Saturday 13 August 2016

Bhola’s acquittal: Akalis to blame, says Amarinder

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today said the acquittal of drug lord Jagdish Bhola in a case of heroin smuggling was “total miscarriage of justice”.

“It is not only the matter of punishing Bhola, but also providing justice to thousands of youths who died of drugs smuggled and supplied by him,” Amarinder said.

He blamed the Akalis for Bhola’s acquittal “with an obvious intent to shield some important people whose names have figured during the investigations”.

He said he had full faith in the state police that they would take the case to the logical conclusion, but was disappointed over the way they handled the case and eventually facilitated his acquittal.

‘Will reopen case’

The PCC chief claimed it was a matter of six months and his government would reopen and reinvestigate the case. He said he was committed under oath to ensure “zero tolerance” towards drugs.

ਭੋਲਾ ਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਨਿਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਲੀ ਦੀ ਨਾਕਾਮੀ: ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ

ਟ੍ਰਿਬਿਊਨ ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਸਰਵਿਸ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 13 ਅਗਸਤ

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਡੀਐਸਪੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਵਾਨ ਜਗਦੀਸ਼ ਭੋਲਾ ਦੀ ਹੈਰੋਇਨ ਸਮਗਲਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਕੇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਕਾਮੀ ਕਰਾਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ।
ਇੱਥੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਮੁੱਦਾ ਸਿਰਫ ਭੋਲਾ ਨੂੰ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਬਲਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਆਂ ਦਿਵਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਉਸ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਪਲਾਈ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਭੋਲਾ ਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ’ਤੇ ਗੁੱਸੇ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੁਲੀਸ ’ਤੇ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਕੇਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਰਣਾਇਕ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ ਪ੍ਰੰਤੂ ਜਿਸ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਨੇ ਭੋਲੇ ਦੇ ਕੇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਸਦਾ ਨਤੀਜਾ ਉਸਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਵਜੋਂ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਹੈ, ਇਹ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਿਰਾਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ।
ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਸਿਰਫ ਛੇ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਬਾਕੀ ਰਹਿ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਇਸ ਕੇਸ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਖੋਲ੍ਹੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਆਂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਭੋਲਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਪਲਾਈ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਕਾਰਨ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਕੀਮਤ ’ਤੇ ਬਰਦਾਸ਼ਤ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ। ਭੋਲੇ ਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਲਈ ਅਕਾਲੀਆਂ ’ਤੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਾਉਂਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਜਾਂਚ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਏ ਕੁਝ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਖ਼ਾਤਰ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।

‘ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਰਹੇਗੀ’

ਜਲੰਧਰ (ਪੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ): ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ ਕਿ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਝੂਠ ਬੋਲ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਸੱਤਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਉਣ ’ਤੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਮਿਲਣੀ ਬੰਦ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਬਣਨ ’ਤੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਫਤ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਦੀ ਸਪਲਾਈ ਲਈ ਪੁਖ਼ਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਕੈਪਟਨ ਨੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਾਦਲ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਚੁਣੌਤੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਵਿਖੇ ਸਹੁੰ ਚੁੱਕਣ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਿੱਤਰ ਤੇ ਉਦੋਂ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੇਵੀ ਲਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਖੁਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਸਤੇ 1978 ਵਿੱਚ ਐਸਵਾਈਐਲ ਦੇ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਕਾਗਜ਼ਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਦਸਤਖ਼ਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਸਨ।

Nip AAP in bud to save nation: Sukhbir

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 13

Stating that no non-Punjabi could rule the state, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today warned the people not to vote for AAP. Otherwise, it would go a long way in helping AAP become a force in other parts of the country.

He claimed Delhi is a failed model of governance under AAP. So to save Punjab and other parts of the country from the same failure, it is our responsibility to beat AAP badly in the elections to cut short its political dream, said Sukhbir, while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of railway overbridges in Faridkot and Kotkapura today.

On his government’s achievements, he said during the nine-year tenure of the SAD-BJP government, the state has seen record development in terms of building roads, power production, administrative services and infrastructural facilities.

