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Manpreet uses poetry to drive home message
With EC watching, candidates turn to
CAs for managing election expenses
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Tough fight for Bhattal in Lehragaga
Voters in Kandi area decry Land Act
Probe Lambi’s electoral rolls:
Maheshinder
Razia, Farzana woo rural voters
Gurdaspur MP gives boost to wife’s campaign
Unguided, rural youths end up with menial jobs
Shifted from
Lambi, SHO attends Badal’s rally
For every SC appearance, Punjab AG gets Rs 2.5 lakh
Court denies bail to Sukhi Chahal
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Manpreet uses poetry to drive home message
Many may regard Manpreet Badal as being too cultured, suave and nice to be capable of negotiating the bends in the rough and tumble of Indian politics. But there is no denying that this estranged nephew of Akali kingpin Parkash Singh Badal, who gave up the key position of Finance Minister to chart out an independent course, is here to stay. Educated in the elitist St Columbus and St Stephen’s in New Delhi and a graduate in Law from the prestigious Lincoln’s Inn, Manpreet is the archetypal upwardly-mobile politician. On the threshold of turning 50, he is the very antithesis of the old style campaigner as symbolised by his uncle. There is an unmistakable swagger with which the lanky and well-built Manpreet walks. He is his own driver, often driving at breakneck speed as he stops by during his campaign to beseech voters in his disarming style. This dynamo of energy has driven a whopping 8,000 km since he launched his election campaign. Manpreet carries his message through songs penned by political satirist Bhagwant Mann, and two lesser known singers. Mann had left the ruling entertainment industry to join the Manpreet-led People’s Party of Punjab. The songs give the political manifesto of the party and dwell on issues like polluted water, drug addiction, unemployment, female foeticide, illiteracy and the pain of lagging far behind other states. Mann has adapted the hit number ‘Kolaveri Di’ as a campaign number for the PPP, which has gone down well especially with the youth, who are in any case the party’s main strength. The campaign songs in general echo Manpreet's dream of once again making Punjab the most prosperous state of India. Says Manpreet in his inimitable style: “The Congress and the ruling SAD-BJP combine are two sides of the same coin. With the support of Punjabis, I wil energise a new Punjab.” He adds with nonchalance: “Yes, it was a huge task this time. In three weeks, I have addressed 80 election meetings and have travelled almost 8,000 km across the state.” Indeed, compared to his rival parties, Manpreet’s has been a frugal campaign, devoid of frills. His party did not bombard the electorate with advertisements. He moved like a machine an depended on his oratory. He entwines his speech with Urdu and Punjabi poetry and folk tales. Instead of making a direct attack on his rivals, he takes the support of folk tales to score points against them. At Balachaur, where this correspondent accompanied Manpreet, he began his speech thus: “I will not be able to deliver a lengthy speech. My throat problem has become acute. Doctors are insisting that I should stop speaking and go for a surgery immediately.” The crowd is stunned into silence. But he continues in chaste Punjabi: “Par main doctoran nu keh ditta hai ke mera operation te intzar kar sakda hai par mainu pehalan Punjab de thugan da operation kar lain deo” (But I have told doctors that my surgery can wait. Let me first perform surgery on the thugs (political opponents) who have been looting the state for decades). The announcement is greeted by a thunderous applause. Emotionally charged youths start waving the party flags and some dancing to the beat of the drum. Manpreet pleads for silence as noise means he has to put more strain on his vocal cords and that can be hurting.Obviously, he has learnt the art of using his ailment to attack his political rivals. Manpreet makes rousing speeches and gives the impression of an emerging star on the state’s political canvas. Says he with a distant look: “If voted to power, my party will first take on top politicians and bureaucrats to root out corruption and not waste time on arresting small fries such as junior engineers, patwaris and clerks. I know that the fountain-head of corruption are top-level politicians and officials.” “Nothing will improve without changing the system”, he tells a rally in Ropar. “The Congress and the SAD are political parties which believe in status quo. They are against change. Under their rule, Punjab cannot move ahead. Our coming generations will remain doomed if these parties