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Make speech at social gathering, pay for it
Deployment of Forces
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Chaman Lal Garg (extreme (right) with PCC chief Amarinder Singh (L) at a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
Capt: New entrants not promised ticket
Gurdaspur BJP leaders refuse to back Babbehali
Will never take back Jagbir: Manpreet
Constituency
Watch
Poll
Snippets
Housing projects brought under Apartment Act
Overseas Punjabis flock home with a poll agenda
2,556 SC girl students to get Rs 3,800 each
Istri Manch to hold protest at singer’s house
Family faces ordeal for son's bravery
Two more schoolgirls refuse cycles
Dr Grewal is Punjab Medical Council chief
Disproportionate Assets Case
Sessions Division for Moga
Police rapped for not arresting
ex-SHO
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Make speech at social gathering, pay for it
Jalandhar, December 22 Further, even if they do not address the gathering but their vehicle bear party flags and posters, even then the function expenditure will be added in their account by poll observers. These are some of the strictures by the Election Commission conveyed to representatives of various parties during a meeting held by the District Election Officer-cum-DC here today. DEO Priyank Bharti clarified: "This does not mean that you do not attend any social programme. You can walk in like any ordinary person and ensure that you do not make speeches". The representatives were told that in case leaders with Z plus security visited an election venue, the cost for the special stages and other arrangements would be shared by the candidates for whom he canvassed at the rally. The DEO said in case any candidate travelled with a star campaigner, 50 per cent of the travel expenditure of the campaigner would be added to his poll expenses.
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Deployment of Forces
New Delhi, December 22 Elections could be announced any day to elect legislative assemblies in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, sources said. Reacting to media reports that the poll schedule may be announced on December 23, ECI spokesperson Rajesh Malhotra said, "There is no such plan." Deployment of paramilitary forces in the states would be crucial as several polling booths had been listed as sensitive by the security forces. Yesterday, the ECI met the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and asked him that an effective mechanism be put in place for monitoring expenses of candidates and parties. Meanwhile, sources said an announcement as regards elections and imposition of the model code of conduct could be made soon after the Home Secretary's meeting with the ECI. This could be tomorrow, or on Saturday. The detailed plan for the deployment has already been made by the Home Ministry. There is laid-down template for the deployment and movement of forces from one state to another. Usually, the Home Ministry seeks that elections in adjoining states do not overlap. On the political front, the Cabinet cleared a quota of 4 per cent for Muslims within the 27 per cent quota for
OBCs.
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Pro-Khalistan T-shirts seized
Ludhiana, December 22 Senior police officials have said the intelligence wing has received inputs about pro-Khalistan activists getting active. The matter further snowballed into a controversy today when the police booked Manwinder Singh Gyaspura, the whistleblower who brought to fore Hondh-Chillar massacre that took place in Haryana, for inciting religious sentiments. Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Manwinder claimed that he had been implicated in the case. "The police has registered a false case against me. These T- shirts belong to one Dilbag Singh of Amritsar. I have nothing to do with these," he said, adding that a local leader, Baljeet Jassian, had been blackmailing him for the past few days. "Last night, Baljeet and his cronies along with a police officer raided the places where these T- shirts were being manufactured and seized the material. I came to know about the incident after I was booked for instigating religious sentiments," said Manwinder. Police sources said they were investigating the matter as the government had issued specific instruction to show "zero tolerance" towards any activity that vitiated the peaceful atmosphere in the state. The government has been cautioned by Central intelligence agencies about attempts by Khalistani ideologues to push in weapons to be used during the elections. The seizure of the T-shits has sent the police department in a tizzy. DCP Ashish Chaudhry said necessary action had been taken and law would take its course. The T-shirts, bearing Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's picture with "Pakke Khalistani" written on these, were being manufactured in a factory unit. Baljeet Jassian has alleged that nearly 10,000 pro-Khalistan T-shirts had been sold by Manwinder. "I suspect a political conspiracy behind the issue. The motive is to upset peace in the state," said Jassian, who lodged a complaint against the manufacturing of these T- shirts.
