Another AAP minister sacked by Kejriwal

New Delhi, August 31

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal today sacked Minister of Child Welfare and Social Justice Sandeep Kumar from his Cabinet after receiving an “objectionable” CD in which he was purportedly shown in a compromising position with a woman.

Kejriwal announced the decision on Twitter: “Received 'objectionable' CD of minister Sandeep Kr. AAP stands for propriety in public life. That can't be compromised. Removing him from Cabinet wid immediate effect.” Amid allegations that the government acted after the media broke the news, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said: “Within half an hour of receiving the CD, the minister was sacked. AAP will not tolerate any allegations of corruption or impropriety.” He is the third minister after Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan and Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar to be removed. — TNS

Delhi ‘durbar’ to hear AAP feud today

Political affairs committee headed by Kejriwal to discuss fallout of Chhotepur’s removal

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

All eyes are on AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal to resolve the ongoing crisis of Punjab versus Delhi leaders following the removal of Sucha Singh Chhotepur from the post of state convener. A meeting of the party’s political affairs committee, headed by Kejriwal, will be held tomorrow in Delhi where a decision on the post of convener can be taken. Tomorrow is also the last day of an ultimatum served by six of the 12 zonal heads in Punjab seeking to reinstate Chhotepur.

The beleaguered AAP leader, who had earlier sought a meeting with Kejriwal, has also adopted a tough stance saying the party has humiliated him enough.

While the problems on Punjab front are multiplying with each passing day, the Delhi team of AAP, deployed in Punjab, is now in the centre of controversy over some sting operations against them, which are likely to be released soon.

Screenshots of chat through WhatsApp between a Delhi leader and Gurlabh Singh of Mansa, who reportedly carried out the sting operation against Chhotepur, purpotedly showed Gurlabh telling the leader that he had “over 100 sting operations against the Delhi leaders in Punjab”. Sources close to Chhotepur alleged that Kejriwal did not take any action on the evidence against them.

Chhotepur’s supporter GS Kingra, who resigned in protest from AAP after not getting ticket from Faridkot, too, has claimed he will “expose” Delhi leadership via sting operations.

Manjit Singh Randhawa, whose organisation AAP Punjab is supporting Chhotepur, said the decision to resolve the issue was not in the hands of the leaders anymore. “There is resentment among state volunteers. They want Punjabi leadership. The matter can be resolved as per their will only,” he said.

Mediators claim that though serious efforts are on despite negative results to bring unity in the party, the ball is in the court of Kejriwal. Sources close to Kejriwal reveal that though he is disturbed at the unexpected counter-attack by Chhotepur and his supporters, he was in a dilemma over the next move. “It is a Hobson’s choice before Kejriwal. If he lets dissidence grow, the party faces a split in Punjab and if he decides to bring Chhotepur back, he can be accused of compromising his anti-corruption crusade.”

Kejriwal is scheduled to leave on a four-day tour to Vatican and Italy on September 4. He will address doctors in Patiala on Septemebr 10. The next day, he is scheduled to release the party’s manifesto on farmers. The mediators active in efforts to resolve the Chhotepur issue want Kejriwal to settle the matter much before his Punjab visit. Interestingly, the inquiry against Chhotepur is yet to take off, suggesting that there is still room for reconciliation.

Activists threaten to resign en masse

Fatehgarh Sahib: Hundreds of AAP youth circle leaders belonging to Bassi Pathana have decided to resign en masse to protest the allotment of party ticket to an “outsider”. Addressing the media on Wednesday,  Parhlad Singh Majri and Gurpreet Singh Dhillon, circle heads, said they had called a meeting of party workers on Thursday and would submit their resignations in protest against the allotment of party ticket to a dismissed patwari, Santokh Singh Salana. They claimed that Salana belonged to Amloh whereas Manjinder Singh Romi who worked hard in Bassi Pathana deserved the nomination. 

Probe Akali funding, says AAP RTI wing

Chandigarh: Following the SAD’s request to the Union Home Minister to hold a high-level inquiry into funding of AAP, the latter has asked the SAD to clarify its own funding. Dinesh Chadha, AAP RTI wing incharge, said the Akali Dal received 65 per cent of its funds in last few years from corporate houses or realtors. Chadha said the figure was based on information taken from the Akali Dal through the RTI. He said in 2014-15, of the 100 businessmen who gave funds to the Akali Dal, 26 were from Barnala, which was surprising. He said one of them was Trident Group, which had a long confrontation with farmers. He alleged Akalis had been obliging entrepreneurs.

AAP wooing former Congress MP

Chandigarh: The AAP is trying hard to woo Charanjit Singh Channi, former Congress MP and son of late Dilbagh Singh of Nawanshahr. Charanjit Singh, who belongs to the Saini community, was elected MLA from Nawanshahr in 1997. He was elected Congress MP from Hoshiarpur in 1999. He has recently resigned from the Congress. His father was a popular leader of the Saini community that has a sizeable population in Ropar, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur. Sources said Gaurav Gurcharan Singh Dudhahoor, vice-president of legal cell of AAP, is in touch with Channi to bring him into AAP fold. There are reports senior AAP leaders would meet Channi soon.

