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TOP STORIES

PM’s success mantra
Kin hold nukkad meetings in favour of Cong
Amritsar, May 6
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s relatives Daljit Singh Kohli and APS Chatha with Congress candidate OP Soni in Amritsar on Wednesday. Five days before the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his home town here, his brother Davinder Singh Kohli shares the secrets of his success with voters.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s relatives Daljit Singh Kohli and APS Chatha with Congress candidate OP Soni in Amritsar on Wednesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Rivals transporting people to Bathinda: Amarinder
Ludhiana, May 6
“The Election Commission (EC) needs to be more vigilant in Bathinda tomorrow in the wake of widespread reports of party workers of a rival party being transported, massively, from all parts of the state. Without any doubts about the fairplay being ensured by the commission, I only express my party concerns about a problem which might need strict handling”.



YOUR TOWN
Amritsar
Chandigarh
Ludhiana


EARLIER STORIES


Dera holds key in 3 Malwa seats
Chandigarh, May 6
The call for a conscience vote has eased pressure from Dera Sachha Sauda, but not its followers who are in the driver’s seat in three out of the four Malwa seats going to the polls tomorrow.

Corridor to Pak gurdwara becomes poll issue
Dera Baba Nanak, May 6
A million-dollar question in this remote border subdivision is that will SAD-BJP candidate Vinod Khanna and Congress contestant Partap Singh Bajwa keep their promise of getting established the 3.5-km corridor connecting the town with Gurdwara Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district.

Candidates feel heat of surrogate news
Kaypee has additional expenditure of Rs 14.22 lakh, Navjot Rs 5.79 lakh and Lt-Gen Chhibber Rs 2.67 lakh
Chandigarh, May 6
Returning Officers (ROs) across Punjab have started moving against surrogate news by adding advertisement value of such ads against the expenditure account of candidates, besides issuing notices to them.

Campaign Trail
Cheema takes on Beant’s legacy in Anandpur Sahib
‘N-deal will revolutionise farming’
Chamkaur Sahib, May 6
As the SUV of Congress candidate from Anandpur Sahib constituency Ravneet Singh Bittu reach the Dugri village here, people gear up to weigh him in ladoos.
‘Need to strengthen healthcare’
Mohali, May 6
SAD candidate from Anandpur Sahib Dr Daljit Singh Cheema’s prescription for the Kandi area is — diversification, lift irrigation to solve water crisis and revoking Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA).

Malwa heads for a dramatic finish
Chandigarh, May 6
Malwa that goes to polls tomorrow has all the reason to be the most pampered region of Punjab, as its home to major influential political families of the state, including the Badals, Brars, Bhattals, Barnalas, besides the erstwhile princely family of Patiala.



POLITICS

Face-off
Polls referendum on govt: Capt
Bathinda, May 6
Former Chief Minister and chairman of the Congress campaign committee Amarinder Singh has said the Lok Sabha elections will be a referendum on the performance of the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP coalition government.
Cong neglected Malwa: Sukhbir
Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal has said, “Except for levelling personal allegations against us, Capt Amarinder Singh has been unable to utter a single word against the performance of the SAD-BJP government or our development agenda that people have endorsed”.

Rahul’s utterances betray panic: Sukhbir
Chandigarh May 6
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the recent statement of the Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi virtually begging support from his party’s principle electoral opponents was clear evidence of the realisation in the ruling party that it was facing its worst ever rout since 1947 in the Parliamentary elections.

BSM support a shot in the arm for Cong
Jalandhar, May 6
The Congress got a shot in the arm after the Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM) today declared its support to Congress candidates in all 13 parliamentary constituencies in the state.

Left extends support to BSP
Hoshiarpur, May 6
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today got a shot in the arm with the CPI, CPM, Samajbadi Party (SP), Janata Party and the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) extending support to its candidate from Hoshiarpur Sukhwinder Sukhi.


COMMUNITY

SGPC suspends 8 in wheat scam
Anandpur Sahib, May 6
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today suspended eight staff members of Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib accused in wheat scam.

Rape victim goes missing
Moga, May 6
District Magistrate (DM) of Moga Satwant Singh Johal has stated that the committee constituted by the SC commission comprise SAD MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sheetal Singh as one its members, which has forced him to apprise the commission of his inability to conduct the probe with him at a time when the elections are in progress.