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CL Garg joins Congress
CHANDIGARH, December 22 Earlier this week, the Congress had inducted PPP vice-presidents Jagbir Brar and Kushaldeep Dhillon. Garg said: “The SAD has been good to me and it is a good organisation, barring some persons who stifled me. I am feeling relieved by joining the Congress”. Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh, who introduced Garg to the media here, said his induction into the Congress had been cleared by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He said Garg’s role in the party would be determined after consultation with the Sonia. Rajan Garg, president of the District Bar Association, Bathinda, and Ram Kumar Malhotra, president, Jandiala Municipal Committee, also joined the Congress today as did several leaders with the Lok Bhalai Party earlier. Amarinder said the inductions would further strengthen the party in Bathinda region. He said, Garg was a popular and well-respected leader and the party was sure to benefit from his experience. Garg claimed several other Akali leaders were keen on joining the Congress. Garg, a former minister, was an MLA from Bathinda from 1997 - 2001. Meanwhile, the SAD has expelled Garg from its primary membership.
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Capt: New entrants not promised ticket
CHANDIGARH, December 22 Asked about resistance by some local leaders against people from other parties joining the Congress, he said at a press conference here today, that party workers and leaders need not to be upset or feel insecure. “Anybody joining the Congress will strengthen the party and once the party stands stronger, the workers and leaders will get stronger too”, he maintained, making it clear that all inductions had been cleared by the high command. The PCC president said ticket allotment was the prerogative of Sonia Gandhi. “I don’t care whether someone belongs to a group as long as he or she is a winning candidate”, he declared. He reiterated his commitment to a strong Lokpal in the state.
— TNS
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Gurdaspur BJP leaders refuse to back Babbehali
Gurdaspur, December 22 This decision is not surprising as there had been reports of a harsh exchange of words between Babbehali and the BJP rank and file. Today, the warring BJP leaders came onto a common platform to launch an attack on the MLA. It insists that the SAD changes its Girdaspur candidate. A livid Rakesh Jyoti, president of the Gurdaspur BJP, claimed that Babbehali was indulging in large-scale corruption and was ignoring the grievances of BJP workers. “Roads and streets, which were in good shape, were being deliberately re-carpeted at the behest of the MLA for hefty commissions from contractors,” he claimed. A few days ago, Babbehali held a public meeting at Hanuman Chowk where he castigated Rakesh Jyoti, claiming that he was working against the interests of the SAD, despite the fact the the BJP was SAD’s alliance partner. Jyoti claimed that during the Kahunwan by-electionin 2009, a senior SAD leader had given lakhs of rupees to Babbehali who was made incharge of a cluster of 15 villages then. The BJP president claimed that Babbehali had not given details of the money spent by him. There was reson to believe that he himself had pocketed the entire amount, he alleged. The Gurdaspur Muncipal Council has a house of 21 councillors, 10 from the BJP. All these councillors were present at the press meeting today which was also attended by BJP state secretary Neelam Mahant, MC president Santosh Riar, mandal president Vikas Gupta and vice-chairman of the Punjab Forest Corporation Rajinder Bitta. Interestingly, senior Akali leader and chairman of the Gurdaspur Sugar Mill MS Kaunta was also present. An unfazed Babbehali claimed that Jyoti had called a meeting yesterday, ostensibly to ensure participation of workers at the BJP rally at Jalandhar on December 24. “However, the BJP president hijacked the proceedings and instead began to attack me.”
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Will never take back Jagbir: Manpreet
Jalandhar, December 22 Terming him as an opportunist, Manpreet told a gathering at Johal Market here this morning that Brar had ditched him, his party and Punjab by changing track on the eve of elections. “Brar, who is my third cousin, did not realise that he already had the party ticket. He would have easily sailed through with the PPP. Now with the Congress, he will have to fight for the ticket. Also, Congress men will be reluctant to accept him, ” he said. Manpreet said his party would hold a show of strength at the Urban Estate at the Jalandhar Cantt on January 2.