However, all developmental projects would come to fruition in the next five years and Punjab would achieve the distinction of being the first state in the country to affect holistic development in the entire rural belt, he said.

The SAD-BJP government has chalked out projects worth Rs 30,000 crore in order to ensure all-round development of more than 12,000 villages of the state, claimed Sukhbir.

Malerkotla/Barnala: Sukhbir today inaugurated a railway overbridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 32 crore, on Malerkotla-Raikot road at Malerkotla.

He also laid the foundation stone of a railway overbridge, to be constructed at the cost of Rs 53 crore, on the Barnala-Moga road at Barnala.

No difference of opinion with CM’

The reports appearing in a section of the media about any differences of perception between me and the CM are based on a misinterpretation of my remarks during a press conference in Chandigarh. —Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM and SAD president

‘Prove AAP links with radicals’

I dare Sukhbir to make public the probe report which proves our links with radicals and the ISI. He should remember that he is the Home Minister, not Comedy Minister. —Sanjay Singh, AAP state affairs incharg

Declare Capt as CM candidate: Bhattal

Says manifesto launch on Oct 2

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 13

Senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said in view of the popularity of Capt Amarinder Singh, the high command should declare him as the party’s CM candidate.

She said the Congress was likely to release its election manifesto on the occasion on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

Bhattal, chairperson of the party’s manifesto committee, along with convener Manpreet Badal today held a meeting here. The committee members noted the suggestions of local residents.

Bhattal said they would conclude their meetings with people in the state by month-end. A draft of the manifesto would be prepared in September and the party would most likely release the final document on October 2. She said in case some shortcomings were found, the manifesto might be released on November 14.

Bhattal also said she would contest from her Lehragaga Assembly seat.

Manpreet said they would also get their manifesto published in the newspapers to make all stakeholders aware of it. He welcomed the court’s decision to quash the appointment of 18 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries.

Jagmeet lists Capt’s assets

Jalandhar, August 13

Former Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar today claimed that PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh and his family owned properties in Dubai (UAE), England and Pakistan.

During a press conference here, the ‘Pehlan Punjab – Lok Hit Abhiyan’ convener alleged that Capt’s Swiss and Dubai bank accounts carried the address of New Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala.

When contacted, Capt’s media adviser Vimal Sumbly said, “Brar has made allegations without any documentary evidence. We don’t want to react to such unsubstantiated claims.” Brar stated that from next month, he would tour all constituencies. — TNS

ਜਗਮੀਤ ਬਰਾੜ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਗ਼ੈਰਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਜਾਇਦਾਦਾਂ ਦਾ ਖ਼ੁਲਾਸਾ

ਪੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ
ਜਲੰਧਰ, 13 ਅਗਸਤ
ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ-ਲੋਕ ਹਿੱਤ ਅਭਿਆਨ ਦੇ ਕਨਵੀਨਰ ਜਗਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਇੱਥੇ ਪ੍ਰੈਸ ਕਾਨਫਰੰਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਉਸਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਥਿਤ ਗੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਜਾਇਦਾਦਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਹਿੱਸੇ ਦਾ ਖ਼ੁਲਾਸਾ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਤੇ ਉਸਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਦੁਬਈ, ਲੰਡਨ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ’ਚ ਕੁਝ ਜਾਇਦਾਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਤੇ ਰਿਲੀਜ਼ ਕੀਤੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਾਇਆ ਕਿ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਨੇ ਦੁਬਈ ਦੇ ਪੌਸ਼ ਮੈਰੀਨਾ ਏਰੀਆ ’ਚ ਲਗਜ਼ਰੀ ਪੈਂਟਹਾਊਸ (ਪੀ-29, ਮੈਰੀਨਾ ਮੈਂਸ਼ਨ) ਅਰੂਸਾ ਆਲਮ ਨੂੰ ਗਿਫਟ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਐਚ.ਐਸ.ਬੀ.ਸੀ. ਬੈਂਕ, ਦੁਬਈ ਦੀ ਫੇਰੀ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਇਹ ਡੀਲ ਖੁਦ ਸਾਈਨ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ। ਕੈਪਟਨ ਨੇ ਇਸਲਾਮਾਬਾਦ ’ਚ ਵੀ ਵੱਡਾ ਮੈਂਸ਼ਨ ਖਰੀਦਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਰਾੜ ਨੇ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ ’ਚ ਹੋਰ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।
ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਸਿਆਸਤ ਦਾ ਚਿਹਰਾ ਬਦਲਣ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਾਂ ’ਚ ਦਲਿਤਾਂ ਤੇ ਪੱਛੜੀਆਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਈਵਾਲ ਬਣਾਏ ਜਾਣ ’ਤੇ ਵੀ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਰਾੜ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਤੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲਿਤਾਂ ਵਾਸਤੇ ‘ਇਸਤੇਮਾਲ ਕਰੋ ਤੇ ਸੁੱਟ ਦਿਓ’ ਦੀ ਨੀਤੀ ਵਰਤਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੁਣ ਸਮਾਂ ਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਮਾਜ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਵਰਗ ਇਕਜੁੱਟ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਮੰਗ ਰੱਖੇ ਅਤੇ 2017 ’ਚ ਦਲਿਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਹਿਮ ਰੋਲ ਤੋਂ ਬਗੈਰ ਉਹ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਚਾ ਸਕਦੇ।
ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਬਿਮਲ ਸੂੰਬਲੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਜਗਮੀਤ ਬਰਾੜ ਬਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਬੂਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਗਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਜਵਾਬ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ।

