Friday 5 August 2016

Pargat Singh writes to Badal against Sukhbir’s style of functioning

LETTER BOMB Former Indian hockey captain regrets that Shiromani Akali Dal’s basic objectives are being sidelined and party chief is destroying’ the core structure of outfit

JALANDHAR: Suspended Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment Pargat Singh, in a letter to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday, attacked SAD chief Sukhbir Badal’s style of functioning saying for the present leadership “Panth” comes last and the “family” comes first.

In a three-page letter written in Punjabi, copies of which were also given to mediamen, Pargat regretted that the SAD’s basic objectives were being sidelined and the SAD chief was “mercilessly destroying” the core structure of the party.

The MLA said the party was feeling helpless under Sukhbir’s leadership. “Truthfulness and humbleness are the two virtues standing miles away from Sukhbir,” said the MLA, who was suspended by Sukhbir for anti-party activities on July 19.

The former Indian hockey captain said, if the party president could have at least learnt your humbleness, then Punjab and the party both would have been saved from disaster.

Pargat said the SAD chief functions by making muscle and money, along with arrogance, as his tools of administration.

“But time never passes like that. Centralisation of power will ruin both the party and the government,” he said, adding that the party chief is surrounded by spineless persons, who are only nurturing their political ambitions. “They are neither listening to anyone nor are allowing the party president to understand the reality,” said the MLA.“AKAL TAKHT’S AUTHORITY DEMEANED”

The MLA alleged that the present leadership of the Akali Dal has made all Sikh institutions hand-made stooges.

“The authority of the most revered Sikh institution, Shri Akal Takht Sahib, has faced maximum erosion under the present rule. It’s much more dangerous than physical destruction of the building. Panth is nowadays dominated by persons, expert in derailing panthic contemplations,” said Pargat.

Pargat cautioned Badal that the party leadership is silent because they are sticking to the party under compulsions and scare of the arrogance. “Our party president must understand that storms and thunders always come out of such silence,” said the MLA.

GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING MOCKED

In last few years, not only basic structure of the party has collapsed, but performance of the government has remained poor. Pargat said the Punjabis, who are known for rich heritage at national and international levels, are now ashamed of themselves and only the present system is responsible for it.

The MLA said he has not received any letter about his suspension from the party chief.

pargatpotshot

The patry was “Main Maran, Panth Jeeve” (I may die but my organisation should survive)” and “Panth Vase, Main Ujdaan” (Long live the Panth and I may die), but now the slogan has changed to “Panth Bhavein Mare Ya Ujde, Mera Laana Jeyonda Te Bussda Rahe“(Panth may die or destroy but my family should survive and flourish SAD’s basic objectives are being sidelined and Sukhbir is mercilessly destroying the core structure of the party. CM Sir! This way, the Akali Dal will collapse like a sand castle and since you are patron of the party, history will ask questions from you. The party was feeling helpless under Sukhbir’s leadership SAD chief functions using muscle, money and arrogance as his tools. Had he at least learnt the CM’s humbleness, then Punjab and the party would have been saved from disaster PARGAT SINGH, Jalandhar Cantt MLA

‘I differ with choices... but won’t do anything to harm the party’

SUCHA SINGH CHHOTEPUR PUNJAB AAP CONVENER

CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, one of the most senior leaders of the party in the state, absented himself when it announced the first list candidates for the 2017 assembly elections on Thursday. On Wednesday, he walked out of a meeting with the party’s Punjab affairs incharge, Sanjay Singh, following differences over the ticket distribution. Talking to assistant editor Chitleen K Sethi on Friday, Chhotepur said he was disappointed with the choice of candidates but his difference of opinion could not be seen as dissent. HT: Does the first list of candidates have your approval? Chhotepur: I differ with the party over some candidates. I will discuss it with the party convener Arvind Kejriwal and I’m sure he will see my reason and review the list. Who are these candidates? I cannot name the candidates or the constituencies. I will not do anything to damage the AAP in Punjab. It’s a party we have built with a lot of hard work and toil. Your confidant Hardip Singh Kingra has resigned from the party and levelled serious allegations against Delhi-based AAP leader Durgesh Pathak. These are his personal views. I don’t believe in speaking publicly against my party or any individual I may have differences with. If I feel the need to criticise a decision, I do it within the four walls of the party. Ours is a democratic party that hears and respects everyone. Do you agree that Delhi leaders have centralised power and taken Punjab leaders for a ride? I have nothing to say on this. If I ever feel so, I will tell Kejriwal. What if Kejriwal disagrees with your views on the candidates? I think my word will have some impact on Kejriwal. In case he disagrees, there’s nothing more I can do but abide by the choices. There is no way I am going to resign from the party after toiling for three years to bring it to this stage. What changes do you want in the list? There are some people who have worked harder and more dedicatedly than those chosen. Is this why protests have erupted at some places in Punjab? Every ticket distribution leads to some resistance. It happens to all parties. It is the duty of senior leaders to pacify the workers. Do you think ticket should be awarded so early? I do think it is too early. We are a party the opponents are scared of, and it might drive them desperate. I don’t want any harm to come to any of the candidates. Our contenders are hard working, innocent people, and the Akalis are already talking of beating them up. The candidates should have been announced later, but that’s my opinion.

