Bathinda, April 15
With the process of the filing of the nomination papers having started, the battle for Bathinda has entered the decisive phase. The first family of the state, the Badals are literally leaving no stone unturned.

Right from the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, to the candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal, everyone is trying to pool in the best. Senior Badal's wife Surinder Kaur and the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal are also running from pillar to post that Harsimrat contesting on the Akali ticket comes out victorious.

On the other hand, the Congress candidate and the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Patiala, Raninder Singh is moving around with no less confidence. His morale got a big boost with no less a person than the party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, coming personally to mark the formal launch of his campaign and that too on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi from the holy precincts of Takht Damdama Sahib.

While the Badals have the power on their hand, Raninder seems to be banking on the public support. The Badals are carrying the burden of the liabilities that power brings along.

However, the anti-incumbency factor still remains quite predominant.

Besides, the Congress has maximum number of MLAs from this parliamentary constituency. They would not want lose this prestigious seat at any cost, even if it means putting at stake all the remaining 12 seats.

Similarly, Badals cannot afford to lose Bathinda because that would mean losing the grip on power in the state. That is why they have focussed all their energies on Bathinda.

Although officially, all the leaders of the party have been told to remain in their respective constituencies, practically everyone remains stayed put in Bathinda. Not just the leaders, even their relatives and employees have allegedly been urged to ensure that they vote and support Harsimrat.

No wonder, there is a section within the party maintaining that the Badals took a great gamble by fielding Harsimrat, especially because Badals will not be able to concentrate on other parliamentary seats in the state what to talk of campaigning in neighbouring states.

The stakes are no less for Amarinder himself. But he has nothing to lose. He has everything to gain from Bathinda. In case his son gets elected, he will score a moral victory over his personal and political rivals. In the event of Raninder losing from here, Amarinder has all the explanation that he had to contest against the government in power with the entire rank and file having descended on Bathinda.

Notwithstanding the final outcome or the present campaigning situation in favour or against both the high-profile rivals, Capt Amarinder Singh is undeterred and as confident as ever.

He is not even prepared to entertain any questions about defeat. "Forget about the defeat, just ask us about the margin of our victory in Bathinda", a confident Amarinder remarked recently, while asserting that the result was as good as already having been declared.

However, the going is certainly not as easy as he may try others to believe. Rahul Gandhi's visit may have given an edge to Raninder Singh’s campaigning, but it is not a decisive edge.

Raninder still has to go a long way through the dusty villages, lanes and bylanes of Bathind before the verdict swings in his favour.

Bathinda, April 15
Various political parties are testing the waters of the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency that would go to polls on May 7 for the first time as a de-reserved seat. This has generated enthusiasm among the candidates belonging to the general category.

The neighbouring Faridkot constituency has now been reserved following a delimitation of Lok Sabha seats and as such the SAD has shifted Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan there as its candidate from Bathinda.

The Jat Sikh community dominates the Bathinda and Mansa districts that form the constituency. The candidates of the main parties, Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD) and Raninder Singh (Congress), belong to the Jat community.

The constituency has remained reserved sine 1957 as a result of which no local candidate belonging to the general category was groomed for contesting the election.

Bathinda is witnessing the hottest contest in Punjab as scions of the two leading rival families are in the fray. The seat has not remained stronghold of a single party and candidates belonging to different political parties have represented it from time to time. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress, SAD (M) and CPI have represented the seat in the past. During the past nine elections, the SAD five times won the seat in 2004, 1998, 1996, 1984 and 1977, whereas the SAD (M) represented it in 1989.

This was not a stronghold of the Congress as far as the Lok Sabha constituency was concerned. The Congress represented the seat only twice in 1991 and 1980. However, the CPI for the first time bagged the seat in 1999 with the support of Congress.

However, the Congress swept eight of the nine assembly seats in the Bathinda and Mansa districts during the elections in 2007. The SAD managed to bag only one seat in Bathinda.

