VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

SAD leader ‘manhandles’ Sr Deputy Mayor, suspended

Avtar Singh Truckanwala (left) leaves the venue after the scuffle with Navdeep Goldy (right) on Thursday. Vishal Kumar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 4

Shiromani Akali Dal’s Navdeep Goldy allegedly manhandled Senior Deputy Mayor and party colleague Avtar Singh Truckanwala and “pointed” a gun at him during a meeting  called by the Deputy Commissioner, Varun Roojam, here today. 

The spat turned ugly and Truckanwala’s turban was tossed into the air. The meeting was put off, sources said.

Trouble started as soon as the DC began reading out the agenda related to works in the Amritsar South constituency. Goldy insisted that deliberations on laying of a road be held first. This was opposed by Truckanwala. A furious Goldy allegedly roughed him up and pointed a gun at him.   He has been booked. Arun Sharma, SHO, Civil Lines, said Goldy used his bodyguard’s gun.   

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SAD’s Amritsar (Urban) president Gurpartap Singh Tikka said the local unit wanted Goldy to be expelled from the party, though the Akali Dal late in the evening suspended him.

Goldy, however, claimed the story was concocted by SAD leaders eying the party ticket from Amritsar South. He said it was a lie that he had pointed a gun.  “Rather, Truckanwala took his bodyguard’s gun and pointed it at my driver as he came to my rescue. I was targeted by leaders who resent me for doing well in the SAD, despite being a former Congressman. I didn’t point a gun, nor did I topple anyone’s turban,” he said. 

Cong-NDA clash in RS over drug menace in Punjab

New Delhi, August 4  

The issue of drug abuse, particularly among the youth in Punjab that goes to polls in a few months, rocked Rajya Sabha on Thursday as members of the ruling NDA and the opposition Congress traded charges and indulged in heated exchanges during Question Hour.

While asking supplementary questions, Ambika Soni (Congress) said “the government is not serious about the problem of drugs and that is why no survey has been conducted by it on the extent of the abuse.”

Citing a survey, she said almost 60-65 per cent of the youth in Punjab have been in direct contact with drugs, she said “you cannot keep it under the carpet any more,” she said, asking whether the government had any central scheme to augment setting up of rehabilitation centres in Punjab.

Other Congress members from Punjab, Pratap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo were also on their feet trying to make their points but were disallowed by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla shot back saying a survey was to be carried out every five years and the intentions of the Congress were clear from the fact that it did not carry out any such survey in the last decade.

While the Congress members accused the Akali-BJP combine, ruling Punjab for almost a decade, of not doing anything to check the menace, the members of the ruling alliance accused the Congress of not conducting any survey during their tenure to ascertain the extent of drugs abuse and take corrective measures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the heated exchanges for a brief period during the Question Hour, before he left the House. — PTI

SP Salwinder Singh booked in rape case

IG holding probe into sexual harassment charges

Salwinder Singh

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, August 4

The police have registered a rape case against SP Salwinder Singh after the victim’s husband filed a complaint on the CM’s online sangat darshan seeking action against the officer.

The SP had shot to infamy after a group of terrorists had kidnapped him nearly 30 hours before they stomed Pathankot Air Force station on January 2.

The case was registered after Pathankot SP (H) GS Khurana conducted a probe in the case. The DIG (Border), Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, had received a complaint from the Director, Bureau of Investigation.

An internal inquiry is being conducted by IG Gurpreet Kaur Deo into the sexual harassment charges levelled against him by Gurdaspur-based women police personnel.

SSP Jagdeep Singh Hundal said a case under Section 376- C (rape by a public servant after taking advantage of his official position) of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act had been made out against Salwinder. The SP could face a jail term of seven years for the rape offence if convicted.

“We hope to arrest him soon,” he added.

The complainant is a resident of Geeta Bhawan road, Gurdaspur. Sources reveal that the husband told the inquiry officer that Salwinder Singh was probing a criminal case registered against him (the husband) following which the SP regularly visited their house. On one such visit, the SP asked the victim to pay Rs 50,000 and also pressurised her to develop physical intimacy with him if she wanted her husband to be exonerated in the case.

Capt, Harsimrat target Kejri over HC verdict

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 4

The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal have welcomed the Delhi High Court decision that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government cannot supersede constitutional provisions.

Hailing the verdict that clarified the role of the Delhi Government and the Lieutenant-Governor there, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh said, “Kejriwal tried to bite more than he could chew by conveniently choosing to ignore the fact that every government is bound by certain legal and constitutional limitations.” Kejriwal forgot his actual role, thus leaving the people who elected him in the lurch, besides undermining the administrative structure there, he said.

Meanwhile, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Delhi High Court’s verdict was historic. She said the verdict had proved that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal lacked political wisdom and knowledge of the democratic set-up in the country. With this verdict, Kejriwal’s propaganda that the Union Government was interfering with the working of the Delhi Government stood exposed, she said.

AAP sold each ticket for Rs 1 cr, claims Sukhbir

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, August 4

SAD chief-cum-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal today called AAP chief-cum-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal a dictator. He also alleged that AAP tickets were given to candidates after getting Rs 1 crore from each of them.

“Now, AAP leaders will fight each other and bring to fore the factionalism within their party. They will also reveal that they had paid huge money to get the party ticket. The advance declaration of candidates by AAP will not make even a slight difference to the SAD-BJP alliance,” Sukhbir said.

He was here to extend financial benefits to building and construction workers under various schemes of the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and the Labour Department.

Asked when the SAD would declare its first list of candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections, he said, “We are not in a hurry to declare candidates. People already know our candidates. But I can assure you that the advance announcement of candidates will spell doom for AAP.”

