Bathinda, May 1
With campaigning for the high-profile Bathinda Lok Sabha seat reaching the climax, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his arch political rival and Congress campaign manager Captain Amarinder Singh are camping in the constituency to personally tie the loose ends. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, daughter-in-law of the CM, and Raninder Singh, son of Capt Amarinder Singh, are locked in the contest that is prestigious for both political families.

Not only Badal and Amarinder Singh, but also other members of their families have descended here to participate in the campaign of their scions.

Taking off time from campaign in other constituencies, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal is regularly on flying visits here to meet leaders of employee unions, social and religious organisations and NGOs. He would camp here from Sunday to give further momentum to the campaign of his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

With a hectic schedule, Capt. Amarinder Singh is these days addressing five to six election rallies daily as his day begins at 9 am and ends around midnight.

Harsimrat Kaur and Raninder Singh start their respective campaigns early in the morning and each one of them braving the heat wave conditions is addressing anything between 22 to 25 rallies.

Interestingly, no leader of the Congress from the Centre is coming to campaign for Raninder Singh and Capt. Amarinder Singh continues to be the star campaigner for his son. His recent election rallies at Nathana, Mansa and Bhucho were largely attended. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had launched the campaign by addressing party activists during the “Baisakhi Mela” at Talwandi Sabo on April 14. Mohsina Kidwai, who looks after the Punjab affairs in AICC, accompanied him.

On May 4, he is scheduled to campaign in the Lambi assembly segment of Parkash Singh Badal and a day earlier in the Bathinda town that is expected to play a crucial role in the election.

Members of the Badal family have fanned out in the entire constituency and were seeking support virtually in every village and each household. Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was camping in the Mansa district that is part of the Bathinda constituency. Parkash Singh Badal and his wife Surinder Kaur have addressed at least two rounds of election rallies in all 50 wards of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation. Harsimrat Kaur has also visited these wards.

The Central leadership of the BJP is backing the Badals. Top BJP leaders of the BJP, including Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Hema Malini, would address a series of election rallies in the constituency from tomorrow.

Rishma Kaur, wife of Raninder Singh, who left for Patiala after campaigning here for a week, is expected to return to provide a boost to his campaign. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, May 1
"We do not believe in making false promises, our work speaks volumes of our capacity to do wonders," said Congress president Sonia Gandhi, while reading out her speech amidst thunderous applause here today.

Claiming that only the Congress was capable of ensuring internal and external security, stability and sustenance, Sonia Gandhi said the BJP and other regional parties were pursuing one point programme that is “Kursi”. In fact, they never had any economic policy or programme that delivers goods to the common man. They have never been concerned with prosperity or progress. All of their leaders dream to be Prime Ministers. “We do not run after the chair. The UPA government initially faced challenges to internal as well as external security. Communal and separatist forces were raising their heads in 2004 to weaken the country. Other forces indulged in intimidation over caste and creed. Poor people felt orphaned. The faith expressed by millions of electorate in the UPA prompted us to come true to their expectations religiously,” she said. Dr Manmohan Singh, being an intelligent, capable and honest leader, was able to get such schemes drafted and implemented in letter and spirit which led the country and its population towards bright future, Sonia said and added, “we treated the goals fixed by nation builders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as our destination. We proved during the past five years that the country is secure in the hands of the Congress. The people stood by us in fighting terrorism. Our steps led to prosperity and we promise to keep the same spirit after forming next government.”

The AICC president listed the achievements of the UPA government referring to NREGA, waiving off 65,000 crore debts of farmers, covering 15 crore children under the mid-day meal scheme and sought support for fulfilling the “Bharat Nav Nirman” dream. She did not forget to compliment the farmers of Sriganganagar district in making the region the food basket of the north India.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that Raj Nath Singh and Lal Krishna Advani had been visiting Rajasthan only to address election rallies but they never shared the grief of the people during the natural calamities. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had toured the state extensively during famines, he reminded. Pradesh Congress president CP Joshi and the party candidate Bharat Ram Meghwal also spoke at the rally.

Bathinda, May 1
The opposition Congress today accused Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, of violating the election model code by participating in a meeting of government school teachers here.

