Syasat

It’s Badals vs. Patiala royals in Punjab

2009-05-07T01:54:00.000-07:00

Four constituencies in the State go to polls in the first phase

V for victory: Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is contesting from the Bhatinda parliamentary constituency, at a public meeting in the constituency on Tuesday.

K. V. Prasad
SANGRUR: Punjab is getting ready to go to the polls in the first phase on Thursday and the battle opener in the four constituencies of Patiala, Bhatinda, Sangrur and Ferozepur can set the pace for the main political rivals – the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress party.
While the Akali leader and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal may claim that the contest is between parties, the buzz among party workers is that this election is a direct duel between the two big political families of the State -- the Badals and the Patiala royals represented by former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh; his wife and Congress MP from Patiala Parneet Kaur who is now seeking a third term in the Lok Sabha; and their son Raninder Singh, a candidate from Bhatinda.
Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who has taken over command of the campaign, has made the contest a matter of prestige by fielding his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal in Bhatinda, considered an Akali stronghold. She also hails from another prominent Majitha family with her brother Bikaramjit Singh serving as a powerful Minister in the Badal Government.
On the other hand, Raninder Singh has been nursing the constituency for the past few years and is credited to be the architect behind the Congress winning the maximum seats in the Malwa region when it faced a rout in Majha and Doaba, the other two regions of Punjab, in the 2007 State Assembly polls. The stakes are high for both sides.
Yet one factor, the call by the influential Dera Sacha Sauda sect to vote for the Congress two years ago enabling the party to buck the anti-incumbency trend against the Amarinder Singh Government, is missing. Having faced turbulence and criminal cases against its chief, the Dera has preferred to advise its followers spread across Punjab and Haryana to vote according to local “consensus”.
Elsewhere the Congress has fielded former MP and strongman Jagmeet Singh Brar from Ferozepur while in Sangrur, former State Youth Congress chief Vijay Inder Singla is engaged in a tight contest with sitting MP and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
Mr. Singla may be a rookie in poll politics but being the son of former State Minister and former MP Sant Ram Singla he has the blessings of the Patiala palace.
Adding to it is the talk that he is among the four youth candidates handpicked by Rahul Gandhi in the State where he initiated the process of internal democracy in the State Youth Congress to elect its leaders.

Have full backing of Congress High Command: Amarinder Singh

2008-12-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

Patiala : Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, in-charge of party's poll campaign committee, on said he would submit names of probable Congress candidates for contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Punjab to the Congress High Command soon. He would hand over the list to the Central leadership soon after completing his five-day campaign tour of the state, Singh told reporters here. He alleged attempts were being made to scuttle his tour, but added he had full backing of the Congress High Command. "I am doing my job. I have invited every party leader to join the poll campaign tour. Even if no one accompanies me, I will move around the state alone," the former Punjab Chief Minister said.

Punjab minister confirms Badal's bought airplane

2008-12-07T01:46:00.000-08:00

CHANDIGARH: Rumours circulating in political circles for the past few months about SAD president Sukhbir Badal buying an airplane were finally confirmed on Monday when his brother-in-law and Punjab minister Bikram Majithia admitted that an aircraft had indeed been purchased by a company promoted by the Majithia family.
Majithia, the information and public relations minister, claimed the plane was bought by a company, Orbit Aviation Pvt Ld, an "offshoot of Saraya aviation company,'' and owned by Majithia's father and well-known Delhi based aviator Satyajit Majithia. The Orbit Resorts , owned by Sukhbir Badal, has also subscribed share applications in it, thus making it a jointly owned asset by the Badals and Majithias. Majithia's statement, which came in response to former CM Amarinder Singh's allegation that the Badals had bought a plane with their "ill-gotten money'' (Rs 25 crore), ridiculed the Congress leader for making such charges and stated that a loan of Rs 19.25 crore from the Punjab National Bank had been taken for the purchase. He also claimed that his family hadn't one but four planes, three of which were bought in 1970 and one has been recently acquired. "But, all these belong to companies of which my father Satyajit Singh Majithia and brother Gurmehar Singh are the directors. We have been in aviation business for nearly 40 years now and Amarinder knows it because he has several times flown in our planes as a passenger.'' Though no other details about the plane were mentioned, information accessed by TOI revealed that the plane, an 8-seater Cessna 525A, with registration number VT-PSB, was bought in August this year according to the Non-Scheduled Operators Permit issued to it by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The permit is valid for one year. Interestingly, Orbit Aviation Pvt Ltd, which Majithia said was promoted by his Delhi based father, is registered in Chandigarh. Attempts to contact Majithia for further clarification failed as he wasn't available on his phone. Lashing back at Amarinder, Majithia said, "He (Amarinder) wants the people to believe that a full fledged passenger aircraft is a toy plane that can be bought in a fun market with black money. And he thinks that one can inscribe one's name on an aircraft like one does on a tractor trolley.'' The plane has PSB embossed on it and Amarinder had said it stood for chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Badals are instigating "Political terrorism" in Punjab:Amarinder

2008-12-07T01:43:00.000-08:00

Alleging that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal, President of Sad were instigating "Political terrorism" in the state because as many as 48 congress workers were murdered in the state, Former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today warned them of dire consequences if they did not stop such "political terrorism". Singh was here in the city to attend a function organized by the Hind Samachar Group of newspapers to disburse fund of Rs two crore to Bihar Chief Minister's Relief Fund, told reporters that there would be blood shed in the parliamentary election, if SAD did not mend its way to spread "political terrorism" as it done in civic polls. "The entire plan to terrorise Congress leaders and workers is being executed by Sukhbir and his brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia under the patronage of the Chief Minister, who has virtually given up to the dictates of his ambitious son ever since formation of the SAD-BJP government," Amarinder alleged. Alleging politicization of state force, Former CM alleged that that even SHO of the state force was being appointed on the direct intervention of Sukhbir Badal and there was told disorder in the system as junior police officials were even not obeying the orders of their seniors and merely follow the instructions of their political masters. Reacting on the recent statement of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in which he said that there would no impact of global economic recession on the industry of Punjab, Former CM said that instead of issuing such irresponsible statement, CM should have taken the steps to improve industrialization of the state, which was a record slow pace. "During our tenure, we had brought 399 mega industrials projects, but after SAD-BJP's coming into power, all projects derailed due to faulty policies of the state government", he added.

Obama - a triumph over racial bigotry

2008-11-05T23:08:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week the more cautious were awaiting the official results of Tuesday's US presidential election before exhaling and plunging into the spreading worldwide excitement of the first African American chosen to occupy the White House. But the victorious, history-making Barack Obama remained stoic with his central message.
RICKEY SINGH
Read that core message as, "vindication of my faith in the American people". It is one that he has been eloquently and passionately articulating for some two years in his momentous battle to become the 44th president of the USA.That "vindication" resided in his belief - as outlined in The Audacity of Hope - that for all the crude deformities of genocide against indigenous Americans, African slavery and racial segregation in US history, its predominantly white, Caucasian people were quite capable of choosing him, in this first decade of the 21st century, as their 44th president.
Any understanding of the demographic structure of the American society, composition of the electorate and general voting patterns would confirm that even if all eligible African-American voters (estimated at some 22 per cent) and Hispanic electors (just over nine per cent) had voted for Obama - which did not happen - he could never have defeated a tough battleaxe like Senator John McCain.
His expected decisive victory had to flow significantly from the bosom of white Americans with, most refreshingly, a good percentage of them between the ages of 18 and 29. America has therefore undergone a cultural and political metamorphosis - undoubtedly and ironically partly influenced by eight years of the ideology and governance politics of George W Bush.
The stirring pleas of Obama for "change" and his faith to believe that "change we can", have won. The victory over the sins of racial bigotry and a cock-eyed view of America's "leadership" role in the world under George Bush have been dealt a severe blow.
And so too the kind of wicked cynicism of Bush's hawkish vice-president, Dick Cheney, that led him to endorse McCain in the closing round of the election campaign. He and Bush would have already been able to assess what poor judgement McCain had exercised in choosing the unpredictable Sarah Palin as his vice-president Americans' triumph over deep-seated racial patterns in voting have scored well in America's quest, now under Obama's presidency, to restore a quality of moral leadership in global governance that had been seriously impaired by the outgoing Bush administration.
Therefore, let all Caribbean citizens, not just those of the diaspora in the USA who would have voted for him, join President-elect Obama in scoring one for a resounding triumph over racial bigotry at Tuesday's election.
That bigotry is the disease which has so painfully inhabited, for far too long, the culture and politics of what still stands as a towering democracy of the world. Consequently, lesson one of Obama's victory for all citizens of our multi-ethnic, multicultural Caribbean, a region often viewed as a microcosm of the world, is the strength and value of racial tolerance in nation building.
The American electorate, by their historic decision to elect Barack Obama, son of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother (both deceased), have sent a signal to all humanity where racism remains a distressing factor: enough of racial bigotry. Vote for the best, not for race or religion.
It is a good time for the people of this region, including decision-makers, to cease shouting, expediently, national mottos that remind us of our common heritage as citizens of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural societies of the Caribbean Community, while allowing racial and cultural prejudices to feed emotions and exercise them, accordingly, at national elections, or in the conduct of the nation's business.
Even while Obama and McCain were slugging it out in America's most challenging, exciting and costly presidential election campaign - look out for the investigation into Obama's US$600 million-plus funding - the stress and pain of race politics were becoming more worrying in some Caricom states in the southern and eastern region.
This challenge should be seriously addressed, instead of being conveniently swept under the carpet, or pretending it's not the case. More on this later.For now, we await the quality of American men and women, of all races and creeds, who will be chosen for the first ever administration of the first African-American president of superpower USA.

'Conservative' rivals go head-to-head in city's N.E.

2008-09-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Ethnic politicking takes centre stage at campaign kickoffs
Jason Markusoff, Calgary heraald

Published: Monday, September 22, 2008
The two men who say they're the Conservative candidates in Calgary Northeast each held campaign kickoff rallies Sunday, each standing in front of blue signs, pledging allegiance to Stephen Harper and saying the other guy isn't the real Conservative.
Both campaigns also spoke of ethnic politicking: official Conservative candidate Devinder Shory said he won't run his campaign "based on caste, creed or religion," while the campaign manager of "independent Conservative" Roger Richard claimed Shory won his party's nomination with non-citizen teenage voters and through other sketchy techniques.
"We wanted to get the word out to the Caucasian public that there is an independent conservative candidate," Perry Cavanagh said in an interview। He lost the Tory nomination contest and is now managing Richard's underdog bid।

Moments later, Cavanagh said the independent's campaign has "nothing to do with race." During Richard's rally, Calgary TV host Kumar Sharma urged on supporters in both English and Punjabi. Art Hanger, who's retiring after five terms as MP for Calgary Northeast, said that ethnically tinged "brokerage politics" is a fixture in his and other city ridings. "There are main individuals within the ethnic communities that muster their people up to come and vote, and that doesn't necessarily reflect their individual stands," said Hanger, who initially encouraged Cavanagh to run. Sunday, he endorsed the actual Conservative candidate.
Shory refused to comment on Cavanagh's remark, or on any aspect of the Richard campaign. Flipping back and forth between Punjabi and English in his rally speech, the 50-year-old lawyer avoided mention of any of his rivals and pledged to run an honest, broad-based campaign.
"This will not be a brown campaign. This will not be a white campaign," he said outside his campaign office. "This will not be a campaign based on caste, creed or religion. We'll not run the campaign spreading baseless rumours."
Nearby, along McKnight Trail and 52nd Street S.E., several Richard election signs stood on public property. Their blue is only slightly darker than the shade on Harper and Shory signs. They read "Conservative" in large letters and "independent" in much smaller letters, but without the party's logo. Harper photos cover the walls in Richard's campaign office, moreso than in Shory's.
"As far as I'm concerned, the word conservative belongs to everybody that wants to be a conservative," Richard said. "If one is upset about it -- hey, let the people choose."
Hanger called the independent's signage "deceptive. There's no question about it." He told Shory's campaign event to try to help people sort out the confusion.
"You should spread word around that this is the guy to vote for," Hanger said, standing alongside Shory and fellow Calgary Tory stalwarts Deepak Obhrai and Jim Prentice.
Shory's campaign manager said trying to confuse voters won't work. "People in Calgary are smart enough not to be tricked," Kenton Dueck said.
Liberal candidate Sanam Kang hopes the duelling sign blues will boost his own chances। "I had to do a double take when I saw that," Kang said। "That can't be good for (Shory).

In a province where (official) Tory blue dominates the electoral map, party nomination contests can be as bitterly fought as general elections. There are also independents running as unofficial conservatives in Edmonton-Sherwood Park and Medicine Hat, ridings where the nominations were also controversial.
Cavanagh has filed a complaint with Elections Canada about Calgary Northeast's nomination earlier this year. He complains of ballots missing and membership irregularities, and decries the party's rule that allows landed immigrants to vote in nomination contests alongside Canadian citizens. Shory has insisted that all conservative voters will back him.
Dozens of people at the independent's campaign kickoff were drivers for Associated Cabs, many wearing the company's uniform shirts। Richard, president of Associated, said he invited them through the fleet's dispatch system, but he and several drivers said there were no inducements of any sort।

jmarkusoff@theherald।canwest।com , The Calgary Herald

Punjab : Violence in Panchayat Polls

2008-05-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Chandigarh : Incidents of violence, including clashes between workers of the ruling Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine, marred voting in Punjab’s panchayat polls Monday। One opposition Congress worker was killed and dozens of Congress and ruling Akali Dal-BJP workers were injured at various places in the violence।
In the border district of Tarn Taran, a Congress worker, Gurjant Singh, was stabbed near Khadoor Sahib by Akali Dal workers. He died later. Five other Congress workers were also injured in the clash. Four Akali workers were arrested following the violence.
Workers of the ruling alliance Akali Dal-BJP clashed at Daburjee near Amritsar Sunday night leading to injuries to over a dozen workers. Most of them were BJP workers who had to be admitted to hospital.
Supporters of BJP legislator from Amritsar Anil Joshi clashed with those of Akali legislator from Tarn Taran Harmit Singh Sandhu. The Akali supporters set the BJP legislator’s vehicle on fire before the police intervened.
Joshi was also injured in the clash in which firing took place openly.
The Punjab chief minister rushed to the government hospital in Amritsar to know the well-being of the injured BJP workers to diffuse the tense situation. A case was registered by the police but no arrests were made. The incident is likely to further strain relations between the ruling alliance partners। Both sides have been trading charges in the run-up to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) polls. Punjab police officials admitted Monday that clashes took place at various places and small firearms and other crude weapons were used.
The Congress demanded cancellation of the zila parishad and panchayat elections alleging that the ruling Akali-BJP combine resorted to large-scale violence, booth-capturing and intimidation.
In Patiala district, the sub-divisional magistrate of Nabha had to lock the polling station after Akali workers captured it and were casting votes forcibly. The SDM took away the entire polling material. A police spokesman said that Congress workers entered a polling booth in Sultanpur village near Patiala and took away the ballot box. They later threw the ballot box into the village pond. Firing incidents were reported from Ludhiana, Bathinda, Moga, Gurdaspur and some other district also. At most places, the voting was between 55 to 70 percent. A Punjab police spokesman claimed that elections for 20 zila parishads and 141 panchayat samitis were held “peacefully”. Nearly 50,000 Punjab police personnel were deployed for poll duty at 12,288 polling stations and 17,021 polling booths। (IANS)

BJP not averse to seeking support from Dera

2008-04-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Bid to cut into the Congress vote bank in the Malwa belt
BJP leaders have held ‘clandestine meetings’ with heads of various religious sects in Punjab
In the last Assembly elections Dera followers had voted en block in favour of the Congress
Chandigarh: In a possible move to cut into the Congress vote bank in the Malwa belt of Punjab, the BJP on Friday said it is not averse to seeking support from the Dera Sacha Sauda.
"The BJP has so far not contacted any other party or group (for support), but the party will seek support from every one, including Dera Sacha Sauda," Punjab BJP secretary, Balbir Punj told reporters here on Friday.
The statement by the BJP leader assumes significance in the back drop of "clandestine meetings" of party leaders, including L.K. Advani, with heads of various religious sects, including Dera Beas, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
After the last Assembly polls, BJP’s major ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) strongly opposed the decision of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda followers to vote en block in favour of the Congress at the hustings which enabled it to get major chunk of seats in the Malwa region.
While the Akali leadership took strongly the decision of Dera followers to vote the Congress candidates, its ally BJP came out with an official statement condemning violence by political parties against the followers of head of Dera Sacha Sauda Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Manoranjan Kalia, who was accompanying Mr. Punj said: "the BJP supports religious freedom." "Nobody can be stopped from following his religion or sect," he added.
Before the Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP faces a litmus test as they will be contesting the Panchayat and Municipal Corporation polls.
Mr. Punj also took a dig at the UPA Government for its alleged failure to check rising inflation. "The UPA will have to pay for rising inflation in all the polls that are scheduled ahead," he said.
On the delay by the Parkash Singh Badal Government on appointments of chairpersons of Boards and Corporations, Mr. Punj said that, "I still have differences with the Akalis on this issue".

