Thursday, 18 August 2016

Who’s the boss? UT weighs new option

Centre’s move to appoint independent Administrator takes City Beautiful by surprise

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 17

His appointment may have been kept on hold after the daylong hectic buzz that he is being appointed the first independent Administrator of Chandigarh, but KJ Alphons Kannanthanam today said, “Ensuring all-round development of the city and providing administration with total accountability, transparency and responsiveness will top my agenda.”

“BJP president Amit Shah called me to convey that since Punjab had expressed reservations over the new regime, my appointment has been kept on hold,” Kannanthanam told The Tribune late in the evening.

Though no official communication to this effect was received here till the filing of this report, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told The Tribune that a file to appoint Kannanthanam as UT Administrator had been sent for approval to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. “We have moved the file, seeking a nod to issue the appointment order of Kannanthanam as the Administrator of Chandigarh before the Union Home Minister,” Mehrishi said, while confirming that a formal order would be issued after receiving the nod.

However, reliable sources in the BJP and its ally SAD claimed that the appointment had been stalled following a strong protest lodged by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

“On coming to know about the development, Badal took up the matter at the highest level in the Centre and requested for a review of the decision,” a top state government functionary told The Tribune.

The sources said Badal was hopeful that the Centre would continue with the present time-tested convention on Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, the buzz on the appointment of the bureaucrat-turned-politician, who is also a practising lawyer from Kerala, as UT Administrator, reversing the UT Administration’s 32-year-old administrative set-up, took the Chandigarh Administration by surprise.

Even in the absence of any official confirmation, the UT Secretariat in Sector 9 here remained abuzz with the development throughout the day. The one and only point of discussion in the corridors of power remained this unprecedented and rather unexpected development.

Officers at the Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhawans were curiously following the development in the National Capital but till the filing of this report, they had also not received any official confirmation to this effect.

Interestingly, the Presidential Warrant, appointing VP Singh Badnore as the new Punjab Governor, was received in the Raj Bhawan here this evening but no separate order under Article 239 (2), assigning Badnore the additional charge of UT Administrator has been received so far. “Since the charge of UT Administrator was with the Punjab Governor, we had been receiving a separate order under Article 239 (2) to this effect, which we have not yet received this time,” confirmed a senior functionary of the Raj Bhawan.

Earlier, speaking to The Tribune over the phone while travelling on a train, Kannanthanam, a postgraduate in economics, who opted for history, sociology and philosophy in the UPSC exams, confirmed his new appointment and said, “I will be joining my new office in Chandigarh next week (most likely Monday)”.

Expressing gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith in him by entrusting him with such a prestigious responsibility, Kannanthanam said, “Though I don’t know much about Chandigarh, I have read a lot about the city. It is a clean and beautiful city and I am glad to be anointed as its Administrator.”

On his appointment reversing the over three-decade-old administrative set-up in the UT, which is the capital of twin states – Punjab and Haryana – Kannanthanam said with his administrative experience spanning over 27 years and political exposure of over a decade, he would try his best to come up to the expectations of city residents and the Centre as well.

He is the recipient of the Best MLA Award in Kerala in 2009, who also figured in the TIME magazine’s list of 100 young global leaders in 1994.

(With inputs from Ramkrishan Upadhyay)

Move to benefit city residents, say leaders

He is a competent Administrator and has proved it in Kerala and Delhi. His priority will be only Chandigarh and its residents. The work speed and file movement will improve and he will be able to take Independent decisions in the interests of Chandigarh residents— Arun Sood, Mayor

Residents of the city always wanted an independent chief for the city. The move of the Union Government will strengthen Chandigarh as a UT. I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for selecting such a fine officer as UT Administrator.— Sanjay Tandon, city BJP president

After a day of uncertainty, it is learnt that the appointment of the new UT Administrator has been kept in abeyance. This flip-flop of the Union Government has exposed its indecisiveness. Is this an example of good governance?—Pawan Kumar Bansal, former Cong MP

It is a good development for the city. City residents had been demanding the post of Chief Commissioner but the Modi government went a step ahead and selected an independent Administrator for Chandigarh. The decision will improve the functioning of the Administration.—Satya Pal Jain, former MP

It will improve the day-to-day functioning of the Chandigarh Administration. Though city residents were demanding the post of Chief Commissioner for the city, the selection of an independent UT Administrator by the Union Government should be welcomed. —Harmohan Dhawan, former union minister