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Constituency
Watch
This time again, the fight will be between the two. Sitting MLA Raj Khurana, who has won this seat three times, twice on the Congress ticket, is the frontrunner for the BJP ticket. Due to the cast vote factor, he is a very strong candidate and despite the fact that that he is facing a CBI inquiry for corruption, he may be fielded once again. Former BJP minister Balramji Dass Tandon and his son Sanjay Tandon are also in the fray. Close aid of the Minister of State of External Affairs Preneet Kaur, Hardial Singh Kamboj, and former MLA Brij Lal Goyal are aspiring for the Congress ticket. Promises: The supply of potable water and an adequate sewerage system has been the primary concern of the residents of this constituency. There are a few flood-prone villages in the constituency, including Lachhru, Kami Kalan, Nanheri and Gadapur, and the residents incur heavy financial losses every monsoon. Sitting MLA Khurana had promised overall development of the constituency, including proper civic facilities. He had announced a 221-MW thermal plant at Nalash, upgradation of the judicial complex, a mini secretariat and construction of advocates’ chambers, 234 booths for the Rehri Market, an engineering college and Bahawalpuria Bhawan. Though, Khurana has by and large fulfilled his promises and claims that he has provided facilities both in urban and rural areas, the people in rural areas blame him for focussing more on the urban areas. Vox Populi: A majority of residents in urban areas are happy with the development work in the constituency and appreciative of the easy accessibility and humble demeanour of Khurana who has been representing the constituency for the past 10 years. But the Bahawalpuria community and the Jat Sikhs in rural areas feel ignored. They say Khurana focussed on development in urban areas and ignored rural areas. "He was more bothered about development in urban areas. Links road connecting various villages are in a bad shape," said Jaswant Singh of Chammar Heri village. Looking Back: It was CPM candidate Balwant Singh who defeated Congress candidate Brij Lal Goyal in 1980. In 1985, SAD candidate Prem Chand wrested the seat from Congress candidate Naresh Kumar. In 1992, the Congress again came to power with Khurana defeating BJP candidate Ram Chand. In 1997, BJP candidate Balramji Dass Tandon defeated Congress candidate Khurana. However, Khurana won the 2002 elections on the Congress ticket. In 2007 elections, he joined the BJP and won the seat for the SAD-BJP combine, defeating Congress candidate Hardial Singh Kamboj by 14,184 votes. The constituency is likely to see a neck and neck fight.
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Poll
Snippets
Jalandhar: National leaders Sushma Swraj, Arun Jaitley, JP Nadda, Shanta Kumar, Capt Abhimanyu and Navjot Sidhu were expected to arrive for the BJP’s state-level Jan Vishwas Maha rally here on Saturday. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal have confirmed their participation too.
At the rally site at Johlan village on the Rama Mandi-Hoshiarpur road, three stages have been erected, one for national and state leaders, another for local leaders and the third for the media. All electricity poles and flyovers on the roads leading to the rally site are dotted with hoardings with pictures of BJP leaders.
— Deepkamal Kaur Billboards gone
Faridkot: At a time when party hoardings dot every nook and corner, acting on a direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Faridkot district administration and municipal committee has started removing all hoardings on road berms and land abutting municipal roads. Though in its order on August 25 this year, the HC had directed the state government to remove all hoardings and billboards, the district authorities failed in doing so, fearing the political might of the leaders. Now when the elections are round the corner and political leaders in intense competition in to make their presence felt, the district administration has started removing the hoardings. “We have started removing the hoardings as per the directions from the higher authorities”, said Gursewak Singh, EO, Municipal Committee, Faridkot. He said the hoardings had been removed earlier too but time and again these were reinstalled by political workers. — Balwant Garg IOC wants a seat
Chandigarh: The Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) has demanded the Amritsar Central seat be allotted to its president Vikramjit Singh Bajwa. In a communication to PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, the IOC has said that during the past five years, Bajwa had taken up several issues, including relief for Kanishka victims, and had been vocal in his criticism of the SAD-BJP govt.