Volunteers seek action against zonal head

Amritsar: Led by AAP’s national council member Ashok Talwar, local volunteers launched a signature campaign demanding stern action against zonal head (Amritsar) Gurinder Bajwa who they alleged was involved in “cash for ticket” scam in connivance with Sucha Singh Chhotepur. They also accused Bajwa of anti-party activities and thrashing volunteer Anil Mahajan at a meeting.

No leader has met Chhotepur: Bhagwant

"I haven't met him (Chhotepur) so far (to coax him). No leader has met him. Nor can any negative comment be made as the inquiry against him is pending. He will be given a fair opportunity to clarify" Bhagwant Mann, AAP MP at a rally in Shahkot

Why take ‘rejects’ Sidhu, Chhotepur, asks Ravneet

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Amritsar, Aug 31

Congress MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu today said there was no need to induct BJP parliamentarian Navjot Singh Sidhu and Aam Aadmi Party’s former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur into the party.

The statement came in response to a remark by Sidhu’s wife and BJP legislator Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who had claimed that “Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder was not capable enough to bring about reforms in the state”.

“Both Sidhu and Chhotepur have been deserted by their parties. When their own parties do not tolerate them, why should the Congress take them,” he said.

Bittu claimed the Congress already had senior leaders such as Capt Amarinder who had successfully contested against BJP stalwarts like Arun Jaitley.

Citing Dr Sidhu’s statement against Capt Amarinder, he said the party would not tolerate leaders who spoke against the PPCC president. Amarinder has in the past welcomed Navjot Sidhu into the party and had expressed sympathy with Chhotepur after he was removed from the convener’s post.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Amritsar (East) Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu today clarified that she never meant to defame any particular party, but an individual and her statement was wrongly misinterpreted to mean that the Congress was not an option for the Sidhus.

“It is the same Congress which was at its utmost glory being run by most honest and dedicated leaders such as Partap Singh Kairon, Maulana Azad, Rajender Parsad, Radha Krishnan etc,” she said.

Pointing towards Capt Amarinder, Dr Sidhu claimed that that had he been honest to his party or the people of Punjab, there would have been no vacuum left in Punjab to be filled by a third party. She alleged that Capt Amarinder had tacit understanding with the Badals and the Majithias that went a long way in ruining Punjab.

After AAP, Congress plans drug campaign against SAD

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

After the Aam Aadmi Party, it’s the turn of the Congress to wage a war against the ruling Akalis over the drug menace.

The campaign would be launched from Majitha, the constituency of Akali stalwart and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia. But unlike AAP, the Congress intends to give a social dimension to its campaign by targeting the drug supply chain. For this, the party would be roping in NGOs active in the field and would also seek help from the families that have lost their dear ones to drug addiction.

After getting a go-ahead from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, a party panel comprising senior leaders and led by Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu has already met once to formulate a strategy. Sukhjinder Raj Majithia (Lali Majithia), who had unsuccessfully contested against Majithia, has been made the committee vice-chairman.

Bittu said top leaders would be visiting at least 45 places in various constituencies, including Majitha, Tarn Taran, Valtoha, Moga and Ludhiana, that have been notorious for drug problem. They would also spend time with the families of the drug victims and stay overnight in targeted areas to identify peddlers, he said.

Sadvi Khosla, who had made ‘Fading Glory’, a documentary based on the drug problem in Punjab, too, would be involved in the campaign, added Bittu.

Jakhar may get key role

Punjab Congress spokesman Sunil Jakhar, who could not be nominated to Rajya Sabha, is likely to be given an important role in the party’s campaign committee headed by AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, sources said. An announcement on PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh as the CM face is also expected soon, they said.

Will rope in NGOs, drug-hit families

• The Congress intends to give a social dimension to its campaign by targeting the drug supply chain. It will rope in NGOs active in the field and seek help from the families that have lost their dear ones to drug addiction

Youth Cong holds protest against govt

• Morinda: Youth Congress workers on Wednesday staged a protest march against the “failure” of the government in redressing the grievances of the youth in the state. The party workers led by Chamkaur Sahib Youth Congress president Gurvinder Singh Kakrali burnt an effigy of Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. Kakrali said the SAD-BJP alliance had promised Rs 1,000 unemployed allowance to educated jobless youth in the 2012 Assembly elections, but failed to fulfill its promise. He alleged that the government even promised laptops and interest-free loans for self-employment to the youth, but did nothing. TNS

 

Dip in AAP funds from Punjab

CASH CRUNCH Party says its Delhi coffers swelling with donations for Punjab from outside, to form team to manage state funds soon

CHANDIGARH: The sting operation that saw the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sack its Punjab chief Sucha Singh Chhotepur has stung it back. With Chhotepur turning the tables on the party by questioning where money raised in fundraising dinners in Punjab and donations from state were going and how he never got any funds to meet expenses as the state convener, the AAP will soon be announcing an official team to manage state’s finances in run up to the assembly polls.

While AAP contends that most of its donations throughout the world were coming for Punjab, the details put up by the party online tell a different story. The AAP trends, party’s online donations tracking website, shows not only donations from Punjab are not high among states, but have also been declining consistently after peaking around April 2016.

In an uncanny reflection of AAP’s popularity graph in the state, the graph on daily donations from Punjab since January 2014 shows a surge from December-January and peaks to over `17 lakh on April 14, incidentally coinciding with the date of Talwandi Sabo rally. Thereafter, the party donations from Punjab show a significant dip and have not reached the `1 lakh mark since June 23. The last donation on the party’s website is of `1,000 on July 6.

