Amritsar, April 30
Independent candidate Naresh Singh Bhadoria, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, has been canvassing wearing garland of shoes round his neck, an interesting dimension to campaigning in the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency.

In chaste Hindi, Bhadoria seeks votes to “loot voters” after winning the election. He attracted sizeable crowd during his campaign. The security men deployed at behest of the Election Commission were also accompanying him for electioneering. He went about saying that now he was after the voters, but after the polling they (the voters) would be following him during full five-year term.

In his pledge titled, “The great expose party”, Bhadoria says: “I have come all the way from Uttar Pradesh to fool voters. I joined politics to loot people”. Before launching his election campaign he paid tributes to martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh.

Independent candidate Sham Lal sports a Gandhi cap and is perhaps the poorest one. The assets declared in his affidavit are of Rs 500 and he can be seen canvassing on rickshaw or bicycle carrying his election symbol “kettle” in his hands. Sometimes he amuses the electorate by offering them a cup of tea, poured from big silver kettle.

Similarly, another Independent candidate Bal Krishan devotes most of his time cooking “Amritsari kulchas” at his small dhaba on the Batala Road. Krishan has Rs 20,000 in cash, an LIC policy of Rs 20,000, 1996 model car (valued at Rs 25,000) and 50 gm gold ornaments. 

Chandigarh, April 30
Role of religious deras in Lok Sabha elections may be causing worry to major political parties but there is one dera trying to redefine politics.

Babaji da Takiya, 7 km from Subhanpur in Kapurthala district, is not a dera in the usual sense. It enjoys a tremendous popularity in Punjab in general and Doaba in particular. Its sanctity lies in its “Jaal prasad” given by its head, Baba Balkar Singh to the devotees seeking cure for ailments and relief from problems. Special congregations are held on Thursdays.

Ever since elections for 15th Lok Sabha, were announced Babaji da Takiya is also headquarters of the Bharatiya Gaon Taj Dal, registered unrecognised political party.

Baba Balkar Singh, besides being the spiritual head of Babaji da Takiya, is writer, freelance journalist, keen sportsman, political thinker and now head of the Bharatiya Gaon Taj Dal.

“Not many know the name of our party,” he says. “Initially, I wanted to name it after country’s greatest martyr Bhagat Singh. Since Bhagat is also a caste, many advised me against it. after months of consultations, we decided to name it the Bharatiya Gaon Taj Dal, representing secular India, 80 per cent of which is rural population and where the Taj symbolises love and affection and Dal stands for mutual give and take. BG (beejee) is the normal salutation for mother,” he adds.

The BGT Dal made its appearance in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections when it fielded candidates in 10 of 13 Punjab constituencies. “Our idea was not to win, but make our presence known. We are for change, a change in political system. Unlike other parties, ready to join one alliance or the other, we decry alliance politics,” says Baba Balkar Singh.

This time the BGT Dal is contesting 10 seats again. The Baba was the first one to file nomination from Khadoor Sahib.

“Our agenda is change. Education up to graduation level should be free of cost for all. Besides promising minimum remuneration of Rs 15,000 or Rs 20,000 a month, we will employ gainfully every youth between 20 and 25,” he added.

Let those with M Phil and Ph D degrees be employed in schools. The minimum support price for wheat should be Rs 2,000 and for basmati, it should be Rs 4,500. Health care facilities to the old and physically challenged will be made available at their doorstep.

Barhampur(Ludhiana),April 30
Not satisfied with political statements for a change, residents here want written commitment for immediate action against prospering "bhooki" business in the village and surrounding areas.

Gurjit Singh, a local resident, said "we are asking leaders if they knew about the depth of the problem of "bhooki" and drugs. Not just me, many villagers are concerned about rampant misuse of the drug." Navtej Singh said "the "bhooki" supply is open secret which nobody seems to acknowledge. The fact is not surprising because "bhooki" peddlers are very well connected".

Lok Sabha candidate of the Fatehgarh Sahib constituency, B P Singh Gill from the Lok Bhalai Party says a number of office- bearers of the major political parties were "bhooki" suppliers, themselves.

