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Ensuring Peaceful Polls
Star support for Navjot
BJP star campaigner Hema Malini addresses a rally in support of Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar on Sunday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Battle Royal
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Badal predicts SAD victory in Patiala, Bathinda
Cong women workers attacked
Sonrise in Gurdaspur
Multi-cornered contest for Sangrur
Harsimrat relies on social work
Sushma fails to reach SAD rally
SAD responsible for misrule, lawlessness: Preneet
Raninder, Chandumajra don’t sign undertaking against drugs for votes
Punjabi writers’ plea to people
PSEB seeks permit to pay recycle working capital loan
‘Implement human rights at grass-roots level’
Opening of Indo-Pak border no poll agenda
Edict on Dera Sacha Sauda
NRIs for transparency in governance
Mann lauds Sikhs for not paying jazia
Why does GND varsity Dean keep three pens?
Sewermen sans proper gears
11 of anti-Sikh riots’ victims society held
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Ensuring Peaceful Polls
Jalandhar, May 3 The commission has told the police officers that there should be no incident of firing and violence involving firearms when all firearms of license holders had been deposited with the police authorities on the direction of the district magistrates. The commission has told district magistrates that they should ensure a 100 per cent collection of the licensed firearms in private hands. No district magistrate should be found wanting in this regard, the commission has made clear to them. Police officers have been told to inspect all marriage places, hotels and other such building after the end of campaigning in respective constituencies to ensure that outsiders do not stay at such places with the objective of creating trouble on the polling day. District Magistrates have been told to ensure that no outsider stays in the constituency of which he is not a voter on the polling day. The commission has pointed out that there should be no interference at any level from outsiders in any of the constituencies in the state where political tempers are running high for the past some years. And the best way to do so was that outsiders should be told to leave the highly sensitive constituencies 24 hours before the polling and then important buildings where outsiders could hide should be thoroughly searched. Officers have been told to keep a watch on bad elements and should take preventive steps where necessary. Special watch should be kept on hardened criminals who are on bail or on parole. The commission has told the police authorities that the police force becoming spare from the districts where elections would be held on May 7, should help in sealing the boundaries of those constituencies where the elections would be held on May 13.
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Star support for Navjot
Amritsar, May 3 Addressing an election rally in favour of Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is seeking election from Amritsar, here today, she said the combination of these two terms meant Hindu principles, hence the broader meaning is “way of life”. She said the BJP belonged to people of all faiths. Raising Sikh slogans like “Bole so nihal”, Hema said her party was rather committed to creating a permanent thaw in the region. She said terrorism and corruption would be completely weeded out in the country, if the NDA was voted to power. She said LK Advani had the potential to give a stronger government at the Centre. “Dharmji (Dharminder) hails from Punjab and I have come to Amritsar to request you to vote for Navjot Sidhu, a tested leader,” Hema said. Addressing the rally, Sidhu said Hema was daughter-in-law of Punjab and voters should honour her words by voting for the BJP candidates. In Gurdaspur, Akshay Khanna, cine star and son of Vinod Khanna, added colour to the election campaign of his father and BJP candidate from Gurdaspur. He addressed a rally in the adjoining border district.
