The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Faridkot witnesses hectic activities by politicians Balwant Garg/TNS Faridkot, December 25 Yesterday, when the model code of conduct came into force, Faridkot witnessed whirlwind political activities as leaders of the ruling party laid foundation and inauguration stones, one after the other, hoping these will earn the ruling party extra votes. In a tearing hurry, some of these foundations stones were raised and inaugurated within hours of the Election Commission of India announcing the poll dates for Punjab. The cement plaster of these foundations stones did not even get enough time to dry and there was no paint on these stones as the leaders were in feverish haste to extract the maximum political mileage from them. In Faridkot, Member of Parliament, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, rushed from one stone to other on an inauguration spree, launching many projects which were already running for months together. The MP inaugurated two musical fountain chowks in the centre of Faridkot town yesterday in the evening. Constructed at a cost of Rs 65 lakh, interestingly, both these fountains are working have been the last three months. To ensure that the election code of conduct does not impede the endeavour of the Akalis to reap electoral benefit from every development project in the area, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan formally inaugurated over a dozen water treatment plants in the rural areas in the last five days. The stones for constructing two link roads, Sadiq-Janeria and Machaki Khurd, was also laid yesterday. The election code of conduct brought a lot of relief for many government officials, particularly the public relations department. For the last two months, the government officials, public relations department in particular, were running behind the Akali leaders, making arrangements for every political-cum-official function, ensuering its publicity and mobilizing the people for these functions to put up an impressive show. “We were eagerly waiting for the declaration of the election code of conduct as it would bring us great relief,” said a government official in Faridkot on the condition of anonymity.
	Real estate baron fears threat to life from BKI Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, December 25 Real estate baron Dimple Chadda has revealed that the two suspected Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists arrested by the Delhi Police a couple of days back were planning to target him after he refused to pay them ransom. Talking to The Tribune at Moga, he claimed that one of the terrorists was arrested by the police from near his residence in Delhi. Showing a copy of the letter written on plain paper and sent to him by the BKI activists through registered post on December 8 from Ferozepur, Chadda said that after discussion at the family level, he had written letters to the chief minister and home secretary of Punjab demanding security and probe into the threat received by him. He said that the terrorists demanded a sum of Rs 50 lakh from him, which he did not pay. “I fear that the BKI terrorist arrested by the Delhi police from near my residence might have planned to target me,” he feared. Both the terrorists had been remanded to the custody of the special cell of the Delhi Police by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav till January 2, next year. Jaswinder was reportedly arrested from Ferozepur area while Saravpreet was apprehended from north-west Delhi from near Chadda’s residence. Meanwhile, a local police official said that they were not aware of the threat to life received by Dimple Chadda who is also in the business of real estate in this town. However, sources in the state intelligence agency revealed that Chadda had demanded security from the state government a few weeks back. Earlier, a few security guards were attached with him by the state police, which were withdrawn a few months back. Apart from the real estate business, Chadda is also associated with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and actively takes part in local politics.
	Constituency Watch: Shutrana Ghaggar continues to flow as ‘river of sorrow’ here Gagan K Teja Dominated by Scheduled Caste voters, the Shutrana constituency is a rural segment and apparently the most backward in Patiala district. Situated alongside the Haryana border, the areas falling in the constituency are flood-prone. Forty-six per cent of the voters belong to the Scheduled Caste (Ramdasia and Bazigar) group while Kambojs form the second largest community. Though Jat Sikhs and Hindus are less in number, they can play the deciding factor in wake of the fact that the contest is likely to be between the Congress and the Akali Dal candidates. Sitting Congress MLA Nirmal Singh Shutrana, who won the 2002 and 2007 poll, is leading the race for the party ticket, though Kabir Dass is another strong contender. The SAD, meanwhile, has given ticket to first-timer Vaninder Kaur Lumba, daughter of former MLA Baldev Singh Lumba. Another Akali, Hamir Singh Ghagga, has been left in the cold. PROMISES & PROJECTS: Ghaggar turns into the constituency's 'river of sorrow' during the rainy season and the residents have been demanding a permanent solution to the problem. With industrial waste flowing into the river, the groundwater quality in several villages has deteriorated, therefore, leading to serious health ailments, especially among the newborn. The worst affected are Arnetu and Badshapur villages where a considerable number of kids are born with physical deformities. Clean drinking water, employment for the youth, improving the standard of education in government schools, better health and civic facilities and the upkeep of roads were the assurances given by Nirmal Singh Shutrana to voters. Not many of the promises have been kept. Shutrana blames the ruling