Stones pelted on vehicle of Barnala’s wife
Sangrur/Barnala, May 6
Surjit Kaur Barnala, wife of Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, today escaped unhurt when about two dozen persons allegedly pelted stones on her Innova on the Barnala-Raikot road, near Wazidke Khurd village, 18 km from Barnala.

Folk singers get exposure
Bathinda, May 6
It was a wide exposure for Punjabi folk and pop singers during the month-long campaign for the Lok Sabha elections as they were booked by political parties for entertaining the audience with their songs.

Micro observers for sensitive booths
Patiala, May 6
That the Patiala seat is sensitive can be gauged from the fact that all 62 polling booths in Patiala have been declared either as sensitive or ultra-sensitive, having not a single ordinary booth sans any trouble potential.

Cast vote fearlessly: EC
Chandigarh May 6
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kusumjit Sidhu today appealed to all voters of the state to go out in full strength to exercise their franchise to elect their representatives without fear or favour.

No power cuts ahead in Punjab
Patiala, May 6
Punjab residents have a reason to cheer. The situation on the power front has been comfortable during the current month and going by the generation figures made available by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), there seems to be no reason to feel alarmed.


COURTS

Living with a ‘bullet’
HC orders medical examination of man
Chandigarh, May 6
Gurnam Singh has been “living with a bullet inside him” for over 10 days now. The Muktsar resident was allegedly trying to escape from the “illegal custody” of the Punjab police, when he was shot at. Instead of taking him to a hospital, he was “illegally detained” and treated by the cops themselves, before a warrant officer appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court recovered him.

Fill vacancies
Chandigarh, May 6
The high court wants Punjab to fill vacancies of public prosecutors in the subordinate court within six weeks. The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta had on last date of hearing had made it clear that the number of public prosecutors is proportionate to the workload.




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PM’s success mantra
Kin hold nukkad meetings in favour of Cong
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 6
Five days before the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his home town here, his brother Davinder Singh Kohli shares the secrets of his (Dr Manmohan Singh) success with voters. “My elder brother had to sit at the dry fruit shop of our late father Sardar Gurmukh Singh Kohli in the local Gujranwala bazar (Majith Mandi) for a month before he moved to Hoshiarpur for higher studies”. He frankly told his father that business was not his cup of tea and he wanted to study more, said Kohli.

Sharing yet another secret of his brother’s life, Kohli said Dr Manmohan Singh would study in local Sakatri Bagh (Seth Radhakrishan Park) till late in the evening under streetlight during his college days since there used to be a lot of hustle and bustle around their ancestral house in Kanak Mandi in the walled city of Amritsar.

Addressing nukad meetings in favour of Om Parkash Soni, the Congress candidate from Amritsar, Davinder and his elder brother Surjit Singh Kohli seek votes in the name of Dr Manmohan Singh. “You know, we don’t dare seek any personal favour from Bhapaji (as PM is called by his younger brothers). However, he won’t say no to any demand of residents of Amritsar provided that is in national interest”, they would tell the voters.

Recalling the school days, APS Chatha, another close relative of the Prime Minister, said once he had gone to pick up Dr Manmohan Singh from the Amritsar railway station during his stint as Economic Adviser. “Dr Manmohan Singh asked me whether I had a driving licence”, he said, adding that Dr Manmohan Singh agreed to sit in the car after he was convinced that he was an adult and possessed a driving license.

Dr Manmohan Singh himself is an excellent cook and used to host dinner to near and dear ones during his stay in Amritsar, Chatha added.

Striking a personal chord with the voters, Kohli brothers urge the voters to vote for Congress if they wanted to see Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister for yet another term. They promise that if voted to power, the UPA will transform Amritsar into the biggest hub of tourism. They also highlight the contribution of UPA government to the development of Amritsar, including the launch of Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service by Dr Manmohan Singh.

The Kohli brothers are among successful businessmen of Amritsar.

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Rivals transporting people to Bathinda: Amarinder
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 6
“The Election Commission (EC) needs to be more vigilant in Bathinda tomorrow in the wake of widespread reports of party workers of a rival party being transported, massively, from all parts of the state. Without any doubts about the fairplay being ensured by the commission, I only express my party concerns about a problem which might need strict handling”.

This was stated by Capt Amarinder Singh, former Chief Minister,Punjab, while addressing a press conference here today.

On a visit to the city in support of Congress candidate Manish Tewari, he said he had confirmed reports that people were being transported from different parts of the state and the movement was openly visible. “I am very satisfied with the security arrangements in Bathinda. However, we want more vigil,” he said.

