Campaign trail
All out to ‘doctor’ his success
Acquires new suffix to his name from Verka to Chherhata
Amritsar, January 24
He is neither a physician nor a doctorate, but somehow the prefix, ‘Doctor’ has been attached to his name. Raj Kumar, a former MLA from the erstwhile Verka constituency, was initially called an ‘outsider’ in Amritsar West.

Raj Kumar during his poll campaign in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal

Amritsar, January 24
A close watch on the poll expenses of the candidates by the Election Commission has resulted in supportes doing away with the tradition of pleasing their leaders by weighing them against laddoos or coins. Inflation too has dissuaded activists of the political parties from such activities. Also a casualty of keeping their poll expense ledger books straight are garlands made of currency notes.

With the EC getting strict, even the candidates have started urging people not to weigh them against laddoos or coins, and have devised alternative sources of publicity to minimise their election expenditure.

The economics is simple. For a candidate weighing 80 kg, distributing one/ two/five rupee coins will cost between Rs 10,000-15000.

Similarly, laddoos at Rs 140 a kilo will cost around Rs 11,200. This activity if done will be accounted in the expenditure head of the candidate by the electoral officers.

Yet, the traditional way of showing their affection towards their leader was witnessed in the Congress circle. OP Soni, the party candidate contesting from the Amritsar (Centre) and Sunil Datti, another Congress candidate contesting for Amritsar East seat were weighed in this manner some time ago. Their supporters may have realised later that the same will be counted in the poll expenses of the candidates.

OP Soni said, “It is true that I was weighed against laddoos during one of my visits to Katra Baggian. I don't know who bore the expense or how much was spent. Also, I don't have any idea whether the observers accounted the money spent on my expenditure quota or not. Actually, the supporters did it out of affection. The expense part then becomes a secondary issue.”

A SAD candidate preferring anonymity said the coins were used as campaign funds and the laddoos used to be distributed there and then but on both the occasions, no much purpose is solved.

“On one such occasion a few days back, I was weighed with dry fruit by my supporters. Later, a chaos like situation prevailed on the spot when people gathered there and created a stampede- like situation. That's why I have conveyed party men to shun such activities to avoid unnecessary controversy besides the expenditure. Coins are usually used as the campaign fund later but it hardly makes any difference as the observers will include that amount in the expenditure head. Similarly, it is not rationale in case of laddoos, which are generally distributed there and hardly serve any purpose,” he said.

On the other hand, the sweetshop owners and currency note garland makers resent that they didn't get orders for laddoos as was expected.

Sunil Kumar, a sweetshop owner said, “This time the booking of laddoos was negligible in comparison to the last elections. In 2007, various political parties had placed an order of over 40 quintals but this time it was less than 10 quintals,” he said.

Amritsar, January 24
He is neither a physician nor a doctorate, but somehow the prefix, ‘Doctor’ has been attached to his name. Raj Kumar, a former MLA from the erstwhile Verka constituency, was initially called an ‘outsider’ in Amritsar West.

His associates have started referring to him as Dr Raj Kumar Chehharta and not ‘Dr Raj Kumar Verka’, as he was known earlier. According to his nomination papers, he is an undergraduate and is 49 years old.

Raj Kumar’s new suffix, ‘Chehharta’, is the most important business hub and highly populated area in the entire Amritsar West Constituency. The Congressmen from the area claim that as residents of this constituency had sent a Congressman, OP Soni to the Assembly, the constituency has not seen any development projects.

“My opponents; both from the BJP, Rakesh Gill and Sanjha Morcha, Amarjit Singh Asal are going to forfeit their security deposits after the counting of votes,” Raj Kumar claims. With dholwalas leading his troupe, Raj Kumar goes from shop to shop to seek votes at Chehharta. The announcer accompanying him claims of a definite victory for him. The procession is noisy and cheerful as if he is coming directly to the area after the announcement of his victory.

With his head beneath the weight of the garlands and sirpoas, which the shopkeepers present to him, Raj Kumar stops by to meet the shopkeepers. “The area has not seen any development as the local MLA was a Congressman and the SAD-BJP was in the government. This time the MLA will be from the Congress, which will make the government,” he tells people. “Malaria is rampant in Chehharta. Gumtala residents are fighting with allergies, especially of the skin. The government doesn’t care for the health of the people.”

bout the move to convert historical Khalsa College into a private university he says, “They should not have done it. Khalsa College is a world-renowned institution and they should not have hurt people’s sentiments. If the SAD-BJP alliance comes to power again they will once again try to fulfil their ulterior motives,” he said. He asks the people to vote for the Congress as the Prime Minister had offered to set up a Central University in Amritsar. He conducts 20-25 public meetings in the area to strike a chord with the residents besides going from door-to-door.

Amritsar, January 24
A 29-member delegation from Pakistan arrived today from the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post to take part in the birth anniversary celebrations of legendary freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai at his native Dhudhi Ke village in Moga. The members belong to various professional backgrounds.

On the invitation of the South Asian Federation (SAF), members of the visiting delegation will deliver lectures and recite poems as part of the four-day birth anniversary celebrations which will kick off at Dhudhi Ke on January 25.

One of the leaders of the delegation Tahir Iqbal, a social activist from Faisalabad, said they had been issued 15-day visas to visit Moga, Chandigarh and Delhi besides a transit visa for Amritsar. He said his city Faislabad, earlier known as Lyallpur, refreshingly still knows Lala Lajpat Rai as a freedom fighter who had pioneered a movement against the then British government with the slogan of ‘Pagdi sambhal jatta’.

