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Shaheedi Jor Mela |
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18 officers shifted on EC’s orders
Sukhbir to contest from Jalalabad
Unaccounted cash totalling Rs 2.5 crore forfeited
harsimrat case
BKI terrorists planned to target me, claims realtor
No looking back, says Manpreet
Kharar seat likely to see clash of titans
Sharjah murder case
Baru Sahib students enthral audience
Varsity study on fingerprints selected in US
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The 13th five-Year test
Rise of Sukhbir
Badal bouncers Manpreet muddle Speech and fire The 13th Vidhan Sabha saw several pieces of fine oratory, including the first speech of Sukhbir Singh Badal, wherein he outlined his political vision for the state, demonstrating he had transformed into a seasoned politician. Equally important was that of Capt Amarinder Singh on his return to the Assembly after his expulsion. The historic speech, however, would be one by then Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who during the 2010 Budget Session told the House what a mess the state’s finances were in. Speaker kahlon Controversial laws The government drew flak on several counts, especially certain controversial legislations, including the Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Act, 2010, which barred holding of protests without permission. Also, the Punjab Special Security Group Act, 2010, was criticised for giving draconian powers to the security forces that could be used to even muzzle the Press. The Congress promised to repeal these legislations if voted to power. The Rationalisation of Certain Conditions of Services Act, 2011, which imposed unfair conditions on new employees, was amended under pressure from government staff. Bitterness bites Bowled over Youth power
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Shaheedi Jor Mela
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 27 Badal used the Shaheedi Jor Mela to seek votes for the SAD “to complete the unfinished works of his life”. This emotional appeal appeared to work on the predominantly Sikh audience that had braved the cold to listen to the political leaders. The Akali leaders talked about Operation Bluestar and the injustice meted to the poor farmers. The Congress top brass was absent from the
mela. In Delhi to ensure the party ticket for their loyalists, neither Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh nor CLP Leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was present at the mela to counter the charges against the Congress. In their absence, it was former Congress president Lal Singh and former minister Tej Parkash who held the show. By 3 pm, the Congress pandal wore a deserted look. At the SAD
pandal, not a single reference was made to the BJP nor was any derogatory term used against People’s Party President (PPP) Manpreet
Badal. Sukhbir repeatedly referred to Manpreet as “mera chhota veer” (my younger bother), making sure that no votes were lost on account of sympathy for his cousin
Manpreet.
All Akali speakers, including SGPC president Avtar Singh
Makkar, pointed out that the Congress in Punjab was run on Delhi’s directions while SAD was the “people’s own party”. Repeatedly, Sukhbir used carefully chosen words to draw a comparison between Parkash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh. After going through the history of the Sikhs and recapitulating the struggle of the Akalis during Emergency, the Chief Minister emphasised on the helplessness of the Congress leadership when it came to protecting the interests of Punjab. Referring to
Amarinder, the CM said: “I am your chief ministerial candidate and the Congress is projecting him
(Amrinder) for the post. He is a Maharaja with the mindset of a ruler, who considers people nothing more than his subjects. But we in the Akali Dal consider you (the people) as our masters while we are the servants”. Sukhbir targeted
Amarinderthus: “the Maharaja cannot work beyond 6pm. Look at Badal Sahib, his day starts early and goes well past midnight”. Announcing that the battle had begun . he said: “ The Congress has seen the semi-finals in the SGPC elections... the fight will culminate on January 30”. He sought votes for his father, pleading that “there are some unfinished works that Badal Sahib wants to complete in his lifetime”.
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No place for rebels: Badal Fatehgarh Sahib, December 27 Taking a strong note of the announcements made by some senior Akali leaders, including a sitting MLA, that in case party tickets were denied to them, they would contest the elections as Independent candidates, Badal, while speaking to the mediapersons after addressing the gathering at the mela here today, said, "No one is above the party and strict disciplinary action will be initiated against the rebel Akali leaders." Badal said, "We do not need any leader in the Akali Dal, who is working for his/her personal interests and is trying to blackmail the party leadership by issuing threats of contesting the election independently. A true Akali is the one, who works sincerely for the victory of the party.”