Akalis, not AAP, known for selling tickets: Phoolka

Lashes out at Sukhbir, says party selected all 19 candidates on merit

From page 01 LUDHIANA: A day after Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of charging `1 crore for giving tickets to candidates “as quoted by their party workers”, senior AAP leader and party candidate from Dakha in Ludhiana HS Phoolka said “it is Akalis who are known for these practices”.

“Akalis charge huge sums of money for the tickets. They keep dreaming about money and don’t allot tickets to aspirants without taking money. They are now accusing us of the practice synonymous with their name,” said the AAP leader, on the sidelines of a road show in Ludhiana on Friday.Saying that the party selected all 19 candidates on merit, Phoolka said social activists, lawyers, retired army personnel, who only want to work for society, have been selected.

He said the people of Punjab are feeling betrayed by the Congress and Akalis, who have patronised corruption over the years.

“People will throw out corrupt people and will vote in our favour in the assembly elections,” he said.

Harsimrat makes girls wait for bicycles in searing heat

BATHINDA: The girl students of three government schools had to wait for almost extra two hours in searing heat to get bicycles under state government’s Mai Bhago vidya scheme as Bathinda MP and union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal turned up late at all the schools.Even, the students of government girls’ senior secondary school in Talwandi Sabo were made to stay after school hours for more than half an hour for Bathinda MP’s visit.

As per the scheduled visit, Harsimrat was to visit government senior secondary school (girls) in Bathinda to distribute bicycles to 456 students at 11am, but the Akali leader reached at about 12:30pm. The students were made to sit on floors to wait for distribution ceremony to beginConsequently, the bicycle distribution programme at government school in Bhagi Bander village, situated 20km from Bathinda, which was schedule at 12:30pm, could only begin at 1:45pm, after the arrival of food processing minister.

Following the delay at the first two venues, Harsimrat, who was accompanied by a battery of senior officials of district administration, could reach Talwandi Sabo school only at 2:30pm. The students waited beyond their school hours to receive bicycle from her. However, there were no arrangements of refreshments for the students.

“We had made arrangements according to union minister’s set schedule provided by administration, but the minister reached hour late than schedule timing,” said one of the officials.

UNION MINISTER TAKES DIG AT AAP CANDIDATES

Addressing the public gathering at Bhagi Bander village, Harsimrat said the reports of revolt in AAP were just a beginning as the simmering storm of revolt would sweep the party away in totality. “The first list released by AAP has proved that even senior leaders of party have lost faith in the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal,” she said

Former AAP leader Kingra says he will expose Pathak

CHANDIGARH: Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Hardip Singh Kingra, who resigned from the party on Monday, took the party’s Delhi leadership head on saying he will “expose” party’s national organisational secretary Durgesh Pathak.Kingra, considered a close associate of AAP’s Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, has been denied the party ticket from Faridkot where the AAP had fielded Gurdit Singh Sekhon. Kingra said he was not taking cudgels against the party because he had been denied a ticket.

“I had revolted against the Delhi leaders three months ago also on Facebook. It’s for everyone to see,” he said.

Lashing out at Pathak on his Facebook page, Kingra alleged he had been conniving against the party’s state convener without any reason. “No reason except hunger for power. Another group against the convener arises and I, being close to the convener, get caught in the crossfire,” he posted on Facebook.

“The central leadership threatens party workers that whoever doesn’t accept these sycophants as leaders in Punjab, will meet the same fate as the Yogendra Yadav group. Every volunteer accepts them out of fear. But these individuals don’t have intellectual capacity and leadership skills,” he said

Marriage palace owners’ march to Majithia’s residence foiled

AMRITSAR: The owners of marriage palaces, which were sealed after the Punjab and Haryana high court recently directed the Municipal Corporation Amritsar (MCA) to do the same, were stopped from moving towards the residence of revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday.

