B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

No grudge against Badal saheb, says Gurdas
Lal Bai (Lambi), Dec 29
Though the estranged Badal brothers, Parkash Singh Badal and Gurdas Singh Badal, have crossed swords for the coming Assembly elections, the younger one still has a soft corner for his elder brother. However, he never shies away from expressing his grudge against his nephew Sukhbir Badal.

Gurdas Badal, speaks at a meeting, while his grandson Arjun Singh looks at him, while canvassing for the coming Assembly polls at the Lal Bai village in Lambi constituency on Thursday. Photo by writer

Rai Sikhs demand their ‘share’ in allocation of tickets
Ferozepur, December 29
As the state gears up for the assembly elections, the Rai Sikhs known as the ‘tigers’ of the border belt, who enjoy a considerable presence in more than a dozen assembly segments in the state, have started demanding their ‘share’ as far the allocation of tickets by various parties is concerned.

Arora community cavalcade knocks at BJP high command’s doors
Abohar, December 29
Noticing that the BJP high command was seriously thinking of giving yet another chance to the former legislator Dr Ram Kumar Goyal to contest the Vidhan Sabha election from the Abohar segment, a cavalcade of scores of workers left for New Delhi last night to oppose the move.

Rs 16 lakh unaccounted for money recovered in Faridkot...
Faridkot, December 29
To check the use of unaccounted money and liquor by various political parties and their supporters, while the police have tightened the noose by setting up nakas on all entry and exit points of the towns on the directions of the election commission, the step is taking the shape of harassment. So, the residents are fretting over the problem.

...Rs 9 lakh in F’pur
Ferozepur, December 29
Ahead of the assembly polls, the Ferozepur police has seized unaccounted money to the tune of Rs 9 lakh. A large amount of drugs and other contraband has also been confiscated. SSP Hardyal Singh Mann said, “On Wednesday, the police had seized a cash of Rs 3.5 lakh from the possession of Satpal Singh, Raj Singh and Harish Chander in Zira while today another seizure of Rs 5.5 lakh was made.”

23 boxes of illegal liquor seized
Bathinda, December 29
Bathinda police claimed to seize 23 cartons of illegal liquor from the possession of a resident here. The accused, Mukesh Kumar, is a resident of Mata Rani Wali Gali.

Foundation for main power house of TSPL completed
Mansa, December 29
The foundation for the main Power House or Turbine Generator of Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) thermal power project has been completed within the stipulated time period.

Bathinda airport complex by June next 
Abohar, December 29
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) hopes to get the construction of the new airport buildings at Bathinda and Bikaner completed by June next year.

No grudge against Badal saheb, says Gurdas
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lal Bai (Lambi), Dec 29
Though the estranged Badal brothers, Parkash Singh Badal and Gurdas Singh Badal, have crossed swords for the coming Assembly elections, the younger one still has a soft corner for his elder brother. However, he never shies away from expressing his grudge against his nephew Sukhbir Badal.

While addressing the public during canvassing in the Lambi constituency, he said, "I have no grudge against Badal sahib. Sukhbir is now out of his control and Badal sahib has to act according to him."

Gurdas Badal appealed to the masses to vote for him in the coming polls saying, "We brothers used to love each other just like all brothers in the world. But Sukhbir in the 'untimely hurry to get the chief ministership', has separated us. Sukhbir is actually working as the present chief minister and also remained busy in involving our workers in fake criminal cases."

About the fate of the assembly elections, where their cousin Mahesh Inder Singh Badal of the Congress is also expected to contest as a candidate, he said, "If I win, I have nothing to cheer and if lose, will have no gloom."

"I was not willing to contest the elections against Badal sahib. However, the situation is such. But one thing is sure, that I will make a big dent in the vote bank of the Sukhbir-led Akali Dal," he said.

Gurdas claims he will begin overall development of the area if he gets the mandate.

Rai Sikhs demand their ‘share’ in allocation of tickets
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, December 29
As the state gears up for the assembly elections, the Rai Sikhs known as the ‘tigers’ of the border belt, who enjoy a considerable presence in more than a dozen assembly segments in the state, have started demanding their ‘share’ as far the allocation of tickets by various parties is concerned.

Several Rai Sikh leaders have already become active ahead of the polls, galvanizing support within their community to project themselves as the genuine contenders for these tickets.