It is good move and will benefit city residents. As he will only look after matters related to Chandigarh, the functioning of the UT Administration will definitely improve.—Hardeep Singh, Deputy Mayor and SAD councillor

We are hopeful that the new UT Administrator will work for the betterment of the city. He will be easily available to city residents. — Pardeep Chhabra, city Cong president

Independent Administrator for Chandigarh ‘put on hold’

Shah intervenes as SAD objects to Punjab Guv losing pos

KJ Alphons Kannanthanam

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 17

The Centre’s move to appoint Chandigarh’s first independent Administrator — with a rank equivalent to that of Lieutenant Governor — was put on hold tonight following objection from Punjab’s ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

Since June 2, 1984, when Punjab was passing through the black days of terrorism, the Punjab Governor had been holding the additional charge of UT Administrator and the post of UT Chief Commissioner was re-designated as Adviser to UT Administrator.

For the past over a year, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki had been holding the additional charge of UT Administrator in his capacity of officiating Governor of Punjab, ever since Shivraj Patil demitted office in January 2015.

Today, the presidential warrants appointing VP Singh Badnore as the new Punjab Governor were without separate orders under Article 239(2) assigning him additional charge of UT Administrator.

KJ Alphons Kannanthanam, a bureaucrat-turned-politician from Kerala tipped to be the UT Administrator, initially told The Tribune over the phone that he will join office next week, reversing the UT Administration’s 32-year-old setup. However, later, he said he got a call from BJP national chief Amit Shah informing him that the decision to appoint him had been “put on hold” considering reservations expressed by the Akalis.

Earlier, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal issued a strongly-worded statement, asking the Centre to “restore the time-tested convention on Chandigarh”. It was later withdrawn.

Kannanthanam is known as the “Delhi demolition man” for spearheading a massive demolition drive in 1990s.

He quit the IAS in 2006 and was elected as an Independent MLA, backed by CPM-led Left Front. After joining the BJP in 2011, he was inducted into the national executive.

AAP releases second list of 13 candidates for Punjab polls

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 18

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday released the second list of 13 candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections due next year. AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Bhagwant Mann announced the names of the candidates at a press conference here.

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Following are the candidates on the second list:

Attari (SC): Jaswinder Singh Jahangir

Ludhiana East: Daljeet Singh Grewal

Samrala: Sarbans Singh Manki

Amloh: Gurpreet Singh Bhatti

Dirba (SC): Harpal Singh Cheema

Sunam: Aman Arora

Patiala Rural: Karanvir Singh Tiwana

Ghanaur: Anu Randhawa

Nabha (SC): Dev Mann

Malout (SC): Baldev Singh Azad

Sham Chaurasi (SC): Dr Ravjot Singh

Talwandi Sabo: Prof Baljinder Kaur

Jaito (SC): Master Baldev Singh

Orbit bus runs 2 men over in Ludhiana, angry mob torches it

Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 18

A bus of Orbit Aviation, the transport company owned by the Badal family, reportedly ran two men over near Mullanpur on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway in this district on Thursday afternoon.

Soon after the incident, agitated locals torched the bus, which was on its way from Moga to Ludhiana.

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According to information, the bus hit a motorcycle while overtaking it. A man and his son, who were riding the motorcycle, were killed on the spot.

Soon, people gathered there and vandalised the bus before setting it afire. The passengers got off the bus and joined the agitated locals.

Congress MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu, deputy leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu, AAP leader HS Phoolka joined protest at the accident spot.

The bus driver didn’t heed to the passengers who asked him to slow down before the accident occurred, it is learnt.

REGULARISING UNAPPROVED COLONIES

Rs 800 cr collected, no work on ground

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 17

The much-awaited regularisation of thousands of unapproved colonies has become a bone of contention between hundreds of colonisers and the state government.

The state government has allegedly collected more than Rs 800 crore for regularisation of over 20,000 ‘unauthorised’ colonies after it came out with its much-publicised 2013 ‘regularisation policy’ or the Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2013 for bringing unauthorised colonies under the umbrella of the planning framework and to provide basic facilities to residents of such colonies.

Neither has any colony been regularised so far nor has any money collected for it reportedly been spent on the development of these colonies.

This is in stark contrast to the promises extended by the state government to developers and thousands of colony residents.

Interestingly, no one knows the exact number of unauthorised colonies in the state. Estimates of the Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers’ Association indicate that their number could be around 22,000.

Viswajit Khanna, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, said 10,000 applications have been filed with the department but the majority of colonies have failed to meet the stipulated criteria laid out for regularisation.