AAP leaders were already alleging bias in ticket distribution, he said. “Their statements have made it clear that only those people matter in AAP who pander to whims and fancies of Kejriwal,” he said.

Raikot/Samrala: Sukhbir said the main contest in the Assembly elections would be between the SAD-BJP and the Congress, while AAP would be relegated to the third position with a wide gap.

He criticised both AAP and the Congress for “carrying out a nefarious campaign to brand Punjabis as drug addicts”.  The Deputy CM today addressed gatherings at Raikot and Samrala after distributing bicycles to girl students under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme.

Party has links with ISI, alleges Majithia

Jalandhar: Revenue Minister Bikram Majthia on Thursday accused AAP leaders of hobnobbing with anti-social elements to de-stabilise the state. The minister, who was here to distribute cycles among girl students, said: “They (AAP leaders) are the ones involved with Khalistanis and enjoy the support of the ISI. Their role in all sacrilege incidents should be probed.” On tension between the Youth Akali Dal and AAP since the appearance of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in an Amritsar court, Majithia said: “The AAP leaders are following the policy of shoot and scoot. They say big things outside but they are not saying the same inside the court. The matter will be settled soon.” TNS

Declare AAP ‘anti-Sikh’: Akali MPs

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 4

Taking a serious note of the allegedly derogatory reference to the Sikhs and their religious symbols (beard and turban) by a key functionary of the Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MPs today urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to declare AAP an anti-Sikh party.

Five MPs from both Houses — Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Sher Singh Ghubaya — and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK, in joint letter to the Takht chief, also sought action against those trying to drive a wedge among communities through their “anti-Sikh” politics in the state.

The SAD leaders referred to former AAP leader Hardip Singh Kingra’s allegations against his party’s national functionary, Durgesh Pathak. Kingra, who quit the party yesterday, quoted Pathak as saying: “Sikhs simply grow beard and wear turbans. They are basically foolish people.”

Know the 19 AAP candidates

Rajpreet S Randhawa

Ajnala

A social activist with a Congress background, he joined AAP five months ago. Was the president of the Municipal Council, Ramdass, between 2008 and 2013 (his father Surjit Singh Randhawa and grandfather Uttam Singh Randhawa have also held the top post in the municipal council). Has been conducting mass marriage of poor girls for the past several years. Belongs to a well-off agricultural family and has stayed in the US.

Inderbir Singh Nijjer (61)

Amritsar South

A noted radiologist, he joined AAP two years ago and is now the convener of its intellectual cell in Amritsar. Associated with Pingalwara, he has been providing free medical aid to its inmates. Has also been a member of Rotary Club and a trust member with various health institutes, including Sri Guru Ram Dass Charitable Hospital and Sri Guru Ram Das Dental Hospital. A nature lover, he is also keen to focus on eco-friendly activities. 

Brig Raj Kumar (59)

Balachaur

Hailing from Hajipur village in Balachaur, he retired from the Army in October 2015 and joined AAP in January this year. He was part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in 1987 and also took part in the military operations against LTTE in Sri Lanka. The former Army officer was one of the experts on the panel to review security measures post-26/11 Mumbai terror attack. He is the four-time recipient of the Chief of Army Staff commendation letter. 

Santokh Singh Salana

Bassi Pathana

He served as a patwari in the Irrigation Department in Haryana, but left the job and joined the BSP. He later joined the Kanshi Ram Sangharsh Morcha. He contested the SGPC elections as a Panthic Morcha candidate in 2011. In 2014, he joined AAP. He is party's general secretary of the SC/ST wing. He belongs to Salana village falling in the Amloh sub-division. Considered an outsider in Bassi Pathana, local AAP workers are not happy over his nomination. 

Rupinder Kaur (27)

Bathinda (rural)

She has been part of AAP's 'Parivar Jodo' and 'Punjab Jodo' campaigns and the ongoing signature drive. Pursuing PhD in Law from PU, the zonal incharge of the party's women wing entered the AAP fold in 2013 along with her father Malkiat Singh, who retired from the Soil Conservation Department in 2012. Lists unemployment, drug menace and farmer suicides as the major problems afflicting Punjab, but calls corruption the mother of all evils. 

Jasvir Singh Sekhon (46)

Dhuri

Joined PPP in 2011. Shifted along with Bhagwant Mann to AAP in March 2014. Worked initially as Sangrur district party convener. In 2015, he was promoted as zonal coordinator of Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency. A farmer, he hails from Dayalpur Chhanna village in Dhuri. Got admission to Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana, but left Bachelor of Civil Engineering course midway. Along with his friends, he runs an NGO, Sukhmani Foundation. 

Gurdit Singh Sekhon (52)

Faridkot

Born in a family of Taksali Akalis, he was a national-level basketball player who took premature retirement from the Punjab Police in 2010. Two years later, the former constable and his team built pressure on the state government by staging protest marches and dharnas against a girl's kidnapping, allegedly by gangster Nishan Singh. He also led a campaign for the recovery of missing children and formed a front against 'goondagardi' to help the common man fight injustice

Gurvinder Shampura (58)

Fatehgarh Churian

Became a Zila Parishad member in 1994 after contesting as an Independent. A loyalist of former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, he was expelled from the SAD in 2006 by the then president Parkash Singh Badal after he contested against the official candidate, Avtar Singh Makkar, in the SGPC elections. Shampura lost by 104 votes in a House of 170. Remained an SGPC member from 1996 to 2011 and served as the chairman of the Batala sugar mill. Was also the secretary of Sikh National College, Qadian

Samarbir Singh Sidhu (25)

Fazilka

A nambardar of Rampura village, he has been associated with AAP programmes over the past two years. Belongs to an affluent Jat Sikh family with a landholding of about 45 acres. His father, late Parminder Singh Sidhu, was a three-time sarpanch owing allegiance to the Congress. After his death in an accident in 2005, Samarbir's mother was elected sarpanch. The political greenhorn is likely to face two veteran leaders - minister Surjit Kumar Jyani (BJP) and Mohinder Kumar Rinwa (Congress)

