Randhawa booked for giving police a slip
Amritsar, January 30
The city police has registered another case against Senior Deputy Mayor and former Akali leader Ajaybir Pal Singh Randhawa for giving a slip to the cops with the help of some of his supporters.

Amritsar, January 30
The Excise and Taxation Department has suspended two Excise Inspectors for alleged negligence in connection with the seizure of a huge quantity of liquor from a rice sheller godown located in the Tarn Taran road area here. Over 21,000 cases of liquor were seized by a police party following a tip-off on January 23. Senior administrative and police officials, headed by Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal and RP Mittal, had reached the spot.

As the area falls in the Amritsar (South) constituency, supporters of Congress candidate from the area Jasbir Singh Dimpa and SAD rebel candidate Gurpartap Singh Tikka had reached the spot and raised slogans against the administration while claiming that the liquor belonged to SAD candidate Inderbir Singh Bolaria. However, the claims were strongly refuted by Bolaria and termed the incident as a conspiracy to defame him. A case was registered against unknown persons in this connection.

A senior official of the Excise Department confirmed that Jatinder Singh and Narinder Singh, Excise Inspectors posted at Amritsar-I and Amritsar-II branches of the department, respectively, had been suspended for negligence.

Besides, he added, the department had also cancelled the licence of Gagan Wine as the whole stock of seized liquor belonged to them.

He said further investigations were under progress.

Paramilitary forces jawan stands guard as voters stand in a queue to cast their vote at a polling station during the Assembly polls in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Amritsar, January 30
Barring two minor incidents in the Amritsar (Central) constituency, the elections remained by and large peaceful in Amritsar here today. Thanks to tight security arrangements made by the Police Department at all the polling booths. The extra deployment of paramilitary forces and Punjab Police jawans was made at critical, hypersensitive and sensitive polling booths in order to avoid any untoward incident on the polling day.

Meanwhile, on an average 65 per cent voting was recorded in the five urban constituencies here.

According to official press note issued by Deputy Electoral Officer Rajat Aggarwal, the Amritsar (East) constituency, which is witnessing a triangular contest between Congress’ Sunil Datti, BJP’s Dr Navjot Sidhu and Congress rebel Simarpreet Kaur Bhatia contesting independently, recorded 68 per cent polling.

This was followed by the Amritsar (North) constituency, which witnessed 66 per cent voting. There is close contest between sitting BJP MLA Anil Joshi and Congress candidate Karamjit Singh Rintu.

The Amritsar (Central) constituency from where three-time Congress MLA OP Soni is pitted against BJP’s Tarun Chugh, recorded 65 per cent polling. Sanjha Morcha and CPM candidate Vijay Mishra is also in the fray here.

The Amritsar (South) and (West) constituencies recorded 63 and 56 per cent polling. While Congress candidate Rajkumar Verka is fighting against two-time BJP councillor Rakesh Gill from the Amritsar (West) constituency, Sanjha Morcha and CPI candidate Amarajit Singh Asal has emerged as a strong contender for the seat making the contest triangular.

In the Amritsar (South) constituency sitting SAD MLA is facing tough competition from SAD rebel Gurpartap Singh Tikka and Congress’ candidate Jasbir Singh Dimpa.

Meanwhile, senior police officials, including Police Commissioner RP Mittal, remained on their toes throughout the day and visited a number of polling stations along with the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer. They were found personally checking the voter slips of the persons entering the booths for exercising their franchise.

Over 3,000 police jawans, along with four companies of paramilitary forces, were deployed in the city. There were apprehensions of violence in several constituencies, including Amritsar (North), (South) and (East) owing to close contest between the candidates besides polling booths falling in urban slums.

Congress and BJP workers clashed in the Haripura and Tunda Talab areas over some minor issues. However, the polling process continued without any disturbance as police teams immediately reached the spot and managed to control the situation.

Amritsar, January 30
With the electoral authorities’ decision to make video of the whole polling process at sensitive and hypersensitive booths for the first time in order to ensure free and fair 
elections in Punjab, the cameramen had a hay day today.

Lakhwinder Singh, a cameraman, had been working since morning at booth number 44 at a government school in Ganda Singh Wala in Majitha Road area, falling under the Amritsar (North) constituency, which is categorised as very sensitive constituency.

“I am very happy. I have been handsomely paid by the election authorities, much higher than our daily earnings,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that every cameraman is being paid Rs 1,200 for the day for making video of the poll process for whole day. Lakhwinder said he was directed to do video recording of inside and outside the polling booths besides recording any untoward incident if happens.

About 200 cameramenwere hired by the district administration and deployed in as many polling booths in 11 constituencies of the district.

Dinesh Sehgal, another cameraman in the Amritsar (South) constituency, said they were sent to the polling booths last evening.

“It’s a unique experience to cover the elections. After the election process ends in the evening, we have to deposit all the video cassettes to the election authorities at the designated places,” said Sehgal.

Another cameraman in the Amritsar (West) constituency said, “I cancelled the booking of a programme and preferred to video record the elections process as it was more beneficial financially, but also I wanted to be part of the election process.”

“This is my way of showing national integrity. Not only I exercised my franchise and cast vote, but also become a part of the election process,” he added.

As many as 32 polling stations in the city were critical, while 98 booths were designated as hypersensitive. Majority of these booths fall in the Amritsar (North), (South), (East) constituencies and slum areas. The police had deployed extra forces at these sensitive constituencies.

Amritsar, January 30
Even as the district administration organised a programme to pay homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on Balidan Divas at the Jallianwala Bagh, but politicians, including from the Congress, were conspicuous by their absence.