The latest delimitation has attached the SAD held Lambi assembly segment of the Muktsar district with the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, whereas the areas of influence of Congress in the Rampura belt have been detached from here and tagged with the Faridkot parliamentary constituency.

Agriculture is the mainstay of residents of the constituency, whereas industry has refused to flourish in the area. Most of the industrial units established some time ago were now lying sick.

This constituency has the highest number of illiterates than any other area of Punjab and drug abuse was also alarmingly high as a result of which liquor has played significant role in the past elections.

The total number of voters in the constituency is 13,28,145 of which 6,30,223 are women and 6,97,922 men. As many as 4293 new voters belonging to the army have been enrolled this time.

Bathinda, April 15
After going through the heat and dust while travelling through the villages and hamlets of this parliamentary constituency, Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate for Bathinda Lok Sabha seat today entered the city and aimed to woo students and lawyers.

In his speech to students, gathered at the Bhana Mal Trust Building, he sought to boost their morale. Urging all to become good citizens and to stand up against crime, he spoke on the need to look after the welfare of fellow citizens and take care of them.

He also asked them to adopt a policy of educating and urging people around them to stand up for justice and be aware of their rights and duties.

The students in turn responded with assurance of extending support and live a principled life. Later, he visited the District Bar Association, where among other advocates, Jatinder Rai Khattar, former Bar Association president, PK Sharma, Jasbir Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sidhu and Sukhwinder Kaur gave him a warm reception.

Meeting the members, he addressed a meeting in the Bar room, where some of the advocates even apprised him of false promises made by the ruling SAD and pledged to work for his success.

Raninder assured them of looking into their needs and made a promise that if he won the elections, he would look after every section of society.

Raninder also expressed his happiness at the response he had been receiving and thanked people for making the rally at Talwandi Sabo a success. Terming the Congress rally bigger than the SAD rally, he alleged that despite the fact that the SAD (B) leaders had brought people from all over the state, yet they could not compete with the Congress rally in strength.

Bathinda, April 15
Making a sharp departure from the normal, the mercury crossed 40 degree Celsius mark, for the first time in the season, in Bathinda and the adjoining areas, on Tuesday.

Deviating nearly four degrees from the normal temperature of the particular day, the mercury settled at 40.2 degree Celsius at 2.30 pm on Tuesday, as recorded by the Agro-MeT Advisory Services, PAU, Regional Station, Bathinda. The minimum temperature was 18.6 degrees.

Moreover, the vagaries of weather continued on Wednesday as the mercury dipped nearly three degrees at maximum level from Tuesday and settled at 37 degrees while at minimum level, it climbed slightly to reach at 19.5 degrees.

As per the weather forecast made by the IMD, Chandigarh and received by the PAU regional station here on Wednesday, the weather would mainly remain dry and clear in the next three days.

However, there is possibility of partial cloudy conditions in isolated places on Wednesday and Thursday. The weathermen also said that there were possibility of dust storms and thunder squalls on Wednesday and Thursday.

The temperature, however, likely to remain in the range of 35 degree Celsius to 38 degrees in the period.

Bathinda/Muktsar, April 15
Considering the past experiences when crop procurement played a key role in the formation and elimination of governments in the state, this time, in view of the Lok Sabha polls, the ruling party in the state is leaving no stone unturned to ensure speedy and smooth process of wheat procurement.

To get a first-hand account of the system, principal secretary to the chief minister, D.S. Guru, during his two-day tour of Bathinda and Muktsar districts, visited several grain markets and strictly directed the officials concerned to speed up the process.

During today's visit, special principal secretary KJS Cheema accompanied Guru. Later, in an interaction with the media at Muktsar, Guru said the government was still in a position to meet the target of procuring 1.15 crore metric ton of wheat in the state, despite crop damage due to inclement weather.