are not sidelined”, he asserts as he comes in his element.. “Change is a flavour of the current season. Change has happened even in the Arab world which remained politically stagnant for ages. The Punjab spring is not that far”, he says. “Are people of Punjab ready for a change is the moot question,” observes Manpreet. A politician drenched in patriotic fervour, Manpreet invokes the martyrs, especially Bhagat Singh and Kartar Singh Sarabha, to stir emotions of his audience. He does not forget to raise the slogan of “ Punjab Zindabad, Hindustan Zindabad” at the end of his speech. “I will not let you down as I have taken an oath to fulfill the dreams of our martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the hope that their future generations would live in prosperity. But what we are seeing is dejection and disappointment all around”, he says at an election meeting in Ropar. While introducing his party’s election symbol, Manpreet has a dig at the government. “Only air is free in Punjab. That is why I have selected kite as the party symbol. It can rise to any height without any fear. Otherwise, in Punjab, politicians have deviously controlled everything, including transport, sand, the cable system, police stations, tehsil offices and so on”, he says. Asked as to how many seats he is hopeful of winning, Manpreet says: “We will give a tough fight to our opponents in 35-40 seats and are in a winning position at several places. I can say with confidence that Punjab is heading towards a hung assembly and that the balance of power will be in our hands”. From Nurpur Bedi, Manpreet drives to Ropar and skips Chamkaur Sahib as he is getting late to address an election meeting at Mohali. A punctual Manpreet hates to make people wait for him. On way to Mohali, he halts for a while at Kharar on Harnek Singh Gharuan’s plea. He quickly moves ahead, explaining to Gharuan that he is running behind schedule by more than an hour. On the way, he is greeted by people. At toll posts, he is mobbed by boys working there. Moving from one place to another, he keeps in touch on the phone with his supporters in Gidderbaha and Maur, from where he is contesting the elections. “Tell Gurdial that he should speak to his relatives in Maur to vote for me”, he tells his supporter on the phone. No one knows what this election has in store for Manpreet. But his earnestness to do something for Punjab stands out. With his thin resources, he may not make a huge impact in terms of seats, but he could well be a spoiler and the foundations he builds this time around may come in handy in future elections. Campaign Mode An SUV that he drives himself. He canvasses from 8 am to 11pm daily Diet Fast food such as a burger with a cup of strong tea
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With EC watching, candidates turn to
CAs for managing election expenses
Chandigarh, January 28 From curtailing the number of vehicles in their convoy to avoiding extravagant rallies, candidates have been doing their bit so that they don't enter the EC's wrong books. "During the last elections, I and my supporters used to travel in a convoy of 10-15 vehicles. This time, I am not using more than two cars for canvassing. Besides, my chartered accountant has been managing my poll account," says Sukhpal Khaira, Congress candidate from Bholath in Kapurthala. The EC has pressed into service 136 expenditure observers, mobile and static surveillance teams and media monitoring committees to keep tabs on candidates. Shadow registers are being maintained by returning officers and expenditure observers in each constituency. "We have been supplied with a list of items and election material, which have to be calculated in the expenditure list. It is difficult to manage accounts without the help of an accountant," says Jassi Khangura, sitting Congress MLA and candidate from Dakha seat in Ludhiana. While Khaira is happy at the EC holding the baton, not all are at ease. BJP candidate from Ludhiana Satpal Gosain quips: "On the day of nominations, we were not allowed many vehicles. So, a number of supporters who have stood by me all my life could not accompany me." Jaskirat Singh, coordinator of the Punjab Election Watch, an NGO, says: "MLAs and first runners-up declared an average expenditure of Rs 5.11 in 2007."
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Dr Parminder Padda keeps Parkash Singh Badal (84) on his feet. The handsome hunk, a physiotherapist in his late twenties or early thirties, is constantly by the side of the veteran leader, who is two and a half times older to him. Very early in the morning, normally around 6 am, the ‘doctor’ supervises the CM’s exercises and then tastes and approves the light breakfast he would have.