Another leader of the delegation Prof Shahid Mohammad Gul from Punjab University, Lahore said, the association of Lalaji with Lahore was immense. He said still a road in Lahore was called Lala Lajpat Rai road and Gulab Devi Charitable Hospital, named after his mother, treats patients of TB. The martyr also received injuries from lathis, which later proved fatal, while protesting against Simon Commission in Lahore. He said abundant research work over Lalaji’s ideology, contribution to the freedom struggle and sacrifice was available at South Asian Study Centre at Punjab University Lahore.

Iqbal Mohammad, 80, who along with his family had migrated from Dhudhi Ke to Pakistan in 1947, is also a part of the delegation. He said it was his long time wish to visit the ancestral village which had been granted with this visit. He said he could not wait to visit his ancestral village. Poets Nadeem Dogar, Anjum and Naj Fatima are also among the delegates.

Hold protests in front of Khalsa College principal and house of SAD candidate from Majitha Bikram Singh Majithia

Amritsar, January 24
Members of the Punjab Students Union held protests in front of Khalsa College and the residence of SAD candidate from Majitha constituency Bikram Singh Majithia at Green Avenue against alleged "overcharging of fee" from the students of MSc course in Agriculture Economics at the college.

Bikram Majithia is the son of Khalsa College Governing Council president Satyajit Singh Majithia.

PSU state committee member Karam Sekha alleged that the students of MSc (Agriculture Economics) had been charged Rs 72,000 as annual fee and now the third semester students were being asked to deposit Rs 60,000 annual fee. He said the fee was almost double from what that being charged from the students of other streams of BSc. Citing the example he said a student of BSc Horticulture was to deposit Rs 32,000 per month.

PSU state secretary Rajinder Singh said the college management discontinued BSc (Economics), MA (Elective English) and MA (Hindi courses).

Khalsa College principal Dr Daljit Singh alleged protesters owing allegiance to the PSU on the diktat of a political party tried to vitiate the peaceful, academic atmosphere of the college. He said the issue raised by them is sub-judice and violated Section 144. He said the violation had been brought to the notice of the police. He alleged that the agitation was politically motivated.

He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court, dated November 18, 2011, in the interim order had directed three students of Agriculture Economy Department of the college, Rajinder Maijhal, Harpreet Dharar and Malkiat Singh Aulakh to deposit the fee prescribed by the college and apologise for their alleged anti-institution behaviour and not to work against the interests of the college.

He said these students were bent upon holding a rally and protest allegedly on the dictates of their political masters who controlling the show from behind the scenes.

• The students of MSc (Agriculture Economics) had been charged Rs 72,000 as annual fee and now the third semester students were being asked to deposit Rs 60,000 annual fee. The fee was almost double from what that being charged from the students of other streams of BSc. —  Karam Sekha, member psu state committee

Amristar, January 24
The Asiad Circus, which has been entertaining Amritsar for years, is now back with some new and old tricks. Once majestic, today circus barely gets recognition, but this group wants to try its luck once again.

“Circus does not make same business any longer. The returns are usually lesser than the investment and above all the government procedures and permissions make it further difficult for us,” said Nandi Singh, manager, Asiad Circus.

Stricter animal laws and multiple sources of entertainment had led to the declining of people’s interest. “Now, even kids are surrounded by gadgets, internet and television. They are not interested in watching circus,” he added.

Having toured across the region from Punjab, Haryana and UP, he finds greater business potential in smaller towns. Big cities, he said, have forgotten the old world charm of circus.

“The times have changed. People do not come as often they used to. Though weekends are a respite,” said Nandi.

The entertainers also feel disappointed and lack the spirit to perform. “Most of the time, we perform in front of empty chairs and the money is too less. With our kind of skills and talent, circus is becoming our only area of employment. We would not like our children to join circus,” said Chandan and Mukesh, who has been working as clown in the circus for the past 35 years. Pinky, a biking stunt artist, said there is no respect for their skills. “People do not see us in a good light and I can’t understand why?” said she.

With the constant struggle for survival, there is also an attempt to attract crowds. The recent move has been to get artistes from Africa and Armenia to perform for the Asiad circus.

“We have a Kenyan group of acrobats who perform stunts and also artistes from Armenia,” said Nandi.

Despite the challenges, Asiad circus still fights on and the owner Raju Pehelwan refuses to shut down. He said, “They have been like my family and are my responsibility. Despite 150 mouths to feed everyday and an everyday expense of Rs 50,000, I’ll keep going.”

Amristar, January 24
Sugata Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and author of Majesty’s Opponent-Subhash Chandra Bose and India’s Struggle against the Empire, read excerpt from his book at One Up library here today. A Gardiner professor of history at Harvard, Sugata Bose explored Netaji’s life and interest in this biography.

“Everybody knows Netaji as a nationalist and a freedom fighter. Nobody knows about his fondness for poetry, music and love for his Austrian wife. When I decided to compose this book, I wanted to put forward the man he was,” said Bose. “When he was in Mandalay he wrote to the Burmese authorities to provide music for the prisoners. His best friend was a famous music composer and he loved poetry,” he added.

The book is based on historical evidences, personal accounts of those who were close to Netaji and the author’s childhood communication with people who had worked with Netaji. It has references of the freedom movement and formative years of the INA. The book also has historical references from great leaders like Nehru and Gandhi. The author gives description of Netaji’s death, making an attempt to finally put an end to the mystery surrounding it.

Bose said he felt elated to have come to Amristar as his Netaji too had a soft corner for Punajbis. “Over 20,000 members of INA were from Punjab and Netaji admired the guts and glory of Punajbis.” While Sugata had lots to talk about the Prince of Patriots, when asked to sum up the life of Nataji he said, “He was ahead of his time and if I had to sum up his life, I would do it in his own words…As much as I value life, I love honour more.”