regime for the "non-acceptance" of a majority of his proposals, though he claims the condition of roads was better now as compared to the last elections. VOX POPULI: The residents say MLA Shutrana and SAD segment incharge Hamir Singh are both easily approachable, but that the area had not witnessed significant development over the past few years as the legislator belonged to the opposition party. In 2002, Nirmal Singh won on the SAD ticket while in 2007 he contested successfully from the Congress. Therefore, in both his terms, he remained in the Opposition and no major development projects were allotted for the constituency. "This time, we will vote for a candidate who has the potential to push through reforms and assures us a solution to the Ghaggar flood problem," says a resident of Badshapur village. LOOKING BACK: It was CPI candidate Baldev Singh who defeated Congress nominee Bhajan Lal in 1980. In 1985, Satwant Singh Mohi (SAD) won. In 1992, Congress candidate Hamir Singh defeated Nirmal Singh of the SAD. In 1997, SAD candidate Gurdev Singh Sidhu defeated CPI nominee Ram Chand. In 2002 and 2007, Nirmal Singh won on SAD and Congress ticket, respectively. — TNS
	Constituency Watch: Amloh Getting municipal council upgraded a key poll plank Umesh Dewan As the constituency was de-reserved following delimitation, Amloh seat would now see an interesting battle between the Congress and SAD as both the parties would be fielding fresh faces. Dominated by Sikh and SC voters earlier, the constituency (as per estimates even though community wise break-up was yet to be worked out) now has more of Hindu and Jat Sikh electorate. About 80 villages having majority of Sikh and SC voters have been shifted to Nabha (SC), Patiala (Rural), Ghanaur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Khanna segments. If the past four assembly elections are any indication, the constituency has been witnessing a bi-polar contest between the Congress and the SAD. Sadhu Singh Dharmsot of the Congress is the sitting MLA. He claims the ruling SAD-BJP coalition turned down all his requests to initiate development projects. A major issue that remained hanging fire for five years is the up-gradation of Amloh Municipal Council from 'C' to B-grade. From the Congress, former minister Jasjit Randhawa is leading the race for the party ticket whereas RIMT Group chairman Hukam Chand Bansal, Youth Development Board chairman Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna are vying for the SAD ticket. PROMISES & PROJECTS: Dharmsot had assured he would ensure better civic facilities, particularly clean drinking water and sewerage system, in all areas and get the Amloh Municipal Council upgraded, but none of two promises have been met. For this, he accuses the SAD-BJP combine of ignoring his requests for funds. This election as well, the issue of upgrading Amloh MC would be the main thrust area of all candidates. VOX POPULI: A majority of the residents appreciated the conduct and development-oriented approach of Dharmsot. "It is sad the SAD-BJP government deliberately created hurdles in development works to be undertaken by our MLA in the constituency," a resident says. The youth are critical about the lack of development and poor educational infrastructure. LOOKING BACK: Dalip Singh Pandhi (SAD) defeated Harchand Singh and Gurdev Singh (both of Congress) in 1980 and 1985 elections, respectively. In 1992, Sadhu Singh Dharmsot won but he lost to Balwant Singh (SAD) in 1997. However, he won successive terms in 2002 and 2007. Last time, he defeated Satwinder Kaur (SAD). — TNS
	Constituency Watch: Sri Hargobindpur Delimitation leaves 3-time MLA scouting for new seat Ravi Dhaliwal Declared a reserved seat post-delimitation, Sri Hargobinpur is, as per the residents, one of the most "under-developed" Vidhan Sabha constituencies with educational and health facilities lacking in the area. The constituency is represented by SAD legislator and Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Bath, who himself admits that his constituency needs better medical facilities and more educational institutions. However, in the same breath he claims that he has done his bit for the constituency by getting link roads constructed and scores of schools up-graded. As the seat, having nearly 40,000 Scheduled Caste and Backward Caste voters comprising Mazbhi Sikhs, Lubanas and Ramdasias, has been reserved, Bath is now scouting for a new seat. The main grouse of residents, particularly the youth, is that the MLA has failed to get a government college, following which the students have travel to far off places like Batala, Tanda, Mukerian and Gurdaspur for higher education. Paramjit Singh Kahlon, a retired principal, claimed, "The MLA had promised to bring in a co-educational government college but failed to do so." PROMISES & PROJECTS: Bath says he is pained by the poor standard of education in rural schools. "That is why I personally visit the schools to impress upon the students the benefits of quality education. At times, I even pull up teachers who play truant…. Several schools have been up-graded," he claims. VOX POPULI: The MLA says he managed to convince the PWD authorities to construct 60-70 km of roads in Sri Hargobindpur. He also talks about the Rs 25 crore sewerage project approved for the town. Even his political rivals admit that the MLA has done well by constructing 13 stadiums in various schools in the segment where drug abuse is rampant. Two 66-KV sub-stations have also been established, one of which has come up in the MLA's native Chone village. However, no new industrial projects have been brought in and the residents say quality health facilities are missing. LOOKING BACK: In 2007 and 1997, Bath beat Gurnam Singh of the CPI by 26,000 and 25,000 votes, respectively, while in 2002 he had triumphed over Fatehjung Bajwa. In 1992, GS Dhirowalia (CPI) beat Mushtaq Masih by 750 votes. — TNS