Sidhu’s new Awaaz: We will support third front

Ruchika M Khanna & Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21

Punjab seems headed for a three-cornered contest with the recently launched Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Awaaz-e-Punjab tilting towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Sidhu today said they had decided not to float a party lest it led to division of anti-incumbency votes, but would ally with those who wanted to serve the cause of Punjab.

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Though none of the other members of Awaaz-e-Punjab — Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh and the two Bains brothers — have announced support for AAP, Sidhu issued a statement this afternoon, stating: “We have decided to ally with a political party that governs with a difference and does not believe in traditional politics as a way to earn money.”

The quartet had held a meeting in Delhi earlier this week. Sources said the Bains brothers were keen on fielding candidates in all 117 constituencies. But Sidhu and Pargat were unsure of setting up a party with the Assembly poll barely four months away.

Claiming Awaaz-e-Punjab had received an astounding response, Sidhu said: “We don’t want Punjab’s voter to get confused and thus divide the anti-incumbency vote. This may indirectly benefit the corroborative and collusive Badal-Amarinder nexus which has plundered Punjab in the last 15 years. This will defeat our purpose of bringing a change for the betterment of Punjab.”

If the quartet forges an alliance with AAP, it could enable Sidhu and the two Bains brothers to contest the elections. Sidhu is convicted in a road rage death case and cannot be allotted the AAP ticket.

This would be a violation of the party’s constitution. The Bains brothers too cannot be fielded by AAP as the party has decided against allotting the ticket to two members of one family.

When Sidhu’s statement was released, the Bains brothers were taken aback as was the breakaway group led by Sucha Singh Chhotepur. Pargat Singh, who echoed Sidhu’s viewpoint, said other than the SAD-BJP alliance, they were ready to forge an alliance with any party, including the Congress. He later rectified his stand, saying he agreed with Sidhu on forging an alliance with parties other than the SAD-BJP and the Congress.

With the Bains brothers and Chhotepur turning jittery, Pargat drove from Jalandhar to Ludhiana, where he held separate meetings with both sides. Simarjit Singh Bains later told The Tribune that a meeting on forging a poll alliance would be held on Friday. Pargat too said it would be decided then as to which way Awaaz-e-Punjab would go.

"Leaders opposing traditional politics must be united for a political change to be brought about. We have silenced those calling us" — BJP’s B team. Pargat Singh

"We don’t want to confuse voter and divide anti-incumbency vote. This may indirectly benefit the Badal-Amarinder nexus."—Navjot Singh Sidhu

Pargat says may ally with Cong, later alters stand

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 21

Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh today said it had been decided that the Awaaz-e-Punjab would not be converted into a party and could form an alliance with either the Congress or the Aam Aadmi Party.

While Navjot Singh Sidhu today criticised PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh in a press note, saying that the formation of a party could benefit “the Badal-Amarinder nexus”, Pargat spoke in favour of the Congress, saying that “the forum is open to supporting the Congress too”.

Asked why he took a different stand, Pargat said: "I am with Sidhu. He is our leader. Please do not take it as our divergent stand. We never said that we are not for any alliance. We have taken the decision of not forming a separate party just to silence our critics who had been calling us the B-team of the BJP. We want to tell them that we are not making any move that will give the ruling party any advantage. We want to tell everyone that we are not here for dividing any anti-incumbency votes, as has been the reaction of late. That's exactly the meaning of today's press note by Sidhu".

Asked about campaigning, Pargat said, "Please give us three-four days more. Sidhu is coming to Punjab after leaving his TV assignments.

Dr Sidhu: Aim is to break corrupt nexus

Amritsar: Sidhu's wife and BJP MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said: "The Awaaz-e-Punjab is open to forming alliance with any party, except Akalis… The prime purpose of the forum would have been defeated had it moved solo to contest the poll. Ultimately, the advantage would have been for the same corrupt nexus, which we never wanted. There is no personal or political vendetta, just a burning desire to transform Punjab and reinforce the positive forces." TNS

RSS man, ex-Speaker’s son among IAS nominations

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21

A close affiliate of RSS, son of former Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha and the economic adviser to the Chief Minister are among the frontrunners for the post of IAS officer to be nominated by the state government.

The nominees are Puneet Girdhar, a close affiliate of the RSS; Shiv Karan Singh Kahlon, son of former Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon; Mohan Lal Sharma, economic advisor to CM; Bhupinder Pal Singh, considered close to Food Minister Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon; and Arshdeep Singh. All these persons will now have to appear for an interview on October 14 before a committee of officers nominated by the UPSC.

The five nominees, of whom one is to be selected, will be interviewed by a joint panel. Sources say that with the strong presence of Punjab cadre officers in the selection panel, the will of these officers and their political bosses could prevail in the selection.

Four candidates (except Arshdeep Singh) had applied for nomination to IAS on earlier occasions too. While Kahlon has applied for the sixth time, Girdhar has applied for the third time and Sharma for the second time.

Last year, Parampal Kaur, daughter-in-law of Sikander Singh Maluka, and Harish Nayar were nominated to the IAS. Punjab has a total cadre strength of 221 (against which 187 are posted in the state) and one person from among the non-PCS officers is inducted each year into the IAS.

Congress pays homage to Uri bravehearts

Bathinda, September 21

Congress leaders and workers today took out a candle march to pay homage to the 18 Indian soldiers who were martyred in the Uri attack. The march was started from Fire Briagade Chowk and passed through various places of the city.

The Congress demanded that the Union Government should take strict action against the Pakistan-based terrorist camps. PPCC general secretary Harmander Singh Jassi said the Army should be allowed to launch a crackdown on terrorists. Security along the Line of Control should be beefed up so that anti-social elements cannot repeat such incidents in future, he added. — TNS

Navjot Singh Sidhu says his front will not contest polls as it may split anti-SAD votes

CHANDIGARH: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has said Awaaz-e-Punjab will remain as a forum only and welcomed any alliance for “the betterment of Punjab”. He said that if he floated a new party, it would split the anti-incumbency vote and help the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.Breaking silence after forming the forum, Sidhu said, “Awaaz-e-Punjab will not be a political party. We will not divide the anti-incumbency vote bank, which could indirectly benefit the corroborative and collusive Badal-Amarinder nexus which has plundered Punjab for the last fifteen years.

This will defeat our purpose of bringing a change for the betterment of Punjab.” He refrained from Sidhu added that the cofounders of Awaaz-e-Punjab—MLAs Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains and former hockey captain Pargat Singh—wanted to contest all 117 seats in the state.

“But I pondered over the fluid political situation in Punjab, weighed the pros and cons and have come to a conclusive decision that we will not play spoilsport and instead facilitate the Punjab election,” he said.

“Politics is not a profession but a mission. There is no personal or political vendetta, just a burning desire to place Punjab ahead of us and reinforce the positive forces. May Punjab, Punjabiat and every Punjabi win,” Sidhu said.