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Campaigning picks up pace
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Filing papers, a shoddy affair
Richie Rich and not-so-affluent in poll battle
Pargat keen to prove his mettle in political arena
Residents deposit 75 pc licenced arms
'Under qualified' for any job, but aspiring for polls
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Shopkeepers block Domoria ROB
Jalandhar, January 10 The overbridge became operational yesterday, but the joy of commuters was short-lived as they had to return due to a blockage by shopkeepers. Ever since it rained in the city four days ago, the Railway Road area - from Railway Road to Bhagat Singh Chowk - has been waterlogged and despite repeated requests by shopkeepers, the authorities have failed to get the area cleared. A sewerage blockage has reportedly caused the inundation. As customers are required to wade through several feet deep water, no one is turning up at the shops causing loss to shopkeepers in the area. Protesting against the district administration’s inaction, many shopkeepers also kept their shops closed in protest. Talking to The Tribune, Balbir Singh, a shopkeeper, said: “It’s been almost a week since the water has accumulated here. We can’t go to our shops and once in, we can’t step out. If a vehicle passes through the road, it splashes water inside our shops.” Sukhwinder Singh, another shopkeeper, who owns a shop on the road, said: “There is mud and sludge under the bridge. It has become a hub for addicts and criminals. These problems are all interlinked, but the administration has never paid a heed to it.” Members of the Railway Road Shopkeepers’ Association say: “We were told thought work to clear the blocked sewerage would begin on Monday. We kept quite yesterday hoping that work would begin, but when no one tuned up the entire day, we decide to hold a dharna today.” Talking about the upcoming elections, they said: “Now, when the candidates will come to us seeking votes, we will give them an earful. As long as they don’t address our problems, there will be no votes for them.” Pent-up ire Evan as shopkeepers vent their ire on the inundated road on Tuesday, their angst has been simmering for quite some time. It is a frequent problem here when it rains. Also, the rising drug and crime graph of the area has been bothering them. “There is a spate of robberies and thefts in our area. In the night when the entire ROB is lit, the area beneath it and that towards the railway station is plunged in darkness,” said a shopkeeper. |
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Campaigning picks up pace
Jalandhar, January 10 Candidates along with a battery of their supporters, family and friends are reaching out to the masses and are resorting door-to-door interactions, nukkad meetings and small-time rallies as a medium to seek votes. Even the cold wave has not deterred them to go out and interact with people. Even 'Facebook' is also helping a majority of candidates in interacting with voters of their respective constituencies. Apart from this, candidates are also largely dependent on their family members, who too are holding meetings with party supporters. Sitting MLA from the Jalandhar (Central) constituency Manoranjan Kalia said: “During this short period of canvassing, what matters is efficient time management. I am meeting voters as early as 7 am and continue the electioneering process till 1 am.” Kalia begins his day after paying obeisance at a local temple and is visiting one ward every day out of the total 20 wards. Besides, Kalia is actively interacting with voters and his supporters through Facebook, which he said was an added advantage to campaign in such a short period. When asked how he was coping with the bone-chilling cold, Kalia said in a lighter tone: “Political atmosphere is hot. So,
no question of feeling the cold.” Congress candidate from Jalandhar Cantonment Assembly seat Jagbir Singh Brar said although it was difficult to canvass in a bone-chilling cold these days, he said his electioneering begins at 6 am sharp every day. Brar, who was campaigning in Jandiala village of the cantonment this morning, is also taking the help of his wife Ravneet Kaur in canvassing. “Time constraint is indeed a problem in these elections, but cantonment has been my constituency earlier too. Every day, I meet the electorate and hold nukkad meetings to reach out to the masses. Even if time is less, I will manage the campaign perfectly as I know my constituency very well,” he added. There are some candidates who are braving the cold and starting the campaigning as early as 5 am. PPP candidate from Shahkot Dr Navjot Dahiya said that his campaigning continues till late night. “I have divided Shahkot into four zones and I am covering minimum of three villages in a day. I have already chalked out my strategy of electioneering as was suggested by PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal. Our agenda is 'clean governance' and I am informing people that a vote cast in my favour would be a vote for Manpreet Badal,” he added. On the other hand, hitting out hard at the SAD-BJP combine for claiming development on the grants received from the UPA government at the centre, Congress candidate from Jalandhar (North) Avtar Henry said: “I begin my day around 7 am daily and meet people during door to-door meetings. My agenda during the campaigning is to make the electorate aware of how the SAD-BJP government made a fool of voters by showing big dreams of development. This is the time for a reality check for voters. ” Henry highlighted that he had planned his campaign in such a way that even if there was less time for canvassing, he would reach out to the masses in every nook and corner of his constituency. |
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Filing papers, a shoddy affair
Jalandhar, January 10
From the first impression of the documents, it did not seem as if such important papers came from a candidate of a national party or from somebody who is contesting polls for the third time - last time from the Congress and before that from the BSP. The nomination papers are being made public by displaying them outside the offices of each RO for and even on web for inviting any public objections. When contacted, Kamboj said: “I did not want to spend time on filling forms. I am rather concentrating on my campaign. I just held a pen and filled it up. The columns of the form were so small that the figures did not fit into one block,” said Kamboj not realising that the form can again be composed on a computer with columns stretched as per need.