Armyman booked for assaulting cops

Bathinda, August 13

The Army jawan who assaulted three policemen last evening taught a lesson by the police personnel in the lock-up.

He has been booked under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) of the IPC. If found guilty, he may undergo an imprisonment from three months to two years.

Identified as Fauji Sandeep Singh, a resident of Sirsa (Haryana), the accused was allegedly under the influence of liquor and had indulge in a heated argument with traffic police personnel over a petty issue. He was controlled by six policemen who took him to the Kotwali police station.

The armyman was armed with a pistol without its magazine, police officials said.

The police said despite the heated argument that took place yesterday, visibly under the influence of liquor, the accused was offered to leave by the police but when he refused to do so, he was taken to the Kotwali police station.

The police officials said the weapon he was carrying appears to be his licensed arm and fortunately the magazine of bullets was not inside the weapon or else he may have resorted to firing as well.

A recently recruited Sepoy in the Indian Army, he was on his way towards the local railway station to board a train. However, he entered into a scuffle with the traffic cops.

Police officials said the jawan would be produced in a court after which he might be sent to judicial remand.

ਆਗਾਮੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ’ਚ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਤਿਵਾਦ ਦਾ ਸਫ਼ਾਇਆ: ਭੱਠਲ

ਗੁਰਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਾਲੀ
ਸੰਗਰੂਰ, 13 ਅਗਸਤ

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੀ ਚੇਅਰਪਰਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਬੀਬੀ ਰਾਜਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਭੱਠਲ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਇੱਥੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਅਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਦੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਲੜੀ, ਦੂਜੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਅਤਿਵਾਦ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਲੜੀ ਅਤੇ ਹੁਣ ਤੀਜੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਤਿਵਾਦ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਕਤ ਕਰਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਲੜੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ 2017 ਦੀਆਂ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਤਿਵਾਦ ਦਾ ਸਫ਼ਾਇਆ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਅਕਾਲੀ-ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ’ਤੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਾ ਸੇਧਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਤਿਵਾਦ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਹਰ ਵਰਗ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ ਖਾਧੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂਕਿ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ ਖਾਧੀ ਹੈ।
ਬੀਬੀ ਭੱਠਲ ਇੱਥੇ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ। ਉਹ ਚੋਣ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਕਨਵੀਨਰ ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਸਮੇਤ ਇੱਥੇ ਚੋਣ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਲਈ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਵਰਗ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਪੁੱਜੇ ਸਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਲੈਣ ਦਾ ਪੜਾਅ 22 ਅਗਸਤ ਤੱਕ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। 31 ਅਗਸਤ ਨੂੰ ਚੋਣ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੀ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਉਪਰੰਤ ਸਤੰਬਰ ਮਹੀਨਾ ਚੋਣ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੱਗ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ 2 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਮਹਾਂਤਮਾ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਜੈਅੰਤੀ ਮੌਕੇ ਚੋਣ ਮੈਨੀਫੈਸਟੋ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।
ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਸਵਾਲ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੀਬੀ ਭੱਠਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਲੋਕਪ੍ਰਿਅਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੱਖ ਰੱਖਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਲਈ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਐਲਾਨ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਕਾਲੀ-ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਭਰਤੀ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਡੋਪ ਟੈਸਟ ਦੇ ਸਹਾਰੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਗੁੰਮਰਾਹ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਦੌਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਿਖ਼ਰਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਹੈ। ਜੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਨਾ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਤਾਂ ਫ਼ਿਰ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਛੁਡਾਊ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਖੋਲ੍ਹਣ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਪੈਣੀ। ਬੀਬੀ ਭੱਠਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਪ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਵਾਪਰ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਅਪਰਾਧਿਕ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਆਈਐਸਆਈ ਨੂੰ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰ ਠਹਿਰਾ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਨਾਕਾਮੀ ਨੂੰ ਛੁਪਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਨਾ ਪੁੱਜਿਆ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਰਾਹਤ ਫੰਡ; ਗੱਭਰੂ ਪੁੱਤ ਤੁਰ ਗਿਆ ਜਹਾਨੋਂ

ਗੁਰਸੇਵਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, 13 ਅਗਸਤ

ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਪੁੱਤ ਦੇ ਇਲਾਜ ਲਈ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਵੱਲ ਝਾਕ ਰਹੇ ਬਿਰਧ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਗਹੀਣ ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਾਂ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਕੋਈ ਪੈਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਪਰ ਪੈਸਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਤੋਟ ਕਾਰਣ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਰੋਗੀ ਪੁੱਤ ਜਹਾਨੋਂ ਤੁਰ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਬਿਰਧ ਜੋੜਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਚੱਕ ਸ਼ੇਰੇਵਾਲਾ ਦਾ ਵਾਸੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਦਲਿਤ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਹੈ। ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਮੇਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ ਉਸਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਇੰਦਰਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਗਰੀਬ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਮਿਹਨਤ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਲੜਕੇ ਰਾਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਬੜੀਆਂ ਆਸਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਬੀ. ਏ. ਕਰਵਾਈ ਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਲੱਗ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੁਢਾਪੇ ਦਾ ਸਹਾਰਾ ਬਣੇਗਾ ਪਰ ਰਾਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਮੁਰਾਦ ਅੰਤੜੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਰੋਗ ਲੱਗ ਗਿਆ। 7 ਦਸੰਬਰ 2013 ਨੂੰ ‘ਕੇਅਰ ਹੱਸਪਤਾਲ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ’ ਵਿਖੇ ਉਸਦਾ ਅੰਤੜੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਆਪਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਪਰ ਉਸਦੀ ਬਿਮਾਰੀ ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਠੀਕ ਨਾ ਹੋਈ ਤਾਂ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਪੀ ਜੀ ਆਈ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਵਿਖੇ ਭੇਜ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਪੀਜੀਆਈ ਵਿਖੇ ਕਰੀਬ 5 ਮਹੀਨੇ ਉਸਦਾ ਇਲਾਜ ਚੱਲਿਆ ਜਿਸ ‘ਤੇ ਕਰੀਬ 5 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਖਰਚਾ ਆਇਆ। ਇਹ ਖਰਚਾ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਘਰ ਘਾਟ ਵੇਚ ਕੇ, ਰਿਸ਼ਤੇਦਾਰਾਂ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਮੱਦਦ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਆਜੂ ਪੈਸੇ ਚੁੱਕ ਕੇ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ। ਮੇਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੋਲ ਬੀਪੀਐਲ ਕਾਰਡ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਸੀ ਜੋ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਰੇਖਾ ਤੋਂ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਪੀਜੀਆਈ ਦੇ ਡਾਕਟਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਰਾਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਇਲਾਜ ਉਪਰ ਤਿੰਨ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਖਰਚਾ ਆਉਣ ਦਾ ਐਸਟੀਮੇਟ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਮੇਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਡੀਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਰਜ਼ੀ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਪਰ ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪੀਜੀਆਈ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਵਿਖੇ 29 ਮਈ 2014 ਨੂੰ ਮੌਤ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਸੀ। ਉਧਰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਨੇ ਐੱਸਡੀਐੱਮ ਅਤੇ ਸਿਵਲ ਸਰਜਨ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਲੰਬਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਦੀ ਪਰਖ ਕਰਾਉਣ ਉਪਰੰਤ ਸਹੀ ਪਾਏ ਜਾਣ ’ਤੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ 1 ਜੁਲਾਈ 2014 ਨੂੰ ਤਿੰਨ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਰਾਹਤ ਫੰਡ ਵਿੱਚੋ ਮਾਲੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਸਿਫਾਰਸ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ।
ਮੋਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਉਸਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਇੰਦਰਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਦੁਖੀ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਦੇ ਦਫਤਰ ਦਰਜਨਾਂ ਗੇੜੇ ਮਾਰ ਲਏ ਹਨ, ਹਲਕਾ ਮਲੋਟ ਦੇ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਕਈ ਵਾਰ ਮਿਲ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਮੈਬਰ ਪਾਰਟੀਮੈਟ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁਬਾਇਆ ਕੋਲ ਵੀ ਅਰਜੋਈਆਂ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਉਹਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਰਾਹਤ ਫੰਡ ਵਿੱਚੋ ਇੱਕ ਪੈਸਾ ਵੀ ਮੱਦਦ ਨਹੀ ਮਿਲੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਹੁਣ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੋਲ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਆਜੂ ਪੈਸੇ ਮੋੜਨ ਲਈ ਕੋਈ ਸਾਧਨ ਨਹੀ ਬਚਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰੇ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਸਾਧਨ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਇਕ ਵਾਰ ਮੁੜ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪਾਸੋ ਮਨਜੂਰ ਕੀਤੀ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਮੁਹੱਈਆ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਜਾਵੇ।