Replying to a query related to the promise made to farmers for the smooth purchase of wheat, he said the state government with the help of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has arranged for funds worth Rs 8800 crore for immediate payment to farmers for their crops.

Giving details, he said that in the state, a total of 1647 purchase centres were formed and till today, out of the total arrival of 29 lakh metric ton of wheat, 27 metric ton had been purchased at prices fixed by the government.

About the slow lifting of wheat in almost every grain market, Guru said, "The problem will be resolved with immediate effect as deputy commissioners and officials concerned of the government purchasing agencies have been directed to resolve the issue."

"If any employee or officer of the purchasing agencies is found guilty of malafide intention, he would have to face the consequences with immediate effect," he warned.

During the visit, DS Guru inspected grain amrkets at Rampura, Bhucho, Nathana, Goniana and Bathinda in the district on Tuesday. He visited Badal, Lal Bai, Thiraj Wala, Gidderbaha, Doda, Mallan and Muktsar grain markets in Muktsar district on Wednesday.

When asked about the procurement details, DC Bathinda Rahul Tewari said, "The arrival of wheat is in full swing as during the past three days, around 40,000 metric tons have reached the district grain markets. Out of the total arrival of 1.40 lakh MT, around 1.40 lakh MT has been purchased. Due to some reasons, we could lift only 30,000 MT but the rest would be lifted quickly in future."

On his part, DC Muktsar Rajat Aggarwal said, "All grain purchasing agencies have been put on the job and till today, a total of 1.59 lakh MT of wheat has been purchased. To ensure early lifting, we are monitoring the process."

Ferozepur, April 15
Congress candidate from Ferozepur parliamentary seat, Jagmeet Singh Brar today filed another set of nomination papers in the office of the Returning Officer here today.

Brar was accompanied by Captain Amarinder Singh, chairman, Campaign Committee, besides virtually the entire who is who of the district Congress including all sitting MLAs, ex-MLAs and office-bearers of the party belonging to Ferozepur, Guruharsahai, Jalalabad, Fazilka, Abohar, Malout and Muktsar areas.

Brar had yesterday also filed nomination papers whereas his wife Amanpreet Kaur had filed papers as a covering candidate.

Later, Brar along with Captain Amarinder Singh leading a huge cavalcade of vehicles went to the historic Gurudwara Saragarhi to participate in the road show. The road show which started from Ferozepur passed from Khai Pheme Ke, Goluka, Guruhrasahai, Ghubaya, Jalalabad, Fazilka, Nihalkhera before culminating at Abohar.

PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh Pinki arranged a reception for Brar at village Khai where thousands of Congress workers gathered to pledge support to Brar. Thereafter, Brar along with Amarinder also participated in election rallies organised by Gurharsahai legislator Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi.

After filing nomination papers, along with the Congress nominee Jagmeet Brar and other party leaders, Amarinder Singh went to the local Saragarhi Gurudwara and started the 'road show' which was given a heroic welcome at village Khai Pheme Ke on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road by Congressmen led by Parminder Singh Pinki and his supporters.

The enthusiam among the participants was evident from the traffic jam due to heavy rush of vehicles that stretched for many kilometres.

A number of calls were made by the locals from various areas to enquire about the rush.

Garlands and flowers were showered by the villagers standing on the roadside.

Since independence, it was the first road show managed by the Congress which was given such a reponse by the local party workers as well as the electorate including the young and the old.

The Captain along with Jagmeet Brar, alighted from his 'Rath' and joined Pinki in his car and covered the distance till Golu Ka Moar in the same vehicle. He remarked that he had never seen such an 'overwhelming' response in any roadshow while congratulating Pinki.

When contacted, Pinki attributed it to the affection of the people for him and the party.

'Meenu japda hai Ferozepur de look khuda warge kisi alla miya di dua warge," remarked Pinki.

BSP candidate from Ferozpur Gurdev Singh also filed his nomination papers.