In a complaint to the Election Commission, Sukhbir Shergill, election agent of the Congress candidate Raninder Singh, has demanded action against Surinder Badal and certain ministers who participated in the teachers’ meeting here on April 27.

He has demanded that the central government staff should be ordered to man the polling booths as the teachers and the state government staff assigned the task of conduct of polling was under immense pressure from Parkash Singh Badal and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal whose wife Harsimrat Kaur was contesting the election against Raninder Singh.  

Shergill pointed out that most of the teachers, whom Surinder Kaur Badal and the ministers addressed, were assigned election duty in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency. He urged the Election Commission to replace all teachers from the election duty who participated in the meeting and also officers who were taking active part in election campaign. 

Death of two employees of Ludhiana while unofficially working at Mansa has established the fact that government employees were deployed the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, he said and demanded that a case should be registered against the senior officers who sent these two employees to Mansa. 

Fazilka, May 1
A bandh called by Congress to protest against the 'breakdown' in law and order situation and death of lecturer Anil Nagpal in a road mishap failed to evoke response. Shops remained opened and the protest march taken out by the Congress activists also courted a controversy.

Congress activists took out a protest march led by former Congress MLA Mahinder Rinwa, Block Congress Committee Urban and Rural presidents Roshan Lal Khunger and Des Raj Kamboj, respectively. They were protesting against the alleged breakdown of law and order situation and the failure of Municipal Council, Fazilka, in preventing auction of the 53 acres of prime municipal land at throwaway prices.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Tehsildar. It has been alleged in the memorandum that the group clash between wine contractors took place in town a few days back and the police failed to nab the culprits, deceased lecturer Anil Nagpal had been killed in an accident which involved a car, whose drive was allegedly in inebriated condition.

It has also been alleged that the police and hospital administration allowed the car borne occupants to escape from the hospital in an alleged attempt to save them.

Local BJP MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani told media today that the procession taken out by the Congress activists was violation of model code of conduct. He said that he had sent a complaint in this regard to polls observer Sameer Singh Chandel. He claimed that the bandh had evoked no response.

Jyani said that the auctioned 53 acres of land would be redeemed within a month, as the council was likely to receive payment in lieu of the municipal land provided by the Congress Municipal Council to PUDA free of cost for building mini-secretariat.

Assistant Returning Officer-cum-SDM Fazilka Charandev Singh Maan said that the Congress had not taken any permission from him for taking out protest procession today.

It is pertinent to mention that section 144 has been enforced these days in view of the Lok Sabha polls.

On the other hand, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Fazilka, Dr Y.K. Gupta said that the panel of doctors comprising Dr D.K. Bhukkal and surgeon Dr R.K. Sharma examined all the four injured persons.

According to Dr D.K. Bhukkal, occupants of the car identified as teacher Ranbir and his companion Raj Kumar had been referred to Government Medical College, Faridkot. The injured returned to the hospital after getting CT scan done. The Jalalabad police have also registered a case against Ranbir. 

Dharamkot (Moga), May 1
Former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, while launching a frontal attack on BJP-led NDA, of which Punjab's ruling SAD party is an alliance partner, has alleged that they were responsible for disturbing communal harmony of the nation during a public rally in favour of the party candidate from Faridkot Sukhwinder Singh Danny here, today.

Dubbing the BJP and its alliance partners as power hungry, he said that it had tried to vitiate communal harmony and divide people with their hatred oriented politics. Likewise, its alliance partner SAD was responsible for the black days of terrorism and the social unrest presently prevailing among the rural folk in the state.

Levelling serious allegation against BJP's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, he said that for the first time they (NDA) sent a minister to release terrorists — the so called Taliban and the then Home Minister (Advani) now says he was not aware of it.

He said that atrocities being committed on the Sikh families in Pakistan by the Taliban terrorists were the result of weak and wrong policies of the previous NDA government.

Taking a dig at the chief minister Prakash Singh Badal, he alleged that the CM had made the government and the Akali party a family affair, which has damaged the very institution of democracy.

Claiming that there was a strong wave in favour of the Congress, he said that the people of Punjab would teach a lesson to the communal leaders of the BJP and the power hungry Badal family.

Meanwhile, Danny sought votes for himself saying that each and every vote would help Manmohan Singh again become the PM, which was in the interest of nation's progress and development. Later, Captain Amarinder Singh also addressed a public rally at Baghapurana in the district. 