More trouble for Amarinder

2007-12-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

City Centre Scam : Capt, Jagjit named in VB challan
Chandigarh/Ludhiana : The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Monday filed a challan against 36 persons in the Ludhiana City Centre scam, including former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and former local bodies minister Jagjit Singh. They have been charged with connivance to cause a loss of Rs 2,644 crore.
According to the bureau, an illegality in the project had been done by changing the design of the project to add more area than permitted to financially benefit "Today Homes" and permitting the sale of properties of the project, in violations of the conditions the project.
The challan, filed in the court of district and sessions judge G.K. Rai, says Amarinder, his family, Jagjit Singh and former trustees of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and its former chairman, Wing Commander P.S. Sibia (retd), pocketed about Rs 12 crore in kickbacks. The former Chief Minister took Rs 5.5 crore in April, 2005. The transaction took place at the Delhi residence of his wife Preneet Kaur and the sum was deposited in his family account run by Chetan Gupta. Jagjit Singh took Rs 1 crore, Sibia pocketed Rs 30 lakh while trustees pocketed Rs 5 or Rs 15 lakh each.
The name of Bharat Inder Singh Chahal does not figure in the challan and nor does it include the name of former president of the PPCC H.S. Hanspal. Capt Rajesh, once termed as the main conduit in the scan by the Vigilance, does not figure in the challan even.
The challan was filed this morning by SSP (Vigilance) Ludhiana, Kanwaljit Singh. Sections 409, 420, 465, 467,468, 471, 201 and 120-B of the IPC have been invoked along with Sections 7,8,9, 13 (i), 13 (i C &D), 13 (ii) and 14 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in the challan.
The development comes just five days ahead of the scheduled start of the winter session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and also lays to rest all media speculations about a compromise having been stuck between the leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Amarinder Singh during October.
The challan also names Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh, his family friend Chetan Gupta, his relative Raminder Singh, alias Richi, former chairman of the LIT and former additional advocate-general Harpreet Singh Sandhu. Today Homes’ MD Gulshan Gambhir and Infrastructure Private Enterprises (consultants to the project) MD Ashwajit Singh have also been named in it.
Others who’s names figured in the challan are the seven former trustees of the LIT, Gurdayal Kaur Khangura (she is the mother of sitting Congress MLA Jassi Khangura), Navkar Jain, Bhupinder Singh Basant, Surinderpal Singh Bindra, Sanjay Talwar, Malkiat Kaur and Vijay Kumar Parti; two employees of the LIT, Manmohan Singh (SE) and Dyal Chand Garg (EO); nine employees of Today Homes, two employees of the Infrastructure Private Enterprises, five partners of GPC Properties that includes the wife and daughter of Today Homes’ boss Gulshan Gambhir and two partners of Karishma Estates.
According to the 106-page challan, major concessions were allowed to Today Homes. The eligibility criteria was relaxed and diluted to accommodate the company without which the company could not have even qualified as per the original parameters set by the LIT.
Chairman of the LIT P.S. Sibia illegally allowed Today Homes an increase in the built up area of the project and gave permission for including an additional area running into several lakh square feet. The original approved design was prepared by "Arkitectural Grid". Once the change of land use was allowed and the bidding was done, the LIT took upon a new design made by HoK Consultants. This firstly increased the covered area and within the covered area it reduced the area under the library, the museum and a recreation centre for children as part of the project. The challan says taking up a new design, that was not approved, was illegal.
This increase in area alone allowed a benefit of Rs 1,144 crore to the authorities concerned, the challan says, quoting a report of the Chief Town Planner, Punjab. The LIT allowed Today Homes to sell the property of the project even though the original bidding had said that the bidder and the LIT would enter into a joint venture. The bidder was to construct and use the place for 24 years before handing over the project back to the LIT on the pattern of a build-operate-and-transfer basis. By permitting the sale of properties within of the project, a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused as the property could not get reverted back to the LIT.
The chairman of the LIT ignored written advice of the department of local bodies to stop the opening of financial bids. The then principal secretary (local bodies) B.R. Bajaj also opposed the project whereas the minister first called for cancellation of the agreement between the LIT and Today Homes and later allowed it.
The district and sessions judge G.K. Rai has fixed December 15 as date of next hearing for scrutiny of the charge sheet.

It is all rubbish: Amarinder

Amarinder Singh says that it is all a cock-and-bull story. He said, "Every move is politically motivated. This is Parkash Singh Badal's retaliation against me. I am confident that the trial will fall flat on its face." The former CM was charged along with 36 others in the case. The charges relate to alleged kickbacks in Ludhiana City Center contract in which Amarinder's son Raninder and son-in-law Ravinder Singh is involved. The then Local Body Minister in Amarinder's Government also chargesheeted. The case pertains to a contract given to a private firm 'Today homes'. Akali Dal alleged a loss of Rs 1,500 crore to the state exchequer by this deal.

Avtar Singh Makkar re-elected SGPC chief

2007-11-23T02:21:00.000-08:00

Amritsar : Avtar Singh Makkar was Friday re-elected president of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), considered to be mini-parliament of Sikhs. Makkar`s name was proposed by former SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar during the annual general polls of the religious body. Makkar, who was elected to the coveted post for the third time, was the unanimous choice of the general house of the religious body.

The elections were held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall on the SGPC premises today afternoon। Over 125 SGPC members out of 181 yesterday met Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here with regard to the annual election to choose the next SGPC chief। During the meeting all the 125 SGPC members who met Badal authorised Badal to name the next the SGPC chief as per his choice in the "larger interest of SGPC and Sikh community, informed present SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar।" Makkar said that he was thankful to Badal, all the SGPC members and the Sikh community who afforded him two years of terms as a SGPC chief. He said that all depends upon the party president to name the next SGPC chief since all the party SGPC members willingly authorised Badal to select the name for next SGPC chief.

If Gujarat '02 is BJP's blot, '84 riots was Cong's shame

2007-11-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

FACE THE NATION ANTI-SIKH RIOTS OF 1984
CNN-IBN
Thursday is the 23 rd anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Now a new book levels serious charges against top Congress leaders implicated in the riots. The book, When A Tree Shook Delhi, authored by journalist Manoj Mitta and lawyer HS Phoolka will be released later this week.
November 1, 1984, a massacre began. Over 3,000 Sikhs were hacked to death. But the police and the Government looked the other way. Commission after Commission whitewashes the guilt of the accused. Now 23 years later a new book nails the guilty in chilling detail.
The question that was discussed on CNN-IBN show, Face The Nation was: Is the Congress as guilty over the 1984 riots as the BJP in Gujarat?
On the panel of experts to try and answer the question was authors of the book When A Tree Shook Delhi, H S Phoolka and Manoj Mitta, MP and National Spokesperson, Congress, Abhishek Manu Singhvi
So what motivated H S Phoolka to write the book When A Tree Shook Delhi?
H S Phoolka said that many people had asked him that he must have documented the riots and that he had been pressurised a lot to do it. “My lawyer advised me to present the case in the court. I am not a writer but ultimately Manoj (Mitta ) and me decided to write and all the material that I didn’t have Manoj would fill in,” said Phoolkar.
It was a cataclysmic enormity of 3, 000 people burnt and hacked in the capital with the government and the administration watching, was it fair to say that if Gujarat was presided over by supposedly a Chief Minister then this was presided over by a Prime Minister?
Phoolkar agreed with the assumption. He said that it was exactly what he had tried to show in the book. “We wanted to show that this was directly not happening in the capital in the knowledge of the Prime Minister but with the highest of the authorities conniving for it,” said Phoolkar.

So being a journalist was Manoj Mitta filled with a sense frustration that even after spending so many years documenting cases none of the culprits of the riots had been brought to be booked?
Manoj Mitta said that it was not surprising for him considering the tone set by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi within a fortnight of the massacre. “He addressed his first public meeting and when you look back at it today it seems like a self-incriminating statement. He didn’t have word to say about the thousands of bereaved sick families neither a word for the Hindus who supported and rescued the Sikhs. He only talked about those Hindus who he said was moved by Krodh (wrath). He made it out to be spontaneous. He justified it by saying that it was but natural. When a big tree falls then the earth is bound to shake,” said Mitta.
After the riots one politician said, “For every action, there is always a reaction.” And another politician said, “When a big tree falls it is only natural that the earth should shake.” What was the difference between the two statements?
Abhishek Manu Singhvi didn’t agree with entire question about “competitive guilt.”
“There was many mistakes and errors made in the ’84 event and Congress doesn’t support them. Not only should the accused be punished but also action has been taken in many cases. I don’t think two wrongs can make a right. I don’t think that an eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind,” said Singhvi.
“There is vast difference in fact between the two. You are tearing out of context one sentence of Rajiv Gandhi and forgetting that with him at the help immediately after two days in which there was a lot of lawlessness no doubt, which is not being justified and condoned by the Congress. There was strict action taken and the degree of state sponsored culpability, connivance and conspiracy that is seen in Gujarat was absolutely not there. There was at least five six Commissions with some of them assumed to be partisans but that was not the government speaking or Rajiv Gandhi speaking. There was commission after commission who tried to get you the truth. And you can’t say that all commissions were faulty. All material came and a lot of political careers did suffer. Action was taken but the degree of action could have been better,” said Singhvi.
The Union Minister for Commerce, Kamal Nath was present in the mob outside Gurudwara Rakabgunj where two Sikhs were roasted alive and a journalist has vouched for this in the Nanawati Commission. Nath was playing a controlling role in the mob.
Singhvi said, “You have to build a case on the basis of some objective third party tribunal. Of the seven Commissions till now with the Nanavati Comission being the last, did the commission return a finding for Kamal Nath?”
However, he sympathised with the authors of the book When A Tree Shook Delhi as he thought that they may have may point of view.
“Please do not treat every sentence and every word of the documented story has proven judicial fact. When the Nanawati Commission made a slight implication of Jagdish Tytler then he resigned,” he said.
Phoolkar on his defense said that Rajiv Gandhi refused to point the question of enquiry. “In the fourth coming elections. Posters of Sikhs were put up with tagline like ‘can you trust this man?’ This kind of atmosphere was created with the posters of the Sikhs. Rajiv Gandhi said that Sikhs were not entrusted to point a question of enquiry. And ultimately when the commission was appointed it was appointed in such a way which we have shown in the book what a farce of enquiry that was. A Committee in 1987 recommended an enquiry then that committee was disbanded. The Government itself went against the committee,” said Phoolkar.
Mitta on the other hand said that according to Singhvi the government had taken action against many including HKL Bhagat but that was not the case.
‘After the elections Bhagat became a Union Minister in December 1984 a couple of months after the carnage. He remained in power throughout the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi government. He was out of action after the government went away. He was again a chief ministerial candidate in the 1993 elections in Delhi,” said Mitta.
Singhvi corrected Mitta by saying that Bhagat was never insulated from prosecution.” I want to ask both the authors, out of the 23 years since 1984 there have been 10 years of non-Congress government. If you want to convict on the basis of books then we can have a kangaroo system of justice. I would be the first one to prosecute or punish anybody who is guilty. But today if names are taken like that of Kamal Nath and or that no evidence was found to prosecute Bhagat because of no commissions finding evidence against him, then you have to answer to a system of law. The moment evidence started coming then he had gradually had started to lose political power. During the time of his death he had stopped enjoying political power in the Congress,” said Singhvi.
He also pointed that there were no facile evidence against the people that the authors had mentioned.
Mitta pointed out that Singhvi saying that Bhagat not being prosecuted when the Congress was in power was because whatever inquiries were held were whitewashed.
Phoolkar also added that after the carnage many people had given the affidavit that if the public was responsible then what commission of enquiry was the government waiting for.
But wasn’t it difficult to nail someone in a situation of riot since it was a mob involved then it was difficult to find evidence?
Phoolkar said, “There is conspiracy backing a riot but in this case the conspiracy is totally gone because of the case not being registered. Ranganat Mishra instead said that it was not part of his job to identify anybody but said that Bhagat was not guilty.”
Mitta justified Phoolkar’s fury by saying that Delhi was in many ways worse than Gujarat because it took place in a territory that is directly under control of the central government.
Singhvi rounded of the discussion that the vital point was that the Congress condemned each and every aspect of the incident.
“There was dereliction of duty and negligence to the extent that if evidence was found then the concerned would have been punished,” he concluded.

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/51594/.html

Final SMS poll result: Is the Congress as guilty over the 1984 riots as the BJP in Gujarat?
Yes- 93 per cent
No- 7 per cent

'My greatest regret has always been leaving Rajiv in 1984'

2007-09-20T01:48:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of speculation regarding former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh after the Congress lost power in the state and after Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was made the Leader of Opposition instead of him. Reports have been circulating that he may form his own regional party or that he may give up politics altogether. Amarinder Singh who recently returned after a medical check-up in UK will be leaving for Punjab shortly. He spoke to Pankaj Vohra in New Delhi on a number of wide ranging issues। Some excerpts:

Q. There has been speculation that you may form your own party given that the Congress has not made you the CLP leader?
This is obviously motivated speculation by my Congress 'friends' in Delhi and Punjab. My greatest regret has always been leaving Rajiv in 1984. My family's history, Sikh antecedents and my personal belief that police action could not solve a political problem, left me no option but to resign from the Congress on the police/military action in Sri Darbar Sahib.
As to this speculation, I told the Congress president before I left for London that, for what I am worth, my services are available to the party for whatever she may have in mind for me। She also knows that I am with her now and always. Those who know me, know that I'm not one of those who indulges in dubious politics or double speaks.