“I have enough feedback to believe that ou rivals are getting frustrated. Mischief, particularly during polls, is a result of frustration so security forces and election observers have to be very vigilant,” he said.

He said the EC had ordered the installation of close-circuit cameras in all polling booths and everything would be closely monitored. Besides, he added, the EC had also appointed micro-observers in the constituency. “Hopefully, there should not be any problem, but you never know,” he pointed out.

In reply to reports of change in stand by the Dera Sacha Sauda to the Congress, the former Chief Minister said, “The dera has explicitly asked followers to support deserving candidates. At the same time, the public knows that they had been brutally victimised by the state government in power. The results will show the stand of the dera”.

Addressing a public rally on the Canal Road later, Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary said, “I seek public vote in the name of Dr Manmohan Singh. It is only his able leadership that our economy is showing signs of progress even during times of a worldwide recession”.

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Dera holds key in 3 Malwa seats
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6
The call for a conscience vote has eased pressure from Dera Sachha Sauda, but not its followers who are in the driver’s seat in three out of the four Malwa seats going to the polls tomorrow.

Dera support is a crucial factor in the poll prospects of candidates in Bathinda, Sangrur and Patiala and will have a marginal impact in Ferozepur.

All candidates in the fray are wooing block-level leaders of the dera vigorously and attempts are being made by the candidates to convey that the dera is either with them or will not go against them.

Though the feedback taken by dera’s political wing has been predominantly pro-Congress, the sect, by asking its followers to make a collective choice at the constituency level, has sent out a message that it does not want to be identified with any one political party. This strategy has also given leverage to the sect to support multiple parties based upon the personal character and conduct of the candidates.

Sources said this situation had arisen because the dera did not want to be held responsible in case SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal lost in Bathinda.

The Bathinda contest is a highly prestigious one for the SAD as well as its president Sukhbir Badal. The dera needs the protection of the SAD-BJP government for another three years and understands only the latter can control the fundamental elements. Any defeat of Harsimrat could also close the door to protracted negotiations to seek an apology from Akal Takht.

Sources said the dera, however, did not want to annoy its core supporters who were pro-Congress and who would not tolerate any diktat to vote for the SAD in the parliamentary elections. It is now up to the sangat of Bathinda to decide which way to go.

However, in Patiala, Sangrur and Ferozepur the field is quite open. According to sources, the dera, while not wanting to get on the wrong side of the ruling dispensation in Bathinda, does not want to annoy the Opposition also. There is a strong possibility that its followers may support the opposition in all three seats of Patiala, Ferozepur and Sangrur.

In the second phase of polling, the seats where the dera has an influence are Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana. The Congress had swept most of the seats that form part of the Faridkot parliamentary constituency in the last assembly elections and the sect vote will be crucial this time also. Though the dera sangat is yet to start any pro-active campaigning in any of these seats, the sources said the trend in these seats was also veering towards supporting candidates from the Opposition.

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Corridor to Pak gurdwara becomes poll issue
Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak, May 6
A million-dollar question in this remote border subdivision is that will SAD-BJP candidate Vinod Khanna and Congress contestant Partap Singh Bajwa keep their promise of getting established the 3.5-km corridor connecting the town with Gurdwara Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district.

The corridor issue figured prominently at rallies of Bajwa and Khanna. They promised the electorate of the area, with 140 villages and over 1.15 lakh population, that they would convince the Central government for the establishment of the passage.

Electorate of this subdivision, which shares international border with Pakistan, believe a corridor to historic Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan, about 3.5 km from here, will herald a chapter of development in the area.

Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister, had visited the subdivision last year to assess the possibilities of setting up the corridor and hoped that it would be a possible confidence building measure between the two countries.

Traders, employees and a cross section of inhabitants were unanimous in accepting that the corridor would be the next big development for the town after the construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam.

Baljinder Singh, who runs an electrical shop near New Bus Stand, said first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev spent 17 years along with his family here.

He said annual four-day fair commemorating the bringing of Chola Sahib (holy robe) of Guru Nanak Dev from Balkh Bokhara (Afghanistan) to Dera Baba Nanak from March 4 to 7 drew lakhs of devotees to the town. He said the number of devotees could be sustained round the year if the corridor was established.

Gurmeet Singh was of the view that the corridor would mean an economic boom in the area. He was of the view that the subdivision has the potential of being developed on the lines of holy city of Amritsar.

