Sunday 30 October 2016

Don’t take ticket for granted, Kejri tells AAP candidates

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 29

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has told the party candidates not to take the AAP ticket for granted, adding that the nominees can be changed if found wanting in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

As per sources in the party, Kejriwal interacted with the 61 candidates announced so far during a meeting in Sangrur on Wednesday. He also told them not to consider their victory a foregone conclusion. He made it clear that there were AAP volunteers in their respective constituencies who were capable of being picked instead for candidature.

Citing the Delhi elections (2013 and 2015), he said AAP had changed “weak” candidates at the eleventh hour. Kejriwal added that in each constituency where the party had announced candidates, there were five observers who were sending reports to the high command on a day-to-day basis, assessing their chances of victory, the response to their mass contact programme and the people’s perception about them.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann, state party in-charge Sanjay Singh and co-incharge Jarnail Singh were also present at the meeting.

Gurpreet Singh Waraich, state party convener, justified Kejriwal’s “wake-up call” for the candidates.

Nominees may lose party posts

AAP candidates who are also heading various wings may lose their party posts soon. These include legal cell head Himmat Singh Shergill, youth wing chief Harjot Bains, Punjab Dialogue head Kanwar Sandhu, RTI wing chief Sukhpal Khaira, NRI wing head Jagtar Singh Sanghera and SC/ST wing head Dev Mann. All zonal incharges who have got the party ticket will also be removed. State party convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich said they would first replace the zonal incharges.

On Bandi Chhor eve, Mand placed under ‘house arrest’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Ferozepur, Oct 29
Dhyan Singh Mand, the Sarbat Khalsa-appointed acting Akal Takht “Jathedar”, was allegedly placed under house arrest in Ferozepur today. He has announced to deliver a message to the Sikh community from the Akal Takht on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Diwas tomorrow.

His message is now likely to be conveyed in the form of handouts at the Golden Temple. Mand might be released in the afternoon tomorrow.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh is scheduled to address the Sikh Sangat on Bandi Chhor Diwas. However, various Sikh organisations are up in arms against him, claiming that he has been rejected by the community.

SAD (Amritsar) leader Jarnail Singh Sakhira said the Sikh community would stage a protest in case Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh delivered the message. Sakhira was among the organisers of the “Sarbat Khalsa” held last year.

Sakhira and another congregation organiser, Gurdeep Singh, slammed Mand’s detention. They said the police were not even allowing any communication with Mand.

Another Sikh outfit, Dal Khalsa has also announced a protest against Giani Gurbachan Singh’s address.

Security is expected to be beefed up in and around the shrine tomorrow. Sources said the SGPC would deploy more members of its task force, while the police would be present in mufti inside the Golden Temple complex.

When contacted, Ferozepur SSP RK Bakshi denied that the police had detained Mand or kept him under house arrest.

PUNJAB ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS — 1951-1952

General Elections In The Punjab: Some Essential Facts And Figures

While voters in the three hill districts of the Punjab, namely, Simla, Kangra Hoshiarpur, have already been to the polls in a number of constituencies, the main election battle in a major part of the State will commence in the first week of January. Since our readers are sure to be interested in the elections, we are putting down below some data which will be of use to them in this connection.

Click here for full image of General Elections In The Punjab: Some Essential Facts And Figures

In the Punjab there are about 65 lakh voters who are going to elect 125 members — one having been already elected without contest — for the State Legislative Assembly and 18 for Parliament (House of the People). There are 846 candidates, belonging to 17 parties, for the former and 101 for the latter.

As the list given below will indicate, for the 18 Parliamentary seats, the Congress Party (C) has put up 19 candidates, Jan Sangh (J) 10, Akali Dal (A) 9, Socialists (S) 5, Krishak Lok Party (KL) 5, Communists (CO) 4, Ram Rajya Parishad (R) 4, Lal Communist Party (LCO) 2, Hindu Mahasabha (H) 2, Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) 2, Forward Bloc Marxists (FM) 2, and K. M. P. P. (K) 1. There are also 35 Independents (I).

Read more stories related to Punjab Assembly Elections — 1951-1952

The contest for the State Legislative Assembly is even more keen. One seat— Ferozepore-Jhirka — has already been won unopposed by Congress. Of the remaining 125, 84 are single-member and 21 double-member constituencies. In each one of these 21, one seat is general one reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

According to party affiliation the 846 candidates are distributed as follows: Congress (C) 121, Akali Dal (A) 59, Socialists (S) 56, Communist Party (CO) 34, Krishak Lok Party (KL) 29, Jan Sangh (J) 26, Forward Bloc Marxists (FM) 29, Forward Bloc Subhasist (FS) 2, Zamindara Party (Z) 3, Lal Communist Party (LCO) 13, Lok Congress (LC) 9, K.M.P.P. (K) 10, Hindu Mahasabha (H) 3, and Ram Rajya Periahad (R) 3. The largest bloc, as in the case of candidates for Parliament, consists of Independents (I). They number 364. The reader will notice that, on an average, there are three independent candidates for every one of the 125 seats which are still to be contested.

A few dozen of the total number of 6,974 polling stations have already been put be to use. The rest will start functioning according to the date-sheet previously announced. No fewer than 70,000 ballot-boxes will be used and polling will last till January 21. All results are to be out by February 15.

We append below a chart of all the Parliamentary and State Assembly constituencies with the name and party affiliations (as notified to the authorities at the time of nominations) of candidates for every one of them. Readers can keep this list for reference and for recording results (and votes polled by each of the contestants) as announced from day to day after the polling is over.

Note: Although every care has been taken to make this list completely accurate, "The Tribune' does not accept responsibility for any mistake that may have inadvertently crypt in.