Kultar Singh Sandhwa (49)

Kotkapura

Grand-nephew of former President Giani Zail Singh, he was elected sarpanch of Sandhwan village during his Congress days. In 2006, he faced a criminal case for alleged misappropriation of old age pension in his village; was later acquitted. In the 2012 Assembly poll, he failed to get the Congress ticket from the Faridkot seat. During Anna Hazare's agitation in 2011, he was a vocal supporter of the Jan Lok Pal Bill. Heads the Giani Zail Singh Centre for Rural Development in Punjab

Ahbaab Singh Grewal (37)

Ludhiana West

A Bachelor of Arts, he ran a spoken English and IELTS institute for two years in Ludhiana before moving to London in 2008. He worked there as a logistics and security manager at the Olympic Park in London. Came back in 2011 and joined AAP as a volunteer in 2012. Was made district convener and later elevated to the post of general secretary, Kisan and Labour Wing (Punjab). Has been holding meetings with farmers and labour unions in the state.

Gurpreet Singh Lapran (33)

Payal

Born in a poor family, Lapran studied in government schools and later did graduation in arts. His father, Darshan Singh, was a Class-IV employee in the state Health Department. He claims to have been rewarded for the work done during the 2014 LS poll, in which AAP made history by winning four seats. He is now the vice-president of the SC/ST cell of the party. Says he believes in the teachings of all saints who advocate selfless service.

Jagdeep Singh Brar (49)

Muktsar

Contested as an Independent and got elected as a municipal councillor in 2002. Later, he fought the MC poll as an Akali candidate and won again. Quit the SAD and joined People's Party of Party, then left PPP as well and crossed over to AAP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. An agriculturist, he belongs to neighbouring Fattanwala village. He is a relative of senior SAD leader Tejinder Singh Middukhera. His elder sister, Gurpreet Kaur Brar, was an active member of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's movement

Amarjeet Singh (38)

Roopnagar

A taxi operator, he is a native of Sandoa village in Nurpur Bedi block. Left for New Delhi in search of a job in 1997 and started working as a helper at a taxi stand. Now, he has 14 vehicles of his own at the Sarita Vihar taxi stand on the Faridabad road. Campaigned for AAP during the Delhi Assembly poll in 2015. One of his sister-in-laws is the sarpanch of his village. His uncle, Dilbag Singh, is a former SAD block samiti member and an ex-sarpanch

Harjot Singh Bains (25)

Sahnewal

A lawyer, he is the president of the state AAP youth wing and a founder-convener of the party. Was chosen as the youngest member of the AAP national executive. Is also the party observer for Chandigarh. He actively supported Anna Hazare’s movement and later came close to Delhi CM and party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Has been fighting for the rights of the youth by organising rallies and conferences.

Sajjan Singh Cheema (59)

Sultanpur Lodhi

An Arjuna awardee, he is the head of the sports wing of the party and the NRI wing (Australia). He represented India in the 1982 Asian Games. He also served as SSP, Vigilance, and head of the anti-riot police in the state. Hailing from Dabulian village in Kapurthala, he was once close to PPP founder and now Congress leader Manpreet Badal. He said: "The party cannot accommodate every section. Our aim is to take everyone along and work in unison for party's victory."

HS Phoolka (61)

Dakha

A Supreme Court lawyer, he has been fighting the cases of victims of the anti-Sikh riots. Joined AAP in 2014 and contested from Ludhiana in the Lok Sabha poll. Lost to Congress candidate Ravneet Bittu; pushed Akali nominee and Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali to the third spot. In 2015, he stepped down from the party posts. Last month, when the AAP youth manifesto kicked up a row, Phoolka sought pardon on behalf of AAP by performing 'sewa' at the Golden Temple.

Himmat Singh Shergill (36)

SAS Nagar

An alumnus of Lawrence School (Sanawar), he heads the legal wing of the party in Punjab. Barrister-at-Law from England, he is a lawyer in the Supreme Court. Shot into limelight when he secured over three lakh votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll against stalwarts Prem Singh Chandumajra (Akali Dal) and Ambika Soni (Congress) from the Anandpur Sahib seat. Got around 51,000 votes from SAS Nagar Assembly segment, comfortably ahead of his rivals.

Mohan Singh Phalianwala (60)

Ferozepur (Rural)

Two-time MP from Ferozepur recently switched over to AAP from the Bahujan Samaj Party. Was associated with BSP for over three decades. The Rai Sikh became state party president in 1986. Defeated the then PPCC chief Santokh Singh Randhawa in 1992 LS poll. Beat Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar by 59,912 votes in 1996 LS poll. Lost to Zora Singh Mann (SAD) in the 1999 parliamentary election. Unsuccessfully contested the Assembly poll from Guru Har Sahai (2007 ) and Fazilka (2012).

Congress puts ticket aspirants’ calibre to test

Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 4

The Congress put to test the calibre of party ticket aspirants by allowing them an opportunity to address a well-attended gathering of activists in the Balluana rural constituency today.

Party’s national spokesman and former MP Vijay Inder Singla, state vice-presidents Sunil Jakhar and Manpreet Badal, zonal in charge Upinder Sharma and district president Vimal Thatai were present on the dais during the meeting held at a resort. All ticket aspirants promised to work sincerely for the party candidates and not to indulge in leg-pulling or defection.

Senior leaders flayed the SAD BJP government for pursuing anti-people policies which, they said, triggered incidents of suicides by farmers and unemployed youths.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal were offering doles at the fag-end of their term to win over SAD and BJP activists who felt ignored for the past more than four years, Congress leaders said. These tactics would not help in averting the fall of the alliance rule in the 2017 elections, they said.

