VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Villages on sale Akali leadership needs reality check on development

Four villages of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s Jalalabad constituency recently made it to national news. The residents there put up banners, saying all their land and homes were up for sale, as survival in the villages had become impossible because of lack of basic civic amenities. Their startling ‘village for sale’ notice may be a tactic to draw attention. But the abject deprivation in those and other villages, particularly in the neglected border belt, should make everyone sit up and take note, because we have a political leadership that is going to the elections with the claim of unprecedented development work done during its two consecutive tenures. Has the media missed out on something or has the leadership made its assessment remotely sitting in the Chandigarh corridors? Advertisement campaigns cannot hide the ugly reality.

It is hard to imagine the SAD government is not aware of the ground situation, because at least its 21 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries claim Rs 1 lakh a day for an average daily travel of 600 km. The government has set no limit on how much they can claim, but has all along defaulted on salary payments. That is a matter of priorities. But the gap between claims and delivery is no less stark. Sukhbir Badal personally propagated a grandiose development agenda in the 2012 polls — Adarsh Schools, AC buses and bus stands, health and drinking water for all. The reality is a mere six ‘meritorious’ schools with little merit; surreptitiously given grace marks for 54,000 students; expansion of his private AC buses; continuing cancer incidence; and a Malwa still crying for clean drinking water.

It is time to set the agenda for yet another election. With no explanation for the prevailing mess after almost 10 years in power, the leadership has taken to stoking religious sentiments. It must remember that it is an electorate that has weathered separatist militancy, communal instigations, and extreme corruption, apart from personal deprivation. They would appreciate nothing but plain-speaking. 

Kejriwal to do ‘sewa’ at Golden Temple on July 18

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 8

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal would be visiting Amritsar on July 18 to pay obeisance and perform ‘sewa’ at Golden Temple.

This was said by senior AAP leader HS Phoolka, who has already announced that he would tender an apology for the party’s unintentional mistake of using Golden Temple’s image along with the party’s symbol on its youth manifesto and equating it with Guru Granth Sahib.

“Like a humble sewak and true aam aadmi Kejriwal will perform sewa at the temple,” he added.

Talking to TNS, he did not categorically state that the purpose of the Kejriwal’s visit was repentance for the party which had invited the ire of the SAD, the Congress, the SGPC, the DSGMC and other Sikh organisations. “I have been informed that he would perform sewa as a devotee,” he said. AAP’s zonal media incharge, Gurbhej Singh said “Kejriwal is coming to the Golden Temple to perform sewa as a devotee. He volunteered to assist in the langar hall or clean the footwear of devotees.”

Meanwhile, Phoolka has uploaded a video clip yesterday stating that this move has received negative feedback from Punjab and overseas objecting to the title of the manifesto. In his message, Phoolka has given a call to AAP volunteers to join him.

He admitted that placing broom with the photograph of the Golden Temple on the party’s manifesto was a mistake by the party’s Delhi team.

He confirmed that he would be visiting the Golden Temple on July 10 to tender an apology for the lapse on the part of his party. He would be accompanied by Kanwar Sandhu, chairperson, Punjab Dialogue Committee and his team which had prepared the manifesto and party’s state incharge Sanjay Singh.

“It was unintention. Apparently, the Delhi team could not gauge the sensitivity and repercussions before finalising the title cover. Even though I was never a part of committee that prepared the manifesto, yet it calls for repentance and being a member of the AAP, I am doing it as per Sikh tenets”, he said.

Hearing in defamation case on same day 

Amritsar: A local court has fixed July 18 as the next date of hearing in the defamation case filed against AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal by Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia. Majithia had filed a criminal defamation case in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Gurpartap Singh under Sections 499, 500 and 501 (defamation) of the IPC against Kejriwal, his aide and party think-tank Ashish Khetan and party’s Punjab affairs in charge Sanjay Singh. Majithia claimed that the AAP was bent on maligning his image and his family without any basis and had been levelling baseless allegations against him. — TNS

MANIFESTO ROW

No logic in Phoolka seeking pardon: Badal

Tribune News Service

Ghanauli (Ropar), July 8

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here today that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka’s decision to visit the Golden Temple to seek pardon for party leader Ashish Khetan’s mistake was a gimmick.

The CM said it was an illogical move by AAP to seek forgiveness after committing blasphemy by displaying a picture of the Golden Temple on the cover of its youth manifesto, along with the photo of a broom (the party symbol).

Badal refuted the AAP allegation that he had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur during a function in New Delhi, recently.

On Congress leader Sunil Jakhar serving an ‘ultimatum’ on him to ensure a favourable response from the PM on the SYL issue, he said the matter was pending in the apex court and even the Prime Minister could not intervene at this stage.

Replying to a question, the CM said the entire route of the Safar-e-Shahadat (journey to martyrdom) would be refurbished by the Public Works Department (PWD) from Kuma Mashki village to Ropar and from Ropar to Fatehgarh Sahib via Morinda.