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Richie Rich and not-so-affluent in poll battle
Jalandhar, January 10 This seems to be the most evident conclusion after going through the copies of nomination papers filed by most candidates from the city. The BSP candidate from Jalandhar Cantonment has mentioned her educational qualification as primary from Government Primary School, Nangal Krar Khan. Her total assets, however, amount to Rs 3.12 crore, more than that of even former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia (his total assets were worth Rs 2.59 crore). Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and BJP candidate from Jalandhar (West) Bhagat Chunni Lal (81) is not a really better qualified man. He is just a matriculate from Khalsa High School, Syalkot, Pakistan. His 53-year old son Mahinder Pal, who is a covering candidate, is also a matriculate. The duo, however, have declared assets worth nearly Rs 4.5 crore. Bhagat senior has four commercial properties in his name, three in Basti Nau and one with one-fourth share in Sports and Surgical Complex. He owns three residential buildings - one at Bhargav Nagar, a plot at Kansal village in Ropar, and one-third share of a house in JP Nagar. Bhagat junior owns agricultural land at Noorpur village in Kapurthala, a plot at Wariana village and has one-fourth share in a shop on Kapurthala Road and a property in surgical complex. Chief Parliamentary Secretary and BJP candidate from Jalandhar (North) KD Bhandari owns nothing in his name. An agricultural property at Raowali village in Jalandhar and a 6 marla plot at Preet Nagar on Sodal Road are in the name of his wife Neena Bhandari.
Deepkamal Kaur Jalandhar, January 10 A BSP (A) Dharam Pal who filed his nomination for Jalandhar Cantonment constituency has just Rs 22,000 cash and a fixed deposit of Rs 2,000, but he still managed to bring along some 50 people in three to four goods carriers to the tehsil complex. The under-matric candidate did not even know as to who his RO was. He and his supporters first landed in the office of the RO, Kartarpur, who then had to guide him towards the office of the secretary, RTA-cum-RO, Jalandhar cantonment. BSP advertisement van The best show of the day in the city was that of Kamal Dev, a BSP candidate from Kartarpur, whose convoy included an advertisement van of the BSP in the shape of a blue elephant, the party symbol. As the candidate went on to file his nomination papers in the office of SDM-II, the audio system in the van remained on at Ladowali Road with party songs played for publicity purpose. The van had pictures of Bhagwan Valmiki, Guru Ravidass, Dr BR Ambedkar, party founder Kanshi Ram and UP CM Mayawati sitting on a throne with a lion by her side. This despite the fact that the candidate has liabilities to the tune of Rs 2.82 lakh as loans from various banks. He does not have any immovable assets even as his total movable assets are worth Rs 3.65 lakh. Incomplete papers Even as RO of Adampur constituency BS Dhaliwal got the first candidate today for filing of nomination papers, he too could not submit his documents as these were found to be incomplete. The independent candidate had not even opened a new bank account which is a pre-requisite as per the norms of the ECI. He did not even have his affidavits attested, said the RO-cum-Commissioner MC. Wadala files nomination The only major candidate who filed the nomination papers today was Gurpartap Wadala, son of SGPC member Kuldip Singh Wadala. His wife Navjit Kaur was his covering candidate. SAD councillor files papers as independent SAD councillor from Ward 29 today filed his papers as an independent candidate from the Jalandhar (Central) constituency. He had made an announcement in this regard two days ago. A resident of Naya Bazaar, he came garlanded along with residents of his ward. He showed his movable assets to the tune of Rs 9.55 lakh and that of his wife as Rs 1.25 lakh. His total immovable assets were of the value of Rs 6 lakh and that of his wife of Rs 12 lakh.