Mansa, May 1
SAD candidate from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said that SAD was committed to fighting for the conservation of environment. She said that the party would treat this issue as one of vital importance for the survival of planet earth.

Addressing a series of rallies in various villages of Mansa district, Harsimrat said that under the 'Nannhi Chhaan' banner, she tried her best to create awareness among masses on this issue. She said that once NDA comes to power at the Centre, every legal, constitutional and political step would be taken to ensure that those who indulge in polluting the ecology are dealt with as criminals. — OC

Bathinda, May 1
On May Day, the Mulajim Front, Punjab, an alliance of various employees’ organisations, held a state-level show of strength here today. Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal was the chief guest on the occasion.

Hundreds of activists belonging to the Employees’ Federation PSEB, Adhyapak Dal, Punjab, Veterinary Inspector Union, Karamchari Dal, Sugar Mill Karamchari Union, Nagar Nigam Talmel Dal, PAU Employees Federation, Medical Federation, Multipurpose Workers Union (women), PRTTC Union, Bharati Majdoor Sangh (Municipal Corporation), Nursing Association and Rural Pharmacist Union marked the venue from across the state. The rally focused on flaying the UPA government for not considering the employees’ demands. In their address, leaders raised issues of the vacancies in many departments, side effects of privatisation and contract system.

Surender Singh Pehlwan, president of the Front, appreciated the SAD-led government for implementating the fifth pay commission report and releasing the 10 per cent installment of dearness allowance.

Meanwhile, the members of the Front handed over a charter of demand to Sukhbir.

Harpal Singh Teja, secretary general of the Front said, “The rally was a show of strength to Sukhbir Badal and an assurance to stand by his party in the coming polls.” In his speech, Sukhbir said, “As the poll code does not allow me to issue any grant I assure you of it after the polls. Considering the power of employees, I have been planning to constitute a separate board for them.”

Meanwhile, demonstrations and rallies by different trade unions and employees associations marked the May Day celebrations in different parts of the city today. The MES Workers’ Union paid tributes to Chicago Martyrs at a rally in front of its office. Union president Santokh Singh called upon workers to unite and work for their betterment.

The CPI (ML-Liberation) organised rallies at different places in the city and paid tributes to the heroes and martyrs who lost their lives while fighting for the rights of workers.

The GNDTP Employees Federation also held a demonstration here to highlight the problems of workers.

Lord Rama School, MSD Institute observed May Day by organising a havan. Principal Suraj Setia and president Chiranji Lal Garg were also present on the occasion. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, May 1
“None of the politicians is trustworthy. They will promise you the moon but do not have the guts to deal with the chronic problem of flow of highly contaminated canal water with an iron hand,” said noted environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, at Gurdwara Shri Singh Sabha in Suratgarh. A warm welcome was accorded as the Jal Chetna Yatra led by him entered Sriganganagar.

While exhibiting the samples of the water drawn from the regional canals, Sant Seechewal said, “Water emanating from Sutlej will prove fatal for thousands in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts also as no system to purify it has so far been derived, which can cause cancer besides spreading respiratory and other skin problems. By not enforcing the law to check water pollution, the politicians and bureaucrats are playing with people’s health,” he mentioned.

People of the Malwa in Punjab and West Rajasthan will have to jointly launch a campaign to check the menace.

Social activists Ujagar Brar and HS Gill lauded him for his awareness campaign. — OC

Bathinda, May 1
The Bharat Institute of Engineering and Technology (BIET), approved by the AICTE and the Ministry of HRD, is starting degree courses in engineering, management and pharmacy beginning from July this year at Sardulgarh in Mansa.

The institute has been established under the aegis of the Mahavir Educational and Charitable Trust, Sardulgarh.

Jagat Ram Singla, vice-chairman of the Trust, told media, said there was enormous demand of professionals from the engineering, management and pharmaceutical industry. Earlier, students had to go to other places like Chandigarh or Delhi for such courses, he added.

Admission was open to those who had done Plus Two. Located on the Mansa road, the institute was the first engineering college to start degree courses in the region.