Capt’s last hurrah...

Amarinder is working like never before — covering four constituencies a week, five months before Punjab goes to polls. But the campaign designed by Prashant Kishor is reaching just Congress voters — the low numbers too should worry the party — and even th

Youth, farmers and ex-servicemen have had ‘Coffee with Captain’ and for people of every assembly segment, there is “Halke Vich Captain” where Amarinder sits on a stage hearing grievances of people.

SO FAR CAMPAIGNING IS HAPPENING AS PER KISHOR’S SCRIPT. THE PARTY CONGRESS IS UNLEARNING THE ‘RALLY WAY’ TO GET VOTES

SBS NAGAR: The last mile is the hardest. Even an old warhorse like state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh is getting to learn it now — an election he has announced to be his last. The Congress campaign in the 2012 state elections was a “9 to 5 affair”, as helicopter sorties ended with fading daylight of January evenings.Four-and-half years later, Amarinder, now 74, is covering four constituencies per week to complete all 117 till the first week of October before he embarks on yet another campaign designed by poll strategist Prashant Kishor. And it is only August now and elections are more than five months away.

So far the campaigning is happening as per Kishor’s script. The Congress is fast unlearning the “rally way” to get votes — for Kishor believes crowds at rallies can be managed and do not translate into votes. So youth, farmers and ex-servicemen have had “Coffee with Captain” and for people of every assembly segment, there is “Halke Vich Captain” — a grand show, where Amarinder sits on a stage hearing grievances of people, picks 20 to 25 chits from a bowl and hands out prompt help or promise, as the case may be. If the complaint is of police high-handedness, he even storms the police station. Whether or not each of all those who fill the complaints form get lucky, they go home with a mobile sticker and keychain of a smiling Amarinder and his promise.