Earlier, Badal laid the foundation stone of the 10.12-km stretch of this road in the district at a cost of Rs 17.52 crore.

Capt: It was intentional 

Chandigarh: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh said here on Friday that juxtaposing an image of the broom along with a picture of the Golden Temple was not an inadvertent error by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) but a deliberate political move aimed at targeting a particular section of society. “But the idea boomeranged and now they are running for cover,” he said. He said AAP wanted to convey an “agnostic and anarchic” message of social change by equating the party symbol with the holiest shrine of the Sikhs. “You are rubbing salt into our wounds,” he told Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while warning him to desist from “such foolhardy adventures that can have dangerous and disastrous consequences for Punjab.” — TNS

Badal govt on way out, Cong best bet: Bhattal

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 8

Launching a blistering attack on the SAD-BJP combine during a workers’ programme held in Kartarpur today, Congress leader and former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said days of the Badal government were numbered.

She said the SAD-BJP government had no right to stay in the office as it had failed to usher any sort of development and maintaining law and order in the state.

She said the state’s progress had been stymied significantly as all sections of society, especially farmers, downtrodden and common man, were feeling suffocated under the rule of the present regime.

She held that the Badal government, which claimed itself to be the champion of farmers’ cause, had virtually destroyed the agro-sector.

Besides, the weaker sections of society feel absolutely disillusioned with the Badal government’s lack of compassion for them.

Hitting out at the AAP, Bhattal said the party had no agenda or blueprint for the state and it was merely resorting to absurd antics in desperation to make its presence felt in the state.

She said if the Congress came to power its top priority would be to strengthen agro-sector and push industrial growth at fast pace to insure that the youth of state get employment.

Dewan is Punjab Cong gen secy 

New Delhi: The Congress President today cleared the appointments of two people to the organisational structure in the Punjab unit. Pawan Dewan, party leader from Ludhiana, has been named general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress and Chamkaur Singh Dhindsa has been named president of the Ferozepur District Congress Committee. The Congress leadership earlier approved a jumbo state committee with the idea of giving everyone a role in the election season. The exercise is ongoing and more appointments can be expected. — TNS

Tirath yatra bus row: AAP wants CM booked

Hoshiarpur, July 8

A delegation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders met the Hoshiarpur SSP and handed over a complaint against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They were demanding immediate registration of an FIR against him for hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus.

The complaint was based upon the controversy that had arisen due to the pasting of photographs of Mata Chintpurni near the foot mats on Tirath Yatra buses.

The leaders demanded that on the lines of the FIR against AAP leader Ashish Khetan, Badal should also be booked for hurting religious sentiments. AAP’s national executive member Navin Jairath, Sandeep Saini, Kharaiti Lal Katna, Ajaib Singh, Surjit Singh Saini, Minaxi, Gurnam Singh, Thakur Dayan Singh and others handed over the complaint to the SSP.

Meanwhile, various Hindu organisations held a march against the state government and burnt Badal’s effigy at Clock Tower Chowk. — OC

SAD ex-minister Phillaur, son in the dock over multiplex project

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 7

NRI Nirmal Singh Bajwa holds a press conference against SAD MLA Sarwan Singh Phillaur and his son Damanvir Phillaur in Jalandhar on Thursday. Photo: Sarabjit SIngh

Levelling allegations against SAD ex-minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur and his son Damanvir Phillaur, a UK-based NRI has said the duo had committed a fraud of Rs 9.1 crore with him and two other NRIs in a commercial project on the Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch of the National Highway No. 1, the work of which is lying halted for the past many years.

NRI Nirmal Singh Bajwa of Dyalpur village in Phillaur has forwarded his application to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, writing that he is an NRI businessman settled in the UK and came into contact with the ex-minister during his visit there.

“Sarwan Singh Phillaur made false promises to lure me and others to invest in their upcoming multiplex project in Punjab-Grand Multiplex Projects Ltd, whose director was his son Damanvir Singh. They floated a public limited company for the purpose of the construction of a multiplex, shopping mall etc,” he narrated.

Bajwa added that while he had invested Rs 4.5 crore, other two NRIs AS Toor and Shaminder Singh Dhaliwal pooled Rs 3.35 crore and Rs 1.25 crore, respectively.

Bajwa has alleged, “The Phillaur father-son duo, who were in control of the management of the company, allotted 10.03 lakh equity shares of Rs 10 aggregating to Rs 1 crore to the applicant group against our investment and misappropriated the rest of the money by falsifying accounts of the company to show it as the share application money or unsecured loans. They falsely assured us to allot further shares after seeking the necessary approvals, but eventually did not allot the same for reasons best known to them.”

He further alleged that no company meetings were ever called and appointments and removal of directors were made on the basis of the forged documents of the company. He has sought registration of a case against them under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC. 

Damanvir Phillaur, on the other hand, has countered all these allegations, saying the entire episode was politically motivated to tarnish his and his father’s image ahead of the elections. “The man had gone to court and withdrawn his complaint earlier. Why is he raking up the issue seven years later now?” 