The strapping Sikh accompanies Badal on his campaign, keeping a hawk’s eye on his movements and the food that he has. Dr Padda, Akali workers confide in whispers, was a favourite of the CM saab’s late wife; and was requested to return from Canada and lend his support during the long campaign. If the veteran of many electoral battles is tired, he does not show it. His legs do wobble at times and he does clutch occasionally at hands extended to support him. But his mind is as agile as ever, absorbing every little bit of information, asking sharp questions, changing plans. After an election meeting, he is told of a powerful local leader, who had gone across to the Congress. The repentant but still defiant ‘rebel’ was now prepared to return but would do so only if the CM himself visited his house and made the request. That was enough to make up his mind. The convoy changed directions and raced to catch the local satrap by surprise. Badal has an unscheduled lunch at the rebel’s house before proceeding to the next meeting, in the company of course of the by-now glowing rebel. His ‘Z+’ security ensures that his people do not come too close. A distance of around twenty feet is to be maintained, inform securitymen. So, there are no hugs or pumping of hands. The meetings are predominantly a male affair with a sprinkling of women seen only on the dias. But in Punjab, it apparently does not really matter. The choice of the ‘better half’ of the electorate, assure Akali workers, would not be very different from the men. Badal himself oozes confidence. Back in his Toyota, he repeats what he has been saying all along; that in his sixty-years of political life, he had never witnessed an election in which “there is no wave”. There is no wave in favour or against any party this time, he stresses softly, having convinced himself that the absence of an anti-incumbency wave meant the Shiromani Akali Dal was already comfortably placed. This is also the first election in the state, he says, when the discourse is on development. “People want development and that has been our agenda,” he points out. If ‘development’ is to be judged solely by the roads in the countryside, that his convoy takes, he does seem to have a point. The pot-holes are gone and the roads are where you expect them to be. But one discerns a slight sense of panic. In speech after speech, Badal launches a veiled and a little too aggressive attack on Manpreet Badal’s PPP (Punjab People’s Party). He is aggressive in criticising the ‘Bhagodas’, who are called ‘deserters’ in English, he emphasises to his rustic audience. Or he could be telling it to himself. His distaste for ‘deserters’ is evident. His jokes are ruggedly Punjabi and are mostly targeted at the PPP. There was this young man, Badal recalls, who was desperate to get married. But no matter what he did, no suitable match was forthcoming. Then, one day someone advised him to visit a dargah for ten consecutive days and pray for his wish to be fulfilled. The desperate young man did so and was looking forward to his wedding. But on the eleventh day, when he set out for his fields, he was called back by wailing relatives, who informed him that his mother had just passed away. Ya Rab, the young man cried, instead of blessing me with a bride, “bapu wali ve la lai” (you have even taken away the one my father had). Moral of the story: Do not ask for what is not to be. If you do, then you may lose even what you have. A few guffaws greet the story but most of the people seem to have missed the joke. So, there was time for another story. A remarkably well-dressed young man, recalls Badal,went to town. He looked like a prosperous landlord and caught the fancy of a pickpocket. But whenever the man tried to take out some valuable, all that he laid his hands on were credit notes. In desperation he plunged his hand even deeper into the pocket and was caught in the attempt. “Are you not ashamed of yourself,” asked the young man, at which the pick-pocket retorted that it was the well-dressed man, who ought to be ashamed, for not carrying any valuable. Moral of the story: Though not very clear, it is apparently a dig at the anti-farmer policies of the centre that has made farmers debt ridden. But people don’t seem to mind. They respond with broad smiles. There is much more response from the crowd, when Badal starts speaking of ‘rajas’ and their habits. A suggestive pause, a leading question and an innocuous reference is all that he makes. But the crowd knows what he is talking about and roar with laughter. Occasionally he does name Amarinder, but avoids naming other Congress leaders. Rajahs are rarely accessible to their subjects, Badal reminds his audience. And when the evening falls, where are the Rajahs to be found? Of course they would be engaged in merry-making with their friends, or, he would add after a pregnant pause, with companions from across the border. This never fails to amuse his audience. They seem to love it. His gentle humour is clearly a potent weapon to connect with people. Speaking after a party candidate waxed eloquent on the ‘development’ he would usher into the area, Badal, with the slightest trace of irony, told the crowd, “ Well, this man has been promising you development of all kinds---vote for him and ensure his victory; we will make him the minister for development; he would then have no excuses to offer”. It is a recurring theme. The bigger the margin of victory, he promises, the bigger would be the portfolio of the minister. He does not name Sonia or Rahul, confining his barbs to the ‘Rajah’. But he appears to strike a sympathetic chord, every time he refers to the plight of farmers and how New Delhi and the Congress had denied the farm sector their due. Another recurring theme is his son, Sukhbir Badal. The junior Badal, he insists, has proved himself to be a good manager and a good leader. Every election that Sukhbir has managed, points out the doting father, he has delivered it to the party. He has a vision for the state and does need a chance to translate that vision on the ground. Back inside the Toyota Land Cruiser, he seems satisfied. A particularly large gathering (in Punjab, a crowd of five to seven thousand is generally a mammoth gathering) had elated him. The large turnout, he says confidently, was an indication of the wind blowing in favour of the SAD-BJP coalition. He had not expected the gathering to be so large, not in a constituency where SAD had been rocked by defection and dissidence and in which Manpreet’s PPP is expected to do rather well, Badal confesses. A smile hovers on his lips as the contented leader closes his eyes. Politicians are normally clueless about election results. Indira Gandhi drew huge crowds even in 1977 but Congress was routed in North India. But a seasoned campaigner, Badal would know Punjab better than most. He clearly trusts his instincts. Could they be right this time? (Report based on a day of campaigning in the Malwa region, home turf of
Badals) Campaign mode He is always on a Toyota Land Cruiser and despite his age, he canvasses from 8 am to 9 pm everyday His diet Badal keeps it simple with plain roti and dal
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It's a miracle that Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh's Audi Q7 hits no one, as it inches out of the crowded 'Kanak Mandi' in Hoshiarpur. Oblivious to the travails of his OSD, Major Amardeep, who steers the vehicle through the crowd, Amarinder enjoys every moment with the people-extending his arm out to shake hands with almost anyone who can reach him. A smile on his face, he asks the youngsters, "beta kiddan ho" (Son, how are you?).