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Battle Royal
Bathinda, May 3 Although the election campaign has intensified, the electorate is maintaining secrecy about its choice on candidates of two main parties, Harsimrat (Shiromani Akali Dal) and Raninder Singh (Congress). There are 20 others in the fray, but the contest between the two main contenders appears tough. However, participation of people in large numbers in election rallies of Amarinder Singh, father of Raninder and Congress campaign in charge in the state, has been worrying SAD leadership. Amarinder has been addressing responsive crowd in most of the Assembly segments in Bathinda. Raninder was also engaged in aggressive campaigning against the Badals. The Dera Sacha Sauda factor will play a key role in the election, as the sect has considerable number of followers in this constituency. However, political observers are keeping their fingers crossed, as the Badal family is also not lagging behind in addressing well-attended public meetings every day. Their strategy apparently is to meet a lot more individuals rather than organising big rallies. Members of the family have fanned out in the length and breadth of the constituency campaigning for Harsimrat. Parkash Singh Badal and his wife Surinder Kaur are campaigning in Bathinda town and areas around, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal is holding the fort at Mansa and Sukhbir is holding late night meetings in a local hotel here to plan the next day’s strategy. One or the other member of the Badal family has visited almost every household of the area allocated to them. Parkash Singh Badal has been drawing crowds whom he tries to impress that he is one of them and easily accessible here, whereas Raninder would like his father never return here after the elections. Amarinder has addressed massive rallies at Nathana, Mansa and other segments and will tomorrow campaign in the Lambi constituency of Badal. Peasantry is disappointed at haphazard procurement of their produce by agencies during the SAD-BJP regime. However, in the wake of the elections the state government made elaborate arrangements to procure wheat crop. The SAD is facing the disadvantage of coordination lacking between its rank and file and the BJP, its coalition partner, during the entire campaign in this constituency. Visits of top BJP leaders, including LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Hema Malini, in the area were abruptly cancelled causing setback to the campaign. Efforts of the core committee of the SAD and BJP to put up united face have remained futile. CPI candidate Hardev Arshi has held impressive rallies in certain pockets of the party, particularly in Mansa district.
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Badal predicts SAD victory in Patiala, Bathinda
Devigarh (Patiala), May 3 He said the UPA had been disintegrated and deserted by its allies, including the Left, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan, as the Third Front had been formed recently. For the development, the state and the central governments should act in tandem and the right choice for people should be the NDA. Badal said major resources were with the Centre and planning was also done in Delhi. “People have experienced five-year rule of the UPA, which had failed on all fronts,” he said. The Chief Minister tried to recall memories of the Army attack on the Golden Temple and the “genocide” of Sikhs in Delhi and other places in 1984. He said going by such experience, how could one even think of contesting on the ticket of that party in Punjab, which was associated with betrayals here. He also referred to the diversion of the river waters to the neighbouring states, Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas left out of Punjab. He made comparison between the main candidates in Patiala and also the style of functioning of Amarinder Singh. He alleged that Preneet Kaur had never taken up any issue concerning Punjab during her two terms in the Parliament. He said Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister had “ignored” the state. He said the anti-farmer policies of the Congress had driven farmers to suicides. The prices of the inputs had multiplied without corresponding increase in the minimum support price that had increased debt. On an average, per farmer family debt in Punjab was Rs 2.5 lakh. This would have to be reversed and it could be done only by voting out the Congress at the Centre, he added. “I will act as your ambassador in Parliament and get more projects of development by pleading your case at central as well state government level”. Former Minister Harmel Singh Tohra, Ajaib Singh Mukhailpur, Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu, farmer leader Satnam Singh Behru and ex-MP Lehna Singh Tur were among the speakers.
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Cong women workers attacked Ludhiana, May 3 The women workers were taking out a procession in support of Tewari. However, when they reached near the Gill canal, they were attacked with stones and other weapons by supporters of Kamaljit Singh Karwal. Duppattas of women were removed, alleged Gurdeep Kaur, area councillor, who was also an eyewitness. Once the women workers alerted other party workers about the attack, the Akalis fled from the scene. Several workers suffered mild injuries while a number of vehicles were also damaged in the attack. Later, the Congress workers sat on a dharna at the spot and demanded action against Akalis. In a joint statement, senior Congress leaders Harnam Dass Johar, Milkiat Singh Birmi, KK Bawa, Jassi Khangura and others condemned the incident. Meanwhile, the Congress has sought extra security for its candidate. The party has also demanded registration of an FIR and action against the culprits.
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Sonrise in Gurdaspur
Sujanpur (Gurdaspur), May 3 Young fans of the actor, especially girls, could be seen vying with one another to shake hands with him. Many returned disappointed as policemen encircling him had to push them to take the star to the next venue. Addressing a rally at Bhadurladhi village Akshay said to strengthen democracy everyone should vote for candidates of their choice. He said his father had been instrumental in the development of the constituency in 11 years. He said no one in the area before him (Vinod) had taken initiative to develop the area. Appealing to people to vote for his father, Akshay said his father had become a politician not for power or money, but to serve the masses. He said if the BJP-led NDA government came to power, his father would take up the matter of some mega project in the area toprovide jobs to unemployed youth of the area. Earlier, accompanied by local MLA Dinesh Singh Bablu and other leaders, Akshay also addressed corner meetings at Kalesar, Asabano, Modhopur, Tharial, Naya Pind and Kailashpur villages.