It being a border subdivision, they could not expect industry to come up here. However, religious tourism could erase their economic backwardness.

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Candidates feel heat of surrogate news
Kaypee has additional expenditure of Rs 14.22 lakh, Navjot Rs 5.79 lakh and Lt-Gen Chhibber Rs 2.67 lakh

Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6
Returning Officers (ROs) across Punjab have started moving against surrogate news by adding advertisement value of such ads against the expenditure account of candidates, besides issuing notices to them.

Congress candidate from Jalandhar Mohinder Singh Kaypee has had Rs 14.22 lakh added to his election expenditure on account of surrogate advertisement. His rival and SAD candidate Hansraj Hans has had Rs 5.44 lakh added to his expenditure account.

Jalandhar division commissioner SR Ladhar disclosed that in Amritsar BJP candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu had booked Rs 5.79 lakh in his expense account under the bracket of surrogate news. His rival and Congress candidate OP Soni has been credited Rs 9.37 lakh, while BSP candidate Lt Gen BKN Chhibber has been credited Rs 2.67 lakh under this heading.

Ladhar said notices had been issued to Congress candidate from Khadoor Sahib Rana Gurjit Singh asking him to explain news items which appeared to be surrogate advertisements. The commissioner said around 50 notices had been issued in the past fortnight. Among those who had seen surrogate news being added to their expense account was Jalandhar BSP candidate Surjit Singh who had been credited Rs 52,000 under this category.

Patiala Divisional Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said some ROs in Patiala and Faridkot divisions had issued notices in this regard. Patiala RO Deepinder Singh Dhillon disclosed that he too had issued notices to two newspapers today. He said one newspaper had the same correspondent writing one news story saying Congress candidate Preneet Kaur would win by 1.67 lakh votes and then on another page “reporting” after an alleged successful rally of SAD candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra that Preneet’s campaign was all but over. Dhillon disclosed that once the newspaper managements replied to the notices, the same would be sent to the candidates for their reaction.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kusumjit Sidhu disclosed that the Jalandhar and Patiala division commissioners had been asked to look into the issue. She said both commissioners were scrutinizing news items, identifying those that appeared to be surrogate and directing the ROs to issue notices to candidates accused of indulging in this practice.

Meanwhile, the CEO when asked whether action was being taken in cases where one page with identical news stories and pictures was appearing in newspapers in both Hindi and Punjabi language, she said while this had been the trend earlier, it was not so now.

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‘N-deal will revolutionise farming’
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service


Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu seeks blessings of an elderly person in Ropar on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Chamkaur Sahib, May 6
As the SUV of Congress candidate from Anandpur Sahib constituency Ravneet Singh Bittu reach the Dugri village here, people gear up to weigh him in ladoos.

Bittu does a balancing act, sitting on the huge balance scale and the entire booty is distributed in party workers. After the usual greetings, he takes up the stage and starts a narration of different kind. He talks about “parmanu shakti” (nuclear energy) that is all set to change villagers’ way of living and thinking.

“The UPA government’s initiative of the nuclear deal will ensure that every Punjab farmer gets uninterrupted power supply and water,” promises Bittu to people at village Kotla Sukhram Singh. He resorts to local Punjabi dialect to explain people the utility of nuclear deal and contribution of the Congress towards it.

Talking to an exuberated audience, he refrains from indulging into any act of blame game. A suave Bittu prefers to call opponent SAD candidate Dr Daljit Singh Cheema as Cheema sahib and CM Parkash Singh Badal as Badal sahib.

Banking upon his grandfather Beant Singh’s legacy, Bittu meets people in Jattana, Hafsabad, Mehtaut --- a pocket well known for dreaded terrorists during the time of upheaval in Punjab.

His public address varies from pollution to depleting water table and putting up the constituency on the map of world tourism. In between his trips, he squeezes out time to talk about local issues, speak to his wife Anupama and inquire about his three- month-old son, who is yet to be named.

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‘Need to strengthen healthcare’
Tribune News Service


SAD candidate Daljit Singh Cheema campaigns at Kumbra village in Mohali on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Mohali, May 6
SAD candidate from Anandpur Sahib Dr Daljit Singh Cheema’s prescription for the Kandi area is — diversification, lift irrigation to solve water crisis and revoking Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA).

A typical day for him begins at 5 am. Having glanced at newspaper reports, he starts his travelling at 8 am, addressing 16 to 17 congregations in a day at a stretch and winding up by midnight.