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Hoardings galore at govt offices
Jalandhar/Jagraon, Dec 27 There is a huge billboard atop the office of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), Regional Depot, on Shastri Market road. It has the pictures of CM Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and highlights the education reforms launched by the SAD-BJP government. A huge poster of AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Shastri Market road lauds the student scholarship scheme in the country. At the district administrative complex, posters of ministers can be seen at various offices, including one at the election cell. The poster of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon outside an Aadhar Kendra booth can’t be missed nor the Punjab Government calendar with pictures of works done by the CM inside the election cell itself. Show-cause notices have been issued to Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, Seth Sat Pal Mall, Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary and Gurvir Singh, alias Gury Bhattal, and Gagandeep Singh of the Indian National Congress and Rajinder Singh Rehal, BSP state president, for defacing public property. Meanwhile, despite the instructions of Jagraon SDM Isha Kalia on removing hoardings from public places, a large number of these can be seen at the Old Grain Market here, the Ludhiana-Moga highway and Raikot Road. A huge banner of the ruling coalition on a signboard on the Ludhiana-Moga highway is a major irritant for commuters. Kalia, said: “I have issued strict instructions to remove all hoardings at public places and a large number of these have already been removed.” Meanwhile, a show-cause notice was issued to SAD leader BS Ramoowalia for using a red beacon atop his car.
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18 officers shifted on EC’s orders Chandigarh, December 27 Those transferred included the SSPs of Patiala, Barnala, Moga, Mansa and Muktsar, and the SP (HQ), Patiala, (all IPS officers). They are: Gurpreet Gill, Surjit Singh, Snehdeep Sharma, SS Chahal, Inder Mohan Singh and Gurdeep Singh Pannu. Harsh Bansal has been posted SSP, Muktsar; Dhanpreet Kaur, SSP, Barnala; Dinesh Partap Singh, SSP, Patiala; Inderbir Singh, SSP, Moga; and Pradeep Kumar Yadav, SSP, Mansa. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu said CS Talwar had been posted DC, Mansa; B Purusharth, DC, Moga; V Zade, DC, Barnala and Paramjit Singh, DC, Kapurthala. Gautam Singhal has been posted SP (HQ), Patiala; and Parveen Kumar, ADC (Development), Amritsar, with immediate effect. PS Shergill has been posted Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Amritsar; GS Ghuman, SDM, Abohar; Harjit Singh Khandola, DTO, Muktsar; Amandeep Kaur, Assistant Commissioner (General), Muktsar; Uma Shankar, SDM, Dasuya; Parminder Pal Singh, SDM, Sardulgarh; Hargunjeet Kaur, SDM, Baghapurana and Daljit Kaur, SDM, Kotkapura.