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Multi-cornered contest for Sangrur
Sangrur, May 3 Besides Dhindsa and Singla, a former MP from Sangrur and president of SAD (A) Simranjit Singh Mann and former Union minister and president of Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) Balwant Singh Ramoowalia are two other strong contenders for the Sangrur seat. Due to the presence of two heavyweight candidates Mann and Ramoowalia in the poll fray and keeping the cards close to the chest by voters, no one can predict a clear-cut victory for any candidate at this stage. Mohammad Jameel-Ur-Rehman of the BSP and Tarsem Jodhan of the CPI (ML) Liberation are among the other candidates from the constituency. Dera Sacha Sauda and Muslim votes can play an important role in the elections. Ram Karan, member of seven-member committee of political wing of Dera Sacha Sauda, claims that as per a recent survey the number of voters of the Dera sect is more than two lakh in Sangrur, while BSP leaders claim more than 1.60 lakh Muslim voters in the constituency, which has a total number of more than 12.50 lakh voters. In the 2004 LS elections, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of the SAD had defeated Congress candidate Arvind Khanna by a margin of 27,277 votes. Then Dhindsa had secured 2,86,828 votes while Arvind had got 2,59,551 votes. SAD (A) candidate Mann, who finished third, had secured 2,16,898 votes. During the past 12 LS elections from 1962 to 2004, Sangrur was represented six times (1967, 1977, 1985, 1996, 1998, 2004) by the SAD, three times (1962, 1980, 1992) by the Congress, two times (1989 and 1999) by the SAD (A) and once (1971) by the CPI.
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Harsimrat relies on social work
Mansa, May 3 Harsimrat, popularly called Beebaji, has respect for all religions and believes in one God. A believer in the concept of “dasvand”, (donating one-10th of one’s earning to the welfare of society) as preached by the Gurus, Harsimrat contributes for the cause of education and health care for the girl child, especially from poor families. Most of her business income goes to humanitarian causes like education of the girl child and marrying off girls from needy families. She is also a regular contributor to the Old Age Home in Badal started and run by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. A mother of three, Harsimrat remains a religious and God-loving person believing everything flows from His Will which all must learn to accept with peace, grace and happiness. What took her to politics, a field she never thought she would join? Her social and humanitarian zeal saw her spear-heading Nanhi Chhaan, on environment and girl child. The movement, grounded in the ideals laid before us by the Gurus, is so closely identified with Harsimrat that many who know her zeal and compassion have nick-named her Nanhi Chhaan. She distributed nearly 4.50 lakh saplings following Nanhi Chhaan campaign.
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Sushma fails to reach SAD rally
Bathinda, May 3 BJP sources said
the rally was arranged to dispel speculation regarding rift between
leaders of the two parties in the state. Sushma’s not coming
provided grist to gossip mongers. It also demoralised supporters and
voters of the ruling alliance. The SAD-BJP leadership had made special efforts for the rally. From phone calls to pamphlets and invitations via newspapers, every means was used. The invitation time was 10 am, but the programme, in the absence of Sushma, was started by Punjabi singer Satwinder Kaur Bitti around 12.30 pm. Later, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal reached the venue to the relief of leaders sitting on the stage. Sukhbir
said, “Sushma Swaraj had planned to come here, but due to some
reason she was late for the schedule. So, we ourselves asked her not
to come. We will have a massive rally and road show on Monday to cover
up today’s gap”.