— TNS
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Housing projects brought under Apartment Act
Earlier in 2005, the promoters of mega housing projects were given an exemption from consumer-friendly clauses of PAPRA. The Punjab Cabinet at its recent meeting approved a memorandum put up by PUDA to do away with the exemption and bring the promoters under the Act. A senior official said the decision would become applicable with immediate effect. He said the authorities had already been told to deal with all cases related to mega projects in the light of the memorandum. However, sources said the promoters, who include country's top real estate firms, had already got a wind of the move and were trying to get its implementation stalled. The sources said whereas the promoters had been brought under certain provisions of PAPRA, the provisions with regard to the change of land use (CLU) had been simplified, providing them a relief from unnecessary legal impediments. They said the exemption was not in public interest because it granted immunity to the promoters and they were "not to be held accountable even if they committed serious irregularities". Now, the promoters would be covered under section 6 to section 20 and section 36 to 69 of the Act. These sections not only safeguard the interest of the buyers but also have the provision to punish the promoters in case they commit any offence relating to the projects or agreements signed with the buyers. Under section 6(2), the promoter cannot unilaterally cancel the agreement of sale entered with the allottee (buyer). If there is a sufficient cause to cancel the agreement, due notice will have to be given to all other parties. The liability to construct the building as per the approved plan will be that of the promoter who will have to fix the possession date of the apartment. The agreement between the promoter and the allottee will have to be registered with the designated authority. The promoters shall have to maintain a separate account of the money taken from the allottee as advance towards the sale price or for any other purpose. The promoter cannot make any alteration in the house or apartment plan without the consent of the allottee and will have to refund the amount with interest in case of failure to give the possession in accordance of the terms of the agreement. The house or apartment cannot be mortgaged without the consent of the allottee. The responsibility to procure the completion and occupancy certificate will be of the promoter, who will also be responsible to provide essential services and other services agreed upon in the agreement. In case of failure of the promoters to stick the agreement, there is a provision under section 36 to 39 to prosecute and punish the promoter and to even demolish the structure built by him in certain cases.
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Overseas Punjabis flock home with a poll agenda
Chandigarh, December 22 “Election is the best time to get a commitment from the politicians,” says Dalwinder Singh Dhoot, Chairman of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA). “Though ours is an apolitical organisation, we still want to hear the agenda of leaders of all major political parties of Punjab on taking the state forward. This is why we have called leaders of the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Punjab Peoples’ Party at a convention in Chandigarh on December 24. “Besides the long-standing concerns of overseas Punjabis, we are also worried about the negative picture of this once forward-looking state by the media outside. We are now known in the western world more for our love for booz , drugs, bhangra and kabaddi than an economic power,” he says. Satnam Singh Chahal, Jaspal Singh Mann and Santokh Singh Judge, all from the NAPA, have similar concerns. “We are a diminishing community that still feels attached to its ancestral roots. If things are not rectified, our second and third generations will have no choice but to severe all ties with their roots,” says Chahal. “Our landed properties are not safe here. How can the government expect us to invest in Punjab? Punjab should learn a lesson from Gujarat where complaints of land grabbing of overseas Indians is unheard of,” says Dalwinder Singh Dhoot. Most of the overseas Punjabis, who are camping in Punjab ahead of assembly elections, say that the decision to allow the NRIs to vote is no good. “So far only 160-odd NRIs have got themselves registered as voters. Jalandhar, the home of NRIs, has only 12 NRI voters. Unless the new law is practical, it is not going to help the NRIs. No one can afford to spend huge amounts of money to travel to India just to vote in the elections.It will be a major drain on both time and financial resources. In case electronic voting is allowed or Indian Missions overseas have the facilities to allow NRIs to vote there, this voting right may be of no use,” says Santokh Singh Judge. Though overseas Indians had agitated for voting rights, yet many of their other problems remain to be solved. Getting a visa to India is becoming increasingly difficult for those with citizenship of any western country. Representatives of some of these overseas Indians organisations will be heading for Jaipur early next month to participate in the 13th Parvasi Bharti Divas to highlight some of their concerns.