Seated on the front seat of the SUV, wearing his trademark kurta and churidar pyjama and a sleeveless Gadoni jacket, Amarinder appears buoyant. The reason isn't hard to guess. A couple of days ago AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had declared him the party's chief ministerial candidate. Now, not only his supporters but the common man also views the elections as an Amarinder versus Badal affair. The Hoshiarpur 'Kanak Mandi' is known for its leaning towards the Jana Sangh, but many shopkeepers are now spouting Congress flags. "We decided on this yesterday", says a shopkeeper, admitting that the change of heart happened after Rahul backed Amarinder's candidature for the Chief Minister's chair. In his speeches at public rallies, Amarinder too gives the impression of being the man at the helm of affairs in days to come as he confidently talks about reviving Punjab's economy and creating jobs for the unemployed. His speeches mainly focus on the party's progressive political and social agenda, which he claims will put the state back on the path of development. The crowds listen to him patiently as he talks of the promises made by the Congress in it's manifesto. They get electrified as Amarinder shifts to his favorite subject, Badal-bashing. The excitement in the crowds becomes palpable the moment he says in his inimitable style and chaste Punjabi, "ena Badalaan nu…" and vows to end Akali "goonda gardi" once he takes over the reins of the state. "Eh aasli mard hega" (He's a real man), remarks a rustic farmer to a companion as they walk out of the meeting. A connoisseur of food, Amarinder, who loves cooking, seems to be surviving these days on cold chicken cutlets and his all-time favourite hand-made potato chips. As he sips diet coke, he observes: "A wave is building in our favour". Others in the SUV nod their heads in agreement. His confidence comes from the regular briefing that he receives from his party men, even while on the move. "The rebels are being swept away. People give up on rebels and Independents close to the elections. I have experienced it when I contested as an Independent from Dakala in 1969", he says. At Tanda, a large number of ex-servicemen league supporters wait for him at a marriage palace, with chandeliers and pink zardozi, reminding one of the big fat weddings of the dollar-rich Doaba. "All we want is maan-satkaar ", says Col Bhag Singh. Amarinder tells them that all their demands, including removal of VAT on CSD items and exemption from toll tax, are part of the Congress agenda. Once in the SUV, Congress candidate from Tanda Sangat Singh Gilzian hops in and cries foul about a DSP and wants him shifted out. Amarinder promptly tells one of his aides to note the details and send a formal complaint to the Election Commission. On way to Garhshankar, Amarinder, who is often accused of not meeting people, agrees to make an impromptu halt at Chabbewal. Though he is only supposed to wave at the BJP youths who have switched over to the party and are now backing Raj Kumar, he willingly gets swept into a 'pandal' to interact with them. Congress activist Amarpreet Lally admits that Amarinder is party's trump card and every party candidate wants his "blessings". On the move again, the PCC chief reads his messages on the phone. "Who is Dilraj Singh Talwar? He is welcoming me to Hoshiarpur," he says, adding that he is continuously receiving messages wishing him luck. Other messages include one from a senior police officer predicting 34 seats for the Congress in the Malwa. "We are ahead of our rivals as per the IB and Punjab Intelligence reports. While the IB is giving the party 67 seats, the Intelligence wing is giving us 68," says Amarinder. "Our own Intelligence organisation of ex-servicemen is giving us 71", he adds. Undoubtedly, Malwa is upmost on Amarinder's mind. He indicates that he's is visiting the Dera Sachha Sauda soon. "The dera is a big factor in Malwa", he says, adding that the "Premis (as dera supporters are called) are supportive as they have felt suffocated under the SAD-BJP setup. But he admits that the Premis did not caste their vote in favour of Raninder (his son) in the Lok Sabha poll and had backed Harsimrat Badal. At Garhshankar, it's a big rally in support of Luv Kumar Goldy. Wrestling through the crowds, Amarinder once again takes the stage and promises to bring in genuine agriculture diversification besides addressing local issues, including subsidy for wire fencing of agricultural fields. In about 45 minutes, he's back in his SUV and tells his OSD to drive straight to Chandigarh where he has some "important" meetings. "I need to sort out some important things", he says. His aides reveal that once home, Amarinder spends almost two hours on the phone, contacting candidates, receiving a feedback and addressing their problems. The Maharaja of Patiala seems to be giving his best shot for the party's return to power and is confident that votes would be polled in Congress's favour on January 30. However, it will be a month-long wait before one knows the fate of various parties. Campaign mode He has been heli-hopping for the past 10 days His diet A connoisseur of food, Capt Amarinder, who loves cooking, seems to be surviving these days on cold chicken cutlets and his all-time favourite hand-made potato chips with diet coke