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Sukhbir to contest from Jalalabad
Besides Sukhbir, the SAD second list of candidates -- the first with 48 nominees was released last week - has 14 other names. Also, the SAD has taken the lead over its arch rival the Congress, which was yet to announce candidates. The party stuck to form while deciding to field Sukhbir Badal from Jalalabad as doing otherwise would have been construed as a sign of weakness. This was the same logic whereby the party decided to field Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from Lambi. Sukhbir had won the Jalalabad constituency in a byelection in 2008 by a massive margin of 80,000 votes. The second list also announced the candidature of former Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) chief Balwant Singh Ramoowalia from Mohali. The SAD-BJP government had nursed this seat during the last five years and there was intense speculation that a family member could be fielded from here. Among other notable candidates is former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal from Payal (Reserved) constituency. With today’s exercise, said sources, the SAD had announced its candidates for various seats that had been reserved post-delimitation. The party now has eight women candidates in the fray. The two lists include 12 new faces. Former SGPC president Jagdev Singh Talwandi’s son Ranjit Singh Talwandi has been given the Khanna seat after the family seat of Raikot was reserved. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, who used to fight from Khanna earlier, has been given the Raikot seat. In case of Nihalsinghwala (reserved) constituency, the party has changed its candidate Jarnail Singh Rama. The seat has now been given to Rajwinder Kaur, who is the daughter of former legislator Zora Singh Baghike. Similarly, former minister Satwant Kaur Sandhu’s daughter-in-law Jagmeet Kaur Sandhu has been given the Chamkaur Sahib (reserved) seat. Balbir Singh Ghunas has been shifted from Bhadaur to Dirba (reserved), Pawan Teenu had been nominated from Adampur (reserved) seat despite opposition from the Akali cadre and Surinder Singh Bhullehwalrathan has been given the Garhshankar seat, which was earlier fought by the BJP. The Balluana (reserved) seat goes to Gurtej Singh Ghudiana, Mehalkalan (reserved) to Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Dhuri to Gobind Singh Longowal, Bhucho Mandi (reserved) to Pritam Singh Kotbhai and Amargarh to Iqbal Singh
Jhunda.
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Unaccounted cash totalling Rs 2.5 crore forfeited
Chandigarh, December 27 The total recovery during the past two days has exceeded Rs 3 crore. Mandeep Sidhu, Khanna SSP, said Rs 30 lakh was confiscated from a car at a barricade in Khanna. The occupants travelling from Mohali to Faridkot, ostensibly to buy property, were unconvincing about the cash source. The rest of the money was recovered from Payal, Khanna and Samrala. Sidhu said Income Tax officials were now determining if the money was accounted for and if it was to be used for the elections. A sum of Rs 32.95 was confiscated in Patiala, Rs 47.50 in Mohali, Rs 9.5 lakh in Barnala, Rs 4.5 lakh in Hoshiarpur and Rs 6.4 lakh in Zirakpur. Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer, said 127 bottles of liquor and six bags of poppy husk had been seized in Hoshiarpur and
Jalandhar.
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harsimrat case
Chandigarh, December 27 The commission had sought a report into allegations that Harsimrat had asked students to urge their parents to vote for the Akalis while speaking at a school function in Datewas village in
Mansa. In his detailed inquiry report to the commission today, Ladhar has reportedly said that while no official has confirmed the allegations, certain newpaper clippings and video clips on the internet had quoted Harsimrat addressing the
schoolchildren. Ladhar said he had submitted his report to the Chief Electoral Officer but refused to give any details. “The Election Commission will decide the next course of action. I was asked to submit a report and I have done so”. Yesterday, the commission had sought a report from Mansa DC Ravinder Singh on the issue. In his first report to the EC, the latter had stated that none of the officials present had heard Harsimrat’s speech as they were “pre-occupied.” Additional CEO Usha Sharma said it was incredible that none of the officials had paid attention to the MP’s speech. “It is either callousness or sheer bias,” she observed.
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BKI terrorists planned to target me, claims realtor
Moga, December 27 Talking to The Tribune at Moga, he claimed that one of the terrorists was arrested by the police from near his Delhi residence. Showing a copy of the threat letter sent to him by the BKI from Ferozepur on December 8 through registered post, Chadda said that he had written to the Chief Minister and Home Secretary, demanding security and a probe into the threat letter received by him. He alleged the terrorists had demanded a sum of Rs 50 lakh from him, which he had declined to pay. “I fear that the BKI terrorist arrested by the Delhi police from near my residence might have planned to target me,” he maintained. Both the terrorists have been remanded to police custody till January 2, 2012, by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav. Jaswinder was reportedly arrested from Ferozepur while Saravpreet was apprehended from North-West Delhi near Chadda’s residence. A local police officer said they were not aware of the threat letter received by Chadda. However, sources in the state intelligence agency revealed that Chadda had demanded security from the state government a few weeks back.
