Faridkot, April 18
The 32-year old Congress candidate Sukhwinder Singh Danny, hand-picked by Rahul Gandhi, filed his nomination papers from Faridkot (reserve) constituency before Dr Amarpal Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections here, today.

Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Congress MLAs of Moga and Faridkot districts and a few other senior party leaders accompanied him in a huge convoy of vehicles to the secretariat to file his nomination papers.

Convent educated, Danny has graduated in Commerce from Guru Nanak Dev University before pursuing a Masters degree in Political Science. Then, he joined the Websters Graduate Regents College, Central London (UK), from where he did his MBA. It was here in London that he came closer to Rahul Gandhi who hand-picked him in his youth brigade.

No matter, he belongs to a family of politicians but his closeness with Rahul Gandhi has mattered a lot to get a party ticket for the Lok Sabha election. His father Sardul Singh was a minister in the Congress government of Captain Amarinder Singh from the year 2002 to 2007. His maternal grandfather Gurmej Singh was a minister in the state governments of Giani Zail Singh and Beant Singh in the years 1972-1977 and 1992-1997.

He has claimed in the affidavits that he has Rs 20,000 cash, Rs 89,671 deposited in bank accounts, Rs 92,985 in another bank in a joint account with his brother Tejinder Pal Singh and a residential house valued at Rs 2.53 crore in Amritsar jointly with his brother.

At the same time, an outstanding amount of Rs 11,78,352 and Rs 23,41,497 was pending against him jointly with his father and brother as loan taken from Indus Ind Bank and Bank of Baroda, respectively. He has filed I-T returns and paid Rs 6,830 as tax in assessment year 2008-09.

Interestingly, he has no life insurance policy in his name, does not own car, jewellery, agricultural land and any other commercial property.

Bathinda, April 18
As many as 48 nomination papers have been filed by 32 candidates, including independents and those belonging to the national and state parties, to test their luck in the elections for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, which is set to witness a fierce contest between Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the SAD (B) and Raninder Singh of the Congress.

Out of the total of 32 candidates, six have filed the nomination papers as covering (substitute) candidates.

While the number of nominations is a healthy sign for a democracy, but it is causing worry for the administration, regarding the availability of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), in case the number of candidates crosses the figure of 16.

The reason is obvious: One ballot unit of EVM can entertain only 16 candidates. But here, the number of candidates is 32 which is almost double the capacity of the ballot unit. In the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, which includes five assembly constituencies of Bathinda district, one of Muktsar district and three of Mansa district, a total of 1436 polling booths have been earmarked, which means requirement of the same number of EVMs. Sensing the shortage of availability of EVMs, the Election Commission of India (ECI), which had earlier instructed all Returning Officers to keep the EVMs-- 15 per cent of total number of booths -- in reserve, has now instructed them to keep only four per cent EVMs as reserved.

A senior officer of the district administration said that the EVMs had been acquired expecting the number of candidates to be below 16. If it increases, as is being apprehended, then each machine would need two ballot units, otherwise, the election would not be conducted.

It may be mentioned that due to some earlier election petitions filed in various courts throughout the country, a large number of machines is lying sealed for court inquiry proceedings. "We now hope that on the day of the scrutiny, April 20, some of the forms, due to mistakes or because of being being incomplete, may get cancelled. Even then, the final number will be ascertained after the last day for withdrawal of nomination, i.e. April 22. If the number exceeds 16, we will be left with no option but to send urgent notice to the ECI," he lamented. When contacted, Additional Returning Officer Parveen Thind said, "Till today, we were quite satisfied with the total number of available EVMs. But as of now, the number of nominations has gone higher than the capacity of the ballot units. The matter would be brought to the knowledge of the ECI for further decision.”

Bathinda, April 18
To monitor the high profile contest for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, the observers appointed by the Election Commission of India have started arriving in Bathinda.

As per the details available, there would be four observers in the constituency of which two have already landed and one is expected to reach the city late at night.

Balbir Tegta, IAS, Director of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, and Rameshwar Tewari, IFS, Director/CCF, FTO, Kanpur (UP), have reached the city and are staying at the Field Hostel of the GNDTP, Bathinda, and the regional centre of the Punjabi University Patiala guest-house in Talwandi Sabo, respectively.

Balbir Tegta would look after the Lambi and Bathinda (rural) constituencies while Rameshwar Tewari has been assigned for the Talwandi Sabo and Maur constituencies.

S.Jagdishan, a Gujarat cadre IAS, who has been assigned Bhucho and Bathinda (urban) constituencies, would tentatively reach late at night and his stay has been arranged at the Field Hostel, Bathinda.