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SAD responsible for misrule, lawlessness: Preneet
Patiala, May 3 Preneet, who has been known as a sober politician, went to the extent of alleging that the SAD-BJP combine goon’s were out on roads to loot the masses by capturing all the major business ventures in the state. Talking about the employees, traders, industrialists and the common people, Preneet said all of these classes were suffering at the hands of “mega rich clan” of Badals. Addressing a rally at DCW in Patiala, she said the drugs and money was in free-flow across the state, so as to mislead the voters. “Punjabis has the courage to throw out the leaders, who are indulging into such practices of drug distribution to influence the voters. Things does not stop here, booth capturing, which never existed in the poll history of the state, was introduced by the Akalis in the Municipal Corporation and panchayat elections. It is not a jungle raj?” questioned Preneet. She declared that the people of the state were aware of such malpractices now and a record defeat was awaiting the SAD-BJP combine. The Patiala constituency was honoured as one of the best 10 constituency of the PAN India in a survey of a weekly magazine on the basis of the literacy rate, per capita income and the health services made available to the people of the constituency. She has got a boost, as candidate of the Shiv Sena (H) Surinder Kumar Sharma has withdrawn his nomination in favour of Maharani Preneet Kaur. SAD leader Gurbans Singh Punia and his son Amarjot Singh Punia, who secured 17,901 votes in Assembly poll of 2002, as an independent candidate, had joined the Congress in the presence of Capt Amrinder Singh.
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Raninder, Chandumajra don’t sign undertaking against drugs for votes
Ludhiana, May 3 Ludhiana-based NGO, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, had asked all LS candidates in the state to vow not to provide narcotics, poppy husk, opium and even psychotropic drugs, to put moral pressure on them to discourage distribution of liquor and drugs. While 33 candidates signed the document and sent it back, Congress candidate from Patiala, Preneet Kaur, SAD candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD and Congress nominees from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur and Raninder Singh, respectively, have not signed though they have been asked repeatedly to do so, said Inderpal Singh, chief secretary of the circle. He said even Congress candidate from Hoshiarpur, Santosh Chaudhary had not given the document back. “She has insisted that the undertaking by BJP candidate Som Parkash and BSP candidate Sukhwinder Sukhi should be shown to her. Otherwise she will not sign,” said Inderpal. Stating that Bathinda was part of Malwa, most notorious for use of drugs and narcotics in elections, Indepal said they wanted the candidates to be against the menace. Meanwhile, two lakh schoolchildren in the state have taken an undertaking from parents not to vote for candidates promoting drugs for victory. Those who have signed include SAD and Congress candidates GS Galib and Manish Tewari from Ludhiana, Charanjit Singh Atwal and Sukhdev Singh Libra from Fatehgarh Sahib, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan and Sukhwinder Danny from Faridkot, DS Cheema and Ravneet Bittu from Anandpur Sahib, BJP candidate Vinod Khanna and Congress candidate Partap Bajwa from Gurdaspur, Navjot Sidhu and OP Soni from Amritsar and all four candidates from Sangrur, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD), Simranjit Singh Mann (SAD-A), Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (LBP) and Vijay Inder Singla (Congress).
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Punjabi writers’ plea to people
Sangrur, May 3 President of the sabha Dr Tejwant Mann said today the two-party model suited the Congress and the BJP, but not the country. It would be dangerous for the country which had many languages, religions, castes and cultures. Dr Mann said the Congress and the BJP were seeking votes in the name of stability at the Centre, but stability did not mean government of a party for years together. To the sabha it meant redressing problems of people even in the shortest term of a government at the Centre.
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PSEB seeks permit to pay recycle working capital loan
Chandigarh, May 3 According to the annual revenue requirement (ARR) petition filed by the board before the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), copies of which are available on the board’s site, the public utility company will virtually have no working capital loan at its disposal this year, as repayment will be equal to the additional loan drawn. This state of affairs has been reached because the PSEB, instead of using the working capital loan to cover the time gap between the supply of electricity and realisation of revenue, is using it to bridge the gap between expenditure and income. Former chief engineer Padamjit Singh disclosed that a situation in which the board had to spend Rs 780 crore as interest charges just to recycle the earlier working capital loan, is the consequence of shortsighted and expedient policy of the previous governments to run the board on borrowed funds. The engineer said even if the PSERC did not allow a part of the Rs 780 interest charges, the problem of huge accumulated market loan would remain and that a corresponding increase in tariff was necessary for any recovery to take place. Meanwhile, the petition filed by the PSEB also makes it clear that it is on the path of accelerated financial meltdown with accumulated losses of Rs 6,980 crore in the three-year period from 2007-08 to 2009-10. To meet its operational expenses, the board is resorting to increasing lending from financial institutions and banks. As per the ARR petition of the PSEB, the outstanding loans of the public utility have been rising from Rs 10,589 crore (2007), Rs 12,093 crore (2008), Rs 15,903 crore (2009) and Rs 19,533 crore (expected in 2010). Corresponding to the increased loan, the component of interest on loan in the ARR has also shown an alarming trend. The interest on loan, which was Rs 858 crore in 2007-08, increased to Rs 1,207 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 1,586 crore in 2009-10.