Q। There are allegations that Bhattal and you do not get along, so you did not accompany her to Damdama Sahib on Baisakhi?
Firstly, Rajinder Bhattal and I, contrary to interested belief, get on well together. My entire family, including my mother, spent days in her constituency campaigning for her leading to her success. Not going to Damdama Sahib was a misunderstanding. Ambika Soni had arranged lunch for all three of us on the April 14 to meet to discuss how best we can move forward in Punjab to counter the new governments policies and assault on Congress workers.
Baisakhi is usually on April 13. While we waited for her here, she thought we were to meet on April 15, the day after Baisakhi, the change in date of the occasion created the confusion. Congress got a good number of seats in the Malwa belt. It will have to do a lot to consolidate its position during the parliamentary polls in 2009.
The Malwa belt has always been the Akali support base, from 1950 till the 2002 elections. We had to work very hard during our five years, to turn the vote base, and the two factors that made a major difference was the revivalof cotton production and the termination of the water act.
Both these affect southern Punjab only, which is the Malwa belt, and comprises 13 of Punjab's 20 districts. Cotton is grown in 4 of these districts. Had the Water Act not come about, 1.6 million hectres of land of these 13 districts would have gone without water and 9 lac families would have faced economic disaster.
We will have to work very hard to retain this base and work must start now as elections could well be held before 2009। The Malwa has always been my family's stronghold. The former Patiala state covered nine of these districts in part or full.

Q. Do you think Badals are practicing politics of vendetta?
Does anyone still have any doubt? My former ministers and I are being targeted but what is even worse is that there is no police station in Punjab where cases have not been registered against Congress workers and voters. The voters fault? Not voting for the Akalis. The way the government is moving, many more cases are likely to be registered in the future and arrests made of former ministers and other senior Congressmen in corporations and other jobs. The object is to cover the corrupt practices which are being faced by the Chief Minister and his son in court today, by painting Congressmen with the same brush. These cases will eventually be thrown out by the courts, but their immediate objective of sensationalism and victimization to satisfy their ego would be met.
Do you fear that more cases will be registered against you ?
So I have been told। The object is to continue registering cases to try to damage my reputation in the public and to harass. They are free to do so. Fortunately we have a responsive judiciary, besides, the people of Punjab know me for what I am, especially, those who have worked with me or my government, or those who have been close observers of our functioning. Even though some corruption may have been indulged in by some individuals, mainly at the lower level, it was non-existant in comparison to the previous Akali government. I very much believe that the Congress government, I had the privilege of leading, was one of the most effective and clean ever in the state.

Q. Parkash Singh Badal could be going for a medical check up in July? Do you feel that Sukhbir will take over?
This was a forgone conclusion। We were aware of it before the elections were held. No body wishes one ill, as far as ones health is concerned, not even if one is a major opponent or antagonist of that person, and I wish Mr Badal well, I hope he recovers from his illness. As to the government, it will be a tragedy if an impulsive young man should take over the reigns of the state at this time in our history. Already his day to day interference in functioning is leading to confusion, as nobody really knows who is running the government. Today Punjab needs development, and for that we need continuity and stability, not reversing the previous governments policies just because they had framed them. This does not auger well for the state. Already the pace of development has slackened and land prices have fallen as much as 40%. Specific to your question, yes, Sukhbir Badal is likely to take over before his father goes for his check-up in July.

Q. What kind of opposition can Congress give when there is a corruption case against Bhattal?
Mrs Bhattal's appeal is pending before the Supreme Court and I am very confident that she will be aquitted। Mrs Bhattal is a fighter and even though it is Mr Badal's Vigilance department which is prosecuting the case, I quite expect her to fight the government, both within and outside the house. I will be there to assist her in the house and politically. Legally she has the best defence possible and I do not expect her to follow a soft policy to appease Badal. On the contrary, I expect her to follow an aggressive one.

Q. How do you react to speculation about your coming to the Centre?
I have not heard anything in this regard. As I have said earlier, I shall do whatever the Congress president and party wish of me.

'Singh' ban denounced

2007-07-26T03:22:00.000-07:00

After a storm of complaints from Sikhs, Ottawa reverses New Delhi office's 10-year decree that `the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada'
By San Grewal , Staff reporter, Toronto Star
One of the most common surnames in Canada, imbued with religious significance for millions of Sikhs around the world, is now, after yesterday's reversal of a 10-year policy, deemed acceptable by the Canadian government.
For the past decade, Indian immigration applicants with the surname Singh or Kaur were told by the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi that their names, too common to process quickly, would have to be changed. Twenty-four hours after the World Sikh Organization raised the issue, Citizenship and Immigration Canada yesterday announced it was dropping the policy, calling the whole thing a misunderstanding based on a "poorly worded" letter.
It's not known how many people have been affected. Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla (Brampton-Springdale) says in the past three years she's received about 500 complaints from constituents whose family members were told to change their names when applying to immigrate.
The New Delhi immigration office is one of the busiest in the world. Immigration Minister Diane Finley refused to comment, but according to statements from the department, the policy asking for a different name was meant to help speed up applications and prevent cases of mistaken identity due to the commonness of Singh.
It said its New Delhi visa office had reported "very few complaints" about the request and explained that most Singhs or Kaurs often have an additional family name, even if it is not often used, that can be easily added to their passport.
Most of the world's 30 million Sikhs are given the name Singh, for men, or Kaur, for women, usually as a middle name.
But for those Sikhs who choose to be baptized, or initiated into the orthodox order of the faith, their previous surname is dropped for Singh or Kaur to symbolize unity and to remove names used to identify social standing within India's caste system. "If you have to change your name to come here, we have to ask ourselves, `Are we really celebrating all the great things that are hallmarks of this multicultural country?" said Dhalla, whose riding has one of the largest Indo-Canadian populations in the country.
When asked why the immigration department's policy in New Delhi hadn't been challenged before by politicians, lawyers or the public, Dhalla said she has brought it up to immigration officials.
But she admitted the issue had never made it to the floor of the House of Commons.
"At least not to my knowledge."
Brampton lawyer Harinder Gahir, who routinely takes on immigration cases, says he's had about 100 clients complain.
"But the problem is they are family members already here complaining on behalf of family members in India they are sponsoring.
"The applicants themselves don't want to complain and most comply because they don't want their chances for immigration to be jeopardized."
When asked if he believes the immigration department's claim that the policy was just a misunderstanding and that people with the surnames Singh or Kaur were actually allowed to apply, Gahir said, "They were told, unequivocally, `You can't apply with the surname Singh or Kaur.'"
A follow-up story on the CBC's website includes what appears to be a letter from the High Commission in New Delhi, dated May 17 and addressed to Jaspal Singh.
It states:
"The names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada."
But the department's statement yesterday said that "Permanent resident applicants with the surnames Singh or Kaur are not required to change their names in order to apply.
"In no way did CIC intend to ask applicants to change their names. The letter that was previously used to communicate with clients was poorly worded. We are making changes to ensure there will be no misunderstandings in the future.
"CIC recognizes that previous communications with clients may not have been clear on this issue and regrets any inconvenience this may have caused."
"That's outrageous," said Sat Gosal, a lawyer at the firm RZCD in Mississauga who has helped challenge human rights violations against Sikhs for more than two decades.
Gosal, who was aware of the policy, is glad Sikh organizations finally complained publicly.
"This goes back to my father's days in England, during the post-colonial days of the '50s and '60s, when administrative convenience was the justification for changing names that were too common or hard to pronounce." Anglicizing or at least simplifying names was once also common in Canada.

Punjab tense after clashes

2007-05-17T01:35:00.000-07:00

Dera Followers go on a wild rampage, being stopped by the districtpolice from damaging vehcles and attacking the police themselves in Bathinda on tuesday॥

Photo By Kulbir beera, Bathinda

BHATTAL, DULLO ALLEGE SSF AND SGPC LED THE CLASH,

WHILE AKALIS SAY IT’S CONG CONSPIRACY

As Punjab boils, political blame game on

Chandigarh, AS violence continued to grip parts of Punjab for the second day today following heavy clashes between supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda and activists of various Sikh bodies, political parties took to the blame game.
Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal threatened to "take its own recourse" if the government failed to arrest the Dera chief and bring the guilty to the book. The Punjab Congress, which swept several constituencies in the Malwa region in the Assembly elections, largely with the support of the Dera, missed no opportunity to condemn the state government for the "complete breakdown of law and order in the state". At the same time, leader of opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal attempted to bail out the Dera chief, saying he "could have been misrepresented in the advertisement that triggered the controversy". "There may be some foul play; the Dera even has a CD to prove the point,’’ Bhattal said.
While Bhattal and PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo are alleging the Sikh Student Federation and the SGPC activists led the clash, Cabinet Minister and senior Akali leader Capt Kanwaljit Singh, talking to The Indian Express, alleged that the incident was a "conspiracy of the Congress".
The state government, however, seems to be in a piquant situation as its appeals for peace has fallen on deaf ears. Various Sikh bodies, including the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal, are mounting pressure on the government to arrest the Dera chief. But the state government, which apprehends that the situation will take a turn for the worse in event of the arrest, is preferring a wait-and-watch approach. As the Damdami Taksal representatives announced to visit Bathinda tomorrow, something which could add to the headache of the district authorities, Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, the head of the organisation, this afternoon led a delegation to meet the Chief Minister. "We demand that the Dera chief be arrested and all those responsible for defaming the Guru be punished. Government agencies are involved. It was all planned,’’
Khalsa alleged, adding, "We will wait till May 18 and then decide our next step. We will unite all Sikh organisations to fight the situation.’’

India 360 : Are Sikhs over-religious ?
CNN-IBN
As pitched battles between supporters of the Dera Sacha Sauda and the Akali Dal continued on Wednesday in Punjab, the violence also spilled over to the Capital.
The Dera had brought out an advertisement showing its chief - Baba Ram Raheem - as Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru and distributing amrit (holy water).
In Delhi, the Sikh identity is being rigidly enforced. In response to the recent statement by the RSS that Sikhism was a branch of Hinduism Sikh educational institutions in Delhi have asked their students to grow their hair and beards or face expulsion. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee says it's the only way to protect their identity.
On CNN-IBN’s show India 360, Director, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Dr Pramod Kumar, Senior lawyer, Supreme Court, H S Phoolka and marriage counselor, Deepen Bhatia and host Sagarika Ghose came together to discuss - Are present day Sikhs too attached to religion?
The first clashes took place at Bathinda on Monday and later the tension spread to Ludhiana, Mansa, Patiala and Amritsar with tension brewing in other Punjab cities too.
Angry Akalis burnt effigies and the mob fury continued despite Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's appeals.

Faith monopoly
Why should the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabahnadhak Committee (SGPC) continue to be the monopoly body of faith? Why should it not allow the Dera Sacha Sauda to allow the faith in the way that it wants to?
"This must be understood in two levels. One – the followers of Dera have in no way violated the Sikh religion. But the Dera chief in his misadventure may have caused some hurt. Secondly the SGPC should see the logic that the generic content of Dera is not anti-Sikh," said Dr Pramod Kumar.
The misadventure was that newspaper advertisements allegedly showed Baba Gurmeet Singh Ram Raheem attired like 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and the Akalis protested the advertisements that also showed the Dera head distributing amrit. But why is the Sikh identity still so seriously embattled? Is there a fear that if the Sikhs don’t protect their faith, they will merge into Hinduism?
"The RSS and the radical Sikhs are both feeding and fattening each other. Sikhism has both has liberal trends and fundamentalist tendencies. But the moment the core of Sikhism is violated, some people make it a point to make it an identity issue," said Kumar.
Kumar also said that Sikhs constantly face a persecution complex when they look towards India because they are a majority in Punjab, but a minority in India. Hindus on the other hand are minority in Punjab and majority in India. So when they two interact, they is some confusion.
Turban and the beard
When H S Phoolka was asked if he is constantly fearful that you might lose his identity and wears his turban and beard because he must guard his identity, "that is by and large the feeling among the Sikhs. The very formation of the Delhi Gurudwara Management Committee is under the act of the Parliament.
And that says that a Sikh is someone who keeps the hair and ties a turban. So when a person does not tie a turban, there is a threat."

PROTESTS BY SIKHS
(Canada)One of the most prominent non-Christian groups in Canada protest against Royal Canadian Legion's ban on wearing headgear within halls.Rule changed in 1990; exceptions for religious items.Turbans are permitted as official uniforms in many Canadian institutions now.
(Britain)There are more than three lakh Sikhs in Britain1960s -1980s: Campaigns organised for right to have beards and wear turbans Recently many schools have banned kirpan / any weapon on campus
(France)Sikh community unhappy with French's government’s ban on wearing any conspicuous religious symbol.Ban includes turban worn by Sikhs

SIKH IDENTITY
A Sikh is one who believes in:
One supreme god10 Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind SinghGuru Granth Sahib (holy book), as the present guruBaptism with the nectar from Khande di Pahul
The five Ks are:

Kesh - Uncut hair

Kanga - Wooden comb

Kaccha - specially designed underwear

Kara - Steel bresalet
Kirpan - Strapped sword

Bloody Clash : The Dera followers unleashing a reign of terror on the Khalsa Sikhsinvolved in the bloody clash in Bathinda between the Khalsa Sikhs andthe dera followers for the Khalsa sikhs tried to burn the effigy ofthe dera Chief Sant Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim ji in Bathinda on Monday। Photo By Kulbir beera, Bathinda

SAD asks Congress to come clean on communal violence in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Wednesday charged Congress party of conspiring to destabilize the hard won peace and communal harmony in the State. The party has also decided to attend Sarbat Khalsa at Talwandi Sabo on Thursday called by Akal Takht Jathedar.
Briefing the Media, Akali Dal General Secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra today said that history is witness to this fact that whenever Congress is out of power in any State , it resorts to a plan to disturb situation in that State to extract political capital out of it. He said that presence of seven Congress MLAs in the rampaging crowds in Bathinda provided incontrovertible evidence of the complicity of that party in mindless violence that took place in Bathinda yesterday. Chanumajra also dared Congress Party to come clean on whether it approves of the attempts to mock the great Guru. He expressed the shock at the statement of PPCC President Shamsher Singh Dullo in which latter 'saw nothing wrong in any one trying to pose himself as Guru Gobind Singh Ji'.
"The Congress must chose between the Tenth Guru and anyone else trying to imitate him", said Prof. Chandumajra.

Bandh.. Protest.. Clashs..
NDTV Reports
Punjab is tense again with Sikhs staging protests in Amritsar and Patiala, demanding action against the Dera Sacha Sauda sect. Shops have been forcibly closed by protesters in Amritsar while a bandh call has been given in Patiala. The protests come after Tuesday's clashes between members of the Dera Sacha Sauda religious sect and the police in which at least 30 people were injured.But the situation is under control in Bathinda, the stage of Tuesday's clashes. The town is calm mainly due to heavy police presence. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges are shut till Thursday.Meanwhile, major Sikh organisations will meet in Damdama Sahib near Bathinda on Thursday to find a solution to the tussle.

