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Capt meets Dera Sacha Sauda chief
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Rahul promises rapid industrialisation
Complaint against Langah for ‘incorrect’ affidavit
23% candidates never filed returns
Parties can set up polling booths
‘Malvinder’s campaign won’t affect Cong’
‘Muslim’ village caught in oblivion
Sanjha Morcha will play crucial role, says Yechury
No Anna effect in assembly poll: Paswan
HC quashes FIR against Russian photojournalist
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State of Parties
Chandigarh, January 27 Governance reforms, like the Right to Services Act, have come rather late for the party to reap benefit from these in the assembly elections. But, as party patron Parkash Singh Badal puts it, it is the first election when the SAD is not facing any major anti-incumbency. The response to SAD rallies has been encouraging, notwithstanding internal bickering among leaders. At the same time, the Punjab voter is reluctant to speak out his mind and there is no clear indication which way the winds will blow. As a senior politician puts it: “We cannot perceive any hostility towards the ruling party that is usually there at the end of the government tenure. At the same time, the SAD-led alliance has done nothing spectacular to automatically earn them yet another term. “Though Punjab has traditionally voted alternately for the Akalis and the Congress, there are no clear trends in favour or against any party this time”. The Akalis are contesting 94 of the 117 seats, leaving 23 to its alliance partner, BJP. Though the BJP has fielded seven new faces, the Akalis are sceptical of the party getting the kind of support that it had received in 2007, winning 19 of the 23 seats allotted to it. The BJP performance is crucial for the SAD to return to power. The SAD, like all other parties, got just two weeks for campaigning after the withdrawals on January 16. As a result, it has been confined to boosting the poll prospects of its own candidates rather than helping the BJP. Just as the Congress is banking on its central leaders, the BJP has had leaders Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Parshad, JP Nadda, Shanta Kumar, LK Advani and Hema Malani canvassing for it. For the SAD, from its list of 40 star campaigners submitted to the Election Commission, 28 are party candidates. This has forced most nominees to fend for themselves. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and patron Parkash Singh Badal are doing their best, hopping constituency to constituency. Faced by scams at the Centre, the Congress is targeting the Badals, their style of functioning and the “atrocities on halqa heads” (candidates defeated in 2007). The SAD is also being attacked for making Station House Officers (SHOs) subservient to local MLAs, resulting in sharp divisions among villagers. Initially, it appeared that the SAD and the Congress would both face stiff challenge from rebels. But the SAD has managed to rein in most of them. Those adamant, have been expelled. The main rebels in fray are Didar Singh Bhatti (Fatehgarh Sahib), Mohinder Singh Hussainpura (Nawanshahr), Barinder Singh Tikka (Amritsar), Bains brothers Balwinder and Simarjit (Ludhiana) and Manpreet Kaur Dolly, daughter of Capt Kanwaljit Singh (Dera Bassi). The SAD is facing some difficulty on account of dissidents at Fatehgarh Sahib where Didar Singh Bhatti quit the SAD to join the PPP and in locked in a fight with Prem Singh Chandumajra. Satbir Singh Khatra, Youth Akali Dal (YAD) secretary is contesting as an Independent from Patiala Rural against SAD’s Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, foster daughter of the late Akali stalwart and Panth Rattan Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Sant Ajit Singh, sitting MLA from Anandpur Sahib, has resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest against the allotment of ticket to CM's media adviser Daljit Singh Cheema from Ropar. The Anandpur Sahib seat held by Sant Ajit Singh has been allotted to the BJP, who has fielded Madan Mohan Mittal. The Sant has fielded his protege Jarnail Singh Aulakh as an Independent candidate from Ropar. For the Mohali seat, the SAD has fielded Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, who is facing opposition from several quarters. NK Sharma, who was groomed to contest the Mohali seat, has been shifted to Dera Bassi, making it a hard contest for him. In Bassi Pathana, former High Court Judge Nirmal Singh and husband of Akali MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan is being termed as an “outsider” and evoking a mixed response. Former Akali minister Charanji Lal Garg joined the PPP after the SAD allotted the Bathinda (Urban) seat to Sukhbir loyalist Sarup Chand Singla. During the last assembly elections, the Malwa belt had 65 seats, the number has increased to 68 post delimitation. The Congress had won 37 Malwa seats in 2007. This time, the SAD hopes to do better in the belt. In Doaba, the SAD-BJP held 20 out of 25 seats and in Majha 23 of the 27 seats. This time, the alliance may suffer a setback in Doaba, conceding nearly half of the seats to the Congress, as well as in Majha. The general perception is that the SAD has improved its position after the release of its manifesto. The manifesto promises much more that the Congress and the BJP manifesto is more or less a replica of the SAD manifesto with an urban focus. The main worry for the SAD as of now is Ludhiana and Patiala districts where party insiders feel dissidence may have an impact on at least 12 seats. Sensing that the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) may cut into its votes, the CM Parkash Singh Badal has begun to target the PPP, calling it a party of deserters and a party that “accommodated everyone who did not get the ticket.” If the PPP takes away 5 to 7 per cent of the Akali votes, the SAD could be in serious trouble. Despite the negatives, the SAD continues to be in the race and is hopeful of creating history. It is a different matter that the voters have yet to give out their mind.