“The state government is doing its best to expedite the matter. The cases of 600-700 colonies have been finalised. More than 2.75 lakh out of a total of 4.85 lakh unauthorised houses or plots have been regularised,” he said.

On the other hand, more than 25,000 developers and colonisers associated with the Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers’ Association are at loggerheads with the state government.

The association’s state president, Kultar Singh Jogi, said, “Since the introduction of the 2013 regularisation policy, the state government has been changing its conditions for regularisation.

“Earlier, we were asked to deposit a fee of Rs 1 lakh per acre but later, it was changed to yards. For regularisation of 1 acre, one was required to deposit Rs 10-15 lakh.

“Not only this, the authorities asked us to get registered ownership documents like registered agreements from plot holders. That is a next-to-impossible task. How can we find the people who had purchased the plots 20 years back?” said Kultar Singh Jogi.

He warned that in case the state government fails to settle the issue by September 10, developers, colonisers and property dealers in the state would be forced to hold dharnas at district headquarters against the government dilly-dallying.

“We are fed up and cannot fulfil any more conditions of the government. The state government has pocketed more than Rs 800 crore in the name of regularisation, promising that the money would be spent on development of the sites. But not a single penny has been spent on the sites,” he alleged.

A retired IAS officer, who has been associated with the local bodies’ department, said that the regularisation policy was studded with faults. “How can the government technically and legally declare a vacant plot between two ‘regularised houses’ as unauthorised?”

Jaswinder Pal Batish, a member of the association, said that as the property business had already touched a record low in the state, colonisers were not in a position to fulfil the ever-changing conditions laid out by the authorities.

Jogi said the government had ‘retracted’ from its 2012 promise that all that the colonisers would be required to do for regularisation was to come out with a plain site plan, one self-declaration and regularisation fee up to Rs 1 lakh per acre.

Akali liquor barons in dock over excise Act violations

Ex-CPS Deep Malhotra’s firm fined Rs 3 lakh, Doda’s wife faces FIR

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 17

The Excise Department has recommended action against firms owned by Akali leaders Deep Malhotra and Shiv Lal Doda for alleged discrepancies in liquor stocks to evade tax.

The department has sealed over 12 liquor vends owned by former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Deep Malhotra’s firm and slapped Rs3 lakh fine for discrepancies in stock. The department has recommended the registration of a case against Doda’s wife Sunita Doda after over 40,000 liquor boxes were found missing.

Documents available with The Tribune confirmed that Vijeta Breweries in Muktsar, a group backed by Faridkot MLA Deep Malhotra, was found flouting Punjab excise rules on at least four counts.

“During a checking of the firm’s premises in Muktsar, the records were not made available to the excise officials, the inspection note book was not presented, more liquor was sold than allowed and Punjab medium liquor was sold at low rates,” reads the inspection document.

“The owners were given a chance for a hearing on August 16, following which their representative accepted the folly and pleaded for a softer punishment,” it says.

Besides slapping a fine on Vijeta Breweries, the firm has been told to remain shut from August 16-22.

In the second case, the department has recommended an FIR against Sunita Doda, wife of controversial SAD leader Shiv Lal Doda, an accused in the brutal killing of a Dalit in Ahohar.

In a letter to the Fazilka SSP on August 12, the excise officials have claimed that SD Wines, owned by Sunita, had stocked 40,821 cartons of IMFL and 347 of beer, which were sealed by department on March 31, 2016, as the firm had not renewed its licence. “On July 28, the stock worth Rs7.5 crore was found missing. Action should be taken against the violator,” reads the letter.

Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner Rajat Agarwal confirmed that action against both firms was recommended by the field staff. “For fair competition in the state, the department will ensure that anyone flouting norms is punished,” Agarwal said, adding that Doda’s firm had applied for a hearing. Both Doda and Malhotra could not be contacted.

Told to pay Rs 50 lakh for Phillaur ticket: AAP council member

Sanjay Singh, Pathak refute allegation, demand proof

Pavitar Singh and Lakhwinder Kaur at a press conference in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 17
A member of the Aam Aadmi Party’s national council today alleged that party’s Punjab incharge Sanjay Singh and senior leader Durgesh Pathak had demanded Rs50 lakh “donation” to issue his wife party ticket from the Phillaur Assembly segment.

Reacting to the allegations, Sanjay Singh said: “Such baseless allegations don’t deserve reaction. The person who is levelling allegations should first provide proof. Had he provided proof, I would have definitely reacted to it.”