For Mansa, Sardulgarh and Budhladha assembly constituencies, a 1984 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IFS officer, S. Vardharajulu has been named, who after arriving here, would stay at the Mandi Board resthouse in Mansa.

Asssistant Returning Officer Parveen Thind said, “As per the norms, they would be present at the time of the scrutiny of the nomination papers. Further, they would focus on the implementation of the model code of conduct, state election machinery and the law and order situation."

None of the observers could be contacted till late in the evening.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, April 18
All speculations on political future of Congress dissidents, Gurdeep Singh Shahpeeni and Rajinder Bhadoo, who had unsuccessfully contested against the party candidates from Sangria and Suratgarh constituencies, respectively during the recent Assembly elections, came to an end as they severed decades old relations with the Congress and extended support to the BJP candidate during the rally that was addressed by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje at the grain market in 
Sriganganagar.

The BJP dissidents Krishan Karwa, Hans Raj Poonia and Mohinder Rassewatt, who were blamed for the defeat of official candidates in the Vidhan Sabha elections in different segments, too rejoined the saffron party.

A jubilant Vasundhara Raje said the thunder from Sriganganagar will be heard in New Delhi and shake the ruling party in Jaipur.

Interestingly, Shahpeeni, deputy chief of the Zila Parishad, and Bhadoo had held meeting with their supporters early this week but kept the cards close to chests on their political future. It is believed that the winning Congress MLAs were not much interested in their home coming.

Raje said Sriganganagar finds respectable place in her heart. She was feeling short of words in expressing her sentiments over the assembly of senior political leaders sharing the dais. Old differences need not be discussed, she sought to caution her party leaders.

“My government had cared for farmers of this region. You can find heaps of wheat, barley and mustard everywhere. This was made possible by making water available at the tail-end of each canal besides waiving off water tax. But the Congress has emptied treasuries within three months. Canals got choked. We used to supply electricity round-the-clock but people tell me they are getting electricity only for six hours a day. It is a question of my prestige, please vote for BJP candidate Nihal Chand Meghwal,” she exhorted emotionally.

Damyanti Beniwal, Gurdeep Shahpeeni, Rajinder Bhadoo, Daropadi Meghwal, Mahesh Periwal, Kamlesh Verma, Dr Ram Partap and Ram Partap Kasnia also addressed the rally. 

Ferozepur, April 18
On the last day of filing nominations, 14 candidates filed their papers making the total number of contestants to 37. Today, the candidates who filed their nomination included Balwinder Pal and Jinder, both of All India Dalit Welfare Congress, Sukhlaxman Sharma (Independent), Raj Kumar (Independent), Baltej Singh (Independent), Munsha Singh (Independent), Gurpal Singh (Independent), Jagdeep Singh (Independent), Paramjeet Singh (Independent), Amarpreet Kaur INC, Sher Singh (Independent), Jagmeet Singh (Independent) and Sarbjit Singh (Independent).

Returning Officer Megh Raj said that the scrutiny of the papers will be completed by April 20, 2009 and the last date to withdraw nomination was April 22, 2009. He said that the Election Commission of India has appointed three observers to ensure fair and free conduct of the polls. Each observer will look after three assembly segments.

Rajinder Shankar Shukla will oversee the election process in Ferozpuer, Ferozpur Rural and Guruharsahai segments whereas S. Nanthak will take care of Jalalabad, Malout and Muktsar segments and Sameer Singh Chandel will look after Fazilka, Abohar and Balluana areas. 

Abohar, April 18
PPCC president Mohinder Singh Kay Pee has appointed Harmohinder Singh Grover as co-chairman of the grievances cell of the PPPC.

Grover, state secretary of the party, will assist Kay Pee in taking up the issues of grievances of the party workers at various levels. 

Mansa, April 18
The All India Bank Employees Association today held a meeting in Mansa and discussed the ensuing general elections.

Addressing the meeting vice-president of AIBEA, N.K. Gaur said that it was necessary to stand with those candidates who fight and raise voice for the rights of common masses and workers. He praised the Left and progressive forces who had played a key role to protect the rights of workers inside the parliament. When the present neo-liberal economic policies have resulted in huge accumulation of wealth in the hands of few people and deprivation of even minimum livelihood to the overwhelming masses, it was necessary for the workers and trade unions to play a class oriented role to change the situation.

It was decided in the meeting that campaigns must be started among workers, bank employees and people and motivate them in favour of Left and progressive candidates. He criticised the privatisation policies. 