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Capt meets Dera Sacha Sauda chief
Sources close to Amarinder revealed that the meeting lasted for about 50 minutes and
the two discussed the political situation in the state on the poll eve. Having been declared the Congress’ chief ministerial candidate by All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi, in Ferozepur two days ago, Capt Amarinder has been hoping to secure at least two to four per cent additional votes for the party if the dera decides to support it. The dera votes, says the party think-tank, could translate into 10 to 15 more seats in the Malwa region for the Congress. Considered close to Amarinder SDingh , sitting Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain said the dera had considerable influence in more than 50 assembly seats in the state. “The dera’s support matters a lot for any political party and it can determine the political situation in the state,” he said. For the record, the dera chief has so far not made any announcement on extending support to a particular party, even as the campaigning for the 117 assembly seats ends tomorrow. A decision in this regard, say sources, is likely to be taken any time now. Politicians from both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have been making efforts to seek the “blessings” of the dera chief . Over 200 candidates and leaders of various political parties had visited the dera in the past week. In the 2007 elections, the dera had supported the Congress and the party had won 37 of the totsal 65 seats in the Malwa belt. Union Minister Preneet Kaur and her son Raninder Singh, who is contesting from Samana, had reportedly visited the dera chief a couple of days back.
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Rahul promises rapid industrialisation
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 27 Ridiculing the SAD-BJP claim to turn Punjab into California, he said the Punjabis didn’t need California but a prosperous Punjab. He was addressing an election rally in support of Kuljeet Singh Nagra from Fatehgarh Sahib. Randeep Singh from Amloh and Hardyal Kamboj from Rajpura constituency were on stage, but Shamsher Singh Dullo and his wife, a Congress candidate from Bassi Pathana, were conspicuous by their absence. Rahul said while the NDA undertook yatras and took part in talk shows on corruption, the Congress actually put the corrupt behind bars. He said the Centre had always given preferential treatment to Punjab. “During the past two years, we set up the IIT at Ropar, the Indian Institute of Science at Mohali and a university and refinery at Bhatinda.” He promised rapid industrialisation in Punjab to provide jobs to every section. Sukhdev Singh Libra, MP, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Haryana minister, and Hardyal Kamboj also spoke. Gurdeep Singh Mann adds from Mansa: Rahul Gandhi addressed a gathering at Mansa. He arrived two-and- -half hours late in a chopper. All the three Congress candidates from Budhlada, Mansa and Sardulgarh and CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were there to receive him. He said the wrong policies of SAD-BJP government has derailed Punjab and it was now lagging behind adjoining Haryana. Congress candidates Ajitinder Singh Mofar from Sardulgarh, Gurpreet Gagowal from Mansa, Satpal Mulewala from Budhlada were also present.
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Bats for Warring from Gidderbaha
Doda (Gidderbaha), January 27 In his 18-minute speech at the grain market in Doda village of high-profile Gidderbaha assembly constituency in Muktsar district, Rahul said, "If one eats two
'chappatis' in any corner of the country, then one is prepared from the wheat produced by Punjabi farmers. But the present state government even after knowing the plights of farming community did nothing in the previous five years. The problem of water-logging is still the same here." Playing an emotional card, he said, "You people not only give us food, but also the Prime Minister. Our present Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also belongs to
Amritsar." Rahul was here to canvass in favour of Congress candidate from Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh Warring 'Raja'. Raja is All India Youth Congress general secretary and a handpicked candidate of
Rahul. He is contesting against PPP chief Manpreet Badal and SAD candidate SS
Brar.