AAP had courted its first major controversy on July 3 when it had released its youth manifesto and put its poll symbol “broom” on it. It then encountered yet another controversy over cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu’s no show after resigning as the Rajya Sabha MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 18. More trouble came as the party faced open revolt by many to its list of candidates, and finally its attempt to take a “high moral ground” on corruption by sacking Chhotepur, too, backfired.

Party sources told HT that they would soon announce an official team to manage Punjab finances. “We will release all details on funds received from Punjab and appoint a team to handle state’s funds as our finances and funding are bound to come under scrutiny in run up to the elections,” sources said.Though AAP admits its donations from Punjab do not seem robust, it claims party’s coffers in Delhi have swelled “exponentially” owing to donations for Punjab. “After Keralites and Gujaratis, the highest funding for AAP is coming from Punjabi NRIs. Many Punjabis are donating to AAP from outside Punjab from states and cities such as Maharashtra and Bengaluru. This all is not reflected in the state but the party’s central pool. Many people from Punjab, too, like to submit cheques in Delhi and they reflect in central donations,” party’s campaign committee convener Bhagwant Mann said.

‘SHOW US THE MONEY’

Voices of dissent within AAP also grew due to lack of financial powers. Chhotepur has alleged that the party did not account for the money raised by the state unit in fundraising dinners nor was any expenditure shown. Hardip Singh Kingra, Chhotepur loyalist and a former member of AAP’s finance team, claims the party spent at least `2 crore to organise its conference at Maghi Mela in January to draw a huge crowd for AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP website puts the total donations from Punjab between December 12, 2013, and July 6, 2016, at `2.6 crore. “The data they put online is a farce. A lot of transactions are in cash and there is no transparency. As many as eight to 10 political conferences have been held in Punjab by AAP since June last year. The party also held 36 constituency-wise conferences. How were these being funded? There should be an inquiry. There is no balance sheet for Punjab. Of `23 lakh I collected, Sanjay Singh took `5 lakh in cash. When I told Durgesh Pathak about it, he kept quiet. I am going to reveal more details of financial bungling, fake entries in accounts and modus operandi to collect money on Thursday,” Kingra, a former bureaucrat, said. Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak did not respond to calls and messages.

‘SPENDING GOVT FUNDS’

While funds for Punjab are filling coffers of AAP’s Delhi accounts, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) red-flagged that AAP spent `25 crore of Delhi government’s funds on advertisements and publicity campaigns outside the national capital. The party has been issuing full-page ads in many Punjab dailies in recent months.

Sandhu asks Tohra’s son-in-law to apologise for attack on Dr Gandhi

PATIALA: The induction of Harmail Singh Tohra has opened more fault lines in the Aam Aadmi Party.

Senior leader Kanwar Sandhu, who was averse to sacking Sucha Singh Chhotepur as state party convener, says the entry of the son-in-law of late Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra is hasty and he would have objected to it, had he known about his alleged involvement in the murderous attack on now Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi in the 2014 elections.

When Akali councillor Rajinder Singh Virk was released on bail after arrest in the attack case, Harmail Singh Tohra had received him outside the Patiala jail. “Now before we consider him for candidature, Harmail should apologise publicly for his role in the attack and prove he is committed to the AAP,” said Sandhu. “We need to be careful about whom we induct,” is how he reacted to the pictures of Harmail’s garlanding Virk, which Dr Gandhi had put on the social media.

The assault had come on the polling day in 2014. Posting the pictures, Dr Gandhi had said: “It is the same Harmail Singh Tohra who instigated the Akali goons to break my nose and later garlanded them. What do the AAP-bhakts have to say?”

“I don’t want to comment more,” Dr Gandhi said now. “It’s a waste of time to speak of the AAP, as its leadership has deviated from the original ideology. But one thing is clear, that it is no more the hope of Punjabis.”Suspended AAP leader Jassi Jasraj had also shared this picture and questioned the AAP’s doing a U-turn on Harmail Singh Tohra. Reacting to the outburst from Sandhu, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann said it was the party’s “internal matter that it will discuss within”.

‘FULL-BLOWN CRISIS’

Reacting to the ongoing controversies in the AAP, Kanwar Sandhu agreed that the party is in the midst of crisis. “I am flooded with calls and messages asking people like me to ‘do something’”, he posted on the social media, seeking suggestions.

Another group unhappy with Harmail’s joining the AAP is the Tohra village panchayat, which has accused him of selling the name of Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra for political benefits. “Harmail is not a true legacy holder of late Akali leader. Gurcharan Singh Tohra belonged to the Panth, while Harmail committed a sin by joining a party that ordered the demolition of a gurdwara (piao) in Delhi,” said Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Satwinder Tohra, supported by the panchayat. The Tohra villagers also had a meeting to oppose AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP leader caught on wrong foot Basketball federation urged to lift turban ban

NO VENDETTA Rajbir Kaur’s Olympian husband was indicted, removed from Punjab Police months before she joined AAP

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party’s charge that former hockey Olympian Gurmail Singh was removed from Punjab Police due to cheap politics has fallen flat. It turns out that he was indicted by the Punjab and Haryana high court for holding a murder accused innocent much before his wife joined the AAP.

AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Bhagwant Mann defended Gurmail Singh after his wife and party leader Rajbir Kaur claimed that the SAD-BJP government had discontinued her husband’s one-year extension due to political vendetta.

Gurmail Singh, who was in the hockey team that won the gold at the Moscow Olympics, was a superintendent in Punjab Police.

Rajbir Kaur, who was a hockey player in four Asian Games, joined the AAP recently. Sanjay Singh and Mann claimed that the Akali government targeted Gurmail as Rajbir is an AAP leader. EXTENSION CUT SHORT In December 2010, Gurmail Singh, who was the then Moga superintendent of police (detective), found all accused in an attempt to murder case innocent. Four years later, the high court moved the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This March, the agency got sanction from the Punjab government to prosecute Gurmail, months before his wife joined the AAP.Gurmail Singh, 59, retired in December 2015. In July, a threemember committee, led by additional chief secretary (home) Jagpal Singh Sandhu, withdrew his one-year extension. Rules don’t permit service if the officer has a criminal case or a departmental inquiry pending. WASHINGTON: More than 50 interfaith and advocacy organisations have called on the International Basketball Federation to lift its ban on religious headgear that bars Muslim, Sikh and Jewish athletes from competing on a professional level and “defies human rights norms”.

“No athlete should be forced to choose between faith and sport. Muslim women and Sikh men seeking to participate in sporting activities should not face superficial and arbitrary barriers,” the organisations said in a letter to Horacio Muratore, the president of Switzerlandbased Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA).

“We understand FIBA is expected to announce a decision in the near future on whether the ban on religious accommodations will be enforced. We believe this rule, as it stands, violates basic religious rights of athletes such as Darsh Preet Singh and Abdul Qaadir, and countless others,” said the letter.

FIFA CHANGED RULES TO ALLOW TURBANS FIFA’s International Football Association Board has acknowledged the religious rights of athletes by changing its rules to allow hijabs and Sikh turbans, it said on Tuesday.

BJP looking to swap four assembly seats with SAD

CHANDIGARH: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to swap at least four assembly seats with ruling alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the coming elections.

Saffron party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Prabhat Jha told workers last week that the BJP would contest 23 of 117 seats under the old arrangement but want to swap two to four seats with the SAD. Besides Ludhiana West, Rajpura, and Abohar, the BJP plans to give up Amritsar East, from where Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu is legislator. In exchange it wants Barnala, Mansa, Batala, and Garhshankar.

In the 2012 contest for Ludhiana West, former state BJP president Rajinder Bhandari lost to Bharat Bhushan Ashu of the Congress. In the previous elections, Maheshinder Singh Grewal of the SAD was keen to contest the seat but the BJP refused to part with it. Grewal is interested again, and so are two Akali councillors. Bhandari is halqa in-charge, so far.

The BJP also wants to give up Rajpura, because Raj Khurana lost it badly last time. The SAD wanted the seat for Deepinder Dhillon, who has joined the Congress. So far, the BJP and the SAD have no tangible candidate for the constituency.The saffron party wants to give Abohar to the SAD, which wanted it for liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda but now might not, as Doda is in jail since January over the lynching of Dalit man Bhim Tank. The BJP’s Vijay Laxmi Bhadoo, Ram Kumar Goyal, and Sandeep Rinwa are in the race for ticket, but the BJP will find it tough to match the popularity of three-time Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar.

In Mansa, Akali MLA Prem Mittal has lost favour with the party and has said he is unwilling to contest. The BJP wants the seat for Neeraj Tayal, son of Hit Abhilashi, a tall leader whom terrorists had killed. Giving away the seat may not be an issue for the SAD, so the BJP sees hope.

The BJP also seeks Garhshankar for senior leader Avinash Rai Khanna, two-time MLA before becoming the Rajya Sabha member. When Khanna became MP, the BJP gave the seat to the SAD in 2012.

His tenure as MP ended about six months ago and the party wants him back in state politics. Sitting Akali MLA Surinder Singh Bhulkewal Rathan wants Dasuya in exchange, where the BJP’s Sukhjit Kaur Shahi is legislator and her party feels strong.

Commenting on the swapping arrangement, state BJP unit president Vijay Sampla said “it will depend on the partner’s agreeing”.

Had no role in assault on Patiala MP, says Harmail

Admits to having honoured accused, offers apology

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

Harmail Singh Tohra, son-in-law of the late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who has joined AAP, today refuted allegations levelled by rebel party MP Dharamvira Gandhi that he had played a role in organising assault on him during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.He, however, admitted that he had unintentionally honoured Gandhi’s assailant as the accused stepped out of the Patiala Central Jail, Tohra said he would tender an apology to Gandhi and AAP for his act.“I had no role in that incident. How can I conspire against Gandhi? After all he treated my father at one point of time,” Tohra said.

The matter came to light after senior AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu today cited this incident and expressed his reservations on Tohra’s entry into AAP.

“Sandhu could have asked me details of that incident before going public. But now I have apprised him of the details, the matter stands resolved,” Tohra said.

Tohra’s kin vs his loyalists in Patiala

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

An interesting electoral battle is on the cards in Patiala region. The late Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s family members will be up against Tohra’s longtime loyalists, most of whom are with the Akali Dal.

Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep Kaur, her husband and former minister Harmail Singh and their son Harinder Pal Singh joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) yesterday. Sources said the SAD made several offers to retain them, but they refused.

Tohra, who dominated the SGPC and the Panthic politics for about four decades, had a well-knit group of his loyalists in Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana. Harmail Singh said: “We have joined AAP unconditionally. It is up to the party leadership to give us ticket.” He, however, made it clear that he would not contest in any case.

Sources said Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep Kaur would be AAP candidate from Sanaur, a rural constituency in Patiala district. On the other hand, the SAD’s likely candidate would be Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra, son of SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra. Earlier, Harinder Pal was active in Mohali, but he was told by the party to move to Sanaur.

Chandumajra was known to be a staunch loyalist of Tohra. In fact, Tohra initiated Chandumajra in the politics and looked after his political interest for long.

Capt: Badal destroyed Akali legacy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today termed the resignation of the daughter and son-in-law of late Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra from the Akali Dal as the outcome of the destruction of the Akali legacy by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

He alleged that the real and the true Akalis were feeling suffocated and were seeking a way out. He cautioned them not to make wrong choices.

Though the Tohra’s family members have joined AAP, negotiations were took place between with a section of former Akali ministers and some MLAs with the Congress earlier. “They were waiting for the right moment”, said a senior leader.

After four-month delay, relief disbursed to rain-hit in Abohar

Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 31

Having been under fire from Congress legislator Sunil Jakhar for the past three days over the delay in the distribution of cheques for damages to residents in rain-hit colonies last year, the state government today set the process in motion.

Jakhar had flayed the administration for not distributing Rs 1.52 crore that had been released in April this year.

In the past four months, two Sub Divisional Magistrates had been transferred. None was appointed on a regular basis.

Heads of affected families were last night asked to reach the Market Committee office in the New Grain Market on Wednesday morning to receive their cheques.

Some residents said after handing over cheques to a dozen persons, others were told that SAD and BJP local units’ presidents would distribute the rest of the cheques later.

Upset over this, Congress councillors spoke to Jakhar and the latter approached the administration over phone. He reportedly told officials that SAD and BJP local leaders had boycotted the Sangat Darshan held on his request by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Rajiv Nagar that was the worst hit by rain in September 2014.

Even after that, none of them had taken care of the affected slum areas, he added.

Thereafter, the administration decided to get cheques distributed through officials who headed the survey teams to assess losses suffered by residents in slum areas.

Affected people were asked to collect their cheques from the divisional office of the Punjab Water resources Management and Development Corporation here. Sub Divisional Engineer Prahlad Bhagat Gumber gave away cheques to the claimants.

Congress thwarts SAD-BJP ‘credit game’

• Residents said after giving cheques to a dozen persons, others were told that SAD and BJP local presidents would distribute the rest of the cheques later. But after MLA Sunil Jakhar approached the administration, saying none of those leaders had taken care of the affected slum areas, it was decided that the cheques would be distribute by officials who had conducted survey to assess losses.

AAP team did not pay hotel bills: Dissidents

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 31

AAP Volunteers’ Front, a rebel group of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has alleged that a central team of the party, including Durgesh Pathak, had not paid their bills for their stay in a city hotel for the past one and half years.

Addressing mediapersons here today, front president Sumeet Singh Bhullar said the central team of the AAP had stayed at a hotel here for three days. However, they did not pay their bills.

He said like other political parties AAP gave ticket to an affluent Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar from Amritsar South Assembly constituency.

“How will Dr Nijjar describe his sudden love to serve the people through political power when he did not show such inclination throughout his life?” questioned Bhullar.

Other members of the AAP Volunteers’ Front were also present during the press conference.

Protests erupt over AAP leader’s candidature

Protesters allege that party’s state women’s wing in-charge Baljinder Kaur was involved in corruption

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31

Volunteers and dissenters of the Aam Aadmi Party today protested against the AAP candidate and state women’s wing in charge Baljinder Kaur over corruption in Talwandi Sabo. They said she was involved in a land grab case.

They claimed that the AAP leader, in a short span of time, had managed to get about four new luxury cars and a bungalow.

Expelled from AAP a long time ago, Jassi Jasraj had earlier taken a jibe at AAP leaders on social media.

He has levelled same allegations against Baljinder Kaur.

He raised objections over AAP candidates, including Mohan Singh Falianwala, Anu Randhawa from Ghanaur, whose father Jagsir Singh Randhawa was a Congress leader.

Jasraj has alleged that Chhotepur went to a function of Sanjay Singh in Delhi by air but during his return, he uploaded pictures of travelling by train to project himself as ‘aam aadmi’.

Jasraj also took a jibe at Gurlabh Mahal, who allegedly conducted a sting on Chhotepur, maintaining that Mahal was expelled after he slapped another AAP leader but later he was made a joint secretary.

He added that Baljinder Kaur was facing many allegations that were also doing rounds on social media but even then she was allotted a ticket.

While speaking over phone, Jasraj said, “Baljinder Kaur doesn’t deserve the ticket. Arvind Kejriwal had always said that common and honest men should come and fight elections to bring nepotism to an end. But there is a huge difference in the statements and reality as near and dear ones of politicians are being allotted party tickets.”