Politicians hire survey firms to assess their poll prospects

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, August 4

Ahead of the poll season, surveys have become a popular tool among leaders to assess their chances in the electoral arena with several leading politicians having engaged private firms to evaluate their political future.

Congress aspirants on many seats in this district have roped in New Delhi-based ‘marketing and research’ companies to determine whether they will win, and by what margin, if they get the party ticket.

Politicians are paying these firms anything between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2.5 lakh per survey per Assembly seat, depending on the track record of the organisation. The companies hire locals, including students and newspaper vendors, who reach out to the masses.

“Our sample size is 2-3 per cent of the total voters. We hire unemployed youths, including students, and hawkers for the purpose. Our methodology is such that non-voters are quickly eliminated. We use online surveys, mobile surveys, paper surveys and personal interviews to reach conclusions,” said a company employee.

Two of the three sitting BJP legislators of neighbouring Pathankot district have also reached out to these companies in an attempt “to assess mood of the electorate”.

Prashant Kishor’s organisation—IPAC—has also joined the party and it has been conducting its own little assessments to identify the right candidates for seats that have several contenders. The IPAC dispatched its six members to each of the five Jan Sampark rallies held recently in the district to gather information about “the possible candidates”.

Psephologist Capt Navjeet Sandhu, who correctly predicted results of all nine Gurdaspur seats in 2014, is also in demand. He confirmed that several top Congress politicians were in touch with him. “This time, it will be a candidate-centric poll as voters will cast votes in favour of candidates and not in favour of parties. Earlier, in May this year, we surveyed 30 seats in the Kerala elections and came out with accurate results. Our job is to understand human psychology and convert it into numbers,” Sandhu said.

Punjab Congress in charge Asha Kumari is also collecting information from various sources to identify suitable candidates.

As minister visits Moga school, students made to wield broom

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Ajitwal (Moga), August 4

In violation of child labour laws, the school authorities of the Government Senior Secondary School, Ajitwal in Moga forced children, mostly Dalits, to clean the campus of the school just before the arrival of Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.

He visited to school to distribute bicycles under the Mai Bhago Scheme to the girl students here on Thursday.

Even the beneficiaries cleaned the premises while the boys of the junior classes were handed over paint and brushes to mark the entry points for the benefir of the visitors which included the local MLAs and senior officers.

The tiny-tots were also forced to pump air in the tyres of the bicycles which were distributed by the minister to 38 students of the senior wing. Some of them were seen serving water and refreshments to the visitors instead of sitting in the audience.

Principal Beant Kaur told TNS that she was informed about the function at 11 am on Monday and it was not possible for her to get the premises cleaned without the cooperation of the staff and children.

“Our intention was not to make them work but to make them aware of the Swachh Bharat Abiyaan and inculcate a sense of responsibility among them. We arranged refreshments and lunch for all the children by arranging funds at our own level”, she added.

District Magistrate Kuldeep Singh Vaid and other senior officials, including the DEO came to the school at 8 am and everything was done under their supervision. “You can understand the pressure we were working under. The function was a success”, she said.

Meanwhile, Dhillon used the occasion to lash out at the opposition parties saying that the people of the state were now aware of the negative propaganda. MLAs Bibi Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike (Nihalsinghwala), Joginder Pal Jain (Moga), Zila Parishad chairperson Bibi Amarjit Kaur Sahoke, district SAD president Tirath Singh Mahla were present on the occasion.

I will not join Aam Aadmi Party, says Chhina

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 4

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s senior leader, Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, today said that he was a committed soldier of the party and would not join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

He said his picture with the Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, and other senior leader of the AAP, besides advocate HS Phoolka, was a mere co-incidence and not deliberate act.

Chhina, who is one of the close confidant of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, said he was travelling by air from Delhi to Amritsar and Kejriwal and Phoolka were also on the same plane. Chhina said after landing in the holy city as he was coming out of the terminal someone mischievously clicked a picture without his notice with the AAP leaders, who too were coming out of the airport.

He said he was surprised when he noticed the picture going viral on the social media yesterday. In a hard-hitting statement here today, Chhina said, “I have explained to the BJP high command and state leadership that it is a mere co-incidence. AAP has no fool proof ideology and is not working in interests of Punjab. This party can never serve the people of the state. Besides, their government in Delhi has failed to perform.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the picture of Chhina, who is BJP’s former vice-president, along with Kejriwal had raised many eyebrows as it had gone viral on social media on Wednesday. The picture was taken at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport when Kejriwal arrived in the holy city on July 29 to appear in a criminal defamation case filed by Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia when he accidently bumped into Chhina.

The photograph led to speculation of another BJP leader joining AAP after former Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu planning to enter the party.

“I am committed to the party and my leaders, including Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley and Vijay Sampla. Why will I leave the BJP to join any other political outfit,’’ said Chhina.

Jagir Kaur drums up achievements of SAD-BJP

Visits district, stresses on the need for more participation of women in social work

Bathinda, August 4

Bholath MLA and president of the Istri Akali Dal, Bibi Jagir Kaur today visited Bathinda to highlight the developmental projects accomplished by the Punjab Government in nine years.

She asked party workers to get in touch with their leaders so that all their pending routine works could be done on priority basis.

“While under the initiative and leadership of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, flyovers were built and roads widened, I promise to get all your pending tasks done in different departments and offices of the government,” she said.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said 20 different wings of the Shiromani Akali Dal had been formed and Istri Akali Dal was one of them.

She stressed upon the need for more participation of women in social works.

The former president of the SGPC, Jagir Kaur said keen participants were welcomed in their party fold with open hearts.