The owners, who were led by All Punjab Palace Association president Ranjit Singh Bath and general secretary Nishan Singh Sandhu, were proceeding towards the cabinet minister’s residence to stage the protest. The police stopped them at the Novelty Chowk.

The owners blocked the chowk for an hour, causing inconvenience to commuters, and raised slogans against the state government.

Around two weeks back, the Punjab and Haryana high court had ordered the MC to close these banquet halls by July 31 and appear before the HC with an action report.

Following the HC orders, the MC has sealed 71 marriage palaces in the area.

“We want that these sealed palaces should be opened with immediate effect. The big palaces should be regularised and change of land use tax should be imposed on the collector rate 5%,” said Bath, who added that interest and penalty fine should not be imposed on the demand notices that have been given to the palaces.They also said the government should ease out the norms for getting NOCs from various departments in regard to regularise the marriage palaces.

The sealing notice states that the palaces were neither opened without the government’s permission nor fulfilling its criteria. The court has asked the deputy commissioner, municipal commissioner, and the principal secretary of the local bodies ministry to appear before it after sealing the palaces or go to jail.

THE CASE

In 2010, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Punjab and Haryana high court, alleging that marriage palaces have been established illegally in the city.

In 2012, the court issued notice to the civic body to take action against the violators. The owners, however, didn’t respond to the MC notices, which asked them to do the needful to get the properties regularised.

In 2013, the complainant filed contempt case against the administration. The MC issued notices again to the owners in 2014, but only 15 of 86 palaces did the needful to abide by the norms, sources said.

No funds, yet Rs 53 cr for Smart City consultants

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 5

The fund-starved Punjab Government will pay a whopping Rs 53 crore to AECOM Asia Limited/Price Waterhouse Coopers (Consultants) that it has hired for the Smart City (Ludhiana) project.

A sum of Rs 45 crore will go towards salaries of the consultants and the remaining Rs 8 crore will go into reimbursable expenses — office rent, vehicles etc.

The management consultants have been hired by the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC). An agreement between AECOM Asia Limited/PWC vice-president Pawan Gupta and Ludhiana Smart City Limited Interim CEO Ghanshyam Thori was signed in Chandigarh today.

A member on the Board of Directors (Smart City) expressed shock over the hefty fee. He claimed the government had not bothered to hold a meeting to discuss the matter. “Even as they are paying such a hefty sum, they should ask the consultant about the scope of work in the first year and the subsequent years. The fee could have been paid annually after assessing the progress made on the ground. This is purely a political move and is uncalled for,” the member said.

An official of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation said work under the Smart City mission was likely to kick off shortly. “There is a feeling that the consultants have been hired on an exorbitant fee even though we have plenty of technical hands. The money could have instead been used for city’s development,” he said. Thori, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana (MCL) Commissioner, said the consultants would prepare a detailed project report but before that brain-storming sessions would be held with all stakeholders. The process could take up to four months after which work on the project would begin.

Interestingly, the MCL has already celebrated the Smart City “anniversary” though the project is yet to take off.

History will seek answers for SAD’s downfall: Pargat to CM

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 5

Suspended Akali MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment Pargat Singh today accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, of causing the party’s “downfall”. He shot off a letter to the CM saying, “Under your patronage, the party which was known for sacrifices is collapsing. The history will seek a reply of this downfall from you.”

In a three-page letter, the copies of which were released to the media, hockey Olympian and former Director (Sports) Pargat lambasted the Akali leadership saying, “Raj nahi sewa is a mere slogan of the government and in reality no section of the society is happy under the Akali-BJP regime in Punjab. You dream of 25 years of rule in Punjab. You may go on to dream up to the extent of 50 years, but do check some ground realities Pargat said he personally went to hand over the letter at the party office in Chandigarh today and that it was just the first of the series of letters, which he planned to hit out against the government. “I have still not received the letter of my suspension from the party and I term my suspension orders by the party president coming to me via the media as illegal, baseless and dictatorial,” he said. The reports of his suspension came on July 19.

He goes on to write: “The foundation of the party has badly weakened and the allegations of corruption, land and sand mafia, unemployment and family rule have only been deepening, on which no one is showing any signs of worry.”He raised questions over alleged “misgovernance of the SAD-BJP government” as well as “dictatorial” and “self-styled” functioning of party president Sukbhir Badal.

Attacking Sukhbir, he says, “It is surprising for me that the party president has not learnt even the basic nuances of politics from you. Had he learnt being humble, both the state and the party would not have suffered this way. Instead, he made muscle and money his weapons.”