Hansa Singh, president, Rai Sikh Samaj Sudhar, Punjab, said that Rai Sikhs have over 11 lakh voters in the state. Hence, they deserve due recognition by various political parties.

Hansa said that the party which will give them maximum representation as far as allocation of tickets in concerned would get the support of the Rai Sikh community.

Earlier, the PPCC Chief Capt Amarinder Singh, during the ‘Punjab Bachao’ rally in Guruharsahai last month, had announced that a Rai Sikh would be given the party ticket from one of the assembly segments. However, he did not specify the constituency, which triggered speculations amidst the leaders who are seemingly anxious over the choice of assembly segment being offered by the Congress.

Apart from Fazilka which has around 65,000 Rai Sikh votes, the community enjoys formidable presence in Guruharsahai which has 45,000 votes besides Ferozepur (Rural) and Jalalabad assembly segments with around 25,000 and 55,000 Rai Sikh votes, respectively.

After the delimitation, large chunk of Rai Sikh votes were transferred from Jalalabad to Fazilka from where two prominent Rai Sikh leaders have already announced their candidature.

Two-time MP from Ferozepur, Mohan Singh Phalianwala, is contesting on BSP ticket where as ex-MLA Mehtaab Singh is likely to contest from PPP's side.

Rai Sikhs have also sizeable presence in Ferozepur (Urban), Budhlada, Zira, Jagraon, Ajnala, Sultanpur Lodhi besides some other constituencies.

Hardeep Singh, president All India Rai Sikh Shiromani Panchayat, said that they were conducting a survey to ascertain which seats would be most suitable for their candidates, following which the matter will be taken up with various parties for allocation of the ticket.

About Amarinder Singh's announcement regarding berth for Rai Sikhs, former minister Hans Raj Jossan said that though the party has not made up its mind on particular seat, a Rai Sikh candidate might be adjusted either from Ferozepur (Rural) or Balluana as these were the two reserved seats in the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency.

Prominent Rai Sikh leader Bagicha Singh (member, Zila Parishad) said that considering the large number of voters which they represent, Rai Sikhs should be given at least two seats in this area, adding that they wanted to contest both from Fazilka and Ferozepur (Rural) segments.

While the Congress has announced at least one berth for Rai Sikhs, the SAD ( Badal) is also likely to adjust them from one of the assembly segments.

Already, Akali MP from Ferozepur Sher Singh Ghubaya, who represents the Rai Sikh community, banking on their overwhelming support, had won the parliamentary election with a thumping majority defeating the Congress stalwart Jagmeet Singh Brar.

Speculations are rife that the SAD might adjust Ghubaya's wife Krishna Rani from one of the segments in Ferozepur.

Arora community cavalcade knocks at BJP high command’s doors
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, December 29
Noticing that the BJP high command was seriously thinking of giving yet another chance to the former legislator Dr Ram Kumar Goyal to contest the Vidhan Sabha election from the Abohar segment, a cavalcade of scores of workers left for New Delhi last night to oppose the move.

Three aspirants belonging to the Arora community, including district president Arun Narang, Arorvansh Sabha president Mohinder Bathla and leading liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda, were also in the fray. Before leaving, Mohinder Bathla reportedly said that the high command should not try to ignore the community that commands the support of more than 50,000 voters here. The community can turn the tables in neighbouring Fazilka as well, he warned.

Representatives of various NGOs who accompanied these aspirants will try to convey to the saffron party high command that Dr Goyal had lost twice badly while facing Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar in the 2002 and 2007 elections.

Rs 16 lakh unaccounted for money recovered in Faridkot...
Show-cause notice to former agri minister
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, December 29
To check the use of unaccounted money and liquor by various political parties and their supporters, while the police have tightened the noose by setting up nakas on all entry and exit points of the towns on the directions of the election commission, the step is taking the shape of harassment. So, the residents are fretting over the problem.

In Faridkot, where the police has set up two dozen nakas at various points for inspection of all vehicles to check the unaccounted money or the liquor, the residents who were facing the police at nakas, alleged that they were being harassed because of the checking of documents of vehicles and driving licences. Many of these vehicle owners were challaned for not wearing helmets, seat belts and lacking pollution certificates.

While the police officials say that besides checking unaccounted money and liquor, they are acting toughly against violators of the traffic rules, it is taking the shape of harassment.