Rajesh Garg, CEO of Bharat Group of Institutes (BGOI), said thanked the Mansa-based Trust. Earlier, Harpal Singh, deputy director, employment, released the brochure of the institute. 

Bathinda, May 1
Timely intervention of police today defused tension that arose among two communities here today.

According to details available, tension arose when some people belonging to a particular community started offering prayers at an old building in Maulwian Wala Mohalla near the fort.

Residents of the locality told TNS that the number of people belonging to the community had continuously been increasing since Wednesday.

Objecting to the presence of unidentified elements in the locality, they informed the activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). When VHP president Sukhpal Sran today visited the spot along with his colleagues, members of the community asked h im not to intervene in the issue.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, a large number of cops reached the spot, including SP (D) Ajay Maluja, DSP (City) and SHO Kotwali police station.

“When I asked them to leave the place, they claimed to have bought it for Rs 6.40 lakh from one Om Parkash, who was in possession of it. As I knew that the structure belonged to the Waqf Board and there was no Muslim population in the area, we informed the police asking it to intervene,” Sran said.

“The language they were speaking while trying to intimidate us revealed that they were not from the northern India. In the present state of affairs between India and Pakistan, we had doubts that it may be a plan to disturb peace in the city and incite a communal clash,” Saran added.

Raju Mittal, BJP councillor of the ward, said, “I condemn the incident and am apprhensive that it may be a tactics to create tension in view of the forthcoming polls.”

Intervening the matter, police asked members of the minority community in question to leave the place and come with the purchase deed. Meanwhile, security guards were deployed at the place.

Ruling out that six members of the minority community had been arrested, SP (D) Ajay Maluja said, “We personally know many of them, so there was no need to arrest them. They were just taken out of the colony under police protection, just to avoid any untoward incident. We have been trying to locate Om Parkash, who is being accused of selling the structure. Only then the facts would be ascertained. After checking the sale document, we have asked all concerned to come after the polls.”

Bathinda, May 1
The PCMS Specialist Doctors’ Association, Punjab, today condemned the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations pointing out that the Punjab government doctors will now be paid less than their Central government counterpart.

Raising slogans against the Punjab government, the protesting doctors burnt the effigy of the Commission and also burnt their degrees in front of the Mini-Secretariat.

Dr Karamjit Singh, regional secretary of Sangrur region, said the medical officers recruited through the departmental selection committee were reluctant to join the service due to poor working facilities, environment and emoluments in the department. He alleged that the specialist medical officers were being treated like bonded labour and had to perform the duties of both general duty medical officers and specialists while being paid the emoluments of ordinary medical graduates. He said they had to function as emergency medical officers of hospitals for at least 10 days every month.

Dr Kamaljit Singh, joint secretary of the association, criticised the transfer policy being pursued by the government nowadays, which was resulting in separation of families of doctors. He said the demand of various organisations of doctors for a transparent and rational transfer policy had fallen on deaf ears.

He demanded from the state government that more doctors should be appointed according to the parameter set by the Indian Public Health Standard, in Punjab, through the Punjab Public Service Commission.

The association urged the state government to pay attention to their demands or they will resort to “work to rule” and “no special pay, no special work” policies.

Bathinda, May 1
Mystery shrouds the killing of an unidentified woman, whose semi-nude body was found floating in Sirhind canal near village Madi of this district this morning.

According to information available, the body had over 30 wounds caused by a sharp-edged weapon. The Nathana police has registered a case under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC against unidentified persons. The police is investigating the case.

Volunteers of the Naujwan Welfare Society told TNS on phone, “On receiving information, we rushed to the spot and pulled the body out. The woman appeared to be in her thirties and had been brutally killed. The body has been sent to the Civil Hospital. Prima facie, it seems that the body had been dumped about three days back. We are also trying to identify the body.” — TNS

Bathinda, May 1
The Punjab Aggarwal Sabha today strongly condemned the atrocities being committed by the Taliban on Sikh minority community in Pakistan.

Chiranji Lal Garg, president of the Sabha, urged the Government of India to take a strong note of these incidents and seek security of the Sikhs and Hindus living in Paksitan.

He urged the SGPC also to raise voice against imposition of Jaziya on the Sikhs and burning of their houses. The Centre should take up the matter with the Pakistan government, he demanded.