late hunda taan v eddan hi akhan visha ke swagat karde,” said middle-aged Harjeet Singh of Balianwali village.

A fervent Congress supporter, after observing the huge caravan along of Raninder at Talwandi Sabo, said, “Yuvraj (Raninder) wich sanu Amarinder disda hai, ajj taan bhai es kake ne Badal vi hila ditte.”

About his disappearance from the constituency after getting the party ticket, Raninder said, “I was in Delhi for the elections of the National Rifle Association, where I have been elected the vice-president.”

Addressing the media at Talwandi Sabo, he said, “The Badals allege that my family never visits this region but observing the number of people moving along with me, I assume they were my family members, which in itself is a befitting reply to them.”

Replying to a query, he said, “It does not matter whether Jathedar of the Takht felicitated me with a ‘siropa’ or not. I paid obeisance for being a Sikh and as to why he did not present me with a ‘siropa’, the reason would be known to the Jathedar himself only.”

Later, in his brief interaction with the media at Bathinda, he said, “My father is preparing a list of shady bureaucrats which would soon be submitted to the Election Commission.”

About the earlier complaint by the Congress against police officers of this constituency, he said, “Everything was mentioned in specific way but with Badals in command, I do not have much expectations from the police officers to whom the inquiry was marked.”

Taking a cue from the fatal accident of Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Cooperation Minister, he said, “It has now been exposed that there was a senior party member of the SAD (B), having internal political rivalry with him. So, the case should be handed over to the CBI to extract the truth.”

Raninder said Harsimrat is not a good competitor. The fight would be considered equal only if CM Parkash Singh Badal himself contests. He also flayed Badals for misusing the state machinery.

Bathinda, April 1
With the beginning of the election campaign of Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, the contest has started generating heat here.

Raninder has formulated strategy to tackle his rival Harsimrat Badal, the SAD (B) candidate and her husband, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal.

Raninder has appointed Amarjang Singh as his media coordinator, who immediately after landing here today, started contacting by phone and gathering e-mail addresses from media persons as part of direct interaction with them.

"We have set up whole system to facilitate press people as all related information would be just a click away. Meanwhile, a media centre has been arranged, where all facilities like computer, internet, photocopier, fax, phone and a vehicle would be made available till the polls," said Amarjung.

He denied reports that B.I.S. Chahal, the media adviser of former CM Amarinder Singh has been given the task of media management.

The Badals too have also opened an office on the Bathinda-Goniana road, from where they are planning to regulate the network. It may be mentioned that the Badals have been using the old-fashioned style of posting letters to strike an emotional chord with voters as the letters are being posted by name to the voters, bearing his signature.

Talking over the phone, Sukhbir Badal said, "We have been using a software through which only the names are being changed but the rest of the matter is the same, with an appeal to strengthen the party and its candidates. The details of addresses have been obtained from the civil administration before the imposition of model code of conduct."

Now with the entry of both, Raninder and Harsimrat, the kin of the two arch-foes in state politics, people too are expecting a keenly fought conest in the elections. After observing the overwhelming response to Raninder's road show today, a similar response from Harsimrat too is expected soon.

Mansa, April 1
Congress candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency Raninder Singh today launched his poll compaign from Bareta with a long cavalcade of vehicles. During the road show, he was accorded a warm welcome by people and Congress workers.

The cavalcade had become very long and party workers joined in this road show from different places of district. Raninder accepted the greetings of people at Bareta, Budhlada, Bhikhi, Mansa and Jhunir and inaugurated the election offices at different places in Mansa district.

Today's show of strength might change the poll calculations in the constituency. Addressing the media at Mansa, the Congress candidate said he had launched his election campaign and his candidature was the wish of the people and the decision of the party high command.

The candidature of Harsimrat Kaur, on the other hand, was due to her association with the Badal family, he said and asserted that his candidature is not in the direction of family rule.

Talking on the issue of providing Congress tickets to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, he said the law will take its own course and the party would accept the decision of the law.

He claimed that the Congress will win all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and the SAD-BJP government in the state could not survive after the election.

The failures of SAD-BJP combine and atrocities against Congress workers would be raised during the election campaign and achievements of the UPA government for the welfare of all sections of society would also be propagated during the election.

Among others who companied Raninder Singh included Ajit Inder Singh Moffar, MLA, Sher Singh Gagowal, MLA, Mangat Rai Bansal, MLA, Congress leader Raminder Amla, Rampal Dhepai, Manjeet Singh Jhalbuti, Bikram Singh Moffar, advocate Gurpreet Singh Vicky, Simranjit Singh Manshahia and Jiwan Dass Bawa. 