Both the events are managed by Kishor’s “team of young professionals” hailing from the IPAC. According to Congress sources, the events are looked after by an event management company “handpicked” by Kishor and the bills of his team, event management and the collaterals (key chains, mobile stickers et al) are reimbursed directly by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

JUST 5,000 ATTENDEES IN CONG BASTION

In the 19 “Halke Vich Captain” events held so far, the highest attendance has been 6,500 at Shahkot and lowest 3,200 at Dasuya. Of the 2014 villages the party reached out, people from just 1,406 villages came.

Friday’s event is at SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr) — a Congress bastion which had elected Parkash Singh in 2007 and his wife Guriqbal Kaur in 2012. The gathering at AS Resorts, a marriage hall on the Chandigarh-Nawanshahr road, is a mixed crowd of the young and old, Hindus and Jat Sikhs, but nearly all are Congress voters. Avtar Singh, a district Congress functionary, says the hall has 1,500 chairs and altogether 4,000 people are present at the venue.

“We sent messages to Congress supporters and many came,” he says. The IPAC puts the figure to 5,000 people but claims 30% on an average at every such meeting are new or non-Congress voters. But in either case, the numbers should worry the party. What should worry it even more is that even those who came needed some counselling and not all go back convinced.

Balwinder Singh of Langroya village says he had filled the “complaint form” but his “chit” was not selected. “We are here to complain against our village sarpanch, who too belongs to the Congress. We did not let an Akali win from our village but who do we have to blame now,” he says. Anish Rana (23) from Jadla village wanted to know Amarinder’s solution to why postgraduates in Punjab have to apply for jobs of peons. “But my chit was not selected,” he says. A man angry at not being given the mike said, “Us Balu nu mike de dita, te 100 vota saade nal ne (They gave the mike to Balu. But we have 100 votes).” Standing nearby, Paramjit Singh of Khurd village mocks, “Aithe vi sifarish ta nai chaldi (does one need high contacts to get the chit picked?)”.

For even those who got lucky, Amarinder may not have quick-fix solutions such as Harvel Singh of Bhalta Khurd village who accused the Akali panchayat of supplying water to areas with Congress families from a contaminated chappar or Mandeep Singh, a disabled man, looking for a government job. But Mandeep was all praises for Amarinder. “He has asked me to apply for a job in a government department and let him know,” he said.

NOT MANY YOUTH VOLUNTEERS

Some 30-odd young voters such as Ravinder Ghuman get enrolled as volunteers for the party campaign and win a selfie with Captain. So far the “Jago Punjab” campaign of the party to take on the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) army of volunteers has made little progress. Though the campaign being handled by party’s youth leaders such as Birender Dhillon and Gobind Khatra claims to have got over 1.5 lakh missed calls, it has enrolled just 2,193 for door to door campaigning — approximately 26 per constituency. It has another 1,173 active and 4,000 passive social media volunteers. “Over 500 professionals — lawyers, doctors, social workers and teachers too are working as volunteers,” Dhillon says. Jago Punjab’s creative team is also making mash-ups, memes, cartoons and videos to match AAP and SAD’s social media war.

‘ACCESSIBILITY, VISIBILITY, UNITY’

Sitting at a “dhaba” for lunch, Amarinder agrees that events at marriage halls are an expensive proposition and the numbers not “too high”. “Some 65% are from Congress, others are new. But once rains are over, we will hold the programmes in the open and many more people will come. After the 117 constituencies are done, it will only be rallies till elections. The party campaign is happening at three levels. It is not just Coffee with Captain and “Halke Vich Captain”. Punjab Congress in-charge Asha Kumari is holding her own programmes and so is the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, which has covered all 117 seats to mobilise party workers,” he says. The IPAC, on its part, claims the aim of the “Halke Vich Captain” is addressing the issues of Amarinder’s accessibility and visibility.

The party’s unity woes too seem to have subsided for now. Senior leaders such as Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Partap Bajwa have been made to head the seven “high-level” committees to suggest policies and promises for the poll manifesto. Though other than manifesto committee headed by Bhattal (Manpreet Badal is convener), not much progress has been made by the others. Party’s frontal organisations such as Mahila Congress, Sewa Dal and Youth Congress are helping the IPAC and the PPCC in their programmes and are feeling more relevant than ever before.