Widespread protests

The protests have spread to Delhi as well with Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee blocking a stretch of the Mathura Road in Delhi. Elsewhere, members of Sikh community held protests against the Dera Sacha Sauda sect at Digiana in Jammu on Wednesday.Hundreds of protesters came out on the roads and raised slogans against Dera Sacha Sauda and its leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim and burnt his effigies. It all started with an advertisement featuring the Dera chief in the attire of Guru Gobind Singh, baptising his followers, was published in newspapers.The Dera Sachcha Sauda claims its members number over two crore in Punjab and Haryana and are essentially made up of economically backward people. Politically, they form an important vote bank and in the recent Assembly elections, the Deras had openly supported the Congress, claiming victimisation of its leaders by the Akalis.

Tit for Tat

2007-03-25T00:43:00.000-07:00

After Badal, Amrinder.....may go to jail

Vigilance case against Amarinder, Chaudhary, Hanspal 15 others in ludhiana land scam

Vigilance cases were registered Saturday against former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and 17 others for alleged involvement in a land scam, a move that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said was not political vendetta.
Amarinder Singh, who is presently in London for medical treatment, was named in the vigilance first information report (FIR) registered by Punjab Police along with former local bodies minister Jagjit Singh, former Ludhiana improvement trust (LIT) chairman P.S. Sibia and other bureaucrats and politicians for the scam in allotting land to one particular builder at much lower rates for the Ludhiana City Centre.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Kanwaljit Singh Saturday said that the case had been registered after due scrutiny of the deal.
"Two persons, Amit Sardana and Kamal Verma, have already been arrested in this case. We have sent teams to various places to conduct raids and arrest others named," he added.
The Ludhiana City Centre - touted to be the biggest building in north India and to have the biggest roof with helipads - is to be set up on 450,000 square feet land in Ludhiana, Punjab's industrial hub, which has one of the highest land prices in the country.
The vigilance department has now accused the former chief minister and others of conniving in allotting the construction to Today's Homes and infrastructure at a much lower cost.
"The loss to the state in this land deal could be anything between Rs.15-30 billion," one investigating official told IANS.
Parkash Singh Badal, whose Akali Dal had vociferously raised the issue in the run up to the Feb 13 assembly polls when the Congress was in power, Saturday said that his government was not pursuing a political vendetta against Amarinder Singh and other Congress leaders.
"But anyone who has done a wrong will be dealt with as per law. No one will be spared," he told reporters in Jalandhar.
Amarinder Singh had got corruption cases registered against Badal, his wife Surinder Kaur, MP son Sukhbir Badal and others after coming to power in 2002. Badal and his son were even arrested and sent to prison.
Vigilance officials said that they were also pursuing investigations against former media adviser to Amarinder Singh, B.I.S. Chahal, for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
(IANS)

Sukhbir now on Driving Seat of Badal's Party

2007-03-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

Taking him a step closer to the post of chief minister of Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sunday 'unanimously' nominated Sukhbir Badal, son of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, as acting president of the party.
Sukhbir's elevation to the top party post was announced by the chief minister himself after a meeting of the Akali Dal political affairs committee (PAC) here Sunday.
Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president, said that after becoming chief minister he was not able to devote enough time to running the party affairs.
'I will continue to be the president of the party. But I will devote a lot of time to running the government in Punjab, so a full-time functionary was required at the top. I am delegating powers to Sukhbir,' Badal senior said.
Senior Akali leaders led by Ranjit Singh Brahmpura proposed the name of Sukhbir Badal, sitting MP from Faridkot, as acting president saying that he had done a lot of work for the party in the recently assembly elections and should be nominated for the post.
The resolution was adopted 'unanimously'.
'I thank the senior Akali leadership for reposing faith in my capabilities and showing confidence in me. The party is more important than the government. We will strengthen our cadre and ensure that the aspirations of our party workers are met by the Akali government,' Sukhbir told reporters after his elevation.
Sukhbir, 44, is seen as a potential chief minister in the Akali Dal leadership ranks, in the footsteps of his 80-plus father. He is a California state university management graduate

2007-03-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

Kinship rules Badal cabinet
The new Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has four relatives in his 18-member cabinet. For starters the key finance portfolio has gone to the CM's nephew Manpreet Badal who edged out heavyweights like Kanwaljeet Singh, a former finance minister.
While nobody in the Akali Dal dares to question Badal, the opposition Congress is certainly not letting him off lightly.
"Badal has kept all important portfolios with himself. Had there been no pressure from the BJP they could have kept it all within his family," said Rajpal Singh, Spokesperson, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.
Key portfolios
It is virtually a kitchen cabinet where decisions can be taken in Badal's own home.
Badal's son-in-law Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon will takeover food and civil supplies and Bikram Singh Majithia, the 31-year-old first timer whose sister is Badal's daughter-in-law will get public relation and IT department.Even distant relative Janmeja Singh Sekhon has bagged the Irrigation portfolio. The Akali Dal's ally BJP is annoyed but has no choice but to be diplomatic.
"Allocation of portfolios is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. This is an internal matter of the Akali Dal. The BJP cannot interfere in it," said Rajendra Bhandari, Spokesperson, BJP.The kinship factor has won and the seniority issue, quite clearly, has been set aside.

Portfolios of Punjab ministers

Parkash Singh Badal
Chief Minister Personnel, general administration, home affairs and justice, housing and urban development,
vigilance, excise and taxation, power, employment, legal and legislative affairs and NRI affairs.

Manoranjan Kalia

Local government, industries and commerce

Ranjit Singh Brahmpura

Rural development and panchayats, elections

Capt Kanwaljit Singh

Cooperation, defence service welfare, removal of grievances,
pensions and welfare of pensioners wing of the finance department

Manpreet Singh Badal

Finance and planning, programme implementation

Tikshan Sood

Parliamentary affairs, medical education and research,
forests and wildlife preservation wing of the agriculture department and labour

Upinderjit Kaur

Education and civil aviation

Adesh Partap Singh

Food civil supplies, consumer affairs and information technology

Luxmi Kanta Chawla

Health and family welfare

Ajit Singh Kohar

Revenue, rehabilitation and disaster management

Master Mohan Lal

Transport

Gulzar Singh Ranike

Animal husbandry and fisheries, dairy development and welfare of SCs and BCs and
Sports and youth services

Parminder Singh Dhindsa

PWD B and R

Swarna Ram

Technical education and industrial training and social security and
Development of women and children

Sucha Singh Langah

Agriculture

Janmeja Singh Sekhon

Irrigation

Hira Singh Gabria

Jails wing of home department, tourism and cultural affairs and printing and stationery

Bikramjit Singh Majithia

Water supply and sanitation, information & public relations and science technology,
Environment and non-conventional energy

List of Successful Candidates

2007-02-24T23:37:00.000-08:00

State Election, 2007 Results
INC = Congress, SAD = Shiromani Akali Dal, IND= Indipendent

Winners

1
Fatehgarh
Shiromani Akali Dal
NIRMAL SINGH KAHLON
2
Batala
Bharatiya Janata Party
JAGDISH SAHNI
3
Qadian
Shiromani Akali Dal
LAKHBIR SINGH LODHINANGAL
4
Srihargobindpur
Shiromani Akali Dal
CAPT. BALBIR SINGH BATH
5
Kahnuwan
Indian National Congress
PARTAP SINGH BAJWA
6
Dhariwal
Shiromani Akali Dal
SUCHA SINGH LANGAH
7
Gurdaspur
Shiromani Akali Dal
GURBACHAN SINGH
8
Dina Nagar
Bharatiya Janata Party
SITA RAM
9
Narot Mehra
Bharatiya Janata Party
BISHAMBER DASS
10
Pathankot
Bharatiya Janata Party
MASTER MOHAN LAL
11
Sujanpur
Bharatiya Janata Party
DINESH SINGH
13
Majitha
Shiromani Akali Dal
BIKRAM SINGH MAJITHIA
14
Verka
Shiromani Akali Dal
DALBIR SINGH
15
Jandiala
Shiromani Akali Dal
MALKIAT SINGH
16
Amritsar North
Bharatiya Janata Party
ANIL JOSHI
17
Amritsar West
Indian National Congress
OM PARKASH SONI
18
Amritsar Central
Bharatiya Janata Party
LAKSHMI KANTA CHAWLA
19
Amritsar South
Shiromani Akali Dal
RAMINDER SINGH BOLARIA
20
Ajnala
Shiromani Akali Dal
AMARPAL SINGH AJNALA
21
Raja Sansi
Indian National Congress
SUKHBINDER SINGH SARKARIA
22
Attari
Shiromani Akali Dal
GULZAR SINGH RANIKE
23
Tarn Taran
Shiromani Akali Dal
HARMEET SINGH
24
Khadoor Sahib
Shiromani Akali Dal
MANJIT SINGH MIANWIND
25
Naushahra Panwan
Shiromani Akali Dal
RANJIT SINGH BRAHAMPURA
26
Patti
Shiromani Akali Dal
ADESH PARTAP SINGH
27
Valtoha
Shiromani Akali Dal
VIRSA SINGH
28
Adampur
Shiromani Akali Dal
SARBJEET SINGH MAKKAR
29
Jullundur Cantonment
Shiromani Akali Dal
JAGBIR SINGH BRAR
30
Jullundur North
Bharatiya Janata Party
K.D. BHANDARI
31
Jullundur Central
Bharatiya Janata Party
MANORANJAN KALIA
32
Jullundur South
Bharatiya Janata Party
CHUNI LAL BHAGAT
33
Kartarpur
Shiromani Akali Dal
AVINASH CHANDER
34
Lohian
Shiromani Akali Dal
AJIT SINGH KOHAR
35
Nakodar
Indian National Congress
AMARJIT SINGH SAMRA
36
Nur Mahal
Shiromani Akali Dal
GURDIP SINGH BHULLAR
37
Banga
Shiromani Akali Dal
MOHAN LAL
38
Nawan Shahr
Shiromani Akali Dal
JATINDER SINGH KARIHA
39
Phillaur
Shiromani Akali Dal
SARWAN SINGH
40
Bholath
Indian National Congress
SUKHPAL SINGH
41
Kapurthala
Indian National Congress
RANA RAJBANS KAUR
42
Sultanpur
Shiromani Akali Dal
UPINDERJIT KAUR
43
Phagwara
Bharatiya Janata Party
SWARNA RAM
44
Balachaur
Shiromani Akali Dal
NAND LAL
45
Garhshankar
Indian National Congress
LOV KUMAR GOLDY
46
Mahilpur
Shiromani Akali Dal
SOHAN SINGH THANDAL
47
Hoshiarpur
Bharatiya Janata Party
TIKSHAN SUD
48
Sham Chaurasi
Shiromani Akali Dal
MOHINDER KAUR
49
Tanda
Independent
SANGAT SINGH GILZIAN
50
Garhdiwala
Shiromani Akali Dal
DES RAJ DHUGGA
51
Dasuya
Bharatiya Janata Party
AMARJIT SINGH SAHI
52
Mukerian
Bharatiya Janata Party
ARUNESH KUMAR
53
Jagraon
Indian National Congress
GURDEEP SINGH BHAINI
54
Raikot
Indian National Congress
HARMOHINDER SINGH PARDHAAN
55
Dakha
Shiromani Akali Dal
DARSHAN SINGH SHIVALIK
56
Qila Raipur
Indian National Congress
JASBIR SINGH KHANGURA
57
Ludhiana North
Bharatiya Janata Party
HARISH BEDI
58
Ludhiana West
Shiromani Akali Dal
HARISH RAI DHANDA
59
Ludhiana East
Bharatiya Janata Party
SAT PAL GOSAIN
60
Ludhiana Rural
Shiromani Akali Dal
HIRA SINGH GABRIA
61
Payal
Indian National Congress
TEJ PARKASH SINGH
62
Kum Kalan
Indian National Congress
ISHAR SINGH
63
Samrala
Shiromani Akali Dal
JAGJIWAN SINGH
64
Khanna
Shiromani Akali Dal
BIKRAMJIT SINGH
65
Nangal
Indian National Congress
KANWAR PAL SINGH
66
Anandpur Sahib - Ropar
Shiromani Akali Dal
SANT AJIT SINGH
67
Chamkaur Sahib
Independent
CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI
68
Morinda
Shiromani Akali Dal
UJAGGAR SINGH
69
Kharar
Indian National Congress
BALBIR SINGH
70
Banur
Shiromani Akali Dal
KANWALJIT SINGH
71
Rajpura
Bharatiya Janata Party
RAJ KHURANA
72
Ghanaur
Independent
MADAN LAL THEKEDAR
73
Dakala
Indian National Congress
LAL SINGH
74
Shutrana
Indian National Congress
NIRMAL SINGH
75
Samana
Indian National Congress
BRAHM MAHINDRA
76
Patiala Town
Indian National Congress
AMARINDER SINGH
77
Nabha
Indian National Congress
RANDEEP SINGH
78
Amloh
Indian National Congress
SADHU SINGH
79
Sirhind
Shiromani Akali Dal
DIDAR SINGH
80
Dhuri
Independent
IQBAL SINGH JHUNDAN
81
Malerkotla
Indian National Congress
RAZIA SULTANA
82
Sherpur
Indian National Congress
HARCHAND KAUR
83
Barnala
Indian National Congress
KEWAL SINGH DHILLON
84
Bhadaur
Shiromani Akali Dal
BALVIR SINGH GHUNAS
85
Dhanaula
Indian National Congress
KULDIP SINGH BHATHAL
86
Sangrur
Indian National Congress
SURINDER PAL SINGH SIBIA
87
Dirbha
Indian National Congress
SURJIT SINGH DHIMAN
88
Sunam
Shiromani Akali Dal
PARMINDER SINGH DHINDSA
89
Lehra
Indian National Congress
RAJINDER KAUR
90
Balluana
Shiromani Akali Dal
GURTEJ SINGH
91
Abohar
Indian National Congress
SUNIL KUMAR JAKHAR
92
Fazilka
Bharatiya Janata Party
SURJEET KUMAR
93
Jalalabad
Shiromani Akali Dal
SHER SINGH
94
Guru Har Sahai
Indian National Congress
GURMEET SINGH
95
Firozepur
Bharatiya Janata Party
SUKHPAL SINGH
96
Firozepur Cantonment
Shiromani Akali Dal
JANMEJA SINGH
97
Zira
Indian National Congress
NARESH KUMAR
98
Dharamkot
Shiromani Akali Dal
SEETAL SINGH
99
Moga
Indian National Congress
JOGINDER PAL JAIN
100
Bagha Purana
Indian National Congress
DARSHAN SINGH BRAR (KHOTE)
101
Nihal Singh Wala
Independent
AJIT SINGH
102
Panjgrain
Indian National Congress
JOGINDER SINGH
103
Kot Kapura
Indian National Congress
RIPJIT SINGH
104
Faridkot
Indian National Congress
AVTAR SINGH BRAR
105
Muktsar
Indian National Congress
KANWARJIT SINGH
106
Giddar Baha
Shiromani Akali Dal
MANPREET SINGH BADAL
107
Malout
Shiromani Akali Dal
HARPREET SINGH
108
Lambi
Shiromani Akali Dal
PARKASH SINGH BADAL
109
Talwandi Sabo
Indian National Congress
JEETMOHINDER SINGH SIDHU
110
Pakka Kalan
Indian National Congress
MAKHAN SINGH
111
Bhatinda
Indian National Congress
HARMINDER SINGH JASSI
112
Nathana
Indian National Congress
AJAIB SINGH BHATTI
113
Rampura Phul
Indian National Congress
GURPREET SINGH KANGAR
114
Joga
Shiromani Akali Dal
JAGDEEP SINGH NAKAI
115
Mansa
Indian National Congress
SHER SINGH
116
Budhlada
Indian National Congress
MANGAT RAI BANSAL
117
Sardulgarh
Indian National Congress
AJIT INDER SINGH

Who will Win The Race?