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Chemist shop gutted, fireman hurt
Jalandhar, January 10 A fireman was injured while dousing the flames and had to be hospitalised. The major fire broke out at around 8.30 am at the ground floor of shop. Flames also spread in the two upper floors of the shop, where the shopkeeper had stored medicines in large quantity. Neighbourhood shopkeepers said when they noticed the smoke coming out of the shop, they immediately informed the chemist owner about it. Shopkeepers further said they also informed the fire station at its toll free number. Meanwhile, six fire tenders, which were pressed into service, doused the fire after three-hour struggle. Fireman Vipan Kumar sustained serious injuries on his arm and was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital, where his condition was stated to be out of danger. Fire officials revealed that the fireman got injured when he went upstairs through the makeshift stairs and unfortunately fell down. Though the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but sources said short circuit might be the reason.
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Pargat keen to prove his mettle in political arena
Jalandhar, January 10 This was the maiden interaction of Pargat Singh with media post his premature retirement as Director Sports, Punjab, and after being declared the SAD candidate from cantonment. He was accompanied by Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) chairman Baljeet Singh Neelamahal and Subhash Sud, president of the district unit of the BJP. The greenhorn politician said it was sports which brought him to the field of politics and he was ready to deliver his best shot as a politician too. “It was the decision of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and CM Parkash Singh Badal to field me as a candidate from cantonment. And given the fact that I hail from Mithapur village and have grown up playing in cantonment, I will be looking forward to a better rapport with the electorate of this constituency,” he added. Pargat, who was all praise for the Deputy CM, said: “Initially, I was reluctant to contest, but Sukhbir Badal finally convinced me. As Director Sports, I worked with him for around three years, which gave me a chance to know him as a person with positive outlook and progressive approach.” Sharing his vision for the elections, he said it was the youth who hold the key to development of the state. He said taking the youth away from drugs was his main agenda. “My effort will be to give direction to the youth and provide them the best sports culture,” he added. To a query that whether PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh lacked vision for the state, Pargat evaded a direct reply and said: “There is no point cribbing about the past status of Punjab. The agenda should be to move ahead and Deputy CM has that vision to lead.” When asked how he would contest with his opponents in the elections, Pargat quoted hockey match and said: “In a hockey match, 21 players play together, but what matters is who posts a goal. I guess my sports experience coupled with the support of party workers and the electorate will help me in sailing through this match too.”
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Residents deposit 75 pc licenced arms
Jalandhar January 10 The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarter) Navjot Singh Mahal said as per the Election Commission’s instructions they had issued notices to around 6,440 licenced arms holder and asked them to deposit the same with the respective police stations. Till date the police had already received 4,884 arms. Mahal said remaining 25 per cent arms holders are mainly Army officials and police officials. The police would not take any stringent action against them even if they do not come to deposit their arms. |
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'Under qualified' for any job, but aspiring for polls
Jalandhar, January 10 Most of the candidates who have filed their nomination papers are either matriculate or even less qualified. Sample this: BSP (A) candidate from Shahkot Tara Singh is just Class IV pass. BSP candidate from Jalandhar Cantonment Hardev Kaur Shant is Class V pass. Likewise, Dharampal who is the BSP (A) candidate from the cantonment constituency has not completed matriculation. Kewal Krishan, an independent candidate from Kartarpur, is matriculate. The BSP candidate from the same constituency, Kamal Dev, is also just Class X pass. Exceptions The SAD councilor, who filed papers as Independent candidate from Jalandhar Central, however, is BA-II pass. The two candidates from Phillaur who filed their papers today were better off. Mela Singh, an independent candidate, is BA pass while Parshotam Lal, CPI (M) candidate is MA pass and is the highest qualified person to have filed his papers from constituencies in Jalandhar so far.
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Jalandhar, January 10
The returning officer of the constituency-cum-SDM, Shahkot, TN Passi said he had to ask the candidate to use fluid at places and rewrite certain figures. “At all those points where there was overwriting, I had to get the candidates signatures again,” he said. There are at least six such places where the candidate was made to put his signatures again, he added. 