Sukhdev Singh Libra, Congress candidate, said "I appeal to all political parties to unite against "bhooki". We need to take immediate action because our young generation is involved ‘. Charanjit Singh Atwal, Shiromani Akali Dal candidate said "I am asking everyone, including my party workers, to shun 'bhooki' business. The illegal money, in a way, keeps out many poor but deserving party workers from coming to the front"

A survey by The Tribune in the village and adjoining areas including Chhapar, Maholi Khurd, Rachhin and Barundi revealed that "bhooki" has seeped into the way of living in the local population.

A visit to Hind Hospital at Mandi Ahmedgarh was an eye opener going by the number of patients, either consuming bhooki or trying to give up "deadly addiction”. Dr Sumit Hind said “about six / seven years back, we asked a patient if he was addicted to any drug or medicine. Now our first question to a big majority is what "nasha" are you having”.

Sardara Singh, a senior citizen, trying to quit ‘bhooki’ said “I used to have 'Mona leet' (a sedative) tablets before I switched over to two teaspoons of ‘bhooki daily for six years.’ Not just me, majority of my friends left the drugs and switched over to "bhooki".

Dr Sumit Hind said the use of drugs as "fun drugs" continues unabated. There are a number of laxatives, sedatives and many pain killers being commonly used.

Sukhdev Singh, a truck driver, said “bhooki is also a derived form of the plant of "doda" from which opium is derived. The plant enters Punjab from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The "maal" comes hidden on trucks carrying foods or fruit items which are not stopped at the sales tax barriers. A number of truck operators are in connivance with political bosses . Certain communities are known to get the supplies on trains”.

Sangrur , April 30
Farmers are little interested in Lok Sabha (LS) elections because political parties have not been touching their issues and demands . Besides the parties do not have programme to solve problems of the farmers. So the farmers have been adopting lackadaisical approach to elections.

State president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan stated this here today.

Ugrahan said almost all parties had given up farmers’ issues, like suicides and debt though these needed special attention to save farmers from destruction. He did farmers not expect much due to indifferent attitude of parties towards their demands.

To will farmers cast votes in elections, Ugrahan said due to different reasons the farmers every time cast votes , knowing no party was finding permanent solution to their problems.

Ugrahan said to educate the farmers on elections the BKU (Ugrahan) was starting “Kafla marches” from May 1 to May 3 in the state. He said 70 tractor-trailers would take part in the march tomorrow which would start from Khanauri village and ends at Bakhora village in Sangrur district.

Ugrahan said “Kafla marches” would edu cate the farmers the elections would not solve their problems, so they should start agitations for their goals. He wanted parties to have programmes and proposals.

The farmer leader even other sections society were not interested in the elections, hence low percentage of polling in several states.

Bathinda, April 30
“The previous Congress government delivered more than what it had promised,” said Congress candidate for Bathinda Lok Sabha Raninder Singh toady at election rallies in the Lambi Assembly segment, represented by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Raninder said previous Congress government led by his father Amarinder Singh sowed seeds of change and development in the area. Unfortunately due to “vindictive attitude” of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), most of the development projects had been abandoned. He said these projects would be restarted once the Congress returned to power in the state and alleged the Badals were making false promises and assurances on the eve of elections.

“It was a vote for Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister. Such opportunities do not come frequently. Let us give second term to our Sikh Prime Minister,” he added.

He said, “The history and our future generations would not forgive us if we fail to re-elect Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of the country. India has earned due place in the world under his able leadership.”

Bathinda, April 30
The core committee of the SAD-BJP met here last night to iron out differences between the two parties and persuade BJP activists campaign for Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha candidate for Bathinda seat.

Sikander Singh Maluka, chairman of the District Planning Board, presided over the meeting attended among others by mayor, Baljeet Singh Birbehman, Sarup Chand Singla (both SAD), district BJP chief Narinder Mittal, senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal, deputy mayor G K Mangat and district (rural) president,BJP, Dayal Singh Sodhi.

A SAD spokesman said it has been decided that the activists of both parties would campaign jointly for Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Members of the core committee claimed mischievous elements were trying to create misunderstanding between the two parties.

They decided to mobilise party workers for election rallies of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior BJP leaders, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Hema Malini, who would campaign from May 2.