Bathinda, April 1
By withdrawing the attempt to murder cases against Baljeet Singh Daduwal and 18 others, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, has bought peace with the radical Sikh groups who were bent upon upsetting the applecart of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) during the Lok Sabha elections. As a result, the radicals have now withdrawn the call for gherao of the residence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in his native Badal village tomorrow.

Daduwal and his other supporters booked under the section 307 of the IPC were unconditionally released yesterday evening from various prisons in the Malwa belt.

The step of the government was also aimed at thwarting tomorrow’s march of radicals from here to Badal in Muktsar district where they had planned to gherao the residence of the chief minister to seek the release of Daduwal and other members of the “Sant Samaj”.

The arrest of Daduwal last month at Bajakhana in Faridkot to prevent a clash with followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda had triggered violence in which many civilians and policemen were injured. The radicals had thereafter been holding protests at various places and had recently announced to march to Lambi.

Top radical leaders were annoyed that the SAD-BJP coalition that had come to power with their support had “now let loose repression on them and was hobnobbing with the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim.”

The radical Sikh groups have considerable influence over the electorate particularly in the rural areas of the Malwa belt where their support to the SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Sukhbir Singh, was crucial.

Daljeet Singh Bittu, chairman of the SAD (Panch Pradhani), told The Tribune that the call to gherao the residence of Badal has been called off now as the cases against Daduwal have been withdrawn and he has been released unconditionally. However, dispatching “jathas” every Sunday to Salabatpura from Takht Damdama Sahib to shut the deras of Sacha Sauda would continue. Two jathas dispatched so far were arrested en route.

Bittu accused the Punjab government of having made “mockery” of law by first “fabricating” serious cases of attempt to murder against Daduwal and 18 others and then releasing them unconditionally.

He said a Panthic conference would be organised on April 14 during Baisakhi celebrations at Talwandi Sabo to chalk out the future strategy and pressurise the government to shut the deras of Sacha Sauda in Punjab.

S’nagar/Abohar, April 1
"Madam ko gussa kyun aaya" most of the regular visitors to the Gol Bazaar and neighboring markets in the district town Sriganganagar were found debating on Tuesday night, while referring to reports appearing in the local evening dailies on the two-day election visit of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Not only the evening newspapers but other regional dailies also carried centrespread stories on events related to her campaigning on Wednesday speaking that it is not a good sign.

Vasundhara Raje left media persons high and dry yesterday, as they occupied chairs in the drawing room during her visit to the house of MLA, Radhey Shyam. Her media advisor, Mohinder Bhardwaj, had discussed the questionnaire and requested the scribes to keep in mind the model code of conduct. Raje entered the house, obliged the family with a photo session and stepped into the drawing room. "Inhe kis ne bulaya hai,” she asked. None took the responsibility. “Hum saari seats jeetenge,” Raje quipped.

As per reports, her temper remained high while boarding the helicopter at the Maharaja Ganga Singh Stadium. After “pulling up” the chief pilot for making calls to remind that “we are getting late”, the former CM was reportedly heard saying, "We can cancel the deal with your company.” The chief pilot was heard responding “no problem, madam.”

Legislator Radhey Shyam, later said he had told Nihal Chand Meghwal MP and the BJP candidate about the press conference but it appears he failed to convey it to her.

While winding up the two-day tour, Vasundhara Raje, observed that during an interaction with the party workers in the Sun City resorts, "I know well what was the role of our leaders in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts during the Vidhan Sabha elections. Some big leaders indulged in leg-pulling to ensure berth in the cabinet. Local leaders too played a spoilsport. This resulted in defeat of 100 candidates even when the Congress had not done its homework. Such blunders need not to be repeated. Work together. Accountability of grade one leaders will be fixed by making them in-charge of small segments during the polls, she said.

Notably, the BJP had almost swept in 2004 Vidhan Sabha elections in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts, leaving only one seat for the Congress.

But this time, only two Congress defectors could win on the lotus symbol in the twin-district.

Even then, the BJP remains faction-ridden and this may be the cause for the former CM getting angry, an analyst, Lakhjit Singh, observed. 

Bathinda, April 1
Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh Chauhan, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Chetak Corps, presented financial assistance to Sepoy Bachitter Singh (retd) of 4 Sikhli at the Chetak headquarters today. Sepoy Bachitter had lost both his legs during the China war in 1962. He was a part of an operation at Sela Pass (Tawang sector) in Arunachal Pradesh. He was hit by a grenade and had to be airlifted by a chopper. One of his legs was amputated in Tejpur and another in Delhi.

While recounting that fateful day, he said, “I was hit by a grenade and a bullet whizzed past grazing me. I fell down and was unable to walk. A defence helicopter rescued me and I was taken to the military hospital in Tejpur where the doctor said that one of my legs have to be amputated below the knee. I was then referred to Delhi and my other leg was also amputated. It is part of a soldier’s life and he has to be ready for such situations. I am thankful to the Army which looks after its soldiers even after they are unfit due to serving in difficult terrain.”