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VIP kids in queue for Cong ticket
Chandigarh, December 27 While Vikramjit, son of former minister Santokh Chaudhary, has applied for the Adampur seat, Sukhpal Bhullar, son of former minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar, has applied for the Tarn Taran seat . Gurvir Bhattal, son of Dhanaula legislator Kuldeep Bhattal, has applied for the Sunam seat. Others in the ticket race are lone Scheduled Caste nominee Poonam Kangra, who has applied for the party ticket from Dirba, and Nawanshahr district president Harvinder Singh Lucky, who has applied for the Balachaur seat. Members of the former youth body have also applied for the ticket, among them are Raja Warring, who is a candidate from Gidderbaha, and Sukhwinder Singh Danny, a candidate from Attari. Vikramjit Chaudhary, who was installed Youth Congress president in the party office here, claims he has applied for the party ticket on merit. He says he has been working in Adampur for several years now and has been instrumental in getting identity cards made for the poor under the MNREGA programme. Vikramjit also claims that party general secretary Rahul Gandhi had made it clear during the Yuva Drishti programme in 2008 that those working in the organizational structure (YC) would be allotted for party ticket, irrespective of whether they were relatives of senior leaders or not. “We are asking for the party ticket on merit”, he says. Gurvir Bhattal says most of the youth candidates have applied from constituencies where the Congress is undecided on a candidate or where the party has not fared well in the past few elections. This is in line with the Congress thinking of fielding young activists from seats where the party has lost successively. Sources say though the projected youth quota was 20 seats, at least seven YC candidates could be allotted the party ticket. The Youth Congress will recommend the names to Rahul Gandhi following which the AICC would discuss their suitability with the Pradesh Congress Committee. The PCC has conducted a survey and is expected to recommend its own list to the AICC.
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No looking back, says Manpreet
Chandigarh, December 27 “Parkash Singh is out of step with the times. Bereft of fresh ideas, he should leave the political arena to the younger lot,” Manpreet said. Rejecting the CM’s call to return to the party fold, Manpreet said: “ The moment I walked out of the Cabinet last year, I realised that the split with my paternal uncle (Parkash Singh Badal) was for ever. There is no question of returning to the SAD. My kith and kin are reconciled with the fact that the two families will never be one.” “I do politics, not trade in politics. My approach is immensely different from that of the CM and his associates. They are for status quo whereas I am fighting for change. I want to change the way Punjab is to be governed,” said a rather pensive Manpreet, regretting that he had not parted ways with his uncle amicably. But he blamed the CM and the Deputy CM for the same, saying they began registering cases against his aides, friends and supporters.
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Development is key issue here
Wife of former PCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, Harbans Kaur is the front- runner for the Congress ticket from this constituency. Nirmal Singh (SAD) and former MP Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal are also in the ticket race. The family of former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal has also expressed eagerness to contest the seat. Promises: This newly carved out constituency lags behind in development. Limited job opportunities has spelt doom for the residents of Bassi Pathana, who have to move out to nearby Sirhind, Mohali, Chandigarh and Khanna for greener pastures. Most of the villages earlier in Sirhind and Kharar are now in this constituency. Vox Populi: “We have just one demand, better infrastructure”, says septuagenarian Santokh Singh. “There are neither roads that are motorable the year round, nor clean drinking water. There is no industry to provide jobs to the youth,” says Gurpreet Singh, who owns a shop in Mohali. The Congress has numerous contenders, including Harbans Kaur Dullo, lawyer Harnek Diwana, Ranjit Singh Tarkhanmajra and Ram Lal Mal. Justice Nirmal Singh is the key aspirant for the Akali ticket apart from former MP Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal. The latter reportedly has the backing of the SAD high command but Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is keeping his cards close to his chest, lest it triggers infighting in the local rank and file. Finding a candidate that is acceptable to all Akali factions will be a tough task for the party. BSP’s Amaranth and PPP’s Kuldip Sahota and Kamaljit Kaur Dumna are also in fray for the party ticket.