“Don’t fall into the traps of the outsiders who are trying to malign the image of Punjab by terming it as a state of addicts. Tell them that Sikhs and Punjabis are not weak and will not fall into any trap, whether it is the of the outsiders or of drug addiction,” she said while taking a jibe at the Aam Admi Party.

She asked the SAD workers to make the people aware of the nefarious designs of the AAP and the Congress, who were trying hard to make a wall between Punjab and Punjabis by leveling false allegations. Local political leaders of SAD, SGPC members and senior lawyer Sukhdev Singh Bahia were also present on the occasion. — TNS

Deputy CM distributes cycles to schoolgirls: Girl students had to wait for more than four hours

Our Correspondent

Samrala, August 4

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today addressed a gathering at Samrala organised by former MLA of Samrala Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia at the Grain Market, Samrala. Before addressing the gathering, he distributed cycles to about 300 schoolgirls under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme.

However, the schoolgirls who had come to get cycles were forced to wait for more than four hours to leave the venue. Though Sukhbir Badal formally inaugurated the distribution of cycles before addressing the gathering, the girls had to wait till the Deputy CM left the venue. The girls were allowed to go only after his chopper left the Grain Market ground.

The Deputy CM in his address recounted the achievements of the SAD-BJP government and people-oriented welfare schemes. He also flayed the Congress and AAP on the occasion. He also flayed the list of candidates released by the AAP. Sukhbir Badal claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance would form government for the third consecutive time in the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab and stated that in the third term, the SAD-BJP government would spend around Rs 30,000 crores for development works in the state, especially villages.

Sukhbir Badal said he would soon order the repair and construction of the Rahon- Khanna road. He also hinted at holding sangat darshan at Samrala soon. Cabinet Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, SS Board chairman Santa Singh Umaidpuri, former MLA Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat and some other leaders were also present.

Box- Contrary to his earlier visits, the Deputy CM today reached the venue on time. Though at several occasions Sukhbir Badal has reached late, today he reached before his scheduled time, hinting that he is serious this time keeping in view the upcoming elections.

Obliges supporters with selfies

Raikot: Resident of the Raikot assembly segment and activists of various wings of the SAD expressed happiness as Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal gave them a rare opportunity to take selfies with him.

Contrary to common trend where security personnel maintained a barrier between even local leaders and high-profile VVIPs, the Deputy CM met hundreds of residents and party supporters during a rally held at Tazpur Road here. This happened during the concluding session of the function held to distribute bicycles among schoolgirls of the area. Dr Harpal Singh, councillor and SAD leader, said a large number of supporters had appreciated the Deputy CM's gesture to eliminate the psychological gap between leaders and supporters.

"One of my supporters who earlier used to shy away from party functions, assured me that the election campaign would be his top priority during the upcoming Assembly elections," said Harpal, adding that a large number of supporters had uploaded selfies with the Deputy Chief Minister on their social media accounts.

Dr Ashok Sharma, a social activist, said Sukhbir Badal's gesture had left unforgettable impression on the minds of the party workers and the residents as well.

Komal Rani and Gurmit Kaur, who received bicycles from the Deputy CM said, "Commercial value of the cycle is less important than its being a souvenir presented by the Chief Minister of our state."— OC

Delhi reduced to a UT

High Court empowers L-G at the cost of CMThe Delhi High Court has ruled that “Delhi continues to be a Union Territory”, which means it is not a state. Unlike a Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor is not bound to act on the aid and advice of the elected government. In the ongoing tussle for powers and control of the national Capital the High Court has come out heavily in support of the L-G, declared him Delhi’s administrative head and upheld Najib Jung’s repeated nullification of the AAP government’s appointments and policy decisions. An elected government has been reduced to a glorified municipality. 

Powers that Sheila Dikshit enjoyed as Chief Minister have been denied to Arvind Kejriwal since the Centre is now under a different political dispensation. By issuing certain notifications the Union Home Ministry has shrunk the ruling territory of Chief Minister Kejriwal. One can understand the constitutional arrangement putting limits on an elected government, given Delhi’s special status as the national Capital hosting the Central Government. But the court has also upheld the Union Home Ministry’s curtailment of powers enjoyed by the elected governments of Delhi in the past. The court has upheld the Home Ministry’s May 21, 2015, notification that gave the L-G absolute powers in appointing bureaucrats in the Capital. It has also approved of the July 23, 2014, notification that limited the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s jurisdiction to Delhi government officials. The inescapable conclusion is the Union Government can grant or withdraw powers depending on the political colour of the Delhi government.  

The High Court seems to have taken a technical view while quashing two commissions of inquiry set up by the Kejriwal government. Instead of taking up the inquiries under its own wings, or ensuring/ recommending separate independent inquiries into the alleged CNG scam involving L-G Najib Jung and former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit or into charges of financial misconduct in the Delhi and District Cricket Association under Arun Jaitley, the court has clipped the AAP government’s powers and enthusiasm to proceed against the corrupt. Obviously, the L-G would not give sanction to an inquiry against himself or a Central minister.

ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੀ ਗ਼ੈਰਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਆਪ’ ਨੇ 19 ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਐਲਾਨੇ

Posted On August - 4 - 2016

ਫੂਲਕਾ, ਬੈਂਸ, ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ, ਸੰਧਵਾਂ, ਸੇਖੋਂ, ਚੀਮਾ ਤੇ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੀਆਂ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ;

ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵਿਚਲੀ ਫੁੱਟ ਹੋਈ ਜੱਗ-ਜ਼ਾਹਿਰ

ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕੀ ਵਿਸਾਰੇਤਰਲੋਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 4 ਅਗਸਤ
ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ (ਆਪ) ਨੇ 2017 ਦੀਆਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਲਈ ਅੱਜ 19 ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਹੁਤੇ ‘ਆਪ’ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇਦਾਰ ਹਨ। ਅੱਜ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਵੇਲੇ ‘ਆਪ’ ਦੇ ਸੂਬਾ ਕਨਵੀਨਰ ਸੁੱਚਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੀ ਗ਼ੈਰਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵਿਚਲੀ ਫੁੱਟ ਜੱਗ ਜ਼ਾਹਿਰ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ।
ਦੱਸਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੀ ਸੱਜੀ ਬਾਂਹ ਮੰਨੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਰਦੀਪ ਕਿੰਗਰਾ ਨੇ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ਾ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੀ ਕੌਮੀ ਲੀਡਰਸ਼ਿਪ ’ਤੇ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਾਏ ਸਨ। ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਵੀ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਮੌਕੇ ਰੋਸ ਵਜੋਂ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਏ। ਪਹਿਲੀ ਸੂਚੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕੀ ਨੂੰ ਟਿਕਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ। ਅੱਜ ‘ਆਪ’ ਦੇ ਕੌਮੀ ਬੁਲਾਰੇ ਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਇੰਚਾਰਜ ਸੰਜੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਚੋਣ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਮੁਖੀ ਤੇ ਸੰਸਦ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਆਗੂ ਕਰਨਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਟਿਵਾਣਾ, ਅਮਨ ਅਰੋੜਾ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੋਫ਼ੈਸਰ ਬਲਜਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਦੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਯੂਥ ਵਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਹਰਜੋਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੈਂਸ (25) ਨੂੰ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਹਲਕਾ ਸਾਹਨੇਵਾਲ (ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ),  ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਸੈੱਲ ਦੇ ਮੁਖੀ ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਹਿੰਮਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ (36) ਨੂੰ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ, ਬੁਲਾਰੇ ਕੁਲਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧਵਾਂ (40) ਨੂੰ ਕੋਟਕਪੂਰਾ, ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਆਗੂ ਐਚ.ਐਸ. ਫੂਲਕਾ (60) ਨੂੰ ਦਾਖਾ, ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਜ਼ੋਨ ਦੇ ਇੰਚਾਰਜ ਜਸਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੇਖੋਂ ਉਰਫ਼ ਜੱਸੀ ਸੇਖੋਂ (46) ਨੂੰ ਧੂਰੀ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਹਲਕਿਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ।  ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਅਰਜਨ ਐਵਾਰਡੀ ਬਾਸਕਟਬਾਲ ਦੇ ਕੌਮਾਂਤਰੀ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਤੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਸੱਜਣ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੀਮਾ (59) ਨੂੰ ਸੁਲਤਾਨਪੁਰ ਲੋਧੀ, ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਅਹਿਬਾਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ (38) ਨੂੰ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ (ਪੱਛਮੀ), ਡਾਕਟਰ ਇੰਦਰਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿੱਝਰ (60) ਨੂੰ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ (ਦੱਖਣ), ਯੂਥ ਵਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸਮਰਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ (25) ਨੂੰ ਫ਼ਾਜ਼ਿਲਕਾ, ਨਗਰ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਰਮਦਾਸ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਰਾਜਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਰੰਧਾਵਾ (51) ਨੂੰ ਅਜਨਾਲਾ, ਪੋਲੀਟੀਕਲ ਰਿਵਿਊ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਜਗਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ (48) ਨੂੰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੇਖੋਂ (45) ਨੂੰ ਫ਼ਰੀਦਕੋਟ, ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਰਾਜ ਕੁਮਾਰ (59) ਨੂੰ ਬਲਾਚੌਰ, ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸ਼ਾਮਪੁਰਾ (60) ਨੂੰ ਫਤਿਹਗੜ੍ਹ ਚੂੜੀਆਂ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਾਪਰਾਂ (36) ਨੂੰ ਰਿਜ਼ਰਵ ਹਲਕਾ ਪਾਇਲ, ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਜ਼ੋਨ ਦੇ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਵਿੰਗ ਦੀ  ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਰੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਰੂਬੀ (28) ਨੂੰ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ (ਦਿਹਾਤੀ), ਟਰਾਂਸਪੋਰਟਰ ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ (38) ਨੂੰ ਰੂਪਨਗਰ ਅਤੇ ਐਸਸੀ ਵਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਲਾਣਾ (48) ਨੂੰ ਰਿਜ਼ਰਵ ਹਲਕਾ ਬੱਸੀ ਪਠਾਣਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਬਸਪਾ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ‘ਆਪ’ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋਏ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਸੰਸਦ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਫਲੀਆਂਵਾਲਾ (60) ਨੂੰ ਰਾਖਵੇਂ ਹਲਕੇ ਫਿਰੋਜ਼ਪੁਰ (ਦਿਹਾਤੀ) ਤੋਂ ਟਿਕਟ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂਕਿ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਆਏ ਅਮਨ ਅਰੋੜਾ, ਸੁਖਪਾਲ ਖਹਿਰਾ ਤੇ ਸੀਡੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੰਬੋਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਫਿਲਹਾਲ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਫ਼ੈਸਲਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।
ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਅੱਜ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਨਵੀਨਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੀ ਗ਼ੈਰਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸੰਜੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਕੁਝ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਕਾਰਨਾਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਿੰਗਰਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ਾ ਦੇਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਿੰਗੜਾ ਖ਼ੁਦ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਤੋਂ ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ਾ ਦੇ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਹੁਣ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਈ ਤੁੱਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਣਦੀ। ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਿੰਗਰਾ ਨੇ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕਰਨ ’ਤੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਆਏ ਆਗੂ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਜ਼ਲੀਲ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਕਾਬ ਕਰਨਗੇ।
ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਟਿਕਟ ਦੇਣ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਬਗ਼ਾਵਤੀ ਰੁਖ਼ ਅਖ਼ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੁਲਤਾਨਪੁਰ ਲੋਧੀ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਹਲਫ਼ਨਾਮਾ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚੀਮਾ ’ਤੇ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਾਉਂਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਟਿਕਟ ਰੱਦ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ।
ਸਕਰੀਨਿੰਗ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨ ਕੀਤੇ 26 ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਸਿਰਫ਼ 19 ਦਾ ਹੀ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂਕਿ ਸੱਤ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਇਤਰਾਜ਼ ਉਠਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਰੋਕ ਲਏ ਹਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰੋਫ਼ੈਸਰ ਬਲਜਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ।

ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸੁੱਚਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕੀ ਹਰਦੀਪ ਕਿੰਗਰਾ ਫ਼ਰੀਦਕੋਟ ਹਲਕੇ ਦੀ ਸੀਟ ਦੇ ਦਾਅਵੇਦਾਰ ਸਨ ਪਰ ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੇਖੋਂ ਨੂੰ ਟਿਕਟਾਂ ਦੇਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਇਹ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕੀ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ (ਪੱਛਮੀ) ਹਲਕੇ ਲਈ ਦਾਅਵੇਦਾਰ ਸੀ ਪਰ ਇੱਥੇ ਵੀ ਅਹਿਬਾਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਟਿਕਟ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਟਿਕਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਫਤਿਹਗੜ੍ਹ ਚੂੜੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਐਲਾਨੇ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਪੁਰਾ ਬਾਰੇ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਹੀ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਗੁਰਦਾਸਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਧੜੇ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਅਫ਼ਵਾਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਖੰਡਨ

ਸੁੱਚਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਨੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਤੋਂ ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ਾ ਦੇਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਅਫ਼ਵਾਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਖੰਡਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛੋਟੇਪੁਰ ਨਵੇਂ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਏ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਮਰਥਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਚਰਚਾ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸੇ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਅਤੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਦੇ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਦੀ ‘ਆਪ’ ਵਿਚਲੀ ਫੁੱਟ ’ਤੇ ਤਿੱਖੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਹੈ।

AAP steals a march over opponents

FIRST WITH LIST Small trader, taxi driver picked along with big leaders, youth brigade, wing heads, veteran athletes

(From left) AAP leaders Bhagwant Mann, Sanjay Singh and Baljinder Kaur releasing the first list of candidates for the Punjab assembly elections in Chandigarh on Thursday.

From page 01 CHANDIGARH: Keeping its promise of being the first to announce candidates for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections due early next year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released the first list of 19 for the 117-member assembly. AAP state affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh, who released the list, said the party now had a head start over the field. Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, whom the party has made chairman of the campaign committee, said the first list included prominent leaders, members of youth brigade, wing heads, sports stars, and social workers, besides a small trader and a taxi driver.Sanjay Singh said the candidates were selected on three criteria — efforts put in to strengthen the party in the area, contribution to society, and clean public image. Most of the candidates are first-time contestants. The party has fielded Jat Sikhs on the traditional seats of this caste and bet on unknown Dalit faces. Most candidates are well educated — four of them are lawyers, one is a doctor, and another engineer. Six are Class-12-pass or matriculates. A dozen candidates are under 50, including three below 30. PHOOLKA LEADS PACK

The most prominent name is of senior lawyer Harvinder Singh Phoolka (60), who will contest from Dakha in the Ludhiana parliamentary seat that he failed to win in 2014. Known for his relentless fight for justice to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Phoolka received more than 46,500 votes in Dakha, 6,000plus more than Akali candidate Manpreet Ayali, a property developer and sitting legislator.

The other advocate on the list is Himmat Singh Shergill (36), in charge of party’s legal wing, who will contest from SAS Nagar. For the MP’s seat in Anandpur Sahib, he received 50,000 votes from SAS Nagar, 7,000 more than the winning Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra, and 15,000 more than Congress stalwart Ambika Soni. Traditionally a Congress stronghold, the town has businessman Balbir Singh Sidhu of the party as its MLA.

AAP youth wing president Harjot Singh Bains (25), a lawyer, will contest from Sahnewal, the seat held by cabinet minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. The AAP’s Harinder Singh Khalsa (now suspended from the party) won 35,000 votes in this assembly segment in 2014.

Arjuna Award winner former international basketball player Sajjan Singh Cheema (59) is the AAP choice from Sultanpur Lodhi. In 2012, Navtej Singh of the Congress wrested this seat from the SAD’s Upinderjit Kaur after her three victories since 1997. AAP candidate Bhai Baldeep Singh polled more than 24,000 votes here to stand third in the 2014 Lok Sabha race. He is now out of the AAP and Cheema, a former cop, faces boycott by the losing ticket contenders. 2-TIME BSP MP MAKES CUT

Mohan Singh Phalianwala (60) is a prominent Dalit name on the list. The two-time MP was state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for almost 15 years. He will contest from the Ferozepur Rural reserved seat held by the SAD’s Joginder Singh Jindu, who had beaten the Congress by just 162 votes in 2012. The AAP Lok Sabha candidate secured almost 19,000 votes here in 2014, when the BSP secured less than 2,000.