“I have lost a couple of kilos in the past few days. The rigorous campaigning is proving helpful for me,” says Dr Cheema as the TNS team follows him through the villages of Mohali, including Kumbra and Machhli Kalan.

Achievements of the SAD-BJP government in the past two years forms the core context of his speeches. “When we talk about development, we are not just saying about few roads built here or there. We are talking about kind of infrastructure and investment the SAD has brought in Punjab,” he says.

Trying to rake up ’84 riots issue at Kumbra village, he blames the Congress for lending support to a person like Jagdish Tytler.

The Bathinda refinery, four proposed thermal power plants, Ludhiana to Chandigarh rail link remain some of his trump cards.

A medico himself, Dr Cheema is sensitive towards medical care for all. “Our emphasis is not on just constructing hospitals. We have already got specialty and super specialty hospitals. The need is to strengthen ambulance services and we are working out a module for it,” he tells people.

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Malwa heads for a dramatic finish
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6
Malwa that goes to polls tomorrow has all the reason to be the most pampered region of Punjab, as its home to major influential political families of the state, including the Badals, Brars, Bhattals, Barnalas, besides the erstwhile princely family of Patiala.

The latest battle for the electoral supremacy brings the Badals face to face with the Patiala royals. Besides, a few bigwigs of Punjab politics --- Simranjit Singh Mann (SAD - Amritsar), Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (Lok Bhalai Party), Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD) and Hardev Arshi (CPI) --- will also test their political popularity in the ensuing dance for democracy.

Traditionally, Malwa has remained a stronghold of the Akalis. For example, the Congress has never won from Ferozepore since 1984 and in Sangrur and Bathinda after 1991.

In 1991, when Akalis boycotted elections, the Congress virtually swept Lok Sabha elections in the state. Even at that time, Congress could not win from Ferozepore. In the last LS elections, the Congress won only the Patiala seat, while Sangrur, Bathinda and Ferozepore went in Akalis’ kitty.

But now if the Congress now threatens to end Akalis dominance in the Malwa region, credit must go to Capt Amarinder Singh not only brought cheers to faces of farmers by introducing Bt Cotton in the area but also won the hearts of the Sikh peasantry by annulling all river water agreements through a legislation. Other factor that eroded the Akalis base in Malwa was the Dera Sacha Sauda. In the 2007 Assembly elections, if Akalis got a bashing in the Malwa, it was primarily because the Dera openly sided with the Congress.

Since then, the Akalis have tried desperately to regain the lost ground by not only concentrating on new projects, including Thermal Power station in Gidderbaha, getting the Guru Nanak Refinery at Bathinda project revived, but also focused on infrastructure development in the region. At one stage, other parties accused the SAD-BJP alliance of discriminating with other regions like the Doaba and the Majha in terms of development.

To woo back Dalits and weaker sections in its fold, Akalis in general and the Badals in particular, also used the religious channel for striking emotional chord with the people. A number of ‘Kirtan Darbars’ had been organised in the Malwa where members of the Badal family remained conspicuous by their presence.

Though the Dera will remain a decisive factor even in the current elections, Akalis have their backs to the wall in countering ever mounting Congress base in the region, making the fight for four Lok Sabha seats “fierce and tough”. Stakes are high.

The major difference since last poll has been moving away of the communists --- CPI and CPM --- from Congress. Since 1998, Congress had not contested the Bathinda seat. On three occasions, the Left contested with the Congress support. However, there was just one win (1999). Till 2004, it was also a reserved seat.

But this time, it has become a prestige seat for the two power families as Raninder Singh, son of Amarinder Singh is facing Harsimrat Badal, wife of SAD chief and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. Hardev Arshi of the CPI is also in the fray. In Ferozepore, it will be Jagmeet Brar’s third attempt to get into Lok Sabha. He faces Sher Singh Ghubaiya, a sitting Akali Legislator from Jalalabad.

Sangrur is poised for an interesting contest with three of former MPs --- Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD), Simranjit Singh Mann (SAD-Amritsar) and Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (Lok Bhalai Party) in the run. Vijay Inder Singla, youth leader of Punjab Congress, has joined them. In Patiala, it is Preneet Kaur fighting Prem Singh Chandumajra of SAD. Both Preneet and Prem Singh Chandumajra already had two terms each as Lok Sabha members.