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Manpreet seeks vote for change
Mohali, January 27 Addressing a gathering in Phase 8 here, he said, “No significant change has come in people’s life and the time has come to vote to bring change.” Reiterating the political development that led to his resignation from the SAD, he said he had sacrificed his position and honour for the sake of moral values and principles. “The time has come to provide education, infrastructure, health and medical facilities to the residents,” he said adding that the Congress and Akali Dal had ruined the state. Speaking in favour of party candidate from Mohali assembly segment, Bir Devinder Singh, the PPP chief said that the political scenario of Punjab was going to change. He said 97 per cent of the candidates were first timers and educated. Claiming to have a large vote bank among youths, he said the party would fare much better than previously expected.
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Complaint against Langah for ‘incorrect’ affidavit
Dera Baba Nanak
(Gurdaspur), January 27 Documents with TNS reveal that Langah, in his affidavit to the RO-cum-SDM of Dera Baba Nanak has claimed that he has no Income Tax liability pending against him. However, Poonam Sharma, Assistant Commissioner, IT Department, Mohali, in a demi-official letter to the RO, with a copy to the EC, has said that dues amounting to Rs 1.21 crore for the year 2007-2008 and Rs 1.07 lakh for 2009-2010 are pending against Langah. She has sought a reply from the RO at the earliest. Jagjit Singh, a resident of Dharowali village, the native village of Sukhjinder Randhawa, has approached the EC, urging that the candidature of the minister be cancelled “because he has violated orders of not only the EC, but also of the Supreme Court directing candidates to submit these affidavits.” Congress candidate Randhawa has also urged the EC to cancel the candidature of the minister for filing a ‘false’ affidavit. The minister could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. However, his close aide said Langah and some other politicians had purchased plots at Chandigarh a couple of years ago and the IT Department had over-assessed the value of these plots and, hence ,the sum of Rs.1.21 crore against the minister’s name.
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23% candidates never filed returns
Chandigarh, January 27 These facts were made public by the Punjab Election Watch, an NGO, which studied the Income Tax returns of the candidates and released its analysis of 408 candidates belonging to major political parties in the fray. The father-son duo is followed by Congress candidate Rana Gurjit Singh with an annual income of Rs 1.59 crore, Kewal Singh Dhillon (Congress) at Rs 1.53 crore and Deep Malhotra (SAD) at Rs 1.10 crore, as per their latest Income Tax returns. As many as 92 candidates (23 per cent), of the 408 candidates analysed by the Punjab Election Watch, have declared that they had never filed IT returns. The party-wise percentage is: Congress, 15 candidates (13 per cent); SAD, 11 candidates (12 per cent); PPP, 20 candidates (22 per cent); BSP, 27 candidates (44 per cent) and the BJP, one candidate (5 per cent). Top three candidates with maximum assets but who have never filed IT returns are Karan Kaur of the Congress who is contesting from Muktsar. She has assets worth Rs 128 crore, followed by Ramanjit Singh Sikki of the Congress (Khadoor Sahib candidate) and Gurpartap Singh Wadala of the SAD (Nakodar candidate) having assets worth Rs 20.12 crore and Rs 13.71 crore, respectively. As many as 47 candidates (12 per cent) do not have a PAN number. Of them, five are from the Congress, as many from the Akali Dal, seven from the PPP and 18 from the BSP. Top three candidates with maximum assets but who have not declared their PAN card details are Gurpartap Singh Wadala (SAD), followed by Brahm Mohindra (Congress candidate from Patiala Rural) and Sikander Singh, an Independent contesting from Rampura Phul. The BSP has the maximum number of candidates who have not declared their PAN card details.
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Projecting Capt as CM won’t help, says Badal
Dharamkot (Moga), January 27 Badal rubbished the allegations that he had gone old and was planning to retire from politics. “I am still young and fit enough to rule the state. You yourself can see me moving in all parts of the state campaigning to ensure the SAD victory.” Claiming the SAD-BJP alliance was all set to be voted back to power, he claimed there was no anti-incumbency factor in the state and the people would repeat his government on performance basis. Badal claimed his government had introduced several welfare schemes for the poor and the downtrodden, besides protecting the interests of the farming community and the business class.