Fazilka, April 15
The administration in a swift move today removed all welcome gate raised by Congress for the proposed road show by former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Congress candidate for Ferozepur seat Jagemeet Singh Brar here today.

The cavalcade of Congress leader and workers led by Captain Amarinder Singh and Jagmeet Singh Brar was scheduled to reach here today afternoon. The Congress party and some organisations of the town raised about a dozen welcome gates on local court road. More such gates were to be fixed.

However, as the matter came to the notice of administration, SDM Fazilka Charandev Singh Maan in a brisk action immediately directed the Municipal Council officials to remove all the welcome gates.

While talking to this correspondence, the SDM said that no political party was allowed to violate the defacement of Public Property Act while misusing public places.

He said that the Congress party had taken sanction for road show but they had not been given any permission for raising welcome gates. Hence, he directed the Municipal Council officials to get the gates removed.

On the other hand, to the embarrasment of the Congress, the star campaigner of the road show Captain Amarinder Singh did not turn up at Fazilka. He returned after conducting the road shows at Ferozepur and Guruharsahai.

However, the Congress candidate Jagmeet Singh Brar had a round of town bazaars in an open canter with some of his supporters. He solicited voters with folded hands on his vehicle. Rumors are agog in political circles over the absence of the Captain in the much propagated road shows in Fazilka and Abohar areas.

Mansa, April 15
Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal has said that the report of 5th State Pay Commission was ready and it would be implemented soon.

Talking to the media at Budhladha today, he said the state government would receive the report in two days and it would be sent to the Implementation Committee for further study. The Implementation Committee would give its comments after 10 days. Then the state cabinet would give its approval to implement the report, he added.

The finance minister expressed the hope that the pay commission report might be implemented during the election period as the Election Commission had given its nod regarding the implementation of the report.

Manpreet said that the state government had increased annual expenditure from Rs 6200 crore to Rs 8500 crore to boost the economy. About the industrialisation, he said that government was focusing on increasing basic infrastructure in Bathinda and Ropar. This basic infrastructure would pave the way for setting up industries in these two cities, he added.

Manpreet also addressed public meetings in Mansa to garner votes for SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur.

Mansa, April 15
“People of Bathinda are well aware about the false promises being made by the SAD (B) leaders during the election campaign and people would vote them out after considering all aspects,” said Congress candidate Raninder Singh while addressing public meetings in Mansa city today. Later, talking to media, he informed that one big rally would be held in each Assembly constituency belonging to the Bathinda parliamentary seat.

Delhi chief minister Sheela Dixit will address a public rally in Bathinda on April 24. Former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh would also address rallies in Bathinda and Mansa, he added.

Congress leader Raminder Singh Richi and MLA Sher Singh Gagowal also addressed public meetings in Mansa.

Abohar, April 15
Even when the SAD was a partner in the NDA cabinet that completely ignored the cases against Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, the Akali leadership had unsuccessfully tried to derive political mileage in the election season by exploiting the sentiments of the Sikh community, said Bal Mukand Sharma vice-president of the Pradesh Congress Committee and a former minister.

Speaking to newsmen during the road show, Sharma said there were factors that are expected to give a clean sweep to the Congress during ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. By making it clear that Dr Manmohan Singh would be the PM again, the AICC president Sonia Gandhi had won the hearts of millions of Punjabis.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, April 15
By releasing (contaminated) water earlier than scheduled the Punjab government has played a spoilsport, regret officials of Rajasthan.

The irrigation department in Rajasthan had sought suspension of water supply for a fortnight to take up the work of desilting to ensure availability of water in the tail-end villages. Under the micro plan, the authorities had also drawn up a schedule to utilise the services of the NREGA workers to remove shrubs and other wild growth that normally promotes mealy bug.

DC Naveen Jain along with superintending engineer Nissar Ahmad and Rohit Kumar executive officer of the panchayat samiti had inspected work that was going on near village Makkasar and Dabli Kutub from RD 142-170 of the Sadul branch.