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POLITICS

Face-off
Polls referendum on govt: Capt
SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 6
Former Chief Minister and chairman of the Congress campaign committee Amarinder Singh has said the Lok Sabha elections will be a referendum on the performance of the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP coalition government.

Talking to The Tribune on the eve of the first phase polling for the Bathinda parliamentary seat and other three constituencies of the Malwa belt, he said the political picture of Punjab would change after the results of the elections were declared.

Amarinder claimed there was a surge against the Badal government, as was witnessed during Congress rallies all over the state. This was a clear indication that the SAD-BJP alliance was going to draw a blank. “I think they have already given up the other 12 seats and are desperately trying to save their skin in Bathinda”, he said. “It is not only in Bathinda where people want to teach them a lesson, but all over the state as people want to get rid of this corrupt and vindictive government”, he added.

Amarinder said: “For us Bathinda is like any other constituency in Punjab, but the Badals have made it a prestige issue”.

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Cong neglected Malwa: Sukhbir

Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal has said, “Except for levelling personal allegations against us, Capt Amarinder Singh has been unable to utter a single word against the performance of the SAD-BJP government or our development agenda that people have endorsed”.

During the election campaign, “we compared the performance of our government with that of Amarinder, but they were unable to find a single folly in us”.

Sukhbir claimed Amarinder’s campaign remained confined to Bathinda and Patiala constituencies from where his son and wife, respectively, were contesting the elections against the SAD.

“On the other hand, we came to Bathinda at the fag end of the campaigning after touring the other 12 constituencies. We belong to this area and will always be available to the common people, whereas Raninder has strayed here only to contest the elections,” he said.

“The level of development that has taken place here under the present government is incomparable,” he said, adding that Amarinder and his ministers during the previous Congress regime neglected the Malwa belt.

He accused Amarinder of indulging in nepotism. While he himself is the chairman of the Congress campaign committee, he pressurised the AICC to give party ticket to his wife Preneet and son Raninder.

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Rahul’s utterances betray panic: Sukhbir
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh May 6
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the recent statement of the Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi virtually begging support from his party’s principle electoral opponents was clear evidence of the realisation in the ruling party that it was facing its worst ever rout since 1947 in the Parliamentary elections.

“In the face of Congress defeat, all bad men have suddenly turned into good angels for the party. The Congress high command has discovered hidden virtues in Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Amar Singh and even Jayalalitha who was a political untouchable for the Gandhis before the elections began,” the SAD president said.

Sukhbir also predicted that all three candidates fielded by Rahul in Punjab would be routed and the margin of Congress defeat on these seats would be bigger than on other seats, except Bathinda where Raninder would not be able to save even his security deposit.

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BSM support a shot in the arm for Cong
Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 6
The Congress got a shot in the arm after the Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM) today declared its support to Congress candidates in all 13 parliamentary constituencies in the state.

Although Satnam Singh Kainth, former MP and President of BSM, did not announce the merger his party into the Congress, he declared that their cadre and leaders would actively work for the success of Congress nominees in Punjab.

Congress nominee for Jalandhar reserved parliamentary seat Mohinder Singh Kaypee was present on the occasion.

“In the current political scenario, I am of the opinion that only the UPA with Dr Manmohan Singh at its helm can provide stability and take the country forward on the road to greater prosperity,” he added.

Kaypee revealed that although Kainth was included in the panel of candidates for the Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency, he could not be fielded.

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Left extends support to BSP
Tribune News Service

Hoshiarpur, May 6
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today got a shot in the arm with the CPI, CPM, Samajbadi Party (SP), Janata Party and the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) extending support to its candidate from Hoshiarpur Sukhwinder Sukhi.

A BSP spokesman said those parties had decided to support the BSP in Hoshiarpur as they had not fielded their candidates from the seat.

Moreover, the parties had expressed solidarity with Dr Sukhi for his farsightedness and honesty.

Dr Sukhi, however, claimed that those parties had already announced their support to the BSP in all 13 seats in the state.

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COMMUNITY
 

SGPC suspends 8 in wheat scam
Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, May 6
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today suspended eight staff members of Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib accused in wheat scam.

Avtar Singh Makkar, president, SGPC, said all eight employees had been suspended after an inquiry conducted by flying squad of the SGPC.

Those suspended have been shifted to different headquarters, where they will be supposed to mark their presence and will get half salary till further orders of SGPC.