In the din of the Assembly elections, politicians forgot the all-important day on which the Mahatma was martyred. These leaders preferred to stay in their constituencies and watch the voting trend.

Barring Social Family Welfare Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, no other politician turned up at the historic bagh to pay homage to the Mahatma. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal paid floral tributes to all martyrs of the freedom struggle at the martyrs’ flame in the historic bagh.

Among others freedom fighters, members of NGOs, officials of the district administration and Police Commissioner RP Mittal observed a two-minute silence.

A group of Punjab Police personnel saluted the martyrs by reversing their arms.

A small group of Congress leaders and workers, led by District Congress Committee president Jugal Kishore Sharma, paid tributes to the Mahatma in front of his statue at the historic Ram Bagh. He accepted that a limited number of leaders could attend the Balidan Divas function as they were busy in the elections.

Amritsar, January 30
Although the Election Commission made special arrangements for the visually impaired voters, the staffs at polling booths were not aware of the process for themselves. Visually impaired voters were not offered separate queue and they had to wait for their turn along with others.

The polling booth inside the Institute for Blind did not use Braille papers, containing the party names and symbols, until the officials of the Institute intervened.

Shravan Kumar (32), BA Part I student, said he felt great to be able to vote for a candidate of his choice. He declined any assistance while casting vote. Another visually impaired voter, Purshottam Das, said at present there was no mechanism in ensuring employment and fixed salary even after conclusion of vocation courses for people like him. He said visually challenged, on the line of guaranteed employment scheme MNREGA, must be extended employment to make them self sufficient.

Amritsar, January 30
First time voters here said they were 'very excited' to vote today. They, however, alleged that political parties have disregarded their issues so far. The first time voters were mainly concerned about quality higher education, better civic infrastructure, BPL quotas, social security and corruption.

Raghav Bhardwaj, a BTech student, said whoever comes to power must generate more and more employment opportunities. “The youngsters of the city are left with no choice but to move to Chandigarh, Delhi or other metro cities. I expect the government to develop job opportunities so that we can live and work here. I am happy to be a part of the system by voting today,” he said.

Sheetal, Deepika and Rabia, also first time voters, said the politicians should visit colleges on regular intervals to get feedbacks from students. They also said that the caste-based quotas should stop now. “Caste-based quotas discourage merits. The government should provide free quality education to poor for an inclusive growth.” They also said, “Supreme Court’s direction of reserving 25 per cent of seats in all schools for the underprivileged children should be followed. This will ensure quality education for all. It is the duty of MLAs to ensure that Right to Education Act is implemented in schools of their areas. We are sure our choice in this election would make a difference,” they added.

Anita and Shivya, college students, said youngsters’ interests were ignored. The system is corrupted to the core. The youngsters only can change this system and that’s why we are here to do our part,” they said.

Shivya said law and order problem and inflation concerns her the most. Richa, a newly married woman, said, “Prices of essential commodities have escalated many folds. The government needs to check this. The deteriorating law and order system in the city makes it difficult for us to stay outside after evening. Even the busiest Lawrence road is not safe. The police needs more alert so that the girls can move around without any sort of hesitation.”

Amritsar, January 30
Although only one womancandidate was fielded by the political parties here, women of the city came out in full force to exercise their voting right. While talking to The Tribune they spoke on what they desire from their representatives. Jasso, a resident of Hindustan Basti and mother of four children, was appalled at the deplorable condition of lavatories in her area. She said 12 toilet sets for men and women in her area were hardly cleaned and caused health hazard to the residents.

She brought the matter to the notice of BJP’s Anil Joshi and Congress nominee Karamjit Singh Rintu when they visited the area during their poll campaign.

She also said the lavatories were of tremendous use for families who do not have toilet facilities at their home.

Santosh Kumari, another voter of the area, said constant sewerage overflow had worsened the civic condition of the locality. She said residents of the area told the politicians about the problem they were facing.

Sunita Khanna (42), a resident of Bombay Wala Khoo, said her major issue was the recent rise in education fee. She said her eldest son was studying in Class VIII and younger daughter in Class VI. She said, “If the trend continues the day is not far when the education would be the privilege of wealthy families only.” The successive governments were not putting serious efforts to curb inflation and bringing down education fees, she added.

Saruchi, a resident of posh Rani Ka Bagh locality, said the government failed to address the issue of providing ample
number of houses to the people.

“Land prices and housing loan interest have gone up tremendously. Many families in need of a house are unable to make a purchase,” she said.

Amritsar, January 30
In last ditch effort to woo voters, candidates contesting Assembly elections violated the election code of conduct.

After not adhering to the Election Commission’s directions about removing their posters or hoardings 48 hours before the poll process, the candidates sent SMSes to voters while indicating the exact location of the button against their names.

One such message was received from BJP candidate Tarun Chugh’s side, which conveyed “Vote and support Tarun Chugh, chon nishaan kamal da phul. batan no 3”. The message also appealed to the subscribers to forward it to their near and dear ones.

Taking cognisance of the violation, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer Rajat Aggarwal said the content of the message was objectionable under the election code of conduct. “Though we have not received any complaint in this regard, but if it is so then, it is a violation of the poll conduct to indicate the button number on the electronic voting machines,” he said.

Earlier, the DEO had issued notices to the candidates, who had been campaigning by messaging through cell phones, as they did not seek permission before engaging this special SMS service devised by various service providers, thereby escaping the attention of poll observers from accounting the expense in their poll expenditure.

Even as the candidates had submitted their expenditure details, the DEO had sent the report back to the service provider for getting it verified before putting the expenditure in their poll account.