Pargat blamed the party for destabilising the institutions associated with Sikh religion. “The party which was based on the principle of ‘I may die, but my panth should remain alive’ is working on a new agenda, ‘Panth may die or collapse, but my family should continue to prosper’.”

Ex-hockey player hits out at Sukhbir

‘Raj Nahi Sewa’ is a mere slogan of the government and in reality no section of society is happy under the Akali-BJP regime in Punjab
The party president (Sukhbir) has not learnt even the basic nuances of politics from the CM. Had he only learnt being humble, both the state as well as the party would not have suffered this way

Badals’ claims on progress false: Jakhar

Abohar: Congress state vice-president Sunil Jakhar on Friday said the claims made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal that Rs 6,000 crore had been spent on development schemes were totally false. Addressing a meeting at Daulatpura village on the Abohar-Sriganganagar road, he said the father-son duo perhaps believed in the theory that a lie, if spoken hundred times, would emerge as truth. Over the past nine years, the government had failed to ensure the availability of potable water, disposal of waste water etc. in most of the 12,000 villages across the state. Badals' home turf could be the only exception in that regard, he said. TNS

Preneet hopes Capt is Cong CM face

Bhawanigarh (Sangrur): Former Union Minister Preneet Kaur on Friday said the Congress high command would announce the party's chief ministerial candidate at an appropriate time. Addressing party workers here, she said the party was in no hurry to announce either a CM candidate or their list of candidates as the grand old party had its own system. Asked whether Capt Amarinder would be the CM face, she said, "I hope so." Lashing out at AAP, Preneet said, "Some people tend to get emotional and discard traditional parties. In the process, they end up electing political greenhorns... Only experienced people like Captain Amarinder Singh can ensure all-round development." She alleged AAP leaders were unaware of Punjab's ethos, history and traditions. — Sushil Goyal
Akalis criminalised politics: Manpreet

Dharamkot (Moga): Congress leader Manpreet Badal on Friday said the criminalisation of politics allegedly promoted by the SAD and the BJP and widespread corruption had ruined the socio-economic fabric of Punjab. Addressing a gathering on the home turf of Akali stalwart and Agriculture Minister Tota Singh at Dharamkot in Moga district, he appealed to the people to vote for the Congress in the Assembly elections to put the state back on tack of development. He scoffed at CM Badal for allegedly promoting nepotism. — Kulwinder Sandhu

EC to launch mobile app for state poll

Chandigarh: The forthcoming Punjab polls will be more of an Information Technology (IT) affair for voters as well as for the parties for the Election Commission is busy putting a system in place to ensure complete mapping of the constituencies and for automatically tackling complaints of voters and political people in real-time. The politicians or workers of various parties are also likely to heave a sigh of relief with the introduction of the new IT-based solution by the EC for they would not need to rush to the police station to seek permission for holding "jalsas" or "nukkad" at public grounds or vacant places. The new system will enable voters to apply for such permissions on a single app. tns

Dissent in AAP just a beginning: MP

Says senior leaders have lost faith in the leadership and credibility of Arvind Kejriwa

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 5

Union Food Processing Minister and MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said the reports of revolt in the Aam Aadmi Party were just a beginning and the simmering rebellion would sweep away the party.

She said the days of AAP in Punjab were numbered and the party was moving fast towards its decimation.

Harsimrat Badal said the first list of candidates released by AAP had proved that even senior leaders of the party had lost faith in the leadership and credibility of Arvind Kejriwal, who had earlier backstabbed the people of Delhi.

She said AAP had been losing ground in Punjab day by day.

“Not only party leaders even the people have started deserting it. Subsequently, the situation has gone to an extent that its party leaders have realised and understood the old habit of Kejriwal to ‘use and throw’. The eruption of bitterness amongst party cadre reflects that the AAP leaders were worried about making their own fortunes and blatantly ignoring the interests of party workers,” Harsimrat said.

Talking to mediapersons after distributing free bicycles under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme to girl students of Class XI and XII of a local school, Harsimrat Badal said Punjab was a leading welfare state, which had made rapid strides in the field of education, power, governance reforms, road and air connectivity.

She said this unprecedented development was the result of visionary and pro-people approach of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Calling the people of Punjab to compare the rule of SAD-BJP and the Congress, Harsimrat Badal said the Congress indulged in cheap tactics and malicious propaganda to mislead the people of the state but the ground reality was that Punjab had registered massive development during past nine years.

She urged the people of Punjab to seek an explanation from the anti-Punjab Congress leadership on the steps they had taken for the development of the state and welfare of the people.