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Nawanshahr, January 28 They seek votes for Sandhu to help “realise the dreams of Bhagat Singh” and to bring in a corruption-free system. Locked in a tight triangular contest with the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sandhu is slugging it out with the help of relatives and friends. Some of them have come for campaigning from overseas. PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal, bogged down in other areas, has not been able to visit the constituency after the launch of his party campaign from here.The party’s star campaigner, Bhagwant Mann, had promised to campaign for Sandhu, but is yet to do so. Mann is himself locked in a stiff contest with former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from Lehragaga. Sandhu believes that he will be able to trounce the two women candidates of the SAD and the Congress. Both are widows and are banking on the sympathy factor. Sandhu claims the people will opt for him as they are fed up with corruption. He hopes to cash in on the fact that the people of the area recognise his family’s contribution to the freedom struggle. The SAD has fielded Satinder Kaur Kariha, widow of its sitting MLA who died last year.The Congress has opted for Gur Iqbal Kaur, whose husband Parkash Singh was a former Congress MLA. All three candidates are locked in a stiff fight, though Congress appears to have the edge. The constituency has two towns, Nawanshahr and Rahon, and 122 villages. Post-delimitation, Khatkar Kalan, the native village of Bhagat Singh, now falls in the Banga (reserve) segment. Spread out from Kahma to Daulalpur on the Chandigarh road and Rahon along the Satluj to Nora Bhora on the Garshankar road, the constituency falls within a radius of about 27 km. Sandhu and his cousins Zorawar Singh (son of paternal uncle Kultar Singh), Manjit Singh (son of maternal aunt Bibi Amar Kaur) and Paramjit Singh (a friend from the US) walk about 15 km everyday, going from house to house with placards of Shaheed-e-Azam. Several members of Bhagat Singh’s family have tried their hand at politics in the past, but without success.
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Jagraon, January 28 Bumpy rides to the villages of Jagraon in cold are, to him, a physical reminder of the changed reality-the transformation of a bureaucrat into a politician. As the SAD candidate from Jagraon that was declared “reserved” post-delimitation, Kaler’s priority is to “connect” with the people from different walks of life. He’s pitted against the Congress candidate, Ishar Singh Meharban. Dressed immaculately, he stands out among the villagers, who are swaddled in an assortment of warm clothes, that are an unfashionable antidote to the winter chill. The moment the former ADC, Ludhiana, folds his hands to greet the villagers, the gathering at Abbupura village in Jagraon warms up to him. He’s in time for his scheduled visit to the village. Punctuality is his strong point, he believes. Dhadi singers are eulogising the SAD rule. A supporter takes charge of the preliminaries. He begins, “Kaler saab has had 48 years of administrative experience….” “I wasn’t 12-year-old when I got the job,” mutters Kaler almost inaudibly. He juggles a few phone calls and some stray complaints about anomalies in the voters’ list till it’s his turn to address a gathering. The thrust of his speech is his experience as an administrator. He promises to draw liberally from his repertoire of administrative experience. There’s some emotive appeal, too, when he says he has seen life in the raw. “My father was a labourer. It was not easy for him to educate his children,” he tells the audience. The speech shifts to the SAD manifesto and the “developmental projects” undertaken by the Akali government. “As your MLA, I will only be a phone call away,” he says while promising to work for the efficient implementation of the Right to Services Act. Once the speech is over, he’s ready for a photo shoot. A 90-year-old man greets him enthusiastically and offers him his family’s support. Kaler snatches a few minutes from his packed schedule to offer condolences to a family that has seen a death recently. Abbupura village is done. It’s over to the next village.