Bachitter received artificial limbs in 1964 and would be soon getting latest limbs through the Command Hospital, Chandimandir. He had also received a wheel chair from the Chetak Corps Headquarter last year during a war veterans meet. Sepoy Bachitter belongs to Siryewala village, around 50 km from here. Lt Gen Chauhan interacted with him and listened to his problems.

Chandigarh, April 1
The Punjab and Haryana High Court does not want the Union of India to trigger multiplicity of litigation by acting in an "unfair manner".

The inclination to set things right follow the Centre's reported failure to hand over compensation to a housing society, even though court orders in this regard had not been stayed.

In an application placed before Justice Surya Kant, Bathinda-based Punjab Health Employees Co-operation House Building Society had sought directions to the Union of India and two other respondents to permit it to raise a boundary wall over its land situated near an ammunition depot.

During the course of hearing, it was pointed out by counsel that award had been passed by the competent court, granting compensation to the petitioner for not permitting it to use the land.

Justice Kant observed the award had been challenged by the respondents by filing a regular first appeal, but the court had not granted interim stay in the petitioner's favour. It was added the society was compelled to initiate execution proceedings in the matter, as the amount had not been paid. The case will now come up on April 21. 

Bathinda, April 1
Dr Aslam Parvez, state president of the Rural Medical Services Association, Punjab, while talking to TNS stated that the SGPC, other religious organisations and their leaders could play an important role in helping the rural doctors fight tuberculosis. The RMSA would soon meet SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar to seek participation of the Committee and its leaders to control the dreadful disease.

The doctor said in case the SGPC could make it mandatory for all gurdwaras to relay information on TB and tell people that it was curable through regular and proper treatment, it might rid the state of the disease. Dr Aslam said the association had decided to announce three annual awards starting from this year for the rural doctors, who would excel in the field of TB control.

The doctor said though free medication was available across the state, lack of awareness was hindering the efforts of the rural doctors.

Abohar, April 1
The Health Department will launch a special campaign here tomorrow to administer polio-prevention drops to about 25 thousand children, sources said.

This was necessitated due to the recent detection of a polio victim, Komal, aged about 12 months at Baba Deep Singh Nagar here. As the baby is believed to have been initially attacked by virus during her stay with grandparents in the district Etah of Uttar Pradesh, a similar drive is being launched there also. The district immunisation officer, Dr G.S. Dhillon, discussed arrangements for the Thursday drive with the officials of the Abohar, Khuikhera and Seetogunno blocks in the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here on Wednesday.

The teams assisted by NGOs and paramedical students have been asked to be more careful about the migrants from UP and Bihar besides those living in slum areas. Dr Dhillon informed that P-2 type polio had completely been controlled in India in 1999 but in January last year 559 cases of P-1 and P-3 type of polio were found in the North region. UP topped the tally with 62 cases of P-1 and 243 of P-3 while 3 cases of P-1 and 130 of P-3 were reported from Bihar besides 2 in Punjab. This year so far 15 cases in UP, 5 in Bihar and 1 in Delhi were reported to the WHO.

Komal is undergoing the treatment under the guidance of experts, family sources said.

Bathinda, April 1
In a fresh development in the fake robbery that was committed on Monday, the Civil Lines police today recovered Rs 6.12 lakh more from the house of the Amandeep, the mastermind, in Vishal Nagar. The accused was arrested yesterday.

According to police sources, after receiving a complaint from Pardeep Kumar, the manager of the Cash Management Service (CMS), a police party raided his house and found the cash in a bed box.

The manager had also stated that Amandeep was accused of discrepancies worth Rs 7.48 lakh with the company.

After the recovery of money today, the police lodged a new case under section 406 of the IPC against him.

It may be mentioned that Amandeep, an employee of the CMS, chalked out a plan with one of his colleagues and two others and falsely informed the police on Tuesday that he was robbed off Rs 4.88 lakh near government elementary school by two motorcycle-borne youth.

Suspecting foul play, senior police officials interrogated him and managed to extract the facts and arrested the four accused. One more employee of the CMS was rounded up for interrogation.

Bathinda, April 1
One Jaskaran Singh (18) of Mehma Bhagwana village succumbed to his injuries that he sustained during a mishap, which occurred on the Bathinda-Malout road on Tuesday night.

As per the details available, the boy was on his motorcycle and the reason of the accident is yet to be ascertained. He received serious injuries and was rushed to the civil hospital by the volunteers of an NGO. He succumbed to his injuries later.

After conducting postmortem, the Thermal police handed over the body to his family members. A case has been registered and investigations are on. — TNS