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Parties can set up polling booths
Special Chief Electoral Officer Usha R Sharma said in order to check anti-social elements and goons manning such booths, it had been decided that a person nominated for the booth by political parties should be a registered voter in the same polling station and must have an EPIC, which he would have to show to observers and the sector magistrate when demanded. She said instructions had already been issued regarding prohibition on the sale of liquor or distribution of liquor in hotels, eating joints, taverns, shops or any other place, public or private within the polling area after the campaign was over. She said elected MPs and MLAs of parliamentary and assembly constituencies would not be asked to leave their constituencies during the election process even if he or she was not an elector there. However, they would not be allowed to carry out campaign in the constituency after the campaign period was over.
More transfers
Taking note of the political activities of government employees, CEO Kusumjit Sidhu has shifted Nabha BDPO Akbar Ali to Rajpura, with additional charge of Nabha, and Mansa BDPO Parmpal Kaur to the headquarters at Mohali. Ajmer Singh, panchayat secretary, Moga-2, has been transferred to Jalalabad while Harsh Mehta, lecturer, Sanskrit Government SS School, Talwara, has been shifted to Zira.
Atta-dal scheme on
The EC also removed restrictions from the disbursal of ration under the atta-dal scheme that was discontinued by it earlier.
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Water woes: This village has given up on netas
Karaundewala (Kharar), January 27 Their ballot power has failed to move the politicians, who during every election, promise potable water on their doorstep, but still they have to draw ‘stinking’ and ‘unfit’ water from the village wells. “In the previous election, the SAD candidate promised metalled road and water soon after the elections. But five years have passed and there is no sign of road”, said Krishan Chand, a retired government official of the village. The village, which is located just 20-km north of the Punjab Chief Minister’s residence, still cries for potable water. This is not the story of Karaundewala village alone. Residents of Bhangindi and other villages have also been demanding regular supply of potable water. The alternative source of water supply from a reservoir at Kasauli village often pumps out stinking water as the old have rusted. The reservoir, built around an underground source of water, has not been cleaned for the past many years, reveal inquiries made at Kasauli village. Three days ahead of the polling date, a visit to the village reveals that there was little excitement among villagers about the election. A number of women were busy drawing water from the village well. Kaushalya Devi, a resident of the village, said, “As I can not leave my house due to household chores to fetch water from another village, I am forced to draw water from the village well”. A blaring loudspeaker, playing a pre recorded message of promises being made by a candidate, made little impact on the villagers who expressed their dissatisfaction over being denied the basic amenities. Bachna Ram, a former sarpanch of the village, said despite the villagers donating land for construction of a road, the state government had failed to construct the road. On seeing the indifferent attitude of the government, the villagers collected funds to repair the structure around the main village well. Not only the cattle but human being also drink this unfit water. “Water samples taken from the well have failed,” said Bachna Ram.
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‘Malvinder’s campaign won’t affect Cong’
Patiala, January 27 Randhir, who is a cousin of Amarinder and is a member of the International Olympics Committee, said, "Whatever anyone may say against Raninder and Amarinder but the reality is that both father-son duo would win by massive margin”.
— TNS
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‘Muslim’ village caught in oblivion
Duggani (Sangrur),
January 27 The village population is about 1,800 and the number of voters is about 1,100. "There is only one Jat-Sikh family and one Dalit family in the village", said Adrees Khan. When The Tribune team reached the village, the locals were eagerly waiting for a politician. And their problems have cross-border links. "Several village girls, about 100 of them, are married off in Pakistan. The visa given to them allows them to stay either in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh. So, their parents and relatives have to go to Delhi or Uttar Pradesh to meet them," says Najib Khan. The visa rule has been in force since 1983, says Najib, adding the facility should be resumed. "No politicians has cared to solve our problem", said another panchayat member. Other problem of the village is of school. "We have been seeking upgrade of the primary school for 20 years. About 100 girls from the village travel to other villages to study in middle and secondary schools," says Adrees. He said there was a need to set up a primary health centre in the village with at least one gynecologist. "Many times, our women are reluctant to go to doctors outside the village," he said.
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Sanjha Morcha will play crucial role, says Yechury
Ludhiana, January 27 Yechury said: "This is the first time that the people of Punjab have got an alternative other than the Congress and the Akali parties. Like football, the people would run between two goal posts. Now, the PPP and the Left parties have provided them another choice” He said the Congress and the BJP were not much different from each other, whether in was the economic policies or “looting” the country’s exchequer. Asked as to what were the winning chances of the Sanjha Morcha, he said: "We are contesting the elections to win. There is strong anti-incumbency and bitter infighting within the Congress that forced Rahul Gandhi to declare yesterday that Capt Amarinder Singh would be the Chief Minister. In such a scenario, it is possible that the Sanjha Morcha may play a crucial role in these elections." He denied any alliance with the Congress. "We are against the economic policies of the Congress. If the Congress wants to have an alliance with us, it will have to rethink its economic policies," he added.