2007-02-22T03:15:00.000-08:00

Akali Dal-BJP alliance all set to capture power
Despite some weak pockets in the Malwa hinterland, the ShiromaniAkali Dal - Bharatiya Janata Party alliance is all set to capture power inthe Assembly elections slated for February 13. The alliance is strong inMajha and Doaba regions. Interestingly, all the stalwarts in the raceincluding the Akali Dal chief and the former chief minister, Mr ParkashSingh Badal, the Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, the Deputy ChiefMinister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and the Pradesh Congress CommitteePresident, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, are in hot waters. Both the contendersto power are resorting to populism. The Congress faces stronganti-incumbency and price rise has emerged as a big issue. Neither the PrimeMinister Dr Manmohan Singh nor the Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi hassucceeded in boosting the chances of the ruling party. The decision of theElection Commission to postpone the elections in Beas has also come as a bigset back to the Congress. The Akali Dal General Secretary, Mr Sukhbir SinghBadal, has emerged as the star campaigner. He is in total command of thehigh pitch campaign. Of course, the support extended by the political wingof Sacha Sauda which commands influence on some seats in the Malwa region,to the Congress might somewhat upset the Akali calculations.The Congress campaign had started on an aggressive note with the VikasYatra undertaken by Capt. Amarinder Singh which had to be cut short with theannouncement of the elections and the imposition of the code of conduct. Itsimpact fizzled out at the Chief Minister remained away from the scene forabout two weeks. The Congress failed to maintain the tempo. And the Akaliswere waiting for the announcement of the elections. Mr. Badal also took thelead in the announcement of the candidates which enabled the party to makean early start.In the Malwa region, especially the cotton belt, Capt. Amarinder Singh hassucceeded in making some inroads in the traditional Akali bastion, mainlybecause of the introduction of the Bt cotton, which, according to one schoolof thought, might prove to be disastrous in the long run. This variety hasincreased the income of the cotton growers as it is les vulnerable toinsects. The Congress has no other strong point. The poor response to DrManmohan Singh is an indication of the state of affairs. The card of thefirst Sikh Prime Minister is not working. The rallies addressed by MrsGandhi had better attendance. The main slogan given by the slogan party isdevelopment. But then the facts speak differently as the first four years ofthis government were characterized by non-performance. The party adopted theeconomic policies which were perceived as anti-people. Moreover, thegovernment failed to create jobs in the first four years. The mega projectslanded the ruling party in trouble as the charges of corruption startedflying. Badal Junior nailed the government when he succeeded in gettingtransferred the Director General of Police, Mr. S. S. Virk. The projectassociated with his name had also been given concessions under the megaprojects days before the announcement of the elections. Capt. AmarinderSingh had started on the campaign against corruption which saw Badals behindbars. Now he himself is under attack for the same reasons.The Akali Dal has promised to the people everything under the moon. Theparty has its record of credibility which promising sops to varioussections as the party had implemented its promise made during the 1997elections to provide free power to the farm sector. The same is not the casewith the Congress which had promised at that time to continue the facilityof free power but withdrew it. This facility was again provided as the partyfaced the wrath of the farming community. However, the damage had alreadybeen done. Despite smooth procurement operations, the farmers have beenagitating for various reasons.The candidates of the Left front and the Bahujan Samaj Party are also addingto the problems of the Congress which is without allies. Earlier, the partyused to have seat sharing with the Communist Party of India. The Congress,the Communists and the Bahujan Samaj Party share the same vote bank. Thepresence of the Left and the Bahujan Samaj Party candidates would be crucialin the seats where the fight is going to be close. It is Capt. AmarinderSingh who had personally opposed alliance with the Left.The Election Commission has taken a strong note of the violence in Beaswhere one Akali worker was killed when the security staff of the Congresscandidate, Mr. Jasbir Singh Dimpa, opened fire. His gunmen have been placedunder suspension pending inquiry. The Election Commission has postponed theelection to March 11 which has come as a big set back to the Congress as ithas provided a new dimension to the campaign. All along, the Akalis havebeen expressing the apprehension of poll related violence which is a newphenomenon in Punjab in the normal elections.Several surveys have appeared during the fortnight, some giving edge to theCongress and the others to the Akali Dal. However, in Punjab, the last 72hours are always the most crucial. The buying of votes has already started. It could be on massive scale this time. This phenomenon is more prevalent inthe Malwa region. Complaints have already reached the Election Commission. Both the main contenders to power are likely to resort to this practice on alarge scale as the stakes are too high. It is the political future of BadalJunior which is at stake. This is the only chance he has. The tide is infavour of the Akali Dal. And it is the BJP which is going to get the muchneeded impetus at the national level from Punjab. The elections are all themore important for the BJP also which has been slipping at the nationallevel. It is not without reason that the senior leadership of the party iscampaigning in Punjab.

Sukhbir Badal clames 85 to 95 and Amrinder Singh 70 seats
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal Thursday claimed that Akali Dal-BJP alliance would bag bewtween 85 to 95 seats in the state.
While talking to media persons here he said it was a vote for the change and people of the state had given a decisive verdict in favour of the Akali Dal-BJP alliance.
In reply to a question regarding record voting in the state this time he said people had come out in large number to vote against congress to dethrone the Capt.Amarinder Singh. Answering another query he said that Parkash Singh Badal would be the Chief Minister of the state and he was not in race for the post.
In the other hand Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh said that Congress will win over 70 seats of state assembly in and will form next government even as only three percent polling is reported in Patiala from where Amarinder Singh is seeking re-election.
Talking to media persons soon after casting his vote at Yadvindra public school (YPS) he said that the people of Punjab have been voting for development which they have done in last five years and they will again repose confidence in us, he optimised.
Capt. Singh said that he was satisfied with his poll campaign and issue raised during it and the issues that they have raised more valuable than SAD -the main opposition party. He said that they have told the people of Punjab to vote for development as their future was safe in the hand of Congress.

Minor scuffle at Badal village

2007-02-13T01:54:00.000-08:00

Voters coming out in rains

Chandigarh : A minor scuffle took place in Badal village in the Lambi assembly constituency between Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers, even as the Punjabis braving the morning downpour began coming out of their houses to exercise their franchise in a majority of the 115 of the 117 assembly constituencies and the Amritsar Parliamentary constituency.
Polling began on a dull note at 0800 hrs this morning in inclement weather and amidst tight security arrangements at 16,757 polling stations, including 4797 sensitive and 1034 hyper-sensitive booths manned by around 90,000 polling personnel. However as the day progressed, voters wrapped in blankets in the rural areas or holding umbrella's or wearing rain coats in the urban and semi urban areas made their way to the polling booths to choose their representatives.
The polling will end at 1700 hours this evening.
According to official reports reaching here, the polling was higher in the rural areas as compared to the urban areas. It was moderate to high in Gurdaspur district, Sirhind, Mohali, Kharar, Banur, Lambi, Faridkot, Majitha, Tarn Taran, Anandpur Sahib and a few other places. However it was low to moderate in a few areas of the state, but was expected to pick-up as a large number of voters have made made up their minds to cast their votes notwithstanding the rains, which the farming community as described as being good for the wheat crop.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) when contacted said that despite inclement weather conditions, an estimated 15 percent of the 1.65 crore electorate had cast their votes till 1100 hours.
The election staff is being kept on its toes and are trying their best to provide cover from the rain to the voters, in the verandhas of schools and colleges, where polling stations or booths are located. There are no big lines of voters outside polling booths as voters are prefering to remain indoors.
The polling so far was described as peaceful, barring the clash between Congress and SAD supporters at Badal village in the Lambi constituency, where SAD chief Prakash Singh Badal is in the fray. A report from Muktsar said that the clash took place when the Congress candidate Mahesh Inder Singh objected to the threatening posture of SAD activist Bobby Badal towards ruling party workers.
The report said that Mahesh Inder was manhandled by the SAD activists, but timely intervention by the police prevented the situation from taking an ugly turn. The matter has been brought to the notice of the Election Observer incharge of the constituency.
Meanwhile Mr Badal and his wife Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal cast their votes in their native village Badal, while Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his MP wife Perneet Kaur cast their votes in Patiala town. Both the chief ministerial candidates while coming out of their respective polling booths flashed the victory signs. - An UNI Report

Malwa a door to power for Congress

2007-02-09T01:44:00.000-08:00

In a reversal of 2002 situation,

Cong hopes to decimate SAD in Malwa region,

Akalis turn to Majha, Doaba neck-to-neck

Sangrur : The biggest battle for the Punjab assembly is being fought in Malwa. In the last election, the Shiromani Akali Dal had won 33 of its total tally of 44 seats from the region. They need to do better that tally this time to return to power, which is a tall order.
The Congress had formed the government in 2002 on the strength of its good performance in Majha and Doaba.
But this time, its fortunes will be decided in Malwa, where the Akalis are threatened for many reasons. Most importantly, a majority of the Akali Dal MLAs here are second timers and face a strong anti incumbency.
The feeling against as the Akalis is already showing on the ground as Ajit Singh, a Nameda villager in Samana district in the region said: "MLAs need to be accessible. But if we have difficulty in locating them why should we vote for them."
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who is seeking re-election from Patiala, is confident the Congress will end up with as many as 45 to 50 seats here. "Even Badal is losing from Lambi. Many Akali stalwarts will be defeated likewise," he says confidently.
The Akalis feel the same way about the Majha region, the Congress stronghold, for identical reasons. The region has 27 seats. An Akali supporter says the Congress is doomed in the region. The two parties share the honours in Doaba, the third region of the state, where they are in a close contest
Although both Amarinder and Badal are contesting from Malwa, which spans Ferozepur on one side and Ludhiana on the other, the abrogation of the water treaty with other states seems to be working for the Congress.
The water table in Southern Punjab has fallen drastically and the abrogation sent positive signals to farmers. The region also saw many farmer suicides because of poor cotton yield due to adulterated insecticides. But with the introduction of the BT cotton hybrid variety, the yield has gone up.
In addition, the religious sect Sacha Sauda's diktat to the villagers to vote for the Congress is being seen as the final pronouncement of a grand victory.
Brahm Mohindra, the Congress nominee from Samana, who is fighting a tough battle against Surjit Singh Rakhra of the SAD and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, deputy CM contesting from Lehra Gaga against Prem Singh Chandumajra of SAD could be the beneficiaries.
The Akalis, however, discount these factors. Om Prakash, a BJP supporter, said "they are nowhere. They could not even muster good crowds for their Prime Minister. So where is their support". - Hindustan Times Report

She knows every voter counts

2007-02-09T01:36:00.000-08:00

Amrita Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service
Leharagaga, February 8A seasoned politician, Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal says the common man is not getting his due. “I am not satisfied as projects are not being implemented at the grassroots level. The delay needs to be checked. Progress has to be made at a faster rate,” she says.
Though for a short term, she has the distinction of being the only woman Chief Minister of Punjab. It thus comes as a surprise when one learns that she never wanted to join politics. Belonging to a family of freedom fighters, she contested her first elections on the insistence of her father, the late Sardar Hira Singh Bhattal.
“I contested for the first time in 1972 and didn’t know how to address a gathering; it was only after an opponent ridiculed that I couldn’t speak that I realised I had to prove myself. After that there was no looking back,” she says before addressing a gathering of villagers at Lehal Kalan village.
An Akali-dominated village, she proudly tells us that efforts of 10 years have paid of as villagers have now promised their vote to her. “It’s taken years to change their mindset. It’s a never- ending job.”
That every vote counts becomes clear when she makes efforts to make an appearance to bless the newlyweds at a charitable function organised by a local body and a stopover at a gurdwara at Moonak village which has only a gathering of a handful of people. Maybe this is what accounts for her win four times. She won in 1980 from Dhanaula and in 1992, 1997 and 2002 from Leharagaga.
“Dhanaula was my parents’ constituency and no one from the Congress had won before 1980. Even when the Congress lost in 1985, I lost by the minimum margin of 900 votes from here. I later got married and ever since have been contesting from my in-laws’ town,” she says.
Sixtyone-year-old Ms Bhattal hopes that her son Rahul will carry forward the family legacy. “My daughter is helping me canvass, but she is not keen on politics; she does not like the way politics works. Rahul, too, is helping me canvass and it is he who has interest,” she says.
Though confident of a win, she harbours no ambitions. “It is for the high command to decide things; I am here to work for the people, and will continue to do so.”
Preferring to refrain from making personal allegations against her opponent, she highlights the work done by her and her party “People can see the work done. Educational institutes have been brought in and tenders for various projects have been cleared,” she says.

