Bathinda, April 25
Raninder Singh, the  Congress candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, today walked through the main markets of the town and met every individual shopkeeper to seek their support in the elections scheduled for May 7. The local MLA, Harminder Singh Jassi, and a number of Congress activists accompanied him.

Raninder went to each shop and shook hands with those inside.

He started the mass contact campaign from the Goldiggi and marched in procession to the Dhobi Bazar, Kikkar Bazar, Hospital Bazar, Sirki Bazar, Qila Road and Railway Road. Raninder’s supporters at these places warmly received him.

Vehicular traffic on the Mall Road got stuck in a jam that was caused due to presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in an election rally.

Congress supporters also parked their vehicles haphazardly on the road.

Moga, April 25
Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has emerged as the star campaigner for Congress in Punjab. He has been touring the state extensively for the past few weeks.

Although, his wife Prenet Kaur and son Raninder Singh are contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Patiala and Bathinda constituencies, respectively, he has distributed his time equally for the whole of the state.

In the public rallies and road shows, he talks in lighter entertaining tone highlighting major issues in a simple way sensing the mood of the people. He avoids direct attack on CM Prakash Singh Badal and his son SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal but leaves no chance to criticize their policies and programmes.

Taking a dig at the Badal family to amuse the people he often comments, "These days the senior Badal is passing his time by reading newspapers as his son has snatched all the powers from him and taken the task of running the affairs of both the party as well as the government". With regard to Sukhbir Badal he often comments, 'Oh te haale balungara hai, aje usne bahut kuj sikhna hai' (he is just a cat's cub and he has a lot to learn). Even if the media persons try to get something out of him against Sukhbir, he avoids hitting back by saying, "I need not comment on him".

In a recent public rally at Faridkot, he said, "We have sensed that the mood of the people is against the SAD-BJP government in the state, particularly with regard to the poll rigging and atrocities on thousands of people done by their leaders to capture the panchayat and local body elections".

Adding that the public confidence he enjoyed when he was the CM is no more under the rule of Badal family, Captain said that the common man is rethinking about voting for the SAD- BJP.

While talking to The Tribune a few days back, Captain Amarinder Singh was of the view that there was a strong anti-incumbency factor prevailing against the SAD-BJP government in the state. He said, "We hope to translate the losses of Akalis into gains for us".

Above all, he never forget to express his views on important issues concerning the state and its people like environmental degradation, problem of clean potable water, depleting soil fertility, shifting of industries from the state, power crisis, declining social values, rising trend of drug-addiction among the youth, unemployment and increasing atrocities on dalits and women etc. 

Bathinda, April 25
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Congress leadership to shed arrogance and big brother attitude towards regional parties as fed up with this egotistical attitude its allies have already parted ways from it.

Badal was commenting on the reports of Delhi Chief Minster Sheila Dikshit calling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as a small regional party.

Badal said this uncompromising attitude of the Congress was responsible for the collapse of the UPA, as the party after ruling the country singly for 40 years has not reconciled to work with regional parties as a coalition.

He said that in the changed political scenario the base of the Congress in the public had been fully eroded and regional parties knowing the pulse of the people had emerged stronger in virtually every state.

Recalling the role of the SAD in the freedom struggle, he said the sacrifices by the cadre of this party in the freedom struggle were maximum. But after independence, the Congress cashed in on the struggle for political benefit.

Sarcastically taking the Congress head-on, Badal described it as a “sinking ship” and all its honest and dedicated leaders were saying goodbye to the party, which was being governed by money power rather than ideology.

Calling Raninder a “kid”, Badal said “I have no personal fight against any leader and let the ‘Raj Kumar’ first qualify the nursery examination of politics.”

Meanwhile, the Bathinda District Congress today suffered a major jolt as its vice-president Sewa Singh resigned from the party and joined the SAD along with his supporters in the presence of Parkash Singh Badal.

Another vice-president Choudhary Ashok Mittal and general secretary Krishan Singh have already joined the SAD.

Bathinda, April 25
The absence of local BJP leadership from the election campaign is causing anxiety among its coalition partner the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that is facing a tough challenge from the Congress in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency where Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, is locked in a contest with Raninder Singh, son of the Congress campaign manager Captain Amarinder Singh.

Except the district (urban) BJP chief, Narendra Mittal, other leaders of the party are conspicuously absent from the election rallies being addressed here by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to garner support for his daughter-in-law.

Hardly any BJP leader participated in the rallies addressed by Sukhbir Singh Badal at various places in the constituency.

The BJP rank and file here was badly divided and accuses Mittal of not taking them into confidence as he had business interests with a leader of the SAD. They accuse Sukhbir Singh Badal of trying to break the BJP as he had recently admitted into the SAD with fanfare their five members who had lost the Bathinda Municipal Corporation election.