— TNS
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Kharar seat likely to see clash of titans
This constituency, predominantly carved out of the erstwhile Morinda constituency, is likely to witness a clash of titans. More than 100 villages in Morinda constituency, including those in the Kandi area to the north of Chandigarh, Kurali and Kharar, now form part of the Kharar Vidhan Sabha seat.
Wadali is close to the SAD leadership and has no opposition from within the party. The sizeable SC/BC and Gujjar vote bank being targeted by the BSP may prove a headache for him. Promises: Sewerage in Kharar and Kurali towns and roads and bridges have been laid in kandi area starting from Nayagoan to Kurali. But there is resentment among the people against the sitting MLA for ignoring basic issues like regular bus service and shortage of schoolteachers. Wadali, they say, has failed to get a development package for the Kandi area and is seen as having been more active in and around Morinda. There is resentment among the villagers regarding their ancestral land in the Jyanti Majri and Siswan forest belt being targeted by the land mafia and the MLA doing little about it. Instead, the land and sand mining mafia is being patronised by certain Akali leaders, allege a number of villages. VOX POPULI: Opposition leaders claim that most development projects in the area haves been carried out with Central funds. The quality of works being carried out in Kurali and Kharar towns from Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) funds is being questioned. Residents in rural areas say that proper drinking water remains a distant dream. LOOKING BACK: In the past four assembly elections, the erstwhile Morinda seat (now Kharar) has seen the Congress and the Akalis coming to power alternately. In 1992, Harnek Singh Gharuan won against BSP’s Man Singh. In 1997, Ravi Inder Singh of the SAD won against Congress candidate Jagmohan Singh Kang. In 2002, Kang won against Wadali of the SAD and in 2007 Wadali defeated Kang. — TNS
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Ringing but no response
Muktsar: Following directions from the EC, District Electoral Officer Arshdeep Singh on December 25 established a control room at the district administration complex and sought poll-related complaints at phone number 01633-264751. When called at, there was no reply from the other end. After repeated attempts, an attendant did receive the call but only to reply: “The process to assign duties is underway… so the functioning has been affected.” When contacted, Arshdeep assured, “I will personally monitor the functioning of the control room. We will soon have a toll-free number as well.” — Archit Watts SAD candidate
issued notice Faridkot: SAD candidate from Faridkot Deep Malhotra was slapped a show-cause notice by the District Electoral Officer (DEP) for airing an advertisement that violated the poll code. Malhotra, it is learnt, gave an ad on a local cable channel wherein he promised a set of 45 utensils to the poor girls at the time of their marriage. DEO Ravi Bhagat said giving such an advertisement to entice the voters without prior permission from the Election Commission was a violation of the Representative of People Act. Two week ago when the elections had not been announced, Malhotra, apparently to grab voters’ attention, put up big hoardings in rural and urban areas of the constituency offering utensils to the needy girls as “dowry” in the memory of his late father, Om Parkash Malhotra. — Balwant
Garg Ramoowalia in trouble Mohali:The District Election Officer-cum-DC Varun Roozam today issued a notice to Balwant Singh Ramoowlia, SAD candidate from the Mohali constituency. The former chief of the Lok Bhalai party, who was recently inducted into the SAD, had come to the Singh Saheedan Gurdwara, Sohana, yesterday in a white ambassador car with a red beacon. Apart from asking Ramoowalia to explain his position as the use of read beacon is violation of the model code of conduct, the District Election Officer has sought a report from the returning officer of the Mohali constituency. --TNS Ex-MLA Sathi in ticket race Moga: Riding on the legacy of his father the late Sathi Roop Lal who had a clean image, former MLA Vijay Sathi has staked claim for the Congress ticket from Moga assembly constituency. Considered close to the party’s central working committee member Jagmeet Brar, Sathi has been vying for the ticket with sitting Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain who, as per the former, had a “shady background” with a few cases pending against him. Sathi claims he represented Baghapurana constituency from 1992 to 1997 and 45 villages of the constituency had been shifted to Moga segment post-delimitation, “which made him a stronger candidate”. However, Jain projects himself as the “strongest” candidate. He defeated Akali stalwart Jathedar Tota Singh in 2007 elections and got a lead of 7,000 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections for the party from this constituency.