Mann addresses Punjabi NRI's in Canada over webcam

2007-02-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, who is contesting Punjab assembly election from Dhanaula constituency, gave a speech to his supporters in Surrey (Canada) via webcam from Punjab.
Mann attracted more than 700 Indo-Canadians at a banquet in Surrey when he gave a speech via webcam on Sunday.
Mann, who delivered a 20-minute speech beamed live onto four giant screens at the Grand Taj banquet hall. He advocated independence for Punjab and the creation of a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan through non-violent means.
It may be mentioned here that representatives of Punjab's political parties are busy campaigning and fundraising in British Columbia among the sizeable Indo-Canadian community, especially Sikhs, ahead of the February 13 polls in Punjab.
As per reports, the party members are focusing in British Columbia's Lower Midland area where there is a large Indo-Canadian population. Although Indo-Canadians are not allowed to vote in Indian elections, but the campaign leaders are hoping to influence them enough so that they are able to sway votes back home among relatives.
It is learnt that an Indio-Canadian, who is living in Canada for 23 years and whose father-in-law is one of the candidates for the elections in Punjab, organized a rally of more than 100 people in Surrey. 'They - can affect the outcome of the elections because sometimes the victory is decided by 1,000-2,000 votes, and a call from here is very important. People do listen to people from Canada and they vote that way,' as per this Indo-Canadian. He claimed that he organized the luncheon to raise support, not money.
'It's not legal for political parties in India to accept contributions from a foreign source. But he said Indian citizens living abroad can make political donations,' as per legal experts.
As per reports, SAD (Amritsar) is only one of several parties canvassing the Lower Mainland for money, influence and votes ahead of the Feb. 13 election. Since the majority of Indo-Canadians living in Surrey are of Punjabi origin, the B.C. city has become a key battleground for elections halfway across the world.
As per reports, the poll issue in Punjab has been widely discussed on Punjabi-language radio stations based in the Lower Mainland, which is home to more than 300,000 Indo-Canadians. Candidates such as Simranjit Singh Mann are phoning into stations from India on a daily basis to discuss issues and encourage support from people living abroad -- although Canadian citizens can't vote in the elections.
Surrey-based Radio-India has been arranging on-air phone interviews for the past three weeks from some of the 117 candidates in Punjab. As per talk show host Harpreet, "It's a very interlinked community in which the majority of the relatives are still living in India," "The politicians come on the radio stations appealing for votes because they know a big chunk of the electorate can be influenced by the people living over here." - GURPREET SINGH MEHAK

NRIs eye prosperity wave, pump in dollars

2007-02-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

Jatin Gandhi

Hoshiarpur/Jalandhar for HT

It is raining NRIs in Punjab. With India clocking an impressive growth rate and making waves the world over, an estimated 50,000 NRIs are in the state to throw their weight behind the candidates.
The community wants a stake in the prosperity wave and the easiest way to do it is to tap those who will rule the state for the next five years.
“This election is different from those in the past. For the first time, NRIs are supporting parties and their candidates on such a large scale,” says Resham Singh Hayer, president of the NRI Sabha, an association of NRIs that works for the community’s interest.
Hayer says the election has provided an opportunity to NRIs to visit their relatives and explore future prospects in Punjab at the same time. “There are more than 50,000 NRIs camping in Punjab this election,” says Manjit Singh Dasuya, senior vice-president of the North American unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The unit, he says, is chipping in with both time and money for the electoral battle, but is not willing to reveal the amount that has been pumped in.
“The NRIs are spending their own money on the campaign and travel. Some have thrown lavish parties for candidates. Even if each one of them spends a few thousand dollars each, the money flowing in is enormous,” said Pritam Singh Narangpur, former president of NRI Sabha.
The lush expanse is making way for mega projects and malls and NRI investments are at an all- time high. Land prices have shot up from several thousands an acre from the last election to a few crores now. The community obviously wants a stake in the multiplying millions. “We left Punjab for better prospects abroad. If investing in Punjab means profits, why should our children live thousands of miles away from home,” said Mohan Singh, a transport business owner from Montreal, who has been camping in his native village Chabbewal for the past month to campaign for a friend.
“We want the government to promise that our investment will be safe. In return, we will campaign for them. Our village alone has 25 families with relatives abroad. Our word does matter,” he said.

Challenging royalty on a scooter

2007-02-09T00:47:00.000-08:00

Shiromani Akali Dal opponent, Surjit Singh Kohli, is doing the rounds of this town on a scooter

PATIALA: The SAD candidate from Patiala Surjit Singh Kohli pitted against Punjab chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has restricted the latter in Patiala constituency.
Surjit Singh Kohli son of late Sardara Singh Kohli, also former Akali Minister in 1968. Sardara Singh Kolhi who died two months ago, has its own different story of life. Son of late Gopal Singh Kohli a dealer of disposal goods of army disposal migrated from Distt. Jehlam Now Pakistan in 1947.
Sardara Singh Kohli use to drive 'Tonga' in early 60s to meet his daily live hood. A follower of Master Tara Singh Sardara Singh Kohli was two time MLA and a minister of Punjab, had switched over from tonga to have two trucks to start transport Business, which his son Surjit Singh Kohli further expanded to a fleet of 55 trucks and also having two petrol pumps and rice sheller etc. His son Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, a former student of Stephens college Delhi, giving his helping hand towards his family business, also actively participated in Akali Politics and also president of SAD-Youth of Patiala.
The extensive campaigned lodged by SAD candidate in the city has forced Capt. Amarinder Singh to rethink their poll strategies and he has been holding election rallies himself. Earlier in 2002 his wife and local MP Maharani Preneet Kaur has held responsibility.
The poll managers of Cpat. Amarinder Singh have now been focusing vote bank of those Sikhs who migrated from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and has been trying to remind them that their forefathers were rehabilitated by earst while royal family in 1947.
Sikhs who are residing in Patiala are closely associated with Surjit Singh Kohli as he belongs to NWFP and with BJP who now campaigning for SAD-BJP candidate has creating more problems for CM camp.
Poll manager has also decided to bring leaders of those who belonged to NWFP. The prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh will address an election rally at Polo Ground here on February 6 in the support of Capt. Amarinder Singh. Dr. Manmohan Singh, whose surname also happens to be 'Kohli', was also from village GUH, situated in NWFP.
The president of SAD-Delhi Paramjit Singh Sarna, who is from District GujarKhan (now In Pakistan), will also canvass for Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh from the Congress stage.
This was disclosed by him in a news conference held here today. Sarna said that he will only campaign in Patiala city for Capt. Amarinder Singh as Amarinder Singh has done lots of Sikhs in his five year tenure as the chief Minister of Punjab.
He however called upon the people of Punjab not to vote for Parkash Singh Badal as he has not done for Sikh panth. -GAGANDEEP AHUJA

Fight for supermacy in Dhanaula

2007-02-09T00:12:00.000-08:00

Simranjit Singh Mann alongwith Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Ram Singh

DHANAULA: An interesting fight is on the cards in Dhanaula, considered an Akali bastion, with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Gobind Singh Longowal, Congress' Kuldeep Bhattal and SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann among the main contestants battling for supremacy.

Next week's State Assembly elections will witness SAD (A) chief Simranjit Singh Mann contesting the polls for the first time. His entry makes the going tough for Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's brother Kuldeep and sitting SAD nominee Gobind Singh Longowal. Mann has a considerable vote bank in Sangrur district in which the Dhanaula assembly seat falls.

While the Congress appears a divided house as Kuldeep Bhattal's niece, Rosy Bhattal, has also jumped into the fray as an Independent, damaging the chances of her uncle. However, Kuldeep is not unduly worried as he maintains that "Rosy is a non-serious candidate and has no following or base in the constituency.

If Rosy had a base, she would surely have got the Congress ticket," he elaborates . But Rosy claims that her late father Manjit Singh Bhattal had won the seat in 1992 and 1997 and she was not new to politics. There are people who are strongly behind me, she added.

While the Congress is stressing on development, the SAD-BJP candidate has a long list of what he claims are the alleged failures of the Amarinder Singh Government. -Punjab Newsline Network

Mixed signals in Punjab elections

2007-02-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Hindustan Times Report

Jalandhar : Mixed signals seemed to be emanating from the Congress camp as the campaigning entered the decisive stage with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi addressing two impressive election rallies in Jandiala Guru and Phagwara urging the people of Punjab to defeat divisive forces represented by the Akali Dal-BJP combine.Although Ms Gandhi's meetings were certainly better organised than those of the Prime Minister during the past two days, the lack of planning and proper strategy on part of the state leadership was evident.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who is spearheading the campaign at the state level was made to sit in the second row with AICC office bearers and PCC Chief Shamsher Singh Dullo flanking Ms Gandhi in the front row on the dais. The Amritsar Lok Sabha seat candidate Surinder Singla was also seated at the back.Amarinder Singh's relegation, which may have been totally unintentional, was interpreted in party circles as an indication by the leadership that the question of chief ministership was wide open and will be decided only after the results.

Party General Secretary Margaret Alva as reported by the local media in Gurdaspur on Tuesday and another office bearer some days ago also gave this impression.Satnam Singh Deol, a Youth Congress activist said, "in this election, the key to our success is the division of Jat Sikh vote and if the Jats get the feeling that Amarinder is not going to be there, they may opt for Akalis and tilt the scales heavily in their favour."

Another Congress leader said that Congress had adequate support amongst Hindus and Dalits and the support of Jat Sikhs was very important for the outcome. For the first time, there had been a rethink on their part and all these kind of signals are not helping matters."Even if they want to change Amarinder, they should not be unnecessarily spelling out that the decision would be taken after the polls.

Things can be kept vague."The Prime Minister's rallies too conveyed the feeling of mismanagement and Tuesday's show was so poorly organised in Ludhiana that a large section of the ground had no gathering. Though security concerns are being blamed for the fiasco, the organisation does not seem to have applied its mind to the fallout.The PM's speech lacked poll fire and it was only on the second day that Dr Manmohan Singh paid some attention on the talking points and took the Akalis to task.Ms Gandhi's speech made some relevant points but as compared to her opening speech in the 2002 polls it did not charge up the workers who with a little bit of push can easily help in breaking the 40-year-old jinx of Congress not returning to power after one term in office. A number of Congress workers in Jalandhar stated that Ms Gandhi was sparing her energy for the final assault on February 10 when she will address a meeting at Parkash Singh Badal's village and in Sirhind.However, there were some good signals too.

Ms Gandhi started her speech at Jandiala by paying obeisance to the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) to send a clear message to the Sikhs that she and her party had the highest respect for the most revered religious shrine. Dullo also made it a point to mention that it was only during the Congress regime that a Sikh, General JJ Singh had been made the chief of Army staff. The Punjab CM carried the battle to the enemy camp by declaring that Baal was in deep trouble in Lambi and it will not come as a surprise to him if he loses.

The Congress camp is banking heavily on its strong position in Malwa to retain the state. Its position in Doaba is virtually the same as last time and it could perhaps suffer some reverses in Majha where its performance had peaked in most areas.

Congress recovery in Punjab

2007-01-25T23:53:00.000-08:00

HT-CNN-IBN survey on Punjab poll
The Congress party in Punjab have got a big leap with the results of a POLL survey conducted by HT-IBN-CNN, reputed combination of newspaper and TV channels which has claimed 41 percent votes in favour of Congress in the assembly elections to be held on February 13, 2007.
The survey published by national Daily Hindustan Times on Tuesday has sent shock waves in the camp of Shriomani Akali Dal(SAD) and alliance partner BJP who were hoping to return to power.
Even at national level rating of Congress led UPA government has shown in a position to win 300 seats against 115 by BJP and aliiance partners.
The Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh has thrown a big challenge to the SAD-BJP alliance over two major issues of development and performance.
The SAD-BJP government led by Parkash Singh Badal was defeated by Congress on the issue of corruption and lack of governance.
The HT-CNN-IBN survey has revealed that SAD-BJP lliance would not be getting more than 36 percent votes while BSP will get five percent and other/indepednents would get 18 percent share in the votes.
'The state of the nation' survey has found people quite satisfactory with Congress government. In the survey, 60 percent people seemed satisfied with the state government while only 35 percent feltdissatisfied.
The popularity of Chief Minister has gone up from 18 percent during January 2006 to 38 percent in January 2007.

Jagir Kaur’s 80 crore ?

2007-01-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

Bibi outshines CM, Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal and his wife may have joint assets worth only Rs 9 crore, but Akali heavyweight Bibi Jagir Kaur has wealth nine times more than her party president.
Former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur’s net worth is more than a whopping Rs 80 crore – as per the disclosure she made today while filing nomination papers for the Bholath assembly constituency in Kapurthala. Her disclosure even outshines that of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is worth Rs 39 crore.
A chunk of Jagir Kaur’s wealth comes from a piece of ancestral property she inherited from her in-laws’. About 13 acre in size, this land in Begowal town, by chance, fell into the category of urban land. That’s how its price skyrocketed to over Rs 80 crore. "The declared worth of this land has been made on the basis of the price fixed by the District Collector," Jagir Kaur’s lawyer told The Tribune today.
Apart from this property, Jagir Kaur has two vehicles in her name. She owns a tractor worth Rs three lakh and an Innova worth Rs 6 lakh. She has jewellery worth Rs nine lakh and cash in hand worth Rs two lakh. Besides, she had six bank accounts wit deposits worth Rs 2.50 lakh approximately. Not just that, she is an income tax assessee and she paid income tax of Rs 78,597 last year.
Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is challenging Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Congress for the third time from Bholath, has also disclosed her entire criminal record in the affidavit submitted along with the nomination papers today. She has five FIRs against her. Of these, while two have been stayed by the High Court, the one pertaining to the murder of her daughter Harpreet Kaur, still stands. This FIR dated October 3, 2000 was lodged under Sections 302/365/201 and 313 of the IPC. The charges include murder, abduction and destruction of evidence.
Another standing FIR against Jagir Kaur is the one filed in Samanpur on account of public protests. Jagir Kaur’s affidavit also mentions other FIRs which were stayed by the High Court. These include the one regarding electricity theft lodged on November 7, 2002, the FIR lodged when she joined protested against the arrest of Parkash Singh Badal in 2003 and another one lodged by Kulbir Kaur Dhami, wife of Khalistan ideologue Kanwar Pal Dhami. Source-Tribune news Service

CM's family is worth Rs.1 Billion

2007-01-25T23:29:00.000-08:00

Chandigarh, Touted among the top political families of Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's immediate clan is worth, by his own admission, almost Rs.1 billion (Rs.100 crore).In contrast, Amarinder Singh's main political opponent and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal, accused of amassing wealth worth nearly Rs.35 billion (Rs.3,500 crore) and facing corruption charges, claims he and his family have cash and assets of about Rs.100 million (Rs.10 crore).Badal's family owns a palatial bungalow in the state capital Chandigarh's upscale Sector 9, besides hundreds of acres of land in Punjab and Haryana. This includes the Orbit resorts in Gurgaon, the technology and outsourcing hub bordering the national capital.The Akali leader, however, does not even own a car in his name although he has been the chief minister of Punjab thrice. He is taking a shot at the top slot for the fourth time now.

The worth of these two stalwarts of Punjab politics has been reflected in the information supplied by them while filing their nominations for the Feb 13 assembly elections.While the chief minister is seeking re-election to the Patiala town seat, Badal has filed his nomination from Lambi in Muktsar district.

A total of 117 assembly constituencies in Punjab go to the polls in a bitter fight between the ruling Congress and the main opposition Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine.At a time when every inch of land in Punjab is worth millions of rupees due to a property boom, the chief minister has claimed that his sprawling New Moti Bagh palace in the heart of Patiala town, about 80 km from here, is worth only Rs.350 million (Rs.35 crore). Realtors assess the market price of the property to be almost thrice as much at today's rates.

Amarinder Singh hails from the erstwhile royalty of Patiala state. He and his immediate family members - MP wife Preneet Kaur, son Raninder and daughter-in-law Rishma Kaur - own huge chunks of land in Punjab and in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.Preneet Kaur is a Congress member of the Lok Sabha from Patiala.The chief minister has declared jewellery worth Rs.3.2 million (Rs.32 lakh) in his possession besides bonds and shares worth Rs.4.75 million (RS.47.5 lakh) and deposits of Rs.903,000.His wife owns jewellery worth Rs.1.13 million (Rs.11.37 lakh) and his daughter-in-law has ornaments worth a whopping Rs.6.9 million (Rs.69 lakh). –IANS Report

Punjab DGP SS Virk transfers

2007-01-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: The Election Commission has asked the Punjab government to transfer the state's Director General of Police S S Virk with immediate effect in the interest of the state.
The Commission has said that in recent period, concerns have been raised regarding his credibility and perceived neutrality in the forthcoming Assembly polls . The latest complaint was lodged by the members of the Akali Dal.
Accusing DGP Virk of "favouring" the ruling Congress, the Akali Dal had earlier this month alleged that Virk got a Rs 250-crore pay-off in a mega project coming up near Chandigarh in return for favours.
The Election Commission, in its order issued late on Friday night, has also asked the Punjab Chief Secretary to create a panel of three people to replace the DGP.
reports that Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami had rejected the SAD demand while reviewing poll preparedness in Punjab on Janury nine but had warned the official that action would be taken against him if he was not found to be "neutral and fair".
"We have received complaints against the DGP. We have advised the right quarter on the complaints and expect fair play on the part of all officers. Unless some truth is there in the complaints, no action will be taken," Gopalaswami told journalists.
The Election Commission would, however, watch the officer constantly and "he has been advised to be neutral and fair. Otherwise action will be taken against him", the CEC said.