Pathak said: “I will not comment as the person who has levelled allegations has not provided any proof.”

Pavitar Singh claimed to have campaigned for Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

He addressed a press conference along with his wife Lakhwinder Kaur here today. Lakhwinder is joint secretary of women wing of the party and sought party ticket from Phillaur.

Pavitar Singh claimed that since volunteers from Phillaur had supported Lakhwinder’s claim for candidature, both of them were asked to “appear” before Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak.

“We met the leaders on August 15 in Chandigarh. They categorically told us that the nomination for the party can be given only to those individuals who can pay Rs2.5 crore in cash. They said we were being given a discount and we only needed to donate Rs50 lakh as I am member of the national council and both of us have worked hard for the party in Punjab,” he alleged.

He said after that meeting, he sent several SMSes on the mobile phone of party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal to bring the matter to his notice, but to no avail.

Sangrur fire station employees without wages for four months

Sushil Goyal

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 17

The municipal fire station in Sangrur has been facing various problems on account of equipment, non-availability of new fire tenders and non-payment of salaries for four months to the staff recruited through the outsourcing system.

As many as 17 employees (three drivers and 14 firemen), who have been working as the contractor’s men, have not received salaries for the past four months.

When contacted, Parvinder Singh Bhatti, executive officer (EO) of the local Municipal Council said due to the shortage of funds, the civic body could not pay the salaries of drivers and firemen to the contractor. He said the salaries would be paid soon.

Besides, one can easily assess the functioning of the fire station from the fact that it has two 1984 model fire tenders (big vehicles) as the state government has not provided new fire tenders to the fire station. Besides, the two old fire tenders, the fire station has also a quick response vehicle (Tata 207) and a motorcycle to douse fire in narrow streets.

It may be mentioned here that even in the absence of new fire tenders, the local fire station authorities have been covering a vast area of the district, including Dirba, Dhuri, Cheema, Bhawanigarh, Moonak, Khanauri and Lehra, by way of getting old fire tenders repaired time and again. Malerkotla is the only other city in the district which has its own municipal fire station.

The local fire station had also been facing shortage of pipes. Two new delivery pipes were recently purchased from the Indian Oil Corporation. It is learnt that the MC recently passed a resolution to buy a 1,000-ft-long pipe for the fire station.

Notably, three posts of regular leading fireman, three posts of regular driver and 11 posts of regular fireman have been lying vacant at the fire station here.

In need of equipment too

The fire station has two1984 model fire tenders as the state government has not provided new fire tenders to the fire station. Notably, three posts of regular leading fireman, three posts of regular driver and 11 posts of regular fireman have been lying vacant at the fire station.

Channi takes on govt over rising crime

Chandigarh: Congress Legislature Party Leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday alleged that Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was patronising gangsters and controlling the police to influence the Assembly elections. Quoting figures of the last 15 years procured under the RTI Act, he said the high crime rate raises question marks on the conduct of free and fair Assembly elections. Channi said crime had multiplied in the last few years which refuted the claims made by Deputy CM that Punjab was the most peaceful state. Referring to crime figures for the last nine years, he said 59,336 cases under various criminal categories were registered in 15 districts. tns

Residents beat up SAD councillor

Were protesting outside the house of the leader over sewage overflow when the incident happenedSukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 17

Residents of Lal Singh Basti today beat up Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor from Ward Number 38, Gurbachan Singh Khubban, over the problem of sewage overflow in their area.

As per information, residents staged a protest outside the house of the councillor over the issue.

When he came out to pacify the protesters, a heated argument ensued with the protesters, who alleged that the councillor had done nothing to solve the problem. Thereafter, a youth slapped the councillor.

The protest was headed by Atma Singh, who fought the last MCB election unsuccessfully against Gurbachan Singh.

Gurbachan Singh, in a police statement, has claimed that sewage was accumulated in street 14 of Lal Singh Basti and when he went there to take stock of the situation, residents started staging a protest.

When he told them that he, along with MLA Sarup Chand Singla, would resolve their problem, they started beating him up, the councillor said.

While talking to Bathinda Tribune, Gurbachan Singh said the residents were staging protest peacefully but Atma Singh, who had a personal rivalry with him, along with his son, attacked him following which, his turban fell down.

He also alleged that they also pulled his beard during the attack. Gurbachan Singh said he was not denying that the problem was there in his ward and blamed the Triveni company of not working properly as the work is lying incomplete for the last three months.

SHO Canal Colony police station Rajesh Kumar said residents were protesting over some issue in their area and later they entered into a heated argument with the councillor.