Mansa, April 18
Congress candidate Raninder Singh today said that people had been coming out to support Congress party as they were disappointed with the anti-people policies of SAD-BJP combine.

He predicted that state government would fall after the elections as it could not fulfill its promises made during last assembly elections. People of Mansa and Bathinda were aware of the false promises made by SAD leaders during election campaign. He claimed that if he was elected to Parliament, more development schemes and funds would be brought for state and Bathinda region. — OC

Bathinda, April 18
Corporal punishment has been strictly banned by the Supreme Court since 2000 but it seems that there are many takers for 'spare the rod and spoil the child'. That is why Shanno Khan met with such a remorseful fate. The Tribune spoke to teachers of government and private schools and found that teachers still feel that children become smarter at a much younger age because of media's influence and punishing is required at times.

Ranbir Singh, a teacher from a nearby village said, "Children act like film heroes and it becomes difficult for us at times to handle them because they do not listen. We can not give them freedom which would prove destructive at a later stage in life. Handling them with a rod is necessary."

Another teacher from a government school added that many cases of deaths due to punishments from across the country have been reported but many a times, the reason for the death might not necessarily be punishment. “Children who come to government schools are mostly from poor families. A child might die due to some deficiency and the reason often stated by the family is corporal punishment. We see so many students, especially girls, fainting due to weakness in the morning assemblies," she added.

Baljinder Singh Mann, DEO (Elementary), Bathinda, when contacted, said, "Corporal punishment is totally banned. Physical and mental punishment in any form can not be given to a student in Punjab government schools."

CBSE school teachers, however, claimed that they do not allow corporal punishment. Arvinder Singh, principal, Government Secondary School, Jalala, claimed that during his tenure, punishments were strictly banned. "We have parents' and teachers' associations which try to find out why a child is not doing well or bunking classes. We try to find out the real problem,” he said.

Bathinda, April 18
The slow lifting of wheat from Bathinda grain market has resulted in a wheat glut. The wheat stocks are swilling over to roads and paths leading to the grain markets. The farmers are finding it difficult to unload their stocks in the markets.

The commission agents, who play a pivotal role in the procurement process, lamented that lifting was being done at a snail's pace as government agencies had failed to muster sufficient labour and trucks for the purpose.

Raghbir Singh, a farmer from Jodhpur village who has pitched a tent in the open, told TNS that he had been waiting for two days for the auction of his wheat which was lying in the market. There were no proper arrangements for bathing or drinking water in the grain market.

Farmers said that they had to pass their day under the burning sun. They repeatedly asked this reporter to touch their bodies to have a feel of the temperature. They have to arrange for their food from the nearby dhabas.

On the other hand, the procurement of wheat crop by various agencies of the state was going on in full swing. The administration has set up 140 purchase centres in the district for the convenience of the farmers. The procurement operations were being kept under close watch by the district administration so that harassment to any farmer could be checked.

A section of farmers, who had unloaded their produce at these purchase centres pointed out that the procurement operations were fast, but the lifting of procured wheat was slow. They added that bags of procured wheat had been adding up in almost all purchase centres and they had been finding it difficult to find space to unload produce.

Meanwhile, Ranbhir Singh, statistical analyst, district food and supplies department, said that the lifting of procured wheat was slow due to sudden and bulk arrivals from farmers in the mandi for the last two days.

"We have been receiving around 40,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat daily against the lifting capacity of 20,000 MT, he informed. He further informed that all the six procurement agencies, including the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have bought 3.40 lakh MT till today. The procurement of wheat was likely to finish by this month end, he added.

Fazilka, April 18
A tragic incidence of stray dogs biting a middle-aged woman to death has come to light.

According to sources, Kashmiran Bai (50), resident of village Chack Sarian of the nearby Jalalabad sub-division, was going to offer food to her husband Kala Singh working in the fields in the morning today. She was attacked by a dozen stray dogs resulting in her death on the spot.

As the villagers, including family members of Kashmiran Bai, sensed trouble, they rushed to her rescue but she had by then died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple bites. The dog continue to flock near the animal carcasses dump (hadda rorhi) adjacent to the water course where her husband was working.

According to villagers, the dogs around the dump continue to eat animal flesh they have become prone of attacking and biting the human beings too. There have been instances of dog bites in the past also.

The villagers rue that they had been demanding shifting of carcasses dump from the village but to no avail. Now, they have again called upon the administration to shift the dump.

The deceased is survived by her husband, a son and five daughters.