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Tough fight for Bhattal in Lehragaga
Lehra, January 28 Bhattal is leaving nothing to chance as she merely made it with 262 votes against the SAD’s Prem Singh Chandumajra in 2007. She has had it somewhat easy with the SAD fielding a new face each election. This time, satirist Bhagwant Mann, PPP candidate, is posing a serious challenge to her. The SAD nominee and former PCS officer, Sukhwant Singh
Sarao, is primarily banking on the party goodwill. “The people are fed up of false promises of turning Punjab into Singapore. I tell the people that they have tried both the Congress and the SAD for 35 years and should now give a chance to the PPP”, says Mann. He seems to be attracting the youth who form a major part of his audience. Mann connects well with the people. He promises a group of elderly women carrying pitchers that he will bring tap water to their homes. “You voted for Bibi
(Bhattal) four times, yet there has been no respite from poverty. You have to walk miles everday to fetch water”, he tells them. He says deaths due to hepatitis, jaundice and cancer are on the rise. “The average age span in the area is not more than 55. I tell the people they deserve better, they should demand better then mere subsistence”, says Mann in his theatrical style. He updates the PPP Facebook account every morning before moving
out. Sarao, SAD nominee, goes house to house, speaking of the performance of the
SAD-BJP alliance. Talking of development under the Badal regime, he promises to focus more on this backward area if the alliance returns to power. The constituency is spread across 72 villages and three towns-
Lehra, Moonak and Khanouri. Some 27 villages adjoining Tohana and Jakhal constituencies of Haryana speak
Haryanvi. Bhattal’s performance as MLA notwithstanding, what appears to be going in favour of the Congress nominee is the fact that she alone is certain to get a berth in the Cabinet if her party wins. The people feel there is little chance of the PPP forming government on its own and if the Akalis stage a comeback, a victorious Sarao is unlikely to be made minister. Soni canvasses for Bhattal
Lehra: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika
Soni, addressing a rally to conclude Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s campaign at Lehra this afternoon, described the
Akalis’ development agenda as a farce. She said Punjab was under a Rs 72,000 crore debt and was being run on Central grants, the fiscal management was so bad that the
SAD-BJP Government could not utilise more than Rs 800 crore out of the Rs. 4,870 crore provided by the UPA Government for upkeep of hospitals and
dispensaries. Soni, who was accompanied by cinestar Raj Babbar, said she was hopeful that Bhattal and Amarinder would form the next government and take the state to new heights. She claimed that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had impressed upon her to canvass for Bhattal to ensure she won with a big margin.
Bhattal said now that the Akalis saw their votes dwindling, they had raised the slogan of “Sikh Panth in danger”. — TNS
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Voters in Kandi area decry Land Act
Mohali, January 28 But none of the politicians in the poll fray has bothered to address the core issue that has made their lives miserable. “In every election, we take up the issue with the contesting candidates, but they seldom take it up. Instead, false cases are registered against us when we till our agriculture land that falls under the PLPA. On the other hand, wealthy outsiders cut down hills to construct farmhouses and go scot-free”, said Bhag Singh, a resident of Nagal village. The PLPA prohibits the landowners from changing the land use as it affects the eco-fragile Shivalik hills. But there are pockets of agricultural land that falls within the PLPA domain. In Nadha, Seonk, Jyanti Majri, Bhagindi, Nagal, Paerch, Tarapur Majri, Gochar, Mirzapur, Siswan and Bhurana villages ‘influential’ outsiders had levelled the parts of the hill to carve out roads and construct farmhouses for their leisure, said Krishan Chand, a resident of Karaundewala village. “Despite being the inhabitant of the village, forest officials registered false cases against me. On the other hand, farmhouses constructed around the village have not been noticed by the forest department officials,” a resident said.