Vice-manager of Patalpuri Sahib Gurdwara Bhupidner Singh has been shifted to Dukhniwaran Sahib Patiala, storekeeper Harminder Singh has been shifted to Gurdwara Kapal Mochan, Jagadhri, Haryana, Baljinder Singh sewadar shifted to Manji Sahib, Ambala, Jasvir Singh to Kurukshetra, Amarjit Singh to Muktsar, Balvir Singh shifted to Panj Khera Sahib, Ambala, Sukhwinder Singh, in charge of langar, shifted to Jind and temporary employee Daljit Singh has been ousted from his job.

Later, while talking to mediapersons, Makkar said the SGPC would continue its social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa. Regarding Dr Manmohan Singh as a Sikh PM, he said the Congress had restricted this image of Dr Manmohan till Punjab only. In the rest of the country, the party rested on the shoulders of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

He openly asked employees of various education institutes, run under the aegis of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, to help SAD candidate Dr Daljit Singh Cheema win.

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Rape victim goes missing
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, May 6
District Magistrate (DM) of Moga Satwant Singh Johal has stated that the committee constituted by the SC commission comprise SAD MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sheetal Singh as one its members, which has forced him to apprise the commission of his inability to conduct the probe with him at a time when the elections are in progress.

The DM said he was the enforcing authority for the effective implementation of the model code of conduct of the elections; therefore, it was not possible for him to travel or sit with any political figure.

He said, “The district administration is very much concerned about the unfortunate incidents faced by the Dalit woman and wants to provide help for her medical care and rehabilitation”.

If the Election Commission granted permission to the committee to record the statement of the victim and conduct a probe, there was no point in delaying the sensitive issue.

Meanwhile, the SC commission has written a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab seeking a clarification on the issue, the reply of which was still awaited.

The Dalit woman, who faced sexual harassment and acid attack on her, has been missing for the past couple of days.

Arvinder Kaur, daughter of the victim, said a head constable came to their house on May 2 and took away her mother. Since then, she had not returned.

“I have brought the matter to the notice of the local police in writing, but no efforts have been made to trace my mother”, she alleged.

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Stones pelted on vehicle of Barnala’s wife
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Sangrur/Barnala, May 6
Surjit Kaur Barnala, wife of Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, today escaped unhurt when about two dozen persons allegedly pelted stones on her Innova on the Barnala-Raikot road, near Wazidke Khurd village, 18 km from Barnala. Due to the stone-pelting the rear glass of the vehicle reportedly got damaged almost completely. Besides this, the front glass of the Scorpio, which was a part of Bibi Barnala’s three-vehicle cavalcade, was also damaged partially.

Talking to The Tribune Gurmail Singh Chhiniwal, PA to Surjit Singh Barnala, said when the incident occurred they, including Bibi Barnala, were going to Kurar village after attending a bhog at Wazideke Khurd village. Some persons gave a signal to stop the vehicles. Bibi Barnala got her Innova stopped and lowered the side glass to talk to them.

But they started raising slogans,“Dhindsa Zindabad”, “Bibi Barnala Murdabad”, and asked her why she was working for the defeat of SAD candidate from Sangrur parliamentary constituency Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Sensing trouble, Bibi closed the side glass and asked the driver to drive away. At this, Dhindsa supporters started pelting stones on their vehicles. Then they fled, and Bibi Barnala informed the Barnala SSP immediately, he added.

Dhindsa said this was a “conspiracy” hatched by the Barnala family to defame him in the current Lok Sabha elections. He said he had no inkling of the incident.

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Folk singers get exposure
SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 6
It was a wide exposure for Punjabi folk and pop singers during the month-long campaign for the Lok Sabha elections as they were booked by political parties for entertaining the audience with their songs.

Most of the young crop of singers, including Masha Ali, Lovjeet, Shama Lovely, Gora Chakwala and Gurtej Kabal, had a tiring schedule as they had to give four to five performances every day. Mohammad Sadiq also regaled the audience with his chaste Punjabi duets at Congress rallies.

It was a feat listening to traditional Tadi Jathas, who through their melody, narrated the glory of brave warriors at election rallies of the SAD.

Now that the campaigning for four parliamentary seats has closed, they will be confined to the remaining nine seats for a couple of more days. Bigger names like Deep Dhillon, Gora Chakwala and Shama Lovely were engaged by the Congress, while Satwinder Bitti and Lovjeet went to the rallies of the SAD.