— Kulwinder Sandhu
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Sharjah murder case
Chandigarh, December 27 Among the 17 youths, 16 are from Punjab and one is from Haryana. These youths were to be released from the Sharjah prison in September this year, but two other surviving victims in the case in which Mishri Khan of Pakistan was murdered, got a restraint order passed to terminate their release. They pleaded that under "Diya", the families of the convicts had reached a settlement with the family of Mishri Khan, while no financial compensation was extended to them. Since the Sharjah Appeal Court had accepted the settlement reached between families of 17 Indians and the family of Mishri Khan, it waived off the death sentence and ordered the youths to undergo two years imprisonment. Since they had already spent more than three years in the jail, they were on the verge of release from the Sharjah jail that two other survivors - Mushtaq Mohammed and Shoaib - went for special appeal and got their release stalled at the last moment. While the Indian youths reiterated that though they were 'innocent', but they agreed to pay the blood money to the family of Mishri Khan, they would not pay any compensation either to Mushtaq Mohammed or Shoaib, who had during the trial maintained that they could not recognise any of their assailants. In the meantime, the prosecution moved a special petition to get the amended judgment of the Appeal Court ratified by the UAE Supreme Court. As the petition came up before the Supreme Court for amendment in the judgment, all the Indian youths were taken from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi and produced before a jury. The jury asked all 17 Indian boys whether they confessed to their crime. When they maintained their innocence, the jury wanted to know what they expected from it. The youths asked for mercy and their immediate deportation to their home country. Dubai-based businessman SP Singh Oberoi, who had been following the case from day one, told The Tribune over the telephone that the Supreme Court Jury not only endorsed the death sentence waiver, but also remanded the case back to Sharjah Appeal Court to pass revised sentence for bootlegging. "Once the case is put up before the Sharjah Appeal Court, we are hopeful that even after the revised sentence for bootlegging, all the 17 Indian youths would be free birds early next year," said
Oberoi.
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Istri Manch activists hold dharna at singer’s house
Ludhiana, December 27 Women activists, who came from Jalandhar, Nawanshehar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Sangrur, also raised slogans against lyricists and singers of vulgar songs. At the time of protest, Diljit was not present in his house. His cousin Kuldeep Singh said that Diljit was in Mumbai and would be back in a couple of days. Amandip Kaur, a woman activist from Patiala, said, "We conducted a survey in four districts of Punjab. We found that most of the women in rural areas considered Daljit as the most vulgar Punjabi singer. Then we decided to hold a dharna in front of his house and subsequently against all other vulgar singers." "Buying an audio CD is your choice. But they advertise their songs on TV channels with semi-nude videos, which is not acceptable to Punjabis. These songs encourage crime against women. Even our youths are distracted", said Gurbaksh Kaur Sanga, another activist. Many hit songs of Diljit like "Hoya kee je nachdi de baahn farh lai" and "Lak 28 kuri da, 47 weight kuri da" were also objected by the activists. A promo of "15 Saal ton ghatt kudiye" song was telecasted on television some days back. People posted angry comments on You Tube and Facebook. Diljit tried to justify the lyrics but failed to satisfy the music lovers. Kuldeep said that Diljit had already apologised for the song and promised not to repeat such songs again. He would tender an apology publicly in a few days by holding a press conference, he added.