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Probe Lambi’s electoral rolls:
Maheshinder
Chandigarh, January 28 In his complaint, Maheshinder had stated that substantial numbers of voters in Lambi constituency, where the CM was contesting as a SAD candidate, were registered in neighboring villages of Rajasthan and Haryana also. Enclosing two different lists of voters having names of same voters, Maheshinder urged the EC for an investigation into the electoral rolls of
Lambi.
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Razia, Farzana woo rural voters
Malerkotla, January 28 Razia, ADGP Mohammad Mustafa’s wife, is a two-time MLA, while Farzana, former DGP Izhar Alam’s wife, is a political novice. The loud, bustling markets accentuate the poll fervour. A poster declaring “Khushhaal Malerkotla Da Sapna, Sacch Karega Alam Aapna” finds space on the wall of a building with lurid posters of ‘adult’ films. A large hoarding of Razia dwarfs the signage on a shop selling utensils. “It’s a tough fight between the two officers, ?I mean their wives,” observes a man, siping tea. A van drives past, blaring out a song on why Farzana should be voted. A softer music fills the air with a female voice singing praises of Razia. Malerkotla, a town with over 60 per cent Muslim population, squelches stereotypes in a go. The poll has made the women here more articulate.
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Gurdaspur MP gives boost to wife’s campaign
Qadian, January 23 Addressing public meetings at Tungalwar and Gurdas Nangal, Charanjit said that her husband was responsible for the prosperity of the area. "Bajwa sahab ne sadkan da jaal bichaa dita", she said while appreciating the work done by her husband as PWD minister in the previous Congress government. Making it clear that she was not just filling up the gap created after her husband was elected to the Parliament, Charanjit said that she would be available to redress grievances of the people. "Any one facing problem can ring me up directly," she said. Charanjit accuses her rival and SAD candidate Sewa Singh Sekhwan of leaving the people of Qadian in the lurch despite winning the by-election from the area (then Kahnuwan) when her husband was elected to the Parliament. Sekhwan had shifted base to Batala six months back and came back only after he was denied ticket from Batala. Charanjit, who also runs an NGO that provides medical services, is also targeting farmers living along the Beas river in Kahnuwan Bet area. The Bajwa family has also got its act together with Partap’s younger brother Fatehjang Bajwa, who was disappointed after being denied the party ticket, is now campaigning full time with his sister-in-law. Partap Bajwa, who is managing his wife’s electioneetig, has been successful in soliciting the support of 22,000 strong Christian community. On the other hand, SAD candidate Sewa Singh Sekhwan is allegedly facing the wrath of the people for shifting base to Batala. Sekhwan said that it was a mistake and he would remove all doubts of the people once he elected to the Vidhan Sabha. Rebel Congress leader Suchha Singh Chhotepur has a clean image but his vote bank is limited to 30 per cent of his erstwhile Dhariwal constituency, which is part of Qadian now. He is also targeting Akali votes in the area just because of people's resentment against
Sekhwan.
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Singla hits out at Harsimrat Kaur Manpreet to be treated in Delhi Hooda bats for Karan Kaur Brar Automated calls irk
voters Liquor tokens seized
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Unguided, rural youths end up with menial jobs
Chamkaur Sahib, January
28
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Twenty-year-old Sukhwinder Singh of Bur Majra village, who recently returned from the UK, drives his family tractor. All his attempts to settle abroad proved futile even though he spent Rs 10 lakh in the
process.
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Jaswinder Singh of Khhabde village didn’t study post-matriculation. Unguided and not knowing what to do after his tenth, he opted for a job at a gas station. The story of his friends is no different. Sotal village is not alone with a single teacher. Government schools are heavily short of teachers and a parallel system of school education in private institutes has flourished. Sukhwinder too is not a singular case of having been duped by “agents” as a network of misguiding students in the name of sending them abroad is present in all townships. Except routine cases, there has been no step worth a mention from the state in checking the
crime. Sarpanch Paramjit Singh personally goaded parents to withdraw their wards from private schools for the new government middle school. “The tragedy is that the school only has one teacher. Though computers are there, they require a teacher. My repeated visits to leaders and the education office in Chandigarh have borne no fruit,” he says. Bhupinder
Kaur, a former headmistress says, “A sizable number of poor students who are exceptionally good in their studies do not know where to go after school because they have no money and no options.”