No Ticket to 'Best Parliamentarian'

2007-01-19T03:07:00.000-08:00

Chandigarh, Credentials like 'best parliamentarian' and 'whistleblower' have not helped a Congress legislator in Punjab get a ticket to contest the assembly elections next month.
Vocal and controversial Bir Devinder Singh has been denied a chance to contest from Kharar constituency with the Congress giving the ticket to Mohali district party president Balbir Singh Sidhu, a local liquor distributor.
'The denial of ticket is a conspiracy by the land and liquor mafia in my area. I will talk to my supporters and decide the next course of action,' Bir Devinder said, indicating that he was on the verge of leaving the Congress.
Then legislator, who has been with the party for three decades, had been declared the 'best parliamentarian' in the Punjab assembly only two years ago. He also remained deputy speaker of the state assembly.
He is known for his bold stand on various issues and earned the sobriquet 'whistleblower' in political circles for exposing various scandals, including those that went against his own party's government. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and state Congress president Shamsher Singh Dullo were not happy with him.
Bir Devinder had opposed the government's move to bring a private universities bill in the assembly. He was against a 'halwai' businessman from Jalandhar being allowed to set up the state's first private university despite not having any credentials in the education field.
He had raised other issues against the government as well - embarrassing Amarinder Singh on several occasions.
Bir Devinder was always in the news for inspection of various government services like hospitals, schools, colleges and public-dealing offices and exposing absenteeism and lack of work culture by government officials.
He recently got embroiled in controversy after recommending the transfer of a pregnant woman doctor in a government clinic after he heard her taking his name in a manner he felt was disrespectful to a legislator. The issue led to a protest by doctors though it was later resolved.

Candidates of Shiromani Akali Dal Badal

2007-01-19T02:25:00.000-08:00

DISTRICT : AMRITSAR
1.
Ajnala
S. Amarpaul Singh Boni
Ajnala, Distt. Amritsar.
98147-00147, 01858- 281045

2.
Attari
S. Gulzar Singh Ranike
Gurmukh Niwas, Near Guru Nanak Hospital, Majitha Road, Amritsar.
98147-00045 , 0183- 2571987
3.
Beas
S. Manjinder Singh Kang
139, Basant Avenue, Amirtsar.
98147-39139 , 0183- 2229594
4.
Majitha
S. Bikram Singh Majithia
43, Green Avenue, Amritsar.
98140-00003 ,98153- 15522 ,0183- 2501752
5.
Raja Sansi
S. Veer Singh Lopoke
Vpo- Lopoke ,Via- Preet Nagar , Distt.- Amritsar.
98140- 38808 ,01858- 244724
6.
Verka
S Dalbir singh
Kothi No. 120, Basant Avenue, Amritsar.
93577- 80063 ,98882-24230 ,0183-2222062
7
Jandiala
S. Malkiat Singh A.R
Kothi No-82, Chanan Singh Colony, Amirtsar.
98141- 35866 , 0183- 2483905
8
Amritsar South
S. Raminder Singh Bularia
415/13, Nawan Kot, Amritsar.
98140-50442 , 0183- 5537072

DISTRICT : BATHINDA
1
Nathana
S. Gura Singh
Adrash Nagar, Street No-7, P.O- N.F.L Township, Bathinda
98149-12333 , 0164- 2760394
2
Rampura Phul
S. Sikander Singh Malooka
Vpo- Malooka, Distt- Bathinda
98725- 22888 ,94176- 22888 ,01651- 272888
3
Bathinda
Sh. Sarup Singla
Aggarwal Colony ,Bathinda.
98143- 00936 ,99152- 00936 ,0164- 2241936
4
Pakka Kalan
S. Darshan Singh Kotfatta
Kothi No- 123, Model Town,PUDA-III ,Bathinda
94175- 61408 ,98765- 61178 ,0164- 2213552
5
Talwandi Sabo
S. Amrajit Singh Sidhu
Kothi No- 17b ,Model Town ,Patiala.
98156- 00002 ,0175- 2213248

DISTRICT : FARIDKOT
1.
Kotkapura
S. Mantar Singh Brar
Vpo- Sandhwan ,Distt.- Faridkot.
98155- 54054 ,01635- 222425
2.
Panj Garian
S. Gurdev Singh Badal
Harindra Nagar, Faridkot.
98155- 47085 ,98154- 16338 ,01639- 251085
3
Faridkot
S. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon,
Green Roadways ,Kotakpura road ,Faridkot.
98151-00595

DISTRICT : FEROZEPUR
1.
Balluana
S.Gurtej Singh
Vpo- Ghuriana ,Distt- Ferozepur.
Ward No- 12, Malout ,Distt- Muktsar.
98727- 64844 ,01637- 260544
2.
Ferozepur Cantt.
S. Janmeja Singh
Jhok Road, Ferozepur Cantt.
94172- 50005 ,98725- 40004 ,01632- 244068 ,01632- 244168
3.
Guru har Sahai
S. Paramjeet Singh
Vpo- Ladhuwala Uttar ,The- Jalalabad ,Distt.- Ferozepur.
98140- 03029 ,01638- 257064
4.
Zira
S. Hari Singh Zira
Zira, Distt.- Ferozepur.
98145- 50133 ,98147- 00003 ,01682- 250133
5
Jalalabad
S. Sher Singh Ghubayia
Vpo- Ghubayia ,Teh- Jalalabad ,Distt. Ferozepur.
98148-24223 ,01638-224222

DISTRICT. FATEHGARH SAHIB
1
Sirhind
S. Didar Singh Bhatti
Vpo- Bhattian ,Teh- Khanna , Distt.- Ludhiana.
98156-27702
2
Amloh
Bibi. Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal
Kothi No- 965 ,Phase- 4 ,Mohali.
99141-22177 , 0172- 4611656

DISTRICT : GURDASPUR
1.
Dhariwal
S. Sucha Singh Langah
Vpo- Langah, Via- Dhariwal , Distt.- Gurdaspur.
98153- 55692 , 01874- 276256
2.
Fatehgarh Churrian
S. Nirmal Singh Kahlon
649, Basant Avenue , Amirtsar.
98724- 00007 , 0183- 2222545
3.
Kahnuwan
S. Sewa Singh Sekhwan
185, Guru Ram Das Colony, Jalandhar road , Batala, Distt.- Gurdaspur
98159- 98682 , 01871- 241900
4.
Qadian
S. Lakhbir Singh Lodi Nangal
Vill- LodhiNangal , P.O- Fatehgarh Churian, Distt.- Gurdaspur.
98158- 43344 , 01871- 256422
5.
Shri Hargobindpur
Capt. Balbir Singh Bath
Vpo- Chone, Via- Sri Hargobindpur ,Distt.- Gurdaspur.
98142- 27708 , 01871- 229516
6
Gurdaspur
S. Gurbachan Singh Babehali
Vpo- Babehali , The& Distt. Gurdaspur
98882- 13139 , 98141- 31907 , 01874-320997 , 01874- 320897

DISTRICT : HOSHIARPUR
1.
Gardhiwala
Sh. Des Raj Dhugga
Vpo- Dhugga ,Tehsil- Dasuya ,Distt.- Hoshiarpur.
98767- 18947 , 98144- 18947 ,01886- 255946
2.
Mahilpur
S. Sohan Singh Thandal
Vill- Thandal ,Tehsil- Mahilpur , Distt.- Hoshiarpur.
94172-01678 , 01884- 254133
3.
Sham Chorasi
Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh
Vpo- Piplanwala , Distt.- Hoshiarpur.
98140-32185 , 01882- 256422
4.
Tanda
S. Balbir Singh Miani
Vpo- Miani , Tehsil- Tanda , Distt. Hoshiarpur.
98140-65448 , 01883- 245033

DISTRICT : JALANDHAR
1.
Adampur
S. Sarbjeet Singh Makkar
1 A, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Jalandhar.
98141- 60013 , 0181- 2239313 , 0181- 2277416
2.
Jalandhar Cantt.
S. Jagbir Singh Brar
Model Town, Jalandhar.
98147- 12299 , 98141- 12299 , 0181- 2272716
3.
Lohian
S. Ajit Singh Kohar
Vill- Kohar , Via – Shahkot , Distt.- Jalandhar.
98550- 88253 , 98147- 88253 , 01821- 285050
4.
Phillaur
S. Sarwan Singh Phillaur
1063, Urban Estate , Phase-1, Jalandhar.
98145- 69300 , 0181- 2482376
5
NurMahal
S. Gurdeep Singh Bhullar
Vill- Bhullar ,The- Phillaur , Distt. Jalandhar.
01826- 248252 , 98552- 00724
6
Nakodar
Jath. Kuldeep Singh Wadala
Vill- Wadala , Distt. Jalandhar.
98140- 66360 , 0181- 2686089
7
Kartarpur
Sh. Avinash Chander
Vpo- Ramdaspura ,Nakodar Road
Buta Mandi, Jalandhar.
98729- 90007 , 98729- 90008 , 0181- 2273459

DISTRICT : KAPURTHALA
1.
Bhulath
Bibi Jagir Kaur
Vpo- Begowal , Distt.- Kapurthala.
98141-44368 , 01822- 248051 , 01822- 248151
2.
Sultanpur Lodhi
Bibi Upinderjeet Kaur
Kothi No-1, Azim Manzil ,Railway Road, Kapurthala.
98722- 62143 , 01822- 234400 , 01822- 230824
3
Kapurthala
S. Raghbir Singh
Vill- Hothian , Teh& Distt. Kapurthala.
98551- 81955 , 01822- 329812 , 01822- 329825

DISTRICT : LUDHIANA
1.
Koom Kalan
S. InderIqbal Singh Atwal
484 A, Model Town Extension, Ludhiana.
98761-00032 , 0161- 2463199 , 0161- 2461014
2.
Ludhiana Rural
S. Hira Singh Gabrian
Street No. 10, Vishkarma Colony, Ludhiana.
98142- 00751 , 98141- 16751 , 0161- 5539751
3.
Ludhiana West
Sh. Harish Rai Dhanda
Near- Embassy Palace , Opp- Hotel Park Palaza , Ludhiana.
98141- 86702 , 0161- 2404524 , 0161- 2402743
4.
Qila Raipur
S. Jagdish Singh Garcha
Kothi No. 658 , Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana
98157- 51555 , 0161- 2402271 , 0161- 2405914
5.
Raikot
S. Ranjit Singh Talwandi
Vpo- Talwandi Rai , Teh- Raikot , Distt.- Ludhiana.
98140- 21956 , 01624- 263060 , 01624- 263660 fax
6.
Samrala
S. Jagjeewan Singh Khirnian
Vill- Khirnia ,Teh- Samrala, Distt.- Ludhiana.
98143- 00925 , 01628- 262040
7
Payal
S. MaheshInder Singh Grewal
153, Model Town ,Ludhiana.
98766- 00153 , 0161- 2432468 , 0161- 2425575
8
Jagraon
S. Bhag Singh Malha
Malha Niwas, Court road, Jagraon ,Distt. Ludhiana.
94170-26014 ,01624- 222225 ,01624- 224925
9
Khanna
S. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa
435/23, Krishan Nagar , Ludhiana.
94174- 00008 , 0161- 2407273
10
Dakha
S. Darshan Singh Shiwalik
Mehtab House, Warewala Road, Ludhiana.
98149- 05445 , 0161- 2550844

DISTRICT : MANSA
1.
Budhladha
S. Harbant Singh Datevas
Vpo- Datewas , Teshil- Budhladha , Distt.- Mansa.
94170- 36422 , 98889- 38686 , 01652- 259050
2.
Joga
S. Jagdeep Singh Nakei
Rampura Phool, Distt- Bhatinda
98728- 80960 , 01651- 227383
3.
Mansa
S. Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh
Vpo- Veeroka , Distt- Mansa.
98721- 00299 , 01652- 227117
4.
Sardoolgarh
S. Balwinder Singh Bhundar
Vpo- Bhunder , The- Sardulgarh , Distt.- Mansa
254, Sector-11A , Chandigarh.
98729- 97441 , 0172- 2744124

DISTRICT : MOGA
1.
Dharamkot
S. Sital Singh Advocate
Dharamkot ,Tehsil- Zira , Distt.- Ferozepur.
98554- 26146 , 94172- 26146 , 01682- 220008
2.
Moga
S. Tota Singh
Didar Singh Nagar , G.T. Road ,Moga.
98762- 00541, 98556- 56400 , 01636- 237884
3
Nihal Singh Wala
S. Jarnail Singh
Vill- Rama , Via- Nihal singh Wala , Distt. Moga.
4
Bagha Purana
S. Sadhu Singh Rajeana
Vpo- Rajeana , Distt. Moga
98140- 76972 , 98147- 80227 , 01636-240227

DISTRICT : MUKATSAR
1.
Lambi
S. Parkash Singh Badal
Vpo- Badal , Distt. Muktsar.
01637- 244570 , 01637- 244571
2.
Giddarbaha
S. Manpreet Singh Badal
Opp- Courts , Giddarbaha ,Distt. Muktsar.
98728-01190 , 98723-01190 , 94172- 09840 , 01637- 231378 , 01637- 244300
3.
Malout
S. Harpreet Singh
Vpo- Kot Bhai , Tehsil- Malout , Distt.- Muktsar.
98141-70783 , 01637- 235753
4
Muktsar
S. Sukhdarshan Singh Marar
Vpo- Marar Kalan , Teh& Distt. Muktsar.
98141- 61261 , 01633- 262426

DISTRICT : NAWANSHAHR
1.
Balachour
Sh. Nand Lal
Vill- Karimpur , The- Balachaur , Distt.- NawanShahar.
94172- 30088 , 01885- 230058
2.
Banga
Sh. Mohan Lal
Vpo- Behram , Distt.- NawanShahar
94173- 23143
3
Nawan Shahar
S. Jatinder Singh kariha
Vpo- Kariha , Teh&Distt. Nawan Shahar.
94170-22993 , 01823- 220093

DISTRICT : PATIALA
1.
Banur
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh
Kothi No.- 175 , Sector- 9B , Chandigarh.
98140-48988 , 0172- 2740718
2.
Dakala
S. Harmel Singh Tohra
23, Hira Bagh, Patiala
98727- 35818 , 98148- 43131
0175-
3
Nabha
Raja Narinder Singh
Rangar Nangal House , Nabha, Distt. Patiala.
98140- 24604 , 01765- 220301
4.
Patiala
S. Surjit Singh Kohli
Nihal Bagh, Baradari , Patiala.
98159- 00701 , 0175- 2214831 , 0175- 2225567
5.
Samana
S. Surjit Singh Rakhra
Vpo- Rakhra, Distt. Patiala.
98143- 41005 , 98158- 41005 , 0175- 5050600
6
Ghanaur
S. Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur
Kothi No-1, Vidya Nagar, Kalheri , Patiala.
92160- 82003 , 98150- 47004
7
Shatrana
Master Hamir Singh Ghagga
Vpo- Ghagga , Distt. Patiala
98728-28199