THE AAP EFFECT

Thriving on controversies courted by the AAP, the Congress is now regaling at the first list of AAP candidates. Amarinder asks MLAs and prospective candidates having lunch with him at the “dhaba” about AAP candidates in their seats and all dismiss them as “no threat”. He adds that the list of disgruntled AAP leaders and volunteers will only grow with the number of lists.

For the Congress, he predicts no rebel trouble like the AAP. “After applications are received, we will hold constituencywise surveys to zero in on the right candidate,” he says. Sitting across the table are both contenders from SBS Nagar — Guriqbal Kaur’s son Angad and the district chief of the Congress, Satvir Singh and Amarinder inadvertently mentions both as contenders.

CAMPAIGN SANS ADVERTISEMENTS

The party’s campaign is so far going by Kishor’s idea of no “paid publicity”. So unlike the ruling SAD-BJP and AAP, the Congress has not yet launched its ad campaign on newspapers, TV, radio or cinema halls. “As of now, the idea is to focus on reaching out to workers and voters through personal contact. The Congress will unleash its main campaign only two months before the elections after selecting the candidates and fight the elections with unity. The ad campaign, if needed, will be unleashed then,” party insiders said.

But many senior Congress leaders disagree with the campaign. “It was earlier decided that there will be a common war room and Kishor would be anchoring the campaign by taking part in meetings but his energies seem to be concentrated on Uttar Pradesh as of now. There is no focus on social media. We cannot win elections by meeting few thousand people at marriage palaces. Amarinder was drawing more crowds when he was holding anti-Partap Bajwa rallies. We have to raise issues and give an agenda. It is going to be an issue-based election,” says an MLA.Amarinder leaves the venue for the workers’ meeting scheduled after the “dhaba” lunch and it’s time for the selfie counters and cut-out posters to be dismantled for the next event. The Congress seems to be learning many new things but is it also unlearning enough?

Booted out, 18 CPSes not to hoist Tricolour on I-Day

AT PLACES WHERE THE CPSes WERE TO HOIST THE NATIONAL FLAG, THE SENIOR-MOST CIVIL OFFICER WILL DO THE HONOURS NOW

From page 1 CHANDIGARH: The 18 chief parliamentary secretaries, booted out of the government through an order of the Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday, will not be hoisting the national flag during the Independence Day functions across the state where they were the chief guests.

The decision was taken by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday evening. Other than the chief minister, deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and cabinet ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries were to hoist the Tricolour at district and sub-division-level functions. At places where the CPSes were to hoist the flag, the senior-most civil officer will do the honours now.

The high court had quashed appointment of 18 CPSes) in the SAD-BJP government of Punjab, ruling that they are acting as “junior ministers” in contravention of the Constitution’s intent to limit the council of ministers to 15% of the legislature’s strength.One of the petitioners, who filed a public interest litigation (PIL), HC Arora wrote to the chief secretary that the CPS should stop discharging their functions.

“I would like to make it abundantly clear that unless they get some interim order in their favour from the Supreme Court, discharge of functions of the post by any of them, including hoisting of the Tricolour in their capacity as CPSes, shall amount to the contempt of court,” stated Arora’s letter.

While Chaudhary Nand Lal was to hoist the flag at Balachaur, Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas at Barnala, Des Raj Dhugga at Sri Gobindpur, Mantar Singh Brar at Faridkot, Mohinder Kaur Josh at SBS Nagar, KD Bhandari at Phillaur, Amarpal Singh Ajnala at Ajnala, Gurbachan Singh Babbehali at Pathankot, Virsa Singh Valtoha at Shri Khadoor Sahib, NK Sharma at Derabassi, F Nasira Khatoon at Malerkotla, Navjot Kaur Sidhu at Shahkot, Parkash Chand Garg at Sunam, Pawan Kumar Tinnu at Adampur, Sarup Chand Singla at Shri Mukatsar Sahib and Som Parkash at Phagwara.

Will reopen case against Bhola: Capt

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh has said the acquittal of drug lord Jagdish Bhola in a case of heroin smuggling was total miscarriage of justice.