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‘Implement human rights at grass-roots level’
Patiala, May 3 The VC welcomed the resource persons from the co-sponsor of the workshop, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives, New Delhi. The first technical session started with the interactive discussion headed by lecturer in the Amity Law School, New Delhi, Nimesh, who discussed the need and the idea of the human rights institutions in the country. Iniyan Ilango from Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives headed the next panel. Other resource persons, Marisa Doswsell and Heather Collister, who also talked on the grave issue of the human rights violations, headed the simultaneous sessions. The major issue, which was discussed by all the resource persons, was about the local implementation of human rights at the grass-roots level and their relationship with the implementation at the international level. The programme was coordinated by lecturer in political science at the university Shveta Dhaliwal, with the active help of a team of student volunteers and other staff members. She asserted that the local involvement can only prove it to be success that means it carries the phrase attached to it- “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally”.
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Opening of Indo-Pak border no poll agenda
Ferozepur, May 3 “Lahore! Lahore! The cry of the conductor beckoning people to hop on for a ride to the pre-Partition capital city to see a movie or attend college is a cry I always thought will reverberate again at the Barki Square once tempers cooled after 1947,” says octogenarian Bhim Sen Gupta. He says when the border was closed after Partition, trade was continuing and the city continued to carry on as a trading hub. “The final blow fell after the 1971 war when even trading stopped and those in the import export business quit the city”, says Ravinder Kumar, a local businessman adding, “it was then that I realised that I will probably never go across to Kasur, adjoining town across the border from Hussainiwala”. People on both sides of the international border are waiting for the day when the border will open and a few years back this seemed a possibility with Pakistan Kasur MP Manzoor Ahmed making an open appeal to politicians this side of the fence to take up the issue with the Indian authorities, promising he was doing the same in Pakistan. Manzoor and other politicians in Pakistan even succeeded in getting the 74-km stretch from Ganda Singh Wala across the border to Lahore double-laned. Land prices on both sides of the border shot up and the border opening seemed imminent. However, then came the bitterness in Indo-Pak ties and hopes of an early opening eclipsed. Congressman Gurnaib Brar says he had petitioned the Defence Ministry. The BSF has contented that the present bridge over the Sutlej cannot sustain heavy traffic. Politicians on their part realise the “Border khula devange” slogan has become stale. Congress candidate Jagmeet Brar, who has made this claim earlier, is wary of speaking on the issue now. SAD candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya’s recent claim that the SAD-BJP alliance will prevail upon the NDA to get the border opened if voted to power is met with disdain from even Akali quarters. But, for Bhim Sen and others like Raj Kumar and Subhash Tuli, this is a dream. “Ah, the round of Anarkali Bazar, a stroll at Jahangir’s mausoleum, the beauty all around, we have seen it all, but are greedy for more”, says Kumar. Another old-timer, Rajinder Sharma adds, “we have seen Lahore and we have lived, but want our future generations also to get a chance to see it” He quotes the often-repeated couplet “Jinehe Lahore nahi dekheya, ao jamaya hi nahi”, adding “I wish our politicians had the same desire”.