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2,556 SC girl students to get Rs 3,800 each
Patiala, December 22 Giving information, district coordinator of the scheme, Manmohan Singh said, "The Education Department prepares a list of Class IX girls of the SC category and sends it to the Central Government." "The government then gets a fixed deposit (FD) of Rs 3,000 done in their names with the State Bank of India (SBI) and the girl is given the amount after two years when she reaches the age of 18 years, but the condition is that she should not get married till the FD gets matured. Moreover, by that time the total amount becomes approximately Rs 3,800, including two-year interest. We have already received the cheques for the session 2008-09 and 2009-10," he added. He further said that the Department had prepared a list of 2,881 such girls for the session 2011-12 and sent it to the Department. Meanwhile, DEO (Secondary) Parmod Kumar said that the scheme was launched with a view to curb ill practice of early marriage of girls and motivates parents to allow their daughters to avail higher education.
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Istri Manch to hold protest at singer’s house
Patiala, December 22 One of the members of the Manch, Amandeep Kaur said that Diljit Dosanjh had been placed on top of the list for singing substandard songs, whereas Geeta Jaildar and Gippy Grewal were ranked second and third, respectively. "We have decided to stage a protest outside Diljit's residence in Ludhiana on December 27 in this regard," she added. "Our aim of organising this protest is to convey a message to the entertainment industry that they cannot tolerate such indecent comments in the name of entertainment. We are totally against women being portrayed in a bad light and have decided to raise our voice against each and every singer, who indulges in this practice for popularity," added Gurbax
Kaur. — TNS
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Family faces ordeal for son's bravery
Khanna, December 22 Deceased’s father Ram Singh and mother Charanjeet Kaur have been running from pillar to post to get the body recovered from the canal. They said they had already spent more than Rs 50,000 for searching the body. “The authorities have even stopped the salary of Mohan, leaving us penniless,” they added. Meanwhile, IG, Patiala zone, said the matter came to his notice three days ago and the department was taking it seriously. Though police parties had been dispatched to recover his body, the death certificate could not be granted till the body is recovered, he added.
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Two more schoolgirls refuse cycles
Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 22 The girls, Jagjit Kaur and Karamjit Kaur, alleged that the SAD had got a "false case" registered against their father, lambardar Kewal Singh, who had to spend one month in jail. They refused to accept bicycles being distributed by SAD leader Harvir Singh Ayali during a function recently. “Why should we accept things bought with public funds from those leaders who have been harassing our family,” alleged Jagjit and Karamjit, regretting that the SAD had also shown disrespect to Mai Bhago by displaying her picture on the chain cover of the bicycles while the picture of the Chief Minister had been put up prominently. Meanwhile, Ayali said no case of political vendetta was ever brought to his notice. “Even if the family had any grudge against the government, they should have not dragged children into politics," he added.
— OC
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Dr Grewal is Punjab Medical Council chief
Chandigarh, December 22 According to the notification issued by the Government, Dr Grewal, who replaces Dr Manmohan Singh, will remain President of the PMC for a period of five years. Dr Grewal is a Ludhiana-based physician, gastroentrologist and sonologist and a former senior resident of PGI, Chandigarh. — TNS
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Disproportionate Assets Case
Ludhiana, December 22 The court of Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Gulzar also dismissed the applications seeking discharge of the accused from the case. The court observed, “The report under section 173(8) CrPC was filed by the prosecution on September 13, 2008, after a period of five years and four months from the registration of the case, stating that the accused have not committed any offence". “I am of the view that at the time of framing the charge, the court has to see the material submitted with the challan and not report under section 173(8) of CrPC regarding reinvestigation,” the Judge observed. During the previous Congress regime, the former minister along with four others was booked on May 7, 2003, under section 13(1)(d)(e) read with section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act & 120-B of the IPC. The challan against the accused was presented on August 9, 2004, after a 15-month-long investigation. It was pleaded by the accused that a false case was registered against them due to political vendetta. It was submitted that when they were granted anticipatory bail, they had produced relevant documents pleading innocence before the investigation officer. But all such documents were not annexed with the challan. The defence lawyer had also stated that Garcha was also booked on the same charges at Jalandhar, but he was later discharged by the VB. The case would come up for hearing on Feburary 4, 2012, for framing charges against the accused.