Bathinda, April 30
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government would strive to restore number one status of the state in the country. She accused the Congress leadership of neglecting development of the remote areas of the Malwa region.

Harsimrat Kaur during whirlwind tour of 25 villages around here accused the Congress leadership of selling interests of Punjab for short-term political 
survival.

She enumerated achievements of the SAD-BJP government in two years coupled with growth-oriented vision for three years.

She reiterated SAD resolve to alter the formula for devolution of the central funds to the states, so that they get 50 per cent share out of central taxes. She said the SAD was committed to alter norms for all centrally sponsored schemes to make these state specific and performance oriented.

Harsimrat said the government was boosting capacity of the century-old canal system up to 30 per cent by spending Rs 3,200 crore.

Reverse osmosis plants were being installed in the cancer-prone villages to provide potable drinking water.

She said compared to the Congress not generating a single unit of power in five years, the SAD-BJP government has initiated work on four mega thermal plants to generate more than 6,000 MW of power.

she said the SAD-BJP government had initiated expressways, three international airports and three domestic airports , a investment of Rs 72,000 crore to take the state on higher orbit of development and growth.

Accusing the Congress governments at the Centre of ignoring state’s industry by giving package of concessions to the neighbouring states, she said Punjab would get the package on the pattern of Himachal and Utrakhand, the day NDA assumed power at the Centre.

Amritsar , April 30
Anand Sharma Minister of State External Affairs today described the attack on Sikh families in Peshawar (Pakistan) as unfortunate and wanted government of Pakistan and its army to neutralise them (Taliban).

The Minister of State External Affairs at a press conference said Taliban had become a threat not only to Pakistan but also to entire world. He wished Pakistan a stable democratic government to overpower Taliban. He said Pakistan government needed to safeguard life and property of all minorities in that country.

He said though the latest attack on the minority was an internal matter of Pakistan but whenever innocent people of Indian origin were attacked in any part of the world the government condemned them and urged the nation concerned to do the needful.

The order to demolish the houses was given by Taliban's deputy chief Baitullah Mehsud.

The Taliban attacked after the deadline to pay the tax endedon Wednesday.

Taliban had asked them to pay tax of Rs 5 crore a year under the Sharia law, which was later reduced to Rs 1.5 crore after negotiations. Taliban claims the Sharia asks all non-Muslims to pay protection money.

There are about 35 Sikh families in the area. Around 15 Sikh families have left ancestral villages and taken refuge in Minni Khel area.

The Taliban are in control of the area. In addition to Sikhs, there are Christians living in the Taliban- controlled areas.

Chandigarh, April 30
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted Rs 4 lakh compensation to the four minor sons of a rail accident victim, in an attempt to put their lives back on the track.

Their lives were practically derailed after a train rammed into the vehicle of their father Kewal Khan who was driving at a railway crossing, killing him on the spot at about 11 pm on December 11, 1998.

In their petition placed before Justice Surya Kant, the petitioners Talvir Khan and others of Samrala in Ludhiana district asked for issuance of directions to the railway authorities to compensate them with Rs 10 lakh due to their father’s death. 

Accusing the railway authorities of sheer negligence, the petitioners asserted the mishap took place with a passenger train at the railway gate between Malerkotla and Kup Kalan, as the gateman had not closed the gates allegedly under the influence of liquor. An FIR in the matter was also registered under Sections 337, 427 and 304-A of the IPC, and under the railways Act, at GRP police station in Sangrur.

Taking an essentially humanistic view of the incident, Justice Surya Kant asserted the petitioners lost their father at a very tender age and soon thereafter their mother also passed away. Since then, they had been sustaining themselves at the mercy of their relatives.

Allowing the writ petition, Justice Surya Kant directed the Union of India, the railway authorities and other respondents to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each of the petitioners.

The amount would be kept in fixed deposit in a nationalised bank in their names till their maturity. The petitioners, in the meantime, would be entitled to draw the interest on the fixed deposits, through the guardian, for their welfare.

Before parting with the orders, Justice Surya Kant directed the respondents to pay the amount within two months of receiving the order’s copy, failing which they would be entitled to interest at the rate of seven per cent per annum from the date of filing the petition.