The local BJP cadres were maintaining distance from the SAD ever since the elections for panchayats were held and their senior leaders, including one enjoying status of a minister, were badly thrashed by latter’s supporters during electioneering.

A local BJP leader said today that he along with other party activists were daily visiting the SAD’s election office but the tour programmes of Badals were being kept secret from them. Neither was a copy of the schedule being sent to the BJP office.

He pointed out that the BJP rank and file was feeling alienated as no senior leader of the party was even taken into confidence about a meeting that was recently held here between Parkash Singh Badal, Balramji Dass Tandon, BJP campaign manager, Kamal Sharma, state BJP general secretary, and Mittal at the residence of a lawyer to finalise the election strategy.

A BJP activist said that the senior deputy mayor, Tarsem Goyal, this morning with a handful party activists campaigned in his own ward for the SAD.

On the other hand, the Congress activists were focusing on their local MLA Harminder Singh Jassi, who is a loyalist of the CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. The captain’s men were keeping a close watch on him although he has been accompanying Raninder Singh during his rallies here.

Many Congress leaders were also annoyed over the manner in which Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, MLA, has been dominating the election rallies of Amarinder Singh and Raninder Singh.

Sidhu is considered as a close confidant of Amarinder Singh.

Bathinda, April 25
Being introduced as "daughter of the soil", Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the SAD-BJP candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, loves campaigning the same way her father-in-law Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal does. She keeps a computerised data of the constituency and tries her best to reach to the heart of people by understanding their problems. She has tall promises to make to the voters of the constituency of her husband. The elderly women of villages were seen blessing her wherever she went for canvassing on Friday.

Once outside her Badal village doors, the SAD candidate is immediately swarmed by people who want her to call up the appropriate authorities for one work or another. Citing the election code in force, she makes an odd phone call where it is possible before setting out in the field.

She is usually out by 8 in the morning but gets late due to other chores. Usually attired in a simple cotton print suit, she prefers to cover her head with a 'chunni' while campaigning. A diary, pen and a pair of sun glasses is the only luxury she allows herself with. However, she is careful not to wear the sun glasses during campaigning.

The SAD candidate has matured in confidence since the campaigning gained momentum. Asked by TNS as to why she is contesting this hot seat, Harsimrat says she was encouraged to go to the voters on the basis of the achievements made by the SAD-BJP combine in the state in general and the constituency in particular. "Ever since the SAD-BJP government has been formed in the state, a lot has been done to develop the constituency," she adds emphatically.

At the first stop at Mansa Khurd village on Friday, the candidate went up to the stage after exchanging warm greetings with the people, especially women, who were assembled under a small tent. After speeches by a few Akali leaders, who launched an attack on the "non-performance" of the previous Congress government, Harsimrat took up the mike.

She is a slow starter and her thoughts are not very cohesive. She, however, gets her ideas across by talking about the development done in the constituency, the projects taken up like sewerage system and clean drinking water in every village of the state.

However, what the SAD candidate lacks in oratorical skills she tries to make up through a personal contact programme. She usually talks to women, pays obeisance at the village gurdwaras and is humble in her approach. This and the attempt to mix with the hoi polloi without letting it appear to be so does her credit.

Ferozepur, April 25
Farmers will not only get remunerative prices for their agricultural produce but will also get subsidised bank loans at 4 per cent interest instead of prevailing 12 per cent, if NDA comes to power, said SAD chief Sukhbir Badal.

He also promised today that NDA government would waive all the agriculture loans of the farmers. He addressed public meetings at village Lakho Ke Behram, Rattewala, Ladhuka, Shatirwala, Bakeinwala and Abohar in support of SAD candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya.

Sukhbir said that more than 16 lakh families had been benefited by the scheme in the state, adding that the EWS families would get wheat at cost of Rs 2 per kg, and those poor families who have been left behind, their blue cards shall also be made.
— OC

Fazilka, April 25
Taking serious note of glut in the grain market and slow process of lifting of wheat by the government procuring agencies, Fazilka Market Committee has sent the notices of demurrage to these agencies.

While talking to The Tribune today, SDM Charandev Singh Maan disclosed that notices of demurrage of Rs 12,20,994 to four out of total five government procuring agencies namely Markfed (Rs 3,80,654), Punsup (Rs 3,45,562), Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (Rs 2,54,118) and Pungrain (Rs 2,40,660) have been sent for non-lifting of wheat on time. It is pertinent to mention here that the agencies are to lift the produce within 72 hours after the purchase.

The SDM said that so far these government agencies have procured 17,71,850 quintals of wheat from the grain market Fazilka and 21 focal points falling under it. He further said the farmers brought their produce hurriedly due to uncertain and inclement weather conditions, which manifold the problem of procurement and lifting. However, SDM said that 1,50,000 to 1,60,000 bags (one bag weighing 50 kg wheat) of wheat is being lifted everyday.