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Baru Sahib students enthral audience
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 27 There was a huge rush in the pandal of the Trust as devotees showed keen interest in the audiovisuals on the lives of four Sahibjadas of Guru Gobind Singhji, Guru Nanak Devji and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Students also excelled in singing "dhadhi wars", debate on principles of Sikhism and how a true Sikh should live and behave. The Trust has also set up a photo exhibition on the lives and sacrifices of Sahibjadas and Guru Gobind Singhji. Jaibinder Singh, director of the Trust's schools, said, "The Trust has been organising such events at the Jor Mela just to tell the devotees that our children are our future and by seeing these youngsters in true Sikh attire, they should get encouraged to make their children like them." — OC
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Dance her tool to fight social ills
Patiala, December 27 In the city to collect some information on the traditional ways of celebrating Lohri, Sumeet, while talking to The Tribune, says she feel privileged working for the girls who were killed before they were born and those who have to bear the brunt of either giving dowry or facing humiliation at the hands of her-in-laws. Throwing light on the current situation in Canada, she says, "The practice of dowry is not only prevalent in India, but in Canada as well. It's just that people do it in the name of age-old tradition and it is the only opportunity to give something to their girls. The fact is that the families are under obligatory social pressure to give dowry, even if it means exhausting all their savings just to ensure that their daughter is well received in the new family. Similarly our country faces great threat due to the dwindling male-female ratio in areas where Asian population stays. The ratio is around 1000:864, which in itself speaks a lot. The only difference is that they cannot abort the girl child there and therefore conveniently travel to India or their respective countries and get the abortion done." About her initiative, she said she formed a dance group 'Nach Baliye' with 6 girls who highlight the plight of society through their dance performances. She informed, "We have taken an initiative of celebrating Lohri Dhiaan Di-- Lohri for Her, a cultural bonanza in which we have invited large number of families where girl-child were born. And would be honouring them. We have carrying out this endeavour with the help of various organisations, including 'Because I am a girl child', 'Save The Girl Child', South Asian Women Alliance and Save Our Food Bank.' When questioned whether her efforts bore fruit, she said that more than 3,000 students in Canada had already registered under their initiative and pledged not to indulge in the practice of female foeticide and dowry. "We are working really hard and hope the message gets across not just in Canada but India as well," added
Sumeet.
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Varsity study on fingerprints selected in US
Patiala, December 27 Keeping this problem in mind, Punjabi University Prof Dr Mukesh Kumar Thakar along with Haroon Naeem Khan from the Department of Forensic Science, carried out a study to find out ways in which these partial or smudged prints could be used for investigations. Dr Thapak informed that in their study, an attempt has been made to collect 100 samples of partial, smudged or fragmentary fingerprints along with some complete prints from 53 males and 47 females on different types of papers. He said, "As the number of ridges is very less in number in partial, smudged and fragmentary fingerprints, initially first, second and then third level characteristics (Edgeoscopy and Poroscopy) are marked at their correlative position to prove identity. After this a further attempt is made to measure the distance between them." He said, "The study has been selected for presentation at the scientific meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science and this is for the first time that university's Forensic Science Department's study has been selected by them."
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The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will contest the elections on its Panthic agenda, targeting the urban and rural voters alike while focusing on development.
This Vidhan Sabha saw the rise of Sukhbir Singh Badal’s political fortune. The three-time MP was elected president of SAD on February 1, 2008. At age 45, he replaced his father Parkash Singh Badal, who was elevated as patron of the party. However, talk of his replacing his father as CM did not materialise. Anyhow, he was sworn in as deputy chief minister. As he could not get elected as legislator within six months, he had to resign, and contested the Jalalabad byelection to be sworn in again on August 10, 2009. His priorities were governance reforms and the Right to Services Act.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, even if not known for memorable speeches, had a way of using earthy humour and delivering just the right anecdotes to hit Opposition MLAs where it hurt. He was never perturbed, no matter what the challenge may have been in the House, and was known to prepare for days in advance for every session. After facing much harassment over disproportionate assets cases against him, he was happy to announce in 2010 that he had been found innocent in court.