Jasraj Singh Jassi fought 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda against MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and PPP-turned-Congress leader Manpreet Badal.

He alleged that no one, including Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, came to his support then, despite Bathinda being known as Badal’s citadel.

“AAP has made Bhagwant Mann a pawn in Punjab. The people of Punjab are hurt with as they wanted a third front but now, they feel cheated after people who are on the radar of suspicion are getting party tickets,” he added.

Baljinder Kaur said, “People who are protesting against me are not volunteers of the party. They are either expelled from the party or planted by rivals. If they are party volunteers then they should follow the party directions. It’s very easy to level allegations and say anything but they should prove it. Everyone knows about my property and I have made it public. All I want to say is that they have personal interest behind the protests or the social media campaign launched against us.”

AAP volunteer Nahar Singh said, “We staged a protest today against Baljinder Kaur, who is allegedly involved in corrupt practices. We chose AAP to get rid of both Akalis and the Congress, who had looted Punjab, but AAP is no different.”

AAP leader blames Chhotepur for thrashing incident

AMRITSAR: A day after a senior volunteer of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Anil Mahajan, was thrashed at a meeting of party workers, a member of the National Council (NC) of the party, Ashok Talwar, has accused former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur of being behind the incident and demanded the removal of Amritsar zone in-charge Gurinder Singh Bajwa.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, Talwar said, “Whatever happened yesterday was very unfortunate and this is totally not tolerated in the AAP. Slogans were raised against Delhi leaders and a senior volunteer Anil Mahajan was beaten up. I would just say that this is not impossible without instructions from Chhotepur.” victim Anil Mahajan was also present at the press conference,

He said they had written to the party high command that strict action must be taken against Amritsar zone incharge Gurinder Singh Bajwa, he added.

Although, Bajwa was trying his best to save Mahajan when the volunteers were thrashing him during the meeting on Tuesday, yet on Wednesday Talwar and other heads of various wings of the party criticised Bajwa and demanded his removal.To protest against the allocation of party tickets in Attari, Ajnala and Amritsar (South), various volunteers had gathered at the zonal office on Tuesday. When the volunteers were raising slogans such as ‘Delhi Waale Bhajao, Punjab Bachao’, senior AAP volunteer Anil Mahajan started raising slogans in favour of Kejriwal and also justified the allocation of tickets. This angered a few volunteers who started beating him up.

Talwar said, “Tickets are being given to deserving candidates and no money has been taken from anyone. A few people, including Chhotepur, are upset over ticket allocation because they had promised tickets on their own. When tickets were given to deserving candidates, this irked Chhotepur and his men.”

Talwar also alleged that it was Chhotepur who had taken money and the AAP was very strict on the issue of corruption so no compromise can be made on that, he added.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader claimed that there was no split in the party and some people were just misleading people and volunteers.

AAP workers stage protest against ticket to Baljinder

Party workers are demanding clarity on funds collected in 2014 polls

BATHINDA: Amid the widening rift between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members in Punjab, the resentment among workers against the ticket allotment for 2017 assembly is coming to fore as party workers staged protest against provision of ticket to Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo assembly segment on Wednesday.The workers gathered in Bhai Dal Singh park in the morning and took out a protest march in the city raising slogans.

The protesters were carrying placards opposing Kaur’s candidature.They wanted Kaur to clear her stand regarding the funds collected during August 2014 by-polls in the constituency in which she was a party candidate.

The protesters were lead by Raju Aulakh, Gora Singh Sran, Sonu Sukhladdi, Tejinder Singh and Gursewak. “Party ticket was given to Baljinder Kaur despite the fact that she had lesser votes of volunteers,” said Aulakh.

“Party workers had demanded clarity on funds collected in 2014 assembly by-polls from Baljinder but nothing has been made clear,” he said clamming that the party volunteers were not coming forward in support of Kaur.

“The party high command has been made aware about the allegations regarding the dual vote of Baljinder in which her father’s name was different and her family tried to grab land of a deceased man Amarjit Singh who was mentioned as Baljinder’s father in one vote,” said the protestors.

Importantly, a group within the party on a Facebook page Nabz-E-Punjab threatened to oppose Baljinder’s candidature from any assembly segment alleging that she tried to usurp the land of a deceased man fraudulently.

“Those leading the protest have nothing to do with party and some of them have been removed from the party,” said Kaur. “If I had not been honest how could party make me Punjab’s women’s wing president,” she said on party funds in 2014 by-polls.

She denied the allegations of land grabbing terming these as vague and claimed party was aware of each and every thing.

SATBIR/BALBIR/GHANDHI/SANDHU 
HAS YET TO ANSWER QUESTION BANK FOR INFO OF PUNJAB ESM COMMUNITY

1. The formation of Fauji Janta Party was announced by Satbir on 15 Aug 2016 at ISSRU(near Khanna) and election committee after the name was announced.why?

2. Who are the core members of FJP in the Application for Registration?.

3. What address of the office has been given in the Application for registration?.Is it again Satbir residential address as usual?.

4. Has the party been registered on All India basis?.

5. Can the copy and the date of application be provided and when can the ESM see the light of registered FJP?.

6. The split has taken place in the election committee after Capt CS Sidhu has openly pledged to support Captain Amrinder .why was there any shorfall from the FJP leadership?