During these inspections, the Faridkot police today recovered Rs 16 lakh unaccounted money from two persons in Faridkot towns.

During the inspection of vehicles in Faridkot, the police recovered unaccounted Rs 4 lakh from a resident of Ratti Rori but as the person in possession of the money failed to satisfy the police about the sources, so in the presence of a duty magistrate, the police video-graphed the recovery of the money.

In another recovery of unaccounted money on Kotkapura road, Rs 12 lakh was recovered from a car. As the car driver, a resident of Bajakhana, failed to satisfy the police officials at the naka about the source of money, it was confiscated in the presence of a duty magistrate.

Yesterday the Faridkot police had recovered unaccounted Rs 8.30 lakh from two persons in Jaitu town.

Keeping a close vigil on the paid news in newspapers and electronic media, the Faridkot District Electorate Office (DEO) today issued a show-cause notice to former agriculture minister and SAD(B) Jaitu candidate, Gurdev Singh Badal.

The notice was issued after a news item in a vernacular media today in which Gurdev Badal was reported inaugurating many reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plants in the Jaitu area.

...Rs 9 lakh in F’pur
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, December 29
Ahead of the assembly polls, the Ferozepur police has seized unaccounted money to the tune of Rs 9 lakh. A large amount of drugs and other contraband has also been confiscated. SSP Hardyal Singh Mann said, “On Wednesday, the police had seized a cash of Rs 3.5 lakh from the possession of Satpal Singh, Raj Singh and Harish Chander in Zira while today another seizure of Rs 5.5 lakh was made.”

He added that the I-T department was looking into the source of the money to ascertain the facts including its purpose and origin. SSP said the amount has been handed over to the I-T officials.

The SSP cautioned that people should desist from carrying cash and if at all they carry the money, proper documents regarding its source and purpose should be available with them.

About the recovery of drugs and contraband, the SSP said the police has launched a massive drive against drug peddlers and anti-social elements in the area, following which, 27 gram smack, 23 gram heroin, 47.5 kilograms poppy husk besides 32,810 capsules have been recovered. “A total of 22 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act during the last two months and 24 persons have been arrested in this connection so far.”

“We have constituted special teams to raid the suspected hideouts of the drug peddlers in the area,” Mann said, adding that 26 cases have also been registered under the Excise Act.

While exhorting the fire-arms licence holders to deposit their weapons at the nearest police stations as per the directions of the Election Commission, the Ferozepur SSP said that till date, 3,578 weapons have been deposited with the police stations and various arms dealer in the district so far.

23 boxes of illegal liquor seized
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 29
Bathinda police claimed to seize 23 cartons of illegal liquor from the possession of a resident here. The accused, Mukesh Kumar, is a resident of Mata Rani Wali Gali.

Investigating officer, Raghubir Singh, said that the accused was carrying the liquor in a jeep and the vehicle was stopped during a naka near Multania Bridge. The person carrying the liquor in his vehicle failed to produce any documents pertaining to the liquor boxes. The IO said that 15 boxes carried beer and 8 were of different brands of whisky.

Excise officials have been informed about the matter who have imposed a fine on the accused.

Meanwhile, police also seized Rs 23 lakhs from a resident during a special checking. The money was, however, returned after the person produced the valid documents pertaining to the money.

Foundation for main power house of TSPL completed

Mansa, December 29
The foundation for the main Power House or Turbine Generator of Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) thermal power project has been completed within the stipulated time period.

In a press release issued by TSPL, it was stated that the setting up of the ceiling girder of the boiler 1 has also been achieved before schedule.

The first unit of the Rs 10,000 crore project will be commissioned in the third quarter of 2012.The release stated that 700 acres of land has been earmarked for the development of greenbelt having around 4 lakh trees of local species.

On successful commissioning of the project, the overall availability of power in Punjab will be enhanced, reducing the present shortage. — TNS

Bathinda airport complex by June next 
Our Correspondent

Abohar, December 29
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) hopes to get the construction of the new airport buildings at Bathinda and Bikaner completed by June next year.

Regional executive director Anuj Aggarwal said during a visit to his native town Sriganganagar that work at Bikaner has gained momentum as the technical problem in raising the level of building there has been resolved by now.

Former Aviation Minister Praful Patel had accepted the requests for the airports made by leading traders of the region settled in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Guwahati.