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Edict on Dera Sacha Sauda
Amritsar, May 3 They describe the Jathedar “weak” as he had failed to convene a meeting at Akal Takht despite Sikh leaders of political parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress, visiting Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for blessings regarding the Lok Sabha elections. They said the Jathedar preferred visiting foreign countries to working as watchdog for the implementation of the edict in toto. The Jathedar’s announcement that a meeting of Sikh high priests will be convened after the election, has also raised many eyebrows in Panthic circles. They said such a meeting would be an exercise in futility after the election. Meanwhile, leaders of the Dal Khalsa met the Jathedar to convey displeasure regarding the non-implementation of the edict. The Dal Khalsa has also appealed to Sikh voters to say “no” to those who had approached the Sirsa dera for votes. Party president HS Dhami and Kanwar Pal Singh said politicians of both parties (SAD and Congress) had allegedly abdicated the path of religious ideology and righteousness in pursuit of votes. “We had registered our complaint in writing against all those Sikh politicians who had brazenly disobeyed the Akal Takht directive of May 20, 2007, and committed sacrilege by lending recognition to a person who had proclaimed himself ‘living guru’ in sharp contrast to Sikh principles and ethos”. The complaint includes names of Gurcharan Singh Galib (Ludhiana), Sher Singh (Ferozepur), Raninder Singh (Bathinda), Jagmeet Singh Brar (Ferozepur), Sukhvinder Singh Danny (Faridkot), besides Amarinder Singh who sought “ashirvaad” (support) from the Dera chief.
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NRIs for transparency in governance
Ludhiana, May 3 Mani Sidhu, Los Angeles-based real estate developer, said, “I was born in the USA, however, I am in touch with my ancestral Mehraj village in Jalandhar. A few years back I tried to set up a water treatment plant at Yamunanagar. My experience has been very bitter because leaders, instead of helping me in project implementation were more interested in making money. I am hopeful of India’s development in 10 years. It can be a big market if has transparency.” Garry Grewal, LA-based mechanical engineer, says, “I did my mechanical engineering here before going to the USA in 1981. I came back in 1983 to set up a software plant at Mohali. Official hassles and administrative interference forced me to go back. But love of my village Phallewal in Ludhiana district gets me back here. “There are hundreds like me abroad with heart in homeland”. Grewal said, “My friend from Jartauli village lost property here. He came this year and saw a house built in Delhi. His family is settled abroad”. Sanjay Mahajan, Wisconsin (USA)-based businessman, said, “Protection of property is one of the biggest problems faced by the NRIs. Many brothers return and find their houses occupied and land tilled by others. A legal battle starts and drains us out”. Balbir Sekhon, California-based businessman, said, “India needs fast-track courts to settle NRI cases. There is also need to check registration of false cases and related harassment”. Bhupinder Sidhu, Toronto resident, said, “We want greater accountability in the Indian system. Assure us of the safety of our money if you want us to invest. Assure us of safety of our property”.
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Mann lauds Sikhs for not paying jazia
Amritsar, May 3 Mann claimed that Sikhs had never paid protection tax to anybody. He asked the government of Pakistan to ensure the safety of the Sikhs who had suffered loss due to attacks. As many as 135 Sikh families, living for decades in Pakistan's Orakzai Agency, have migrated to safer places and taken refuse in Sikh shrines there after jazia or protection tax was imposed.
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Why does GND varsity Dean keep three pens?
Amritsar, May 3 First, he clears a file in his capacity as Dean (Academic Affairs) with remarks in black ink then he opens another pen (with turquoise blue ink) to put remarks on it in his capacity as Registrar. Finally, he puts his signature on the same file with a different pen in green ink to sign in the capacity of Vice-Chancellor. Most of the top posts of the varsity have been vacant. The varsity that had been opened in 1969 to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Senior IAS officer Anjli Bhawra, Secretary, Higher Education, who was given the additional charge of Vice-Chancellor in March, has been sent to Tamil Nadu as an election observer. Before leaving for Tamil Nadu, she delegated her powers to Dr Raghbir Singh. A regular Vice-Chancellor of the university could not be appointed due to the election code of conduct and Bhawra was given the charge when Dr Jai Rup Singh resigned as Vice-Chancellor following his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Punjab’s Central University to be opened in Bathinda. It was for the first time in four decades since its inception in 1969 that the university has been without a regular Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Dean (Colleges), Controller, Examination, and Finance, and Development Officer. So much so the charge of Director, Press, and Director, Public Relations, is with a senior professor. Dr Raghbir Singh said he had to use three pens with different inks so that officials did not get confused. When asked about the working of the university, he claimed that routine work was being done smoothly.