DISTRICT : ROPAR
1.
Chamkaur Sahib
Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu
Kothi No.-1164, Phase-5 , Mohali.
98145- 13133 , 0172- 2221164
2.
Morinda
S. Ujagar Singh Wadali
Vill.- Sultanpur , P.O- Siswan , Distt- Mohali.
98764- 64059 , 0160- 2643729
3
Anandpur Sahib
Sant. Ajit Singh
Gurdwara Dashmesh Bunga, Anandpur Sahib, Distt. Ropar
94174- 03190 , 01885- 232596
4
Kharar
S. Jasjit Singh Banni
Kothi No-175 , Sector- 9 B , Chandigarh.
98151-70675 , 0172-2740718

DISTRICT : SANGRUR
1.
Barnala
S. Malkiat Singh Kittu
Vpo- Bilaspur , Distt.- Moga.
94170-05738 , 01679- 230738
2.
Bhadour
S. Balbir Singh Ghunas
Vill- Ghunus, Via- Tapa , Distt.- Barnala.
98722- 30292 , 94171- 33511 , 01679- 234811
3.
Dhanoula
S. Gobind Singh Longowal
Vpo- Longowal ,Distt. Sangrur.
94172- 00542 , 01672- 283596
4.
Dhuri
S. Gaganjit Singh Barnala
Dhuri House, Dhuri , Distt.- Sangrur.
98144- 66600 , 01679- 227952
5.
Sherpur
S. Gobind Singh Kanjla
Vpo- Kanjhla ,Tehsil- Malerkotla , Distt. Sangrur.
98140- 59127 , 01675- 238105
6.
Sunam
S. Parminder Singh Dhinsa
Sangrur.
98720- 78677 , 01673- 222666
7
Malerkotla
Sh. Abdul Gaffar
Mohalla Sadewala , Malerkotla, Sangrur.
93177- 25513 , 01679- 263495
8
Lehragaga
Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra
H. No- 103, Phase 2 , Mohali.
98152- 62300 , 98144- 80756 , 0172- 2262886
9
Dirbha
S. Baldev Singh Mann
Vpo- Sular Gharat , Distt. Sangrur.
98143- 48172 , 01676- 238052 , 01676- 238172
10
Sangrur
Sh. Parkash Chand Garg
Anaj mandi, BhiwaniGarh , Distt. Sangrur.
94170-09314 , 01672- 272108

DISTRICT : TRAN-TARAN
1.
Noshaira Pannuan
S. Ranjit Singh Barahampura
20, Guru Har Rai Avenue, Amritsar.
98154- 03075, 98147- 24494 , 0183- 2225943
2.
Patti
S. Adash Partap Singh Kairon
Vpo- Patti, Distt Amritsar.
94170- 01039 , 01851- 246631 , 0172- 2740102
3
Khadur Sahib
S.Manjit Singh Manna
Vpo- Mianwind , The & Distt. Tarn Taran
98144-00116 , 01859-242016
4
Valtoha
Prof. Virsa Singh Valtoha
85, Kabir Park, Opp- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amirtsar.
94172-55667 , 98724- 02536 , 0183- 2257595
5
Tarn Taran
S. Harmit Singh Sandhu
Sandhu Enclave, Amritsar Bye Pass , Tarn Taran
98145- 09837 , 01852-223837

Parties face pre-poll jitters in Punjab

2007-01-19T01:45:00.000-08:00

Ajay Bharadwaj
CHANDIGARH: With the Election Commission issuing notice for the Assembly elections in Punjab, the main political parties in the state are seized with rebellion in the ranks.
With less than a month left for the polls, senior leaders in all parties are working overtime to quell rebels who are threatening to jeopardise electoral prospects of being official candidates.
Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal, who announced the party candidates last week, has been virtually hopping around from one seat to the other to tide over possible dissidence within the party.
In Kharar constituency, while the party announced Jasjeet singh Banni, son of former finance minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, as the party nominee, a group of party workers led by RS Padiala has revolted. Badal held frenetic parleys with the rebels and promised Padiala an office of chairman of the state pollution board, if the party was voted to power.
Badal has been promising rebels with lucrative offices after the Akali-led government is formed. He made a promise to AS Pakhoke in Tarn Taran district after he announced to revolt for being denied the party ticket.
In Sangrur, RS Ballian is leading a dissident group and has announced to contest the election as an independent candidate. Badal faces a similar situation in about a dozen places, but was confident to tide over the crisis due to his influence on his colleagues.
The BJP, an alliance of the Akali Dal, is also apprehending serious revolt from the ranks in some of the key constituencies. Hence, the fate of some senior leaders like Balramji Dass Tondon, Madan Mohan Mittal, Tikshan Sood, and Laxmi Kanta Chawla still hung in uncertainty. Of the 23 seats, the party has so far announced candidature for 16, after which it faces rebellion in at least four places. In Sujanpur, former minister SP Saini, who has been denied the party ticket, is up in arms against the party. Similarly in Ludhiana, former general secretary Balraj Bhandari, has raised banner of revolt. Indications are that after the party announces all candidates, the revolt would spread further.
The Congress is in a more difficult situation and is yet to declare its candidates for all the seats. On Wednesday, while a list of 98 candidates was announced, four sitting MLAs were denied tickets. The resentment will intensify in the coming days.

Big cats to battle it out in Malwa

2007-01-19T01:40:00.000-08:00

by Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Chandigarh : The Malwa region, once famed for its sand dunes and jungles, is now known for its political heavyweights. The region, with 65 Assembly seats, has been dominating the state’s political landscape in various forms for the past four decades. Virtually, it has emerged main electoral combat zone in this Assembly elections.
Most of the political heavyweights are engaged in the tough electoral bouts in this region. Besides incumbent Chief Minster, Capt Amarinder Singh, two former Chief Ministers, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, are seeking mandate from the region.
While Capt Amarinder Singh is pitted against the SAD former Minister, Mr Surinder Singh Kohli from Patiala, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy Chief Minister, is matching her swords with the SAD leader, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, who entered the party fold recently. The Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is fighting the electoral battle against his cousin brother, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh, who is a Congress candidate.
Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, is fighting the electoral battle against Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, who is son of late Akali Minister Basant Singh Khalsa. Mr Dullo’s throwing hat in the election arena is seen as a major political development in the Congress circles.
The Congress candidate, Mr Kanwarjit Singh Brar, son of former Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar, is trying his luck from Muktsar against the SAD candidate, Mr Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar.
Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, nephew of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is contesting from Gidderbaha for the forth time in a row against the Congress candidate, Mr Raghbir Singh. Mr Gaganjit Singh Barnala, son of former Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala, is trying his luck second time against the Congress candidate, Mai Roop Kaur, who belongs to the Bagarian family and had been a Member of the Punjab Public Service Commission. She submitted her resignation yesterday, it is learnt.
There are several other VIP candidates who are engaged in the electoral battle in this region. Former SAD Finance Minister Kanwarjit Singh is engaged in an electoral bout with Mr Rakesh Sharma, son of late Hans Raj Sharma, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. The Congress high command has nominated Mr Rakesh Sharma on the recommendation of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Late Hans Raj Sharma has contested from the Banur segement a number of times.
From the Sunam Assembly segment, the SAD candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who is son of the former Union Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, is contesting against the Congress candidate, Mr Aman Arora, son of late minister Bhagwan Dass Arora. At Sardulgarh, the senior SAD leader, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, is pitted against the Congress candidate, Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar.
At Kotkapura, the SAD candidate, Mr Mantar Singh Brar, son of late Jaswinder Singh Brar, has been fielded against Mr Ripjit Singh Brar, brother of the firebrand Congress leader, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar. Mr Sunil Jakhar, son of Governor of Madhya Pradesh Balram Jakhar, is contesting from the Abohar constituency. The Congress candidate, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, is contesting from Ludhiana (West).
After the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, most of the Punjab’s Chief Ministers, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Capt Amarinder Singh, late Giani Zail Singh, late Justice Gurnam Singh and late Beant Singh and late Lachhman Singh Gill, have been from the Malwa region.

Why the NRI is welcome at Punjab polls

2007-01-19T00:40:00.000-08:00

Chandigarh : As NRIs of Punjabi origin make a beeline for their hometown in the run-up to the Feb 13 assembly polls, their money power and influence on Punjab politics cannot be denied.
Conservative estimates by poll managers of leading political parties put NRI contributions for this year's election at over Rs.1 billion (nearly $22 million). Much of this money will come from the United States, Canada, Britain and other European countries.'NRIs play an important role in all elections in Punjab - right from panchayat (village body) to assembly and parliament,' Harjit Singh, settled in Britain's Gloucester town, told IANS. 'This is one way for our generation of Punjabis to identify with our motherland. We are wooed by politicians from all parties for the funds we can provide and the influence we have,' he added.Groups of NRIs are already arriving at Amritsar's Rajasansi airport and Delhi airport to be part of the state's biggest election exercise.

A 117 assembly seats in Punjab go to polls Feb 13 with a tough fight expected between the ruling Congress and main opposition Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine. 'They have a definite influence on the vote banks in their villages and surrounding areas because of their NRI status. No politician can afford to ignore them,' said Bhagwant Singh, a horticulturist here.

The Doaba belt - the area in Punjab between the Sutlej and Beas rivers comprising the districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala - from where the maximum migration of Punjabis took place between 1940 and 1970 to countries like the US, Britain, Canada and Europe, has the maximum number of NRIs coming for this election. Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal held a meeting last week with NRIs at a Jalandhar hotel and reportedly made several promises if voted to power. The NRIs support various parties and in return seek help in getting contracts for projects, securing land deals, and settling disputes and police cases here.

'We and many of our friends and their families are coming to campaign for our candidates. This should be an interesting experience,' said Avtar Singh, who has arrived from New York. For leading political parties, one way to stay connected with rich NRIs is to float their overseas wings. Parties like the Congress, Akalis and the BJP have units in the US, Britain and other countries. Ministers and legislators keep in touch with the overseas units and also hold meetings in the respective countries to plan funding and support.

However, the leaders of the NRI community do have one request - that the government allow them to contest in elections.

With thanks from Indo-Asian News Service

PPCC chief Dullo to contest Punjab poll from Khanna

2007-01-19T00:37:00.000-08:00

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Shamsher Singh Dullo would contest the Punjab assembly election from Patiala and Khanna in Ludhiana district respectively. The Congress Wednesday released list of 98 candidates out of which seven are women.
Almost all sitting MLA’s except the four Shavinder Singh Majitha from Kathunanagal, Arvind Khanna from Sangrur, Khushhal Behal from Gurdaspur and Harbans Kaur Dullo wife of PPCC president who was sitting MLA from Khanna have been denied party ticket. Pritam Singh Bhinder former police Commissioner Delhi and husband of former MP late Sukhwant Kaur Bhinder has been nominated from Gurdaaspur. In Majitha party has fielded a new face Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli. Sangrur Ticket has been given to Surinder Singh Sibia.
The party has fielded Mahesh Inder Singh Dhillon a cousin brother of Parkash Singh Badal from Lambi from where Badal is seeking re-election. Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has been fielded from Lehra Gaga where she will face Prem Singh Chandumajra of SAD (Badal). Her brother Kuldip Singh Bhattal has got ticket from Dhanaula seat.
Beside Bhattarl other six women in fray on Congress ticket are Gurkanwal Kaur from Jalandhar Cantt who is daughter of late Chief Minister Beant Singh, Sukhjinder Kaur Rana from Kapurthala. She is sister in law of Jalandhar MP Rana Gurjit Singh, Supinder Kaur Kalkat Cheema from Tanda, Aruna Chaudhari, sitting MLA from Dina Nagar, Razia Sultana sitting MLA and wife of IG Mohammed Mustafa from Malerkotla and Harchand Kaur from Sherpur in Sangrur district.
From the family of late Beant Singh daughter, his son Tej Parkash Singh has been given ticket from Payal constituency. No decision has yet been taken on Bathinda seat from where Finance Minister Surinder Kumar Singla is sitting MLA. It is understood that Singla was being considered for Amritsar Lok Sabha by-election.
The party has given Balachaur seat to Charanjit Singh Channi who had contested against Congress on BSP ticket from Lok Sabha seat of Hoshiarpur. Nirmal Singh sitting SAD MLA has been given ticket from Shatrana (SC) seat in Patiala district. SAD had denied ticket to Nirmal Singh. Makhan Singh another former SAD MLA has been nominated from Pakka Kalnan in Bathinda district. This seat was held by Gurjant Singh Kuttiwal an independent who associated with Congress party and later changed loyality to SAD.
Among the senior ministers Lal Singh has been fielded from Dakala, Ramesh Chander Dogra from Dasuya, Sardool Singh from Jandiala, Gurchet Singh Bhullar from Valtoha and Raghunath Sahai Puri from Sujanpur. Partap Singh Bajwa from Kahnuwan and Jasjit Singh Randhawa from Ghanaur. Jagmohan Singh Kang from Morinda and Avtar Henry from Jalandhar North, Ch.Jagjit Singh from Kartarpur and Mohinder Singh kaypee from jalandhar south (SC)

Badal's loss in Delhi Gurdwara poll to influence Punjab elections

2007-01-19T00:35:00.000-08:00

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) led by Parkash Singh Badal has received a major political set back in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee(DSGMC) elections where his party has lost the mandate to its core rival Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) led by Paramjit Singh Sarna.
The reflction of DSGMC poll is bound to fall on Punjab assembly elections where SAD(Badal) is pitted against ruling Congress party. Punjab is going to elect a new government on February 13 next.
SAD (Delhi) led by Paramjit Singh Sarna has got clear cut majority in DSGMC by winning 28 seats, where as SAD (BADAL) has got 12 and SAD (panthic) with 6 seats in the house of 46.
The prestige of Badal was at stake in Delhi where he and his party men aggresively campaigned. Badal had addressed 18 public meetings during three days stay in Delhi and so was his son Sukhbir Singh Badal. The Delhi voters however ahve given a clear message against policies of Badal.
Shiromani Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) presidet Avtar Singh Makkar was camping in Delhio for over a month. Makkar was made SGPC president to woo the urban Sikhs who have large population in Delhi. Badal wanted to use the same card in punjab where is facing the charges of being rural bias. Makkar was also considered a trump card of SAD to nutralise the impact of Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh over urban Sikhs in particular and Sikh community in general. Meanwhile, Bibi Joginder Kaur Tohra, wife of late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has congratulated Sikhs of Delhi as they have chosen right candidates for Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee (DSGMC).
While talking to visiting media persons at her residence in Patiala she said that she had telephonic talk with Paramjit Singh Sarna and gives her good wishes.
Sarna is expected to campaign in Punjab against SAD in the assembly elections. Interestingly, a thrid front SAD(Panthic) in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara politics which has support of former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh would also campaign against SAD. Badal had thrown out Bhai Ranjit Singh when he tried to intervene on the issue of dispute between Badal and Tohra.