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Shifted from
Lambi, SHO attends Badal’s rally Lambi, January 28 Harinder Singh Chameli, who was shifted to Ludhiana, was spotted in civvies standing beside the SUV of Sukhbir Badal behind the stage. Said Harsh Bansal, Muktsar SSP, “A police officer who has been transferred cannot attend any political rally officially.” He, however, said as the officer belonged to another district, he would not be able to take action against him. Ashish Chaudhary, Ludhiana DCP, said, “Harinder is on medical leave and he can’t attend any political rally. If he was there, we will take action against him after receiving a report from the election authorities in Muktsar.” Lambi’s Returning Officer Sandeep Rishi said, “We haven’t received any complaint. If Harinder attended the rally in violation of the rules, action will be taken against him”.
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For every SC appearance, Punjab AG gets Rs 2.5 lakh
Chandigarh, January 27 The State is paying a whopping Rs 2.5 lakh per appearance to its Advocate-General for cases before the Supreme Court and other Courts outside Chandigarh. In addition to the fee, the Advocate-General is being paid Rs 1.1 lakh for settling of petition, counter petitions, rejoinders and opinions. He gets another Rs 1.1 lakh for each conference. In all, the Advocate-General can get up to Rs 4.7 lakh in case of a single conference. In cases of multiple conferences, he gets Rs 1.1 lakh for each session. Conference basically is briefing session by the junior lawyer. The revised rates in Punjab came into existence from October 14, 2011. The enormity of the fee paid to the Advocate-General can be gauged from the fact that the Attorney-General of India, the first law officer of the country, the Solicitor-General of India and other law officers in the Supreme Court are paid Rs 10,000 per appearance for special leave petitions, original suits, appeals, and references under Article 143. An amount of Rs 16,000 per appearance is handed over to them in case of writ petitions filed directly in the Supreme Court. For settling and preparing statement of case, they get Rs 6,000. The Attorney-General and the law officers do not charge for conferences. The rates payable to the Advocate-General assume significance as he occasionally appears before the Supreme Court on Mondays and Fridays, when miscellaneous petitions are taken up for hearing. The Advocate-General has, rather, been appearing in cases other than the ones involving larger issues hovering around the interests of the State. He has, in fact, been appearing even in cases where the State has been directed to "pay basic of the salary in the pay scale prescribed for the post of Block Primary Education Officer". On the other hand, the AG office has been courting controversies. Last year, Justice LN Mittal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court minced no words while ruling that great difficulty and inconvenience was being experienced in Punjab cases. "Either the law officer does not appear, or the law officer is not prepared for the case, or the law officer does not have the necessary documents, forcing unnecessary adjournments".
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Court denies bail to Sukhi Chahal
Ludhiana, January 28 Dismissing the bail, Chief Judicial Magistrate Balwinder Kumar Sharma observed that he was declared proclaimed offender (PO) on July 2, 1997. There was no reasonable explanation as to why accused absented from court for about 15 years. In its bail plea, the accused had pleaded that he was released in this case on regular bail. But he was informed that he was discharged from the case. Sukhi Chahal was arrested from Mohali by Patiala police and further handed over to Ludhiana few days ago and sent on 14-day judicial remand by the court.— TNS
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Many may regard Manpreet Badal as being too cultured, suave and nice to be
capable of negotiating the bends in the rough and tumble of Indian politics. 
It's a miracle that Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh's Audi Q7 hits no one, as it inches out of the crowded
'Kanak Mandi' in Hoshiarpur. Oblivious to the travails of his OSD, Major
Amardeep, who steers the vehicle through the crowd, Amarinder enjoys every moment with the people-extending his arm out to shake hands with almost anyone who can reach him. A smile on his face, he asks the youngsters, "beta kiddan ho" (Son, how are you?).
Dressed as Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, supporters of the legendary freedom fighter walk the streets of Nawanshahr along with the martyr’s nephew Abhey Singh Sandhu, People’s Party of Punjab member and Sanjha Morcha candidate from this constituency.
Bureaucrat-turned-politician Shiv Ram Kaler likes to give an early start to his day. The poll campaigning just does not brook any delays.
Bumpy rides to the villages of Jagraon in cold are, to him, a physical reminder of the changed reality-the transformation of a bureaucrat into a politician.
It’s do or die for the three main contenders - a seasoned politician, a novice and a former bureaucrat- from this constituency.This assembly segment in South-East Punjab was once a Left stronghold till former Congress Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal wrested the seat in 1992. She has since remained
untoppled.
Such random pictures of directionless youth speak best about a failed education system at ground level, particularly in rural areas of the state. A cross section of youth, residents and even sarpanches spoke about their disillusionment with different governments over the past several decades during a conversation with The
Tribune.