7. Can you define and give out the constituents of UFESM JM as of date?. As UFESM JM is non existence except the name, its IESM only right?

8. As per ground reality there is no other organisation as part of UFESM JM its only IESM Satbir using the name.correct?

9. Who is the President of UFESM JM if Satbir is the Vice president?.

10. When was UFESM JM registered?.

11. Satbir did not even bother to speak with other ESM organisation of Punjab what to claim that he wanted to unite ESM of Punjab, can you justify?

12. Satbir chaired rallies in different districts of Punjab why he did not throw invitations to other ESM /ESm organisation/ESM political Parties.Why?

13. who is spending on Lavish arrangements and lunch at rallies with Marriage party menu followed by ICe Creams. It must be the  again from the misguided JCO's/OR.Right?

14 Why the arrangements of any Rally and the expenditure handed over to Gunners only are the others not trustworthy?.

15 How come Col Balbir singh conveynor Punjab reaches the rally few days earlier to see the arrangements and ensue VIP treatment is given to satbir like a God father even at rally stations/at rally points recieved as dignitory not as simple and humble ESM?.

16 How Col balbir singh only donates amount of expenditure from his pocket after each rally?.

17 Why he had to form a new Party when already Political Parties of ESM/Organisations existed in Punjab?.

18 . Satbir has yet to declares names of ESM Candidates from Punjab with WIN WIN Probability and yet to survey the popularity of UFESM JM and FJP popularity with civilian populations of Punjab?.

19 why civilian population members of society not been  invited to the hidden Political rallies in the garb of OROP rallies?

  These are the simple straight forward questions and expect Gandhi and Satbir and his associates to  answer honestly.

UNITED FRONT EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB OPEN SUPPORT TO
 CAPT AMRINDER SINGH AN EXSERVICEMEN

MASSIVE SPLIT IN UFESM JM IN PUNJAB

FAUJI JANTA PARTY  NON EXISTENCE EXISTENCE IN PUNJAB 

 AFTER EXPOSURE OF SATBIR HIDDEN AGENDA OF TIE UP WITH RULING PARTY OF Pb.

‘Transparent’ AAP shies away from sharing details on funds

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30

Expecting utmost transparency from others, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) itself seems to be shying away from sharing its funding details. The party that started out with the slogan of corruption-free India has failed to put the details of its funding on its website or bring it in the public domain.

A message, “under construction...New version coming soon” appears on the party’s website when one clicks on its donation list link. Though the party claims that it doesn’t accept donations of more than Rs19,999 in cash, insiders reveal that most donations in Punjab are being accepted in cash.

The sources say a splinter group of the party is carrying documentary proofs about “real donations” wherein leaders of the party are seen accepting cash which they will make public soon.

The party has also failed take into account the complete fund receipt books it had distributed among volunteers during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. A senior party leader said in 2014, he was sent a large number of fund receipt books to collect funds for Bhagwant Mann’s campaign. “I distributed these in villages. Nobody has so far asked me about the fate of these receipt books,” he said, adding that such receipt books could be found in almost every constituency.

After a video clip showed party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur “accepting” Rs2 lakh as party fund, he too confirmed that the funds were being collected in cash.

Party spokesperson Himmat Singh Shergill had said they would provide information on funding by August 28, but failed to do so. He today said Kapil Bhardwaj was taking care of finances of the party. Bhardwaj said they were only collecting funds only through mobile phone app “Aapdan” and all receipt books were invalid.

Of missing record and unaccounted money

• The party claims that it accepts cash donations up to Rs 20,000, but insiders say most donations in Punjab are being accepted in cash
• It has failed take into account the complete fund receipt books it had distributed during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls

In April, Gurmail Singh, “Aapdan” incharge, Gharshankar, had alleged that party’s observer for Nawanshahr Gajenra Sharma collected Rs30,000 from one Satnam Singh Jalwaha, Rs50,000 from Dr Dhir and Rs20,000 from Narinder Kumar. He also collected funds for the Maghi Mela rally and told the donors that they would get a message on their phones. Gurmail Singh said none of them got any message and their funds didn’t figure on party’s website as well. He accused the Sharma of giving inflated bills, but the party failed to take any action against the latter.

‘Party won’t appoint state convener’

Sources said following backlash over Chhotepur’s ouster, AAP had decided not to appoint state convener. They said instead the campaign would be managed by the party’s campaign committee. They also said the party had decided to carry out an impact assessment on Chhotepur’s removal.

Of missing record and unaccounted money

• The party claims that it accepts cash donations up to Rs 20,000, but insiders say most donations in Punjab are being accepted in cash
• It has failed take into account the complete fund receipt books it had distributed during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls

No Chhotepur bashing, party tells leaders

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30

Four days after Sucha Singh Chhotepur was removed as Aam Aadmi Party’s state convener, the party said today that he was still an AAP member, while telling party leaders not to target him till the completion of an internal inquiry into the bribery charges against him.

Party’s state affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh said, “This is an internal matter of the party. But our opponents are enjoying this crisis. We have decided that no leader will give any statement against him while the probe is in progress and a final decision is taken on the matter.”

Sources close to Chhotepur, who has the support of at least six zonal in-charges, said senior party leaders began negotiations with him today.

The zonal heads backing Chhotepur had yesterday served an ultimatum on the party leadership to reinstate the leader within three days or face revolt.