“The Congress government will reopen the case against Bhola after coming to power,” he said on Saturday. “It’s not only the matter of punishing Bhola, but providing justice to youth who died of drugs that were and supplied by him”, said Captain.“If Bhola is innocent, nobody on earth can be guilty then,” he added. Expressing anger over Bhola’s acquittal, Captain said he was thoroughly disappointed over the way Punjab Police handled Bhola’s case and virtually facilitated his acquittal.

AAP accuses state’s Akali govt of dividing people on caste lines

NABHA DALITS’ PLIGHT Passing resolution at the gram sabha and writing letters to authorities have no effect

Nabha’s Thuhi village is troubled by poor drainage system. Rainwater enters the houses of both villages (Thuhi and Thuha), whereas sewage water floods the houses of Dalits, which is bad for everyone’s health. JABIR SINGH JASSI, an Aam Aadmi Party worker

NABHA: The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the Punjab government of ignoring the problems of Dalits in the state and dividing the people on cast linesAAP patiala coordinator Balbir Singh gave this statement, when he reached Thuhi village with his team on Saturday, after reading the Hindustan Times story on the inhospitable conditions in which Dalits of the village are being made to live. The HT highlighted that the Dalits of the village have to live in between two sewage ponds, created by the drainages exiting from two villages– Thuhi and Thuha.

The villagers said that the gram panchayat had passed a resolution a year ago, which has not been worked on by the administration. Sarpanch of Thuhi patti told that he has again moved the agenda and the gram panchayat would sit on August 17 and again pass the resolution to shift the sewage pond to another piece of land in Shamlat () beyond the residence.The party workers collected a contribution to fill diesel in the motor to push the water to bigger drain. The motor was not used owing to petty politics of both the gram panchayats. The party leaders met the other villagers and Sarpanches of both Thuhi patti and Thuha patti and motivated them to solve the issue of drainage by sitting on one table.

The villagers showed them the whole village how the water was logged in the streets since the rain on Thursday night and also listed the problems related to MGNREGA, unemployment and health. Jabir Singh Jassi, AAP worker said that the whole village was troubled by the poor drainage system since the rain water enters the houses of both the villages whereas the sewage water rises in the houses of Dalits which is bad for everyone’s health.

The party leaders promised to set up the water treatment plant to use the water for irrigation which would result in cost effective farming on coming into power. Dr Balbir said the Dalits that they could demand the cleaning of the pond also under a central government scheme for the time being.

However, the activity made the local leaders a bit uneasy.Ex Sarpanch and nephew of ex minister Harmel Singh Tohra, Palvinder who is brother in law of the current sarpanch of Thuha patti said these are new comers in politics and don’t know the ground issues. “They (dalits) are living in Shamlat land which belongs to both the panchayats” he added. When asked that the government has policy to give 150 sq yard plot to homeless and poor families, he said that he was not aware of the scheme. “Show me in any village if the such plots have been given. The policy must be in papers only” he added.

With eye on polls, Sukhbir goes on ROB-stone-laying spree

WOOING VOTERS Deputy chief minister lays foundation stones of four railway overbridges, including one on Bathinda-Dabwali road worth `70 crore

BATHINDA: With eye on polls Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal went on inauguration and foundation stone spree of major railway projects in the Malwa region on Saturday.Sukhbir laid foundation stone of four railway overbridges (ROB) including one on Bathinda-Dabwali road worth `70.7 crore in Bathinda, another on Bathinda-Barnala-Dhuri railway line in Barnala and two such projects in Faridkot.

“The construction will start in a month and will be completed in one year. The ROB on Bathinda-Dabwali road will help to ensure smooth flow of traffic since the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is coming up on the same road,” Badal said.

Recently, the centre government had approved AIIMS project worth ` 925 crore in Bathinda and the prime minister Narendra Modi’s dates are being sought for its inauguration.

Meanwhile, sharpening his attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Badal said that the AAP leaders are being backed and funded by radical groups operating inside and outside the state. On contradictory statements over ISI threats on himself and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, the deputy CM said that their statements and views have been misinterpreted as there was no confusion over such sensitive issues.

Replying on quashing of posts of chief parliamentary secretary by Punjab and Haryana high court, Sukhbir said that the state is taking legal opinion over the issues and the next step will be taken accordingly.