A case under Sections 295, 298, 341, 506 and 34 of IPC has been registered against Atma Singh and his son Jashan, residents of Lal Singh Basti. No arrest has been made so far.

Residents of street number 14 of Lal Singh Basti have been facing the problem of sewage overflow for the last three months and on Friday, they had threatened to launch a protest if the problem was not solved till Monday.

Heated argument

Residents of Lal Singh Basti on Wednesday beat up Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor from Ward Number 38, Gurbachan Singh Khubban
When the councillor tried to pacify the protesters, a heated argument ensued between them. The protesters alleged that the councillor had done nothing to solve the problem
The protest was headed by Atma Singh, who fought the last MCB election unsuccessfully against Gurbachan Singh

A Governor for Punjab

And a separate Administrator mooted for Chandigarh

After a gap of more than 18 months the border state of Punjab is going to have a full-time Governor of its own. The man tapped on the shoulder for the job is a low-key politician -- predictably belonging to the ruling BJP — from Rajasthan. VP Singh Badnore has had a long legislative innings, first as an MLA, then in the Lok Sabha and most recently in the Rajya Sabha. There is no debilitating ‘controversy’ about him, just as there is nothing outstanding about him either. It must be presumed that his long public career has equipped him with qualities of fairness and balance, so necessary for a constitutional office, which demands dignity, decorum and deference to the Constitution’s letter and spirit. Though it would be too much to hope that he would overnight shed his BJP lineage and associations, the expectation has to be that once ensconced in Punjab Raj Bhavan Mr Badnore will reinvent himself as a constitutional head, mindful only of the best interests of the State and its citizens.

While appointing Mr Badnore as the Governor of Punjab, the Centre appears to have decoupled from him the role of the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. This proposed departure from a practice that has been in place since mid-1980s will be widely welcomed as a new experiment in good governance. The arrangement was a bit like curate’s egg. When Punjab had as Governor a good, experienced administrator like Shivraj Patil, the arrangement produced reasonably satisfactory results; when there is someone in Punjab Raj Bhavan who is a stranger to administration, it is left to the Adviser to salvage the situation. Kaptan Singh Solanki, who had additional charge as Governor of Punjab for these 18 months, was not cut out to provide hands-on leadership to Chandigarh. That the Modi government took more than 18 months to find a full-time Governor for Punjab perhaps betrays its strange priorities. With the assembly elections round the corner, the State could not do without a Governor of its own. For that reason alone, Punjab and the city of Chandigarh can only extend a warm welcome to the new Governor and the new Administrator.

Phagwara clash: ADC report indicts Sena

COMMUNAL VIOLENCE Also blames poor intelligence inputs, cops’ failure to sense simmering tension in town

KAPURTHALA: A 39-page magisterial inquiry report submitted by the Phagwara additional deputy commissioner (ADC) has held Shiv Sena activists responsible for “instigating” communal violence in the town on July 22.

The report prepared by ADC Iqbal Singh Sandhu states members of the right-wing outfit deliberately carried out a protest march twice in the front of the mosque and raised derogatory slogans against Muslim community.

The report has also pointed to poor intelligence inputs and cops’ failure to act swiftly despite simmering tension between Hindu activists and Muslim community, supported by Sikhs, in days preceding the communal clash. ‘DELIBERATELY CARRIED OUT 2ND PROTEST MARCH’

The ADC submitted the report last week to Kapurthala deputy commissioner Jaskiran Singh, who had told him to probe into five aspects, including the role of police and communities involved, similar incidents in the past and suggestions to avoid a recurrence.

DC Jaskiran Singh said the report doesn’t find the role of Muslim community and Akal Students’ Federation “objectionable”. He said the Sena activists forcibly shut down three shops belonging to Kashmiris and wrote objectionable slogans on the shutters besides trying to stop Delhi-Lahore buses.Offended, Muslim community planned to carry out a protest march, but later submitted a memorandum to the Phagwara sub-divisional magistrate inside the mosque on July 22.

“Shiv Sena workers deliberately carried out a second protest march and raised derogatory slogans before burning Pakistani flag in front of the mosque at 1:30pm, when the community comes out to pray. This was the prime reason behind the clash,” the report states.

Accusing the police intelligence wing of failing completely, the inquiry stated: “This communal clash could be averted if the city police had acted wisely, sensing the situation before the clash.”

The report, however, appreciated deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Kanwalpreet Singh for avoiding further loss and bringing the situation under control once the clash erupted. The DSP, who was suspended following the clash, was reinstated on Tuesday.