Mind your business, Cong tells Dr Sidhu

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 30

Reacting to BJP MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s remarks against PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, terming him “incapable of bringing about reforms in Punjab”, a group of about 15 Congress leaders, including several MLAs, today asked her to mind her own business rather than trying to meddle in the affairs of other parties.

The leaders, including Rana Gurjeet Singh, Kewal Dhillon and Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, said Dr Sidhu was feeling frustrated as her party had disowned her and the Aam Aadmi Party was not prepared to accept her.

In a joint press statement, the party leaders said the Congress and Amarinder did not need any certificate from anyone.

Badal bats for Dalits, but protests mar Lambi rally

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Killianwali (Lambi), Aug 30

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here today that the Scheduled Caste (SC) community was the backbone of the state.

During the CM’s address at the Dalit Chetna rally organised by the Akali Dal’s SC wing, two women sitting in the front row stood up and staged a protest, alleging that the government was pro-Jat and not bothered about the Dalits. Cops took them out of the 'pandal'.

Later, a group of women, including panchayat member Raj Rani, alleged that the SAD's area incharge had not allowed them to meet the CM. By that time, Badal had left the venue.

A Dalit couple from a village in Bathinda district raised slogans outside the venue after the police did not let them in to meet the Chief Minister.

“My son committed suicide on July 27 and a case of abetment was registered against two persons of the village, but the police haven’t arrested anyone,” said Maura Singh.

Earlier, Badal said “The Akali Dal has always been a votary of SC rights.”

The CM also announced to install solar lights in all villages of Lambi Assembly segment.

Harmesh Singh Khudian, vice-president of the SAD’s Muktsar district SC wing, said, “The state government should give ownership rights to the Dalits of the property allotted to them.”

Bikar Singh Channu, president of the district SC wing, said the rally was aimed at increasing awareness among the Dalits about various government schemes.

Halqa chief’s nod ‘must’ for weapon licence

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 30

With the state Assembly elections a few months away, the ruling SAD-BJP alliance is making sure that “only their supporters get weapon licences”. Verbal orders have reportedly been issued to Deputy Commissioners. As a result, several applications for weapon licences have been rejected and the applicants have been told to get their case recommended by the local halqa incharge.

Senior officials confirmed that against the set procedure wherein after a police verification, the DC clears the case based on threat perception to the applicant.

Sources confirmed that in its first meeting, the Election Commission has told the DCs and SSPs to compile a list of arms licence holders to ensure that all weapons are collected prior to the elections.

“In the last one month, the arms licences were given only on political recommendation and not on merit. In certain districts, some DCs are solely acting at the behest of local leadership,” said a senior IAS officer posted as Deputy Commissioner.

PPCC vice-president Lal Singh said: “Not only weapon licences, all tubewell connections and blue ration cards are being issued to Akali supporters while the common man is suffering.”

Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi said it was injustice to deny arms licences to genuine applicants and issuing these only to Akalis.

Senior Akali leader and Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra said: “They have increased the fee for weapons and if anyone is denied a licence, there is no politics behind it. AAP and the Congress do not have any issue and are trying to politicise everything.”

VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, said: “At present, we cannot intervene if licences are being given on the recommendation of the local halqa incharge. We can only take action once the election code of conduct is in force.”

Pvt firms favoured for power projects: Capt

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30

Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said today that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had handed over power projects to private companies on a platter, resulting in a loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to the exchequer.

Amarinder said the Congress, on being voted to power, would review these projects to make up for the losses and ensure that the state’s interests were protected.

“What was the logic in making a commitment to private companies for buying power?” he asked, adding that “the state, which is already reeling under a financial crisis, has to make payments to the companies without consuming their power.” He said exorbitant bills were being slapped on ordinary power consumers so as to facilitate payments to the companies.

Capt alleged that contrary to a recommendation of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission that the power projects should be allotted to private companies through competitive bidding, Sukhbir allotted these through the MoU (memorandum of understanding) route, which was heavily in favour of the firms.

Bholath Cong leader dares Khaira to prove charges

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 30

Congress ticket contender from Bholath Assembly segment Kulwinder Singh Babbal today dared Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira to prove the allegations that this family living in the United States paid hefty party funds to the PPCC Chief and Amtrisar MP Capt Amrinder Singh.

While addressing the mediapersons he alleged that rather it was Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who used to get donations from his family during his visit to the New Jersey, while he was still in the Congress.

“When Khaira was still in Congress, he used to visit our family settled in New Jersey, our family gave him party funds, yet he never provided us any receipt against the party funds. Moreover, he used to stay overnight at our home”, he alleged.

He said since Khaira has left Congress a long ago, he should not bother about the party. Instead, he should focus on AAP.

Babbal said Khaira seems to have been regretting leaving t Congress and desperate to return to the party. That why he was still retaining such keen interest about the Congress party.

While speaking to the Jalandhar Tribune, Khaira termed all the allegation baseless.

He said he never received any fund from his family in the US and never stayed overnight with his family. However, he met his family members during his US visit.

“I reiterate that after Capt Amrinder visited his family in New Jersey recently, Babbal an outsider has started political activity in Bholath under a ‘Quid pro Qua’. Everyone in Bholath is aware of the deal between him and Capt Amarider Singh,” alleged Kahira.