Jalandhar, April 18
Setting up of two separate central election offices here by the ruling BJP-SAD coalition seems to point out that there is lack of coordination between both the parties.

Even as both the parties are fighting out elections in the state as allies, national BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley opened the party office on Cool Road today while the SAD had opened its central office on Police Lines Road last month.

This has left many in a quandary asking why the partners could not have a common office to work from.

The BJP office that was inaugurated today did not have a single flag indicating its alliance with the SAD in the state. The huge hoardings even inside the office projected the images of party’s Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, former PM A.B. Vajpayee and party president Rajnath Singh.

A flex board at the entrance of the office only had the lotus sign with no accompanying symbol for the Akali party. The function was represented by just two Akali leaders - state election in charge Kirpal Singh Badungar and district SAD president Gurcharan Singh Channi.

The office that is meant to promote the election campaign of the SAD candidate Hans Raj Hans was devoid of any of his pictures. Hans himself was missing in the whole scene as he preferred to remain in his own office.

Jaitely instead was taken all the way to the SAD office from where Hans accompanied him to the press conference venue.

The SAD office too has been flashing multiple buntings of the SAD with life size hoardings of Hans ever since its inauguration on March 23. Scores of Akali flags had been erected atop the building with one or two BJP flags also fluttering inconspicuously.

Earlier, while inaugurating the BJP office, Jaitley said he remembered that the party had opened its state office in the same building in 2007 assembly polls. “That time it had proved to be lucky for us. We hope for similar results again”, he smiled.

Asked about the need of opening a separate BJP office, district president Ravi Mahendru said, “We have always been following the same pattern. It is our state’s election office and we need to plan all activities from here.”

On being asked as to why no posters of Hans or flags showing SAD symbol had been put up, he replied, “They are all there on the other gate. The gate we opened today is actually our back door. The other frontal gate was closed today and it bears pictures of Hans at the entry point”.

Nawanshahr, April 18
Human Empowerment League of Punjab (HELP) secretary Charanjit Singh Bheen in a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu has demanded a ban on advertisement figuring SAD-BJP nominee Harsimrat Badal for Bathinda parliamentary constituency, as a social activist of “Nanhi Chhan”, by a private TV channel.

HELP activist Parvinder Singh Kuttna in his complaint lodged to the deputy commissioner said the SAD-BJP nominee was being shown as propagating a drive to save the girl child and the trees under the aegis of the NGO “Nanhi Chhan”.

“Though, the active involvement of the political leaders, augurs well for the social cause, during polls, the repeated telecast of such advertisements amounts to violation of model code of conduct,” said the HELP activist.

HELP activist had raised the issue of publication of a “misleading advertisement” published in a vernacular paper in favour of the Congress nominee for Anandpur Sahib constituency Ravneet Singh Bittu. “As the advertisement does not carry the name of the person releasing the matter, it is clear violation of the EC instructions,”said Kuttna. — OC

Amritsar, April 18
The All India Terrorist Victim Association and All India Migrants Federation, in a joint rally organised here today, decided to extend their support to the SAD-BJP combine and its member parliament candidate from Amritsar - Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The joint action committee of the two organisations, led by Dr. BR Hastir, along with a large contingent of victims of terrorism, announced to extend their support in the presence of former health minister and chairman water supply and sewerage board, Dr. Baldev Raj Chawla, former minister - Balramji Das Tandon and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Dr. Hastir, while speaking on the occasion, said terrorist victims were agitated at former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh for his alleged stance against the victim families by denying any economic aid for their rehabilitation in 2006.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was instrumental in constitution of terrorist victims relief committee, while addressing them, assured them that he would do his utmost for bringing in the financial package of Rs 1,000 crore in this regard.

Amritsar, April 18
Narinder Singh, a resident of Gharial village in Ajnala, falling under Amritsar Rural police district, killed his wife on Thursday by hitting her with an iron rod.

Rajwinder Kaur, the deceased died on the spot while the Ajnala police have registered a case under section 302 IPC against Narinder.

Harpal Singh, brother of the deceased, who was present on the spot stated to the police that Rajwinder was married to the accused for about 20 years and the two have four children.

He said Narinder was suspicious about Rajwinder’s character due to which they used to quarrel frequently.

He said yesterday again the couple had a dispute and she had called him (Harpal) to settle the issue. After reaching a compromise, the couple went to sleep in their room in the night while he also stayed in their house, he added.

He said at midnight he suddenly woke up to the voices of the quarreling couple. He said when he went to the room, he saw Narinder was beating Rajwinder brutally and before he could intervene, the accused hit her with an iron rod which caused her death. Ranbir Singh, DSP Ajnala, said the accused has been arrested and would be presented in the court tomorrow. He said the police would ask for remand as they have yet to locate the iron rod used for the murder.