In October 2010, Manpreet Singh Badal made strong statements on the state’s finances. He said there was a debt of over Rs 71,000 crore. He claimed the Centre was willing to bail out Punjab, provided it agreed to a road map that involved cutting back certain subsidies. The government didn’t agree, stands hardened, and Manpreet was removed as Finance Minister and from SAD. He, however, claimed he had resigned from the party. He resigned from the House six months later and launched his People’s Party of Punjab.
During the initial days, Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon was much perturbed over news reports related to proceedings of the House. He even curtailed the entry of journalists into the Press Gallery. It was only after journalists staged a dharna outside the Vidhan Sabha, and were joined by Congress legislators, did the Speaker relent and allowed free access. Kahlon also made a move through a letter suggesting the House used its authority to withdraw ongoing cases against sitting MLAs, including him. This was scuttled by the Congress. Party MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira even invited a privilege notice in the process.
Relations between the ruling alliance and the Opposition started getting fouled in about a year. Things got bad within the Congress too. Capt Amarinder Singh and his supporters, who alleged vendetta against Congress workers by the government, objected to what they saw as Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s “proximity” to the government. Bhattal, who was Leader of the Opposition, resigned as state party president. To checkmate Amarinder’s rise, the government moved a proposal in the House to probe his role in the “Amritsar Improvement Trust scam”. On the report of a House panel, Amarinder was expelled on September 10, 2008. He, however, was returned as a member on Supreme Court orders on April 26, 2010.
With the Congress the only Opposition party, the SAD-BJP alliance had a happy start in the House. In fact, the goings were so smooth, it was difficult to tell between Treasury and Opposition benches. The two sides even decided to take the bonhomie outside the confines of the Le Corbusier-designed House. For the first time in history, the two sides played a friendly cricket match at PCA Stadium, Mohali, on March 13, 2008. The ruling alliance beat the Congress by eight wickets!
During the period Capt Amarinder Singh was suspended from the House and senior Congress leaders laid low, the vacuum gave opportunity to younger party leaders to have their voice heard. Congress MLAs such as Sukhpal Singh Khaira (pic, above left), Jassi Khangura (pic, middle), Ajit Inder Mofar, Raninder Singh Nabha, Sunil Jakhar and Ripjit Singh Brar, never let an opportunity pass in taking on the SAD-BJP alliance. Among the issues they raised were sale of government land to private parties, favours granted to PIMS, seed scam, kerosene scam, NRI problems, shortage of school teachers, doctors and police highhandedness. But largely, the Opposition did not do its homework, and relied mostly on newspaper reports. Young Akali leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia (pic, right), brother-in-law of Sukhbir Singh Badal, came to prominence for stepping down as minister to make way for Sukhbir to be sworn in as deputy chief minister, as the seats in the Cabinet are limited.
Posters and hoardings of all the parties-SAD, BJP, Congress, BSP and PPP-continue to be seen at various intersections. The election authorities today claimed to have removed 2,000 hoardings, 3,000 banners and 5,000 buntings so far. While there is a long strip of buntings at the main Model Town market, posters of various parties can be seen at the Khalsa College railway overbridge and the BMC Chowk flyover. 
Chandigarh, December 27
Gidderbaha, December 27
The newly carved out constituency of Bassi Pathana (reserved) will be a litmus test for candidates of both the major political parties in the state. The constituency, that lags behind in development, has over 40 per cent SC and ST voters and 25 per cent Jat Sikh voters. Carved out of three blocks, Khamano, Bassi Pathana and Khera, and seven constituencies, Bassi Pathana consists of villages that were earlier part of the Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib, Samrala, Khanna, Sirhind, Kharar and Banur constituencies.
It will be a litmus test for sitting Akali MLA Ujagar Singh Wadali who is likely to face former Congress minister Jagmohan Singh Kang in the coming elections. Kang has been contesting from here in the past three elections.