He further disclosed that licence of one firm of commission agent has been cancelled for trying to sell wheat containing quantity of moisture more than the prescribed 20 per cent. 

Abohar, April 25
Students from polytechnic colleges based in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patti, Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot, Ajitwal, Fazilka and others won appreciation from BSF DIG VK Sharma and Naresh Nagpal, additional director, department of Technical Education, Punjab, for the excellent skills demonstrated through their projects besides paper reading during the 3rd Inter Polytechnic Tech-fest hosted by the Abohar Polytechnic College here today.

The veteran guests, who were warmly received by the college president Sanjeev Midha and principal Iqbal Singh Romana, took keen interest and put searching questions while taking a round of the exhibition.

They hoped the students of the polytechnic colleges in the state will shine in the national competitions also.

Bathinda, April 25
The district courts, Bathinda, was packed to capacity today as voters cast their ballot to elect the office-bearers of the District Bar Association (DBA). Jasvir Singh was elected as the president of the Association.

Dayajit Singh was elected as the vice-president while Gursewak Singh Sidhu was chosen as the secretary. Earlier, Varinder Sharma had unanimously bagged the post of joint secretary.

For the post of president, Jasvir Singh polled 336 votes while his rival Mohinder Singh Sidhu secured 292 votes. For the post of vice-president, Dayajit Singh polled 400 votes while his rival Milan Setia secured 226 votes. To win the post of the secretary Gursewak Singh Sidhu polled 430 votes while Shah Bharat Singh Sidhu got 80 votes.

The victorious candidates and their supporters broke into jubilation as counting came to end. Out of the total 691 members, 636 exercised their franchise.

Jatinder Roy Khattar, returning officer, said that election was held peacefully and fairly and no candidate had complained of any irregularity. The members to the executive of DBA would be nominated later, he added. — TNS

Abohar, April 25
Frustrated over inability to arrange a whopping "illegal gratification" of Rs 50,000 for a bank loan, a young trader here allegedly consumed celphos last night and died during the treatment in a multi-specialty hospital at Muktsar after midnight, sources said.

As per information available, Arun Sikri, son of Subhash Sikri, a retired audit officer in the cooperatives department, had been running textile shop in street number 10 here.

As per the handwritten suicide note recovered by the city police, Arun had applied for loan under the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojna to expand his business. Rs four lakh was sanctioned and the file was referred to the Abohar branch of the Allahabad Bank. Arun reportedly alleged in the suicide note that manager Ashok Kumar (Khanagwal) demanded Rs 50,000 as illegal gratifications for releasing the loan and did not relent even when the applicant promised to pay him the amount on receipt of the cheque since it was not possible for him to arrange such hefty amount.

“Frustrated over the conduct of the manager, I am committing suicide by consuming celphos,” he stated.

Arun was last night rushed to the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital but the doctors reportedly referred him to Muktsar due to his critical condition. He died after midnight.

As the sad news rocked the town this morning, scores of traders and other citizens marched to the branch office of the Allahabad Bank shouting slogans. They reportedly tried to force entry into the bank premises but the staff had locked the main gate of the recently renovated building from inside.

The police rushed in and prevented the irate mob from crashing the gate. People say on dharna even as bitumen of the tehsil road was melting due to scorching heat. Trade unions strongly condemned the bank officials expressing resentment over corruption that had allegedly crossed all limits in the loan system. Om Parkash Kataria, vice-president of the district BJP, said the very purpose of the welfare schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojna stands defeated. The demonstrators regretted that neither the CBI nor the state vigilance department had taken stern measures to check the growing menace.

Later, the police registered a case against Ashok Kumar Khanagwal under section 306 of the IPC but the accused, a local, along with his family had reportedly fled and could not be contacted by the media even, sources said.

Heart-breaking scenes were witnessed when the body of Arun Sikri was brought from Muktsar after postmortem to the Patel Nagar locality here this evening. The deceased is survived by three sisters.

Bathinda, April 25
A 22-year-old student of Polytechnic college, who was missing since Wednesday, was found dead. His body was found floating in the lake number II here today.

As per the details available, Manpreet Singh of the Ajit road in the city, had called at his house on Wednesday night.

He asked his family members to collect some of his articles lying near lake number II and disconnected the call.

When the family members went there, they found a mobile phone, a purse and some other documents. They tried but could not find him and reported the matter to the Civil Lines police post and an NGO, the Naujwan Welfare Society.

A team of the NGO volunteers, reportedly, kept on finding the body till Thursday evening in the lake but in vain. However, when the volunteers visited the spot again this morning, the body was found floating on the lake’s bank. They fished out the body, which was taken to the Civil Hospital for conducting the post-mortem examination. Later, it was handed over to the kin of the deceased.

The family members of the deceased said the boy did not have enmity with anyone, adding that the day on which he went missing happened to be the 13th death anniversary of his mother.