They resented that the project has been adversely affected as the Punjab government released water earlier than scheduled. Still they claimed most of the wild growth had been removed. However, the NREGA workers were finding it difficult to uproot the grass and desilting could not be completed. They hoped the work done so far will help in making water available to the farmers of the tail end villages who were facing 38 degree temperature.

Some of the farmers during interaction with this correspondent resented that the Punjab government had failed in checking discharge of intoxicants in canal water. “We will have to wait at least for three days to make use of such water even for the cattle,” a farmer Sampuran Singh said.

Abohar, April 15
Realising that it will be almost impossible to bleach the highly contaminated black water released by the irrigation department in canals of this sub-division, the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) has refused to open the outlets (moghas) to store the water in its reservoirs, official sources confirmed.

As usual, the situation has developed after suspension of supply on account of annual maintenance work for more than a week. But water is being stored in ponds besides some rural water works, reports indicated.

Notably during July last year, hundreds of fish were found dead as the old municipal water works stored such canal water. A similar situation had developed in rural areas also. The experts had opined that contaminated canal water had proved fatal for fish. The officials of the Water Supply and Irrigation departments in Sriganganagar had also on July 27, 2008 confirmed that supply of contaminated water from the Harike headworks through Bikaner (Gang) canal had left more than 3,000 fish dead at the Sadhuwali head on the Abohar-Sriganganagar road.

It visibly appears that water released last night carried poisonous contents due to unchecked discharge of chemical waste by the Ludhiana-based industrial units and surplus sewerage water of the Buddha Nullah in the Sarhind feeder.

Farmers in this region had been raising a hue and cry over the supply of highly contaminated “black water” since April 2007.

Bathinda, April 15
After the spark from wedding crackers gutted around 20 acres of ripened wheat at village Gillpatti, a furious mob smashed more than 15 cars parked inside the Queensland Marriage Palace located on Bathinda-Faridkot road, here late at night.

According to details available, fire-crackers used to celebrate a wedding at the Queensland Palace, fell in the nearby wheat fields and set the standing crop on fire. Immediately after witnessing the flames, villagers, through the Gurudwara loudspeakers, gave a call for help in dousing the flames.

Within minutes people from Gill Patti, Bhaokhra, Siviyan and Nehianawala villages reached the spot and started dousing the flames. Meanwhile, volunteers of Naujwan Welfare Society and fire brigade were also informed. Ironically, when the fire brigade reached the spot, due to some mechanical snag, it could not sprinkle water, which infuriated the mob.

After dousing the flames, the exasperated mob, carrying lathis and other weapons, moved towards the wedding palace. In the heat of moment, some people from inside the wedding palace, in self-defence fired shots in the air. Annoyed, the mob smashed a number of cars parked there and also damaged the decorated entrance.

Witnessing the hooliganism, many of the guests fled even in their smashed cars.

Meanwhile, cops including three DSPs and some SHOs reached the spot and controlled the situation. The mob blocked the Bathinda-Faridkot highway, in protest, which was later removed. Till the filing of the report, no case had been registered as the police was trying to pacify the mob.

An affected farmer, Partap Singh, former SAD (B) sarpanch of village Gillpatti, whose crop was gutted, said, "The crackers gutted around 20 acres of wheat crop out of which around 12 acres belonged to me and the rest was of my nephew. I was busy in Harsimrat Kaur Badal's programme, when people called me and before I reached, all this had happened." The palace owners could not be contacted and their phones were also not reachable.

Fazilka, April 15
Darshan Singh (35) of village Nukerian of this sub-division reportedly committed suicide by strangulating himself today.

Sources said, Darshan had been under stress for the last five years. Sources added that Darshan had a brawl with his wife, Bimla Rani, on Tuesday night after which he reportedly beat her. Later, he had gone missing. His body was found strangulated with a rubber tube today in the morning. The deceased had three kids.