ਆਪ’ ਨੇ ਜਾਣ-ਬੁੱਝ ਕੇ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਕਦਮ ਚੁੱਕਿਆ: ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ

Posted On July - 8 - 2016

ਟ੍ਰਿਬਿਊਨ ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਸਰਵਿਸ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 8 ਜੁਲਾਈ

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਫੋਟੋ ਨਾਲ ਝਾੜੂ ਲਾਉਣਾ ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ (ਆਪ) ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਇਕ ਭੁੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ, ਸਗੋਂ ਜਾਣਬੁੱਝ ਕੇ ਚੁੱਕਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਕਦਮ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਸਮਾਜ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਵਰਗ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਾ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ  ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਆਪ ਦੀ ਇਸ ਚਲਾਕੀ ਦਾ ਉਲਟਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਪੈ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ  ਹੁਣ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਵਰ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਦੌੜ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਫੋਟੋ ਨਾਲ ਝਾੜੂ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਇੱਕ ਨਾਸਤਿਕ ਸੰਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇਣਾ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਦੇ ਲੇਖਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਸੋਚਣਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਬਦਲਾਅ ਤੇ ਸਮਾਨਤਾ ਦਾ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ, ਪਰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਝਾੜੂ ਤੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਸਥਾਨ ਵਿਚਾਲੇ ਕੋਈ ਅੰਤਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਅਰਵਿੰਦ ਕੇਜਰੀਵਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਣ ਲਈ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਲਈ ਖ਼ਤਰਨਾਕ ਸਾਬਤ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਬੀਤੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕਾਲੇ ਦੌਰ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਅਜਿਹੀਆਂ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਾਂ ਬੜੀ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਨਾਲ ਹਾਸਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕੇਜਰੀਵਾਲ ਦੀ 11 ਜੁਲਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਫੇਰੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ  ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਠੇਸ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਹੁਣ ਉਹ ਆਪਣਿਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਗ਼ਲਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਧਾਰਨ ਲਈ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਉਦੋਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਨਾ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਜ਼ਮੀਨੀ ਹਕੀਕਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਅਣਜਾਣ ਹੋਵੇ, ਸਗੋਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਵੀ ਅਸੰਵੇਦਨਸ਼ੀਲ ਹੋਵੇ।

Chhotepur owns responsibility for AAP ‘mistakes’

Being the head of the AAP family in Punjab, I take responsibility for the mistake on the part of any member of the party. From the core of my heart, I tender an unconditional apology. I beg pardon from all Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus for comparing our youth manifesto to holy scriptures. SUCHA SINGH CHHOTEPUR, AAP Punjab convener

CHANDIGARH: Taking responsibility for the “mistakes” made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders during the release of the youth manifesto on July 3, party’s state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur apologised on behalf of his party on Friday in his position as the “head” of the AAP “family” in Punjab.

Chhotepur had convened an emergency meeting of party leaders here to devise a strategy to control the damage following the manifesto blunders and also appeal for better coordination within the party. Though prominent leaders of the party were not present, Chhotepur went ahead with the three-hour meeting, announcing his resolve.

Chhotepur said he was taking the entire blame on his shoulders for the cover page design of the manifesto (that had the AAP symbol, a broom, superimposed on a picture of the Golden Temple) and Ashish Khetan’s statement comparing the manifesto to religious scriptures and Guru Granth Sahib.

“Being the head of the AAP family in Punjab, I take full responsibility for the mistake on the part of any member of the party. From the core of my heart, I tender an unconditional apology for the mistake on the part of any office-bearer of the party. I beg pardon from all Sikhs, Christians, Muslims and Hindus for comparing our youth manifesto to holy scriptures of all these faiths,” he said in a statement issued following the meeting.

Chhotepur also asked party leaders to not speak loosely about issues, especially those related to the religion. “Things are only going to get worse in the days to come. If there is anything to be said on religion, let me handle it,” said Chhotepur. The party chief had on Thursday rued that he was not consulted by those preparing the manifesto about its design and mistakes could have been avoided had everyone been taken on board. “What has happened cannot be undone. We can only promise that there will be no such mistakes in the future,” he said. Sources said Chhotepur intended to discuss some other issues as well regarding lack of coordination within the party, but these couldn’t be discussed as most of top leaders were absent.

Those who attended the meeting included Himmat Singh Shergill, CD Kamboj, Baljinder Kaur, Aman Arora and Yamini Gomar. The leaders who remained absent were Bhagwant Mann, Sadhu Singh, Harjot Singh Bains, Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu. MANIFESTO WITH NEW COVER

AAP’s youth wing president Harjot Singh Bains said the distribution of youth manifesto with a “brand new” cover would begin from Khatkar Kalan village in SBS Nagar next week. “The youth wing will take the manifesto to all households of the state and explain what we are offering. The teams will start spreading the message from the native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh,” he said.