It is learnt that Shama Lovely, who normally charges anything around Rs 40,000 for each performance, was paid a lumpsum of Rs 10,000 per day by the Congress. Gurtej Kabal against his normal payment of Rs 25,000 per show, got Rs 10,000 per day, it is reported.

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Micro observers for sensitive booths
Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 6
That the Patiala seat is sensitive can be gauged from the fact that all 62 polling booths in Patiala have been declared either as sensitive or ultra-sensitive, having not a single ordinary booth sans any trouble potential.

As many as 38 of 62 seats of Patiala city have been declared as ultra-sensitive while 24 have been put in sensitive category.

As many as 13,42,796 voters are likely to exercise their franchise in the polls at 1,558 polling stations of the constituency where two bigwigs — Preneet Kaur of the Congress and Prem Singh Chandumajra of the SAD are trying their luck, apart from Deepak Joshi of the BSP.

District Electoral 
Officer Deepinder Singh said 206 polling booths had been declared as ultra-sensitive, 447 as sensitive and 241 polling stations declared as less sensitive ones.

Micro observers and micro-cameras have been deputed to take stock of the situation at ultra-sensitive booths by the election commission authorities. 

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Cast vote fearlessly: EC
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh May 6
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kusumjit Sidhu today appealed to all voters of the state to go out in full strength to exercise their franchise to elect their representatives without fear or favour.

Sidhu said all voters who had been issued photo identity cards are advised to carry these along with them and those who do not have these cards should carry one of the other document prescribed by the Election Commission (EC).

The EC has warned political parties, contesting candidates and their activitists and the public to abstain from malpractices and directed that anybody indulging in intimidation or any other electoral malpractice will be liable for punishment under the provisions of the RP Act 1951.

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No power cuts ahead in Punjab
Attar Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 6
Punjab residents have a reason to cheer. The situation on the power front has been comfortable during the current month and going by the generation figures made available by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), there seems to be no reason to feel alarmed. More so when the soaring temperatures during the past one week had raised apprehensions in the minds of the common man that there could be sweltering summers ahead with power cuts seeming imminent.

Sources in the PSEB told The Tribune that the power supply position in Punjab had been comfortable in the month of May so far. If the power board authorities are to be believed, there will be no power cuts in the month of May due to sufficient availability of power in Punjab.

Incidentally, the board yesterday relaxed power supply restrictions on certain categories of consumers.

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COURTS
 

Living with a ‘bullet’
HC orders medical examination of man
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6
Gurnam Singh has been “living with a bullet inside him” for over 10 days now. The Muktsar resident was allegedly trying to escape from the “illegal custody” of the Punjab police, when he was shot at. Instead of taking him to a hospital, he was “illegally detained” and treated by the cops themselves, before a warrant officer appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court recovered him.

After disheveled Gurnam Singh in disorderly kurta-pajama with surgical tape covering the wound on his back was produced before the high court pursuant to his recovery, Justice Rajan Gupta directed his medical examination.

Gurnam Singh’s relative Harjinder Singh of Deep Singh Wala village in Faridkot district had first brought the matter to the high court’s notice. In his habeas corpus petition, he had claimed Gurnam Singh’s constable sister Paramjit Kaur and constable Manjit Singh had quarrelled over some issue. Subsequently, Manjit Singh and other cops got Gurnam Singh kidnapped on April 24; and he was in illegal custody ever since.

As the case came up for hearing this afternoon, Justice Gupta observed an application had been moved for the medico-legal examination of Gurnam Singh, recovered by the warrant officer in pursuance to the order dated May 5.

Justice Gupta added on that day the court had directed the registry to appoint a warrant officer for recovering the detainee. The Judge also took note of the petitioner’s submission that “there was a bullet injury on his body and could prove fatal”.

Justice Gupta asserted: “The warrant officer has apprised the court that his report was not yet ready. However, he has recorded a daily diary report at the police station concerned itself, and also recorded the statement of the alleged detainee, as well as MHC of the police station.

“According to the warrant officer, the alleged detainee has stated the injury in question was caused to him by constable Manjit Singh, when he was allegedly picked up from his house.

“In view of the serious allegations levelled in the application, it is directed that Gurnam Singh be medically examined in general hospital today itself…. A direction is issued to director, health services, UT, to comply with the order forthwith”.

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Fill vacancies
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6
The high court wants Punjab to fill vacancies of public prosecutors in the subordinate court within six weeks. The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta had on last date of hearing had made it clear that the number of public prosecutors is proportionate to the workload.

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