Engineer and social worker Kultar Singh Sandhwa (40) will fight from Kotkapura, where Mantar Singh Brar of the SAD secured almost 50,000 votes to win in 2012. The town, however, voted overwhelmingly (more than 47,000 votes) in favour of AAP candidate Professor Sadhu Singh in the 2014 parliamentary elections.AAP farm and labour wing general secretary Ahbaab Singh Grewal (38) will contest from Ludhiana West. Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu won the seat in 2012 after defeating Rajinder Bhandari of the BJP by almost 37,000 votes. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Phoolka led here by more than 38,000 votes.

Environmentalist and medical practitioner Inderbir Singh Nijjer (60) will contest the Amritsar South seat, twice represented by Inderbir Singh Bolaria for the SAD. Bolaria, now suspended, will be replaced by a fresh candidate. In the high-voltage Amritsar contest in 2014 between Arun Jaitley and Captain Amarinder Singh, Amritsar South gave only 15,000 votes to Dr Daljit Singh of the AAP. National basketball player Gurdit Singh Sekhon (45) will contest from Faridkot, a seat held by liquor baron Deep Malhotra of the SAD. Malhotra scraped through against Avtar Singh Brar of the Congress in 2012. The town inclined towards the AAP in 2014, when the AAP candidate polled more than 53,000 votes. KASAB’S INTERROGATOR FIELDED IN BALACHAUR

Brig Raj Kumar (retd), 59, formerly of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) man and later member of the general staff intelligence team that interrogated Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, will contest from Balachaur. Running a free coaching academy for army aspirants, he is a known face in the town. The seat belongs to the SAD’s Hindu candidate, Nand Lal, since 1997. It has substantial BSP votes, and in 2012, the BSP candidate came second here. The AAP got only 14,600 votes here in 2014.

AAP youth wing vice-president, farmer Samarbir Singh Sidhu (25), will contest from traditional BJP stronghold Fazilka. In 2012, BJP minister Surjeet Jyani had a narrow victory over independent Jaswinder Singh Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician who was killed this May. In 2014, Fazilka voted for the SAD, with the AAP candidate getting less than 7,000 votes.

Rajpreet Singh Randhawa (51), former president of a municipality in Ramdas, will contest from Ajnala, a seat held by Amarpal Singh Bonny Ajnala of the SAD. The seat belongs to the Ajnala family since 1997. In 2014, the town voted almost equally for the BJP and the Congress, while the AAP got less than 5,000 votes.

Agriculturist Jagdeep Singh Brar (48) will contest from Muktsar, where Congress has been winning since 2007. However, Muktsar voted for the SAD in 2014, while the AAP got more than 16,000 votes to stand third. EX-SGPC MAN, TOO

Gurvinder Singh Shampura (60), a former member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and zila parishad, will contest from Fatehgarh Churian, where Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa (Congress) had a narrow victory over the SAD’s Nirmal Singh Kahlon in 2012. In 2014, the small town voted for Vinod Khanna of the BJP. Sucha Singh Chhotepur of the AAP secured more than 20,000 votes. Gurpreet Singh Lapran (36), who runs a small grocery shop, will contest from Payal, an important Dalit seat held by assembly speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal (SAD). The town gave more than 42,000 votes to the AAP in 2014. LONE WOMAN

The only woman candidate in the first list is Rupinder Kaur Ruby (28). She is pursuing PhD in law and will contest from the Bathinda Rural reserved seat held by Darshan Singh Kotfatta (SAD). The AAP got only 7,600 votes here in 2014. The AAP’s Sangrur zone in-charge Jasvir Singh Sekhon “Jassi” (48) will contest from Dhuri. Arvind Khanna of the Congress won the seat in 2012 but then he quit and his opponent, Gobind Singh Longowal of the SAD, won the bypoll last year. In 2014, Bhagwant Mann got more than 63,000 votes here, highest among top three.

Former taxi driver Amarjeet Singh (38) from a Nurpur Bedi village, who now runs a small transport business in Delhi, will contest from Rupnagar. It’s the seat of education minister Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema and gave almost 30,000 votes to the AAP last time. AAP’s SC wing general secretary Santokh Singh Salana (48), social activist and former member of the Kanshi Ram Front, is nominated for the Bassi Pathana reserved seat held by former judge Nirmal Singh of the SAD. The AAP polled more than 40,000 votes here in 2014.

‘Party democracy a sham, tickets given to parachute leaders’

PATIALA: On the day the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls, rebel parliamentarian Dr Dharamvira Gandhi charged the party with ignoring genuine volunteers and giving tickets to “parachute” leaders, who “jumped into” the party after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The Lok Sabha member from Patiala, who has been suspended by the party, said despite AAP’s bid to include only non-controversial candidates in the first list, the move has invited strong criticism and fuelled disillusionment among volunteers.

Dr Gandhi said the list proves AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and his aides have nothing to do with inner party democracy and the ideology of “Swaraj”, upon which AAP was formed. “They want to use Punjab as a ladder to fulfil their national ambitions. Ignoring volunteers, they have given candidature to people who had zero contribution in building the party,” he said.

Citing the example of SAS Nagar, Dr Gandhi said Delhibased AAP leaders “bulldozed” the choice of volunteers, who were opposed to Himmat Shergill. “The rebellion at Faridkot, Sultanpur Lodhi and Rupnagar is also genuine. If they had to send parachute leaders, why did they mislead the workers?” he questioned.

he rebel MP also questioned the party leadership on the absence of names of senior leaders from the list. “Kejriwal deliberately withheld their names, so that he can adjust more leaders of his choice,” he said.

Dr Gandhi warned Kejriwal of an “uncontrollable rebellion of volunteers” once the second list of candidates comes out. “The list will include candidates with deep pockets, opportunists who entered the party from other political outfits, and some protégés of the so-called high command,” he said, while calling for a transparent procedure for announcing candidates.