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Sewermen sans proper gears
Ludhiana, May 3 Suffering from diseases of eyes, skin, lungs and kidneys, sewermen have no help from the Punjab government or their civic bodies in the form of medical insurance. According to union leaders of various organisations in Punjab, there are more than 5,000 sewermen and all of them suffer from one or another health problem. Safety kits are provided only by some municipal corporations and committees, but these have been rejected by the sewermen as these weigh around 18 kg and it is not possible to wear these and enter 12-in manhole. Besides, the oxygen cylinder is too wide and a man can not wear it and enter manholes. Nagar Nigam Darja IV Karamchari Union, Jalandhar, general secretary Ashok said, "Neither politicians nor officials have ever cared about sewermen. No one has ever lent a helping hand". Municipal Karamchari Dal, Ludhiana, adviser Ashwani Sahota said, "They have no special suits or dress to enter manholes. So they enter manholes in half pants. They don't even have any medical insurance”. Safai Mazdoor Union, Amritsar, president Vinod Bitta, said, "In Amritsar safety kits are a distant dream. The sewermen here don't even have masks to cover the mouth."
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poll notes
GURDASPUR: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) got a jolt after Gurdeep Singh Najowal, secretary of Gurdaspur unit, joined the Congress, along with his supporters, at a function held at Najowal village, 20 km from here, on Saturday. Congress candidate Pratap Singh Bajwa welcomed him with garlands. Raman Bhalla, a former minister and senior Congress leader, said Najowal had expressed solidarity with Bajwa. Earlier, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, a former MLA from Dhariwal, and Ram Lal, a former BJP MLA from Narot Mehra, had strengthened the Congress candidate. —
TNS
Two join SAD
MANSA: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday got another shot in arm as Surinder Pal Singh Rana, vice-chairman, Markfed, and former MC Dalbir Singh Kaleke joined the party after leaving the Congress in the presence of SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. —
OC
EDCs in Sangrur
SANGRUR: Election duty certificates (EDCs) will be issued to about 8,000 employees, to be deputed on polling duties in Sangrur district, so that they can cast votes by showing EDCs at the place of duty on polling day (May 7). DC-cum-DEO VK Ohri said forms had already been distributed among the employees so that EDCs could be issued. ADC Arshdeep Singh Thind said on the polling day, micro observers would supervise polling booths. SSP Naunihal Singh said about 4,500 police personnel had been deployed in Sangrur district.
— TNS
Women power
SANGRUR: In the current LS elections to be held in the Sangrur parliamentary constituency on May 7, women should cast votes without any fear. They should also come forward in the field of politics. These views were expressed by Gaganjit Kaur Dhindsa, wife of Punjab PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, while campaigning in favour of her father-in-law Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, SAD candidate from Sangrur. She was addressing a meeting of women here on Saturday. — TNS
Istri Akali conference
SANGRUR: Thousands of women on Sunday participated in an Istri Akali conference, organised by the SAD in favour of SAD candidate from Sangrur Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at the new grain market here. Former president of the SGPC Bibi Jagir Kaur, along with other women leaders, attended the rally. Among others who spoke on the occasion included Dhindsa’s wife Harjit Kaur Dhindsa, his daughter-in-law Gaganjit Kaur, Mayor of Chandigarh Harjinder Kaur, vice- president of Istri Akali Dal Manju Qureshi, BJP leaders Vijay Laxmi and Dr Enu Singla, Akali leader Karamjit Kaur Mandian and Zila Parishad member Preet Inder Kaur. — TNS
Women workers attacked
Ludhiana: Women workers of the Congress, led by Dr Amrit Kaur, mother of party candidate from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency Manish Tewari, were attacked by Akali workers in ward 61 in the Simlapuri area. Dr Amrit Kaur had a narrow escape in the attack. The women workers were taking out a procession in support of Tewari. However, when they reached near the Gill canal, they were attacked with stones and other weapons by supporters of Kamaljit Singh Karwal. Duppattas of women were removed, alleged Gurdeep Kaur, area councillor, who was also an eyewitness. Once the women workers alerted other party workers about the attack, the Akalis fled from the scene. —
TNS
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Amritsar, May 3
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