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Sessions Division for Moga
Moga, December 22 The District Bar Association while welcoming the decision has stated that the Sessions Division will help in better administrative control over the judiciary at the district level. Besides, decisions on the transfer of cases can now be taken at the local level, it added. Nasib Bawa, president of the association, said the posts of additional district and sessions judge at Moga were created in June 1998, but the administrative control was kept under the Faridkot Sessions Division. "At present, there are approximately 1,900 cases pending in the three courts of additional sessions judges at Moga. The creation of the post of district and sessions judge will also indirectly help in speedy disposal of cases," he said. Local Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain and president of the local body Barjinder Singh Brar have also welcomed the decision. Meanwhile, the Bar, in its meeting today, urged the Chief Justice of the High Court not to create lower-level courts at Baghapurana and Nihasinghwala subdivisions until proper infrastructure was in place. It may be mentioned that there is no infrastructure available in these towns to house the courts and space to accommodate lawyers. Even the building at the district headquarters at Moga is temporary and does not have enough space for all courts and chambers for lawyers. The HC has already approved a new building for the district courts on the Ferozepur road on 14 acres, but the state government has not yet acquired land for the purpose. The land acquisition proposal has been pending before the government for the past couple of years.
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Police rapped for not arresting
ex-SHO
Chandigarh, December 22 Justice Alok Singh, in fact, directed the Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police "to ensure the arrest of Inspector Darshan Singh and to produce him before the Pathankot Judicial Magistrate (First Class) forthwith, wherein the complaint is pending". Darshan Singh has already been declared a proclaimed offender. Justice Alok Singh added, a compliance report too would be submitted in the court within a month; and directed that the order's copy be forwarded to the DGP for compliance. Justice Alok Singh contended: "This is a matter of great concern that Darshan Singh, then SHO, Pathankot, has avoided court appearance despite summons, warrants, proclamation and declaration as proclaimed offender." "I am shocked to note that even higher officials of the Punjab Police are avoiding arrest of Darshan Singh. The police should have registered an FIR against Darshan Singh under Section 174-A of the IPC and should have taken appropriate action thereon, since the offence under Section 174-A is cognizable and non-bailable." The directions came on a petition filed by Ram Kishan against the State of Punjab and other respondents. Kishan had alleged that during pendency of a civil suit, Darshan Singh had called him to the police station before illegally detaining him and compelled him to sign a compromise on October 23, 1998. Among other cases, Kishan had filed a suit against the gram panchayat and other defendants for constructing a drain to avoid damage to his house due to accumulation of waste water. Seeking directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents to ensure Darshan's arrest, the petitioner had added, the cop had failed to appear before the magistrate, despite summons and warrants on his private complaint. Before parting with the order, Justice Alok Singh said that the court was of the view that Darshan Singh was not only bound to face trial, but also charge-sheeted under Section 174-A of the IPC for not appearing before the magistrate.
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CHANDIGARH, December 22
The Congress has gained the support of former minister and national vice-president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Chiranji Lal
Garg. He has joined the party along with his son and supporters.
Gurdaspur, December 22
n Rs 16 lakh cap on poll expenditure
Dominated by Hindu voters, the Rajpura constituency is a blend of urban and rural population. The population mainly includes Bahawalpurias, Khatris, Kamboj and Jat Sikhs. The past five assembly elections have seen a bi-polar contest between the SAD-BJP and the Congress with both the parties mainly targeting Hindu voters.
Chandigarh, December 22