The DC said he would submit the report to Punjab chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal on Friday. Meanwhile, the cross-case registered against both communities is still under investigation, said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajinder Singh.

Cong wants special debate in assembly

here is no trace of killers even in high-profile cases. How does Sukhbir Badal call Punjab a safe state? CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI, Punjab CLP leader

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday said their party will raise the issue of “deteriorating” law and order in the state in the upcoming autumn session of the Punjab assembly in September.

Sharing details received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, at a press conference here, Channi said 4,460 murders and 4,111 rapes have been registered between 2007 and 2016 in 15 out of 22 districts of the state. For data on the remaining seven, he has moved the state information commission. “An average of two murders and two rapes were registered in Punjab daily in the past nine years of Akali-BJP rule in the state. There have been 296 shootouts in the state in these nine years. There is no trace of killers even in highprofile cases of attacks on religious leaders. The government forms a special investigation team (SIT) to bury the case. How does deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal call Punjab a safe state?” said Channi.Demanding Sukhbir’s resignation as home minister, he said the SAD leader was “patronising” mafias and criminal gangs and promoting “politicisation” of police. “Now the government is also releasing criminals from jails before polls on untenable grounds such as construction of a house. This raises a question mark on the conduct of free and fair assembly elections. They (criminals) might be used to influence and rig the polls. Sukhbir’s removal is a precondition so that fear psychosis is not created,” he said.

Asked to pay `50 lakh, get ticket for wife: AAP founder member

PAVITER SINGH, ONE OF 5 AAP NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM PUNJAB, SAYS SANJAY SINGH, DURGESH PATHAK TOLD HIM THE ACTUAL PRICE WAS `2.5 CRORE

CHANDIGARH: Paviter Singh, one of the five Aam Aadmi Party national council members from Punjab, claims that the AAP’s state affairs in-charge, Sanjay Singh, and national organisation building head, Durgesh Pathak, demanded `50 lakh from him for assembly election ticket to his wife.

His wife, Lakhvinder Kaur, is joint secretary of the AAP women’s wing in Punjab and he wanted her to contest from Phillaur. Both Pathak and Sanjay denied that they even met Paviter. They accuse him of making up stories to damage the party after his wife was denied ticket.

At a press conference on Wednesday here, Paviter said he had met the two leaders at the house of senior leader Himmat Singh Shergill in Sector 16 here on August 15. “They said the ticket was for `2.5 crore but for me, a member of the party’s national council, they could make a concession,” he said. “Fearing that I’ll record it, they didn’t let me take my mobile phone into the meeting. The same evening, I reported it to party convener Arvind Kejriwal on mobile phone and e-mail but there is no reply.he former teacher is with the AAP since its India Against Corruption (IAC) days of Anna Hazare’s Janlokpal agitation in New Delhi. “I am disappointed but not disheartened,” he said. “I will not quit the party. I still have some hope left in Kejriwal.”

Former bureaucrat Hardip Singh Kingra, who resigned from the AAP after being denied ticket from Faridkot, was also at the press conference and so were some former AAP leaders who had moved to the Swaraj Abhiyaan first and then the Swaraj Party.

14 MORE FINALISED

The AAP political affairs committee that met on Wednesday under the chairmanship of party convener Arvind Kejriwal is said to have finalised a second list of 14 candidates for the Punjab assembly elections. Party sources said the list would be out in a day or two. It is likely to include the names of Gurpreet Bhatti from Amloh, Raj Gill from Fatehgarh Sahib, Daljit Bhola from Ludhiana East, and Karan Tiwana from Patiala.

AAP candidate pays visit to Dr Navjot Kaur

AMRITSAR: Amid suspense surrounding former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), AAP candidate from Amritsar (south) Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar called on the cricketer-turned-politician’s wife and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu at her residence here late on Wednesday evening.Although Dr Nijjar termed it a personal visit, its timing drew a lot of attention. After coming out of Sidhu’s house, he said: “She works in the health department and I am a doctor. I have been visiting her in the past too. This is just a personal visit and has nothing to do with politics. ”On the deadlock between AAP and Sidhu, which is delaying the announcement of his joining the party, Dr Nijjar said: “I am not aware what all is happening.”

Earlier, Dr Nijjar -- who runs a diagnostic centre in Amritsar and was announced as a candidate for the upcoming assembly elections in AAP’s first list -- reached Sidhu’s house in a car, which he was driving himself, around 7pm.