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No Anna effect in assembly poll: Paswan
Bathinda, January 27 Paswan further said that his party had some basic differences with Anna Hazare as Anna and his associates did not accept democratic process for getting the Lokpal Bill passed. He said there was a Parliament to discuss and pass the Bill, but they were adamant to get their version of the Jan Lokpal Bill passed. He also termed Anna as a “puppet” of the RSS and the
BJP.
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Poll snippets
New Delhi: A delegation of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday met senior officials of the Election Commission here to complaint against Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh. The SAD has alleged that Amarinder Singh had openly threatened SAD candidate Gurbachan Singh Babbehali. SAD’s Delhi unit president Manjit Singh GK claimed that the EC officials assured him that they would look into the matter. — TNS
Kushaldeep appointed gen secy
Chandigarh: Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon has been appointed general secretary attached to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh. The orders to this effect were issued by the PCC president on Thursday. Kushaldeep Dhillon contested became an MLA from Faridkot in 2002 at the age of 28. Before joining the Congress, he was the senior vice-president of the People’s Party of Punjab and prior to that, he was the general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal. — TNS
Col Babu Singh retires from contest
Moga: Col Babu Singh (retd), who had filed his nomination papers from the Nihalsinghwala constituency as an Independent, has retired from the contest in favour of Congress nominee Ajit Singh Shant. Col Singh said he would work for the party’s welfare and ensure that Shant wins the election. Congress observer Shrikrishna Sangale called both the leaders in the local office of the party and sorted out the differences between them. Col Babu Singh had been expelled from the party membership by district party president Jagdarshan Kaur a couple of days back. — Kulwinder Sandhu
Sangrur to get cancer hospital: Soni
Kiki Dhillon appointed gen secretary Chandigarh: Kushaldeep 'Kikki' Singh Dhillon has been appointed general secretary attached to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh. The orders to this effect were issued by the PCC president on Thursday. Kushaldeep Dhillon contested elections and became an MLA from Faridkot in 2002 at the age of 28. Before joining the Congress, he was the senior vice-president of the People’s Party of Punjab and prior to that he was the general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal. — TNS
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HC quashes FIR against Russian photojournalist
Chandigarh, January 27 She was arrested by the Punjab Police and allegedly subjected to third degree interrogation for 10 days during her police remand. The cops also allegedly launched a "character assassination campaign" in newspapers and "widely publicised" the "confidential details of her private life". This was not the end of troubles for her. She was charged with the offence of instigating a German to overstay in India. The startling claims were made by the Russian journalist in her petition filed through counsel SS Behl for quashing of the FIR registered under the provisions of the Foreigners Act on May 25, 2010, at Nangal police station in Ropar. The High Court was told the police focused on Olga after a German, Thomas Kuhn, was arrested, as he could not produce his passport. Kuhn told the police that his journey with Olga started after they met on a train; and Olga took his passport to get the visa extended. The prosecution claimed she never returned it to Kuhn. She was described as a co-accused on June 12, 2010, and was arrested soon after despite full cooperation. Behl told the court that Olga was intensely harassed "in police custody and through the Press later". "It seems that it was an attempt to extort a confession from her. She was dragged in as an accused on flimsy grounds, and her legal rights were not read to her." She was "paraded through the neighbourhood", was forced to appear before the media and the story of a Russian spy with her snapshots was widely publicised in channels and newspapers, Behl added. On December 8 last, Kuhn pleaded guilty "probably to get out of jail and country". But, the petitioner, Behl contended, has been "falsely charged with offence of abetment /instigation, which never took place".
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Moga, January 27
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 27
Chandigarh, January 27
Bathinda, January 27
Chandigarh, January 27
Moga, January 27
Chandigarh, January 27
Patiala: Union Minister for Information Ambika Soni on Friday said a state-of-the-art cancer and trauma centre first would be set up in Sangrur, the location of which would be finalised by Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla. Addressing election rallies in Dirbha and Sangrur, Soni said, "Singla has time and again told me that because of the increase in the number of cancer cases, the patients from Sangrur have to face a lot of trouble. Hence, all efforts will be made to ensure that this area gets a good cancer and trauma hospital.” — Umesh Dewan