Answering a media query about the electoral prospects of the SAD-BJP alliance in 2017, Harsimrat Badal said the alliance was heading towards a hat-trick and they would surely form the government on the plank of development and welfare of the people.

Harsimrat Badal flanked by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Parkash Chand Garg and Sarup Chand Singla, along with MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, distributed 442 cycles to students at Government Girls School, Mall Road, 58 at Bangi Kalan, 42 at Talwandi Sabo and 38 at Bhagi Wander.

She also planted a sapling on the premises of Government Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, under the ‘Nanhi Chhaan’ drive.

She also distributed sewing machines and saplings at Talwandi Sabo.

MP distributes bicycles

Harsimrat Badal flanked by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Parkash Chand Garg and Sarup Chand Singla, along with MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, distributed 442 cycles to students at Government Girls School, Mall Road, 58 cycles at Bangi Kalan, 42 at Talwandi Sabo and 38 at Bhagi Wander
She also planted a sapling on the premises of Government Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, under the ‘Nanhi Chhaan’ drive

Faction-ridden SAD pulls up socks to make Issru conference a success

Khanna August 5

The faction-ridden Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Khanna, is out to make the state-level conference in the memory of martyr Karnail Singh Issru on August 15 a success. The conference will be held at Issru village here.

The group led by Youth Akali Dal district (rural) president Yadwinder Singh Yadu today showed its strength by organising a gathering at Khanna, in which youths and women were present in large numbers while halka in-charge and former MLA Ranjit Singh Talwandi gave a miss to the programme.

Some days ago, Talwandi had organised a meeting of SAD workers, which was not attended by the faction led by Yadu. At today’s meeting, SAD district president Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Malwa zone -3 in-charge of the youth wing Tarsem Singh Bhinder participated. Meanwhile, Talwandi held a workers’ meetings in the Biza area. Talwandi, along with former Khanna MC president Iqbal Singh, market committee chairman Gurbakhash Singh Biza, stated that there would be a record gathering at the conference on August 15. — OC

SAD-BJP, AAP making hollow promises to people, says Bhattal

Flays Akali government for ‘patronising’ drug smugglers in the stat

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 5

The Congress today held a workers rally at Adampur constituency which was led by Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

At the rally venue, candidates in the race for a ticket from the constituency put several of their hoardings seeking support in the coming Assembly elections. Although no senior leader from the stage supported any potential ticket aspirants, yet the leaders tried hard to showcase their strength in the constituency.

Leaders Satnam Kainth, Seth Satpal Mall and Jagdish Jassal put up separate hoardings at the venue along with senior leaders of the Congress. The three leaders are said to be in the race to get the ticket.

Bhattal in her address lambasted the SAD-BJP and the AAP for misguiding the people of Punjab by making hollow promises. She said the Akalis were the only culprits for proliferating the drug business in Punjab. She added that instead of taking action against drug smugglers, the Akalis were patronising them by one way or the other.

She alleged that the present government, which failed to supply eatables to residents, were good in supplying drugs at their doorsteps.

Pertinently, the Congress has been facing defeats in Adampur from the past two terms. In 2007, SAD candidate Sarbjeet Singh Makkar won by scoring 44,883 votes while Congress candidate Kanwaljit Singh Lally scored 34, 643 votes. In 2012, the Congress fielded Satnam Singh Kainth, who then lost to SAD leader Pawan Kumar Tinu by a huge margin of over 19,306 votes. Kainth has been an MLA from Banga in 1992 on BSP ticket.

Now, Cong offers de-addiction treatment to city Mayor

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 4

With the Mayor Sunil Jyoti and Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Bhatia’s issue getting resolved on Friday, the Congress has now opened front on Mayor Jyoti.

The Congress councillors led by its leader Jagdish Raja has now demanded an inquiry against the serious charges levied by Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Bhatia on Mayor when he called him a ‘nasheri’ and ‘corrupt’ amidst a section of the media and councillors.

Raja while slamming the ‘political patch up’ between the two on Thursday said it was just to befool the public and to massage his personal ego, Mayor Sunil Jyoti has played a political drama.

“Why has he now done a patch up with Bhatia? Did Bhatia himself apologised to him and has assured him not to repeat it again. Also, Did Bhatia accepted that he levied wrong allegation on Mayor by calling him a ‘nasheri’ and a corrupt person?” said Raja.

He said thorough investigations should be made into the charges levied by the SAD leader Bhati over the alliance party leader Jyoti. He also stated that Jyoti should be sent to a de-addiction centre for treatment and Congres would bear all the expenses.

Mayor while calling it a publicity gimmick said that first raja should take all his councillors and politics leaders to de-addiction centre for treatment.