A heritage that breathes life into holy city

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 28

Enter the gates of Bhai Vir Singh Niwas Sthaan, a quaint abode to nature’s best sites right in the middle of the bustling Lawrance Road, the noise of traffic and shrieking of horns gradually disappears. Spread across almost four cares, the place immediately reminds you of life’s simple realities.

“The place can be called the lungs of city, with the sprawling organic gardens that grow fruits one can only find here in the city, trees over 100 years old and flowers that remind you of Bhai Veer Singh’s traditions,” says Navneet Kaur, director, of the Bhai Vir Singh Memorial Library and curator of the museum. The residence of noted Sikh scholar and environmentalist, Bhai Vir Singh was turned into a museum in 2003 and since then it has been a site of cultural and literary heritage. Currently undergoing process of restoration, the place is houses memorabilia in form of Bhai Vir Singh’s handwritten letters, documents and lithographs of Sikh newsletters, over 100 years old.

What stands out is the preservation of Bhai Vir Singh’s personal belongings that are placed in the room he used to live in. His armchair, his reading glasses, even his bed linens have been kept untouched. “They are all a part of his legacy. Bhai Vir Singh used to live here and everything except his books, which he took with himself during Partition to Pakistan, is now a part of the museum. We are trying our best to preserve his memory, including the restoration of news weeklies, newsletters. Khalsa Samachar, which he established in 1917 and his poetry,” informs Kaur.

Since he was a nature lover, one of his many traditions adopted by the management here is the flower bouquets specially made from the blooms of the organic gardens for Golden Temple. “This tradition has been continued ever since he used to carry two bouquets of flowers picked from the garden everyday to Golden Temple. We have chrysanthemums, his favourite flowers, and magnolia in winters. In fact, his love for the flowers reflects in some of his poems and writings. In summers, we have sunflowers and lilies in monsoon.” The bouquets are made by the gardener and one of the volunteers and committee members Bhajan Kaur.

The organic gardens stand as an example for many, with a wide variety of fruits, rare plants, herbs and trees that have been standing for more than 100 years now. “One can witness nature in its true glory, right in the heart of Amritsar at this place,” Kaur says.

Foodgrain ‘scam’ — a dubious ‘legacy’

IN A MAZE OF CLAIMS AND COUNTERCLAIMS, TRUTH CAN ONLY BE SIFTED BY SUBJECTING THE WHOLE GAMUT OF PROCUREMENT TRANSACTIONS TO A THIRD PARTY AUDIT

After screaming headlines since last April about an alleged foodgrain scam, the issue has been given an indecent burial with the epitaph of a ‘legacy issue’. The issue surfaced when the Punjab government sought a cash credit limit (CCL) for procuring wheat, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed the lending banks to make provisions for the gap between the value of stocks and the outstanding CCL. At that time, the gap was indicated to be `12,000 crore. It was widely speculated that stocks of corresponding value were missing. That is how it earned the moniker of a scam.

The Punjab government vehemently denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the stocks matched grain to grain. It also explained that the gap was entirely on account of the time lag between the lifting of stocks by the Union government and receipt of payment thereof by the state procurement agencies. The gap was then stated to be about `21,000 crore. The Punjab government had also furnished details of receivables from the central government on various counts, adding to a staggering `26,000 crore. Most of these receivables were on account of additional costs incurred by the Punjab procurement agencies over and above the norms, interest thereon, and pertained to a period as far back as 1994. Even at that time, it was very well known that most of such claims are dubious and are unlikely to be sanctioned by the Centre.

Besides, such claims flew in the face of the comptroller and auditor general (CAG)’s categorical observations about missing stocks, non-delivery of rice by the millers and bogus and above-norms costs incurred by the Punjab procurement agencies. However, the issue remained unresolved and on part repayment to the banks and to avoid distress to farmers — due to nonprocurement of wheat — a fresh limit was sanctioned.

As usual, the issue resurfaced when Punjab sought approval for a fresh CCL for the procurement of paddy. The consortium of banks flatly denied it, until the outstanding amount in the CCL sanctioned for various crops in the past is squared up by an upfront payment. In the face of this dilemma and with the intervention of the central government and the RBI (which approved restructuring of close to `30,000 crore of legacy loans), the banks are reported to have agreed to settle the Punjab food credit, after setting some terms.

The banks decided to disburse credit to Punjab for this season from October 1, on the condition that only on its settlement by the end of this year, loan for the next year will be disbursed. Also, the interest rate will not be less than the base rate. If there is a shortfall in repayment, the state and the central government will have to chip in.

While settling the issue, banks also pointed out that the mismatch between the value of stocks and the outstanding loans is a legacy issue that happened over several years and will have to be settled once for all. CEASED TO BE LEGACY ISSUE AFTER 2004

To set the record straight, let it be stated that the legacy part of this issue was sorted way back in 2004, when cumulative mismatch amounting to `4,500 crore was squared up by obtaining a clean loan from banks. In fairness, let it also be stated that the mismatch then was entirely on account of the procurement operations of the food and civil supplies department that formed a part of the state budget/ treasury and the other four state procurement agencies were directed to square up their part of the mismatch, if any, of their own, as the government was in no way responsible for it.

In order to ensure that such a situation does not arise again, the departmental procurement operations were hived off to an independent entity christened as Pungrain, making procurement operations independent of the budget and government treasury. In addition, the procurement agencies were directed to ensure that there is no mismatch between the value of the stocks held by them and the outstanding loans, and if there is any gap the same should be fully covered by good receivable. Therefore, it ceased to be a legacy issue after 2004.Unfortunately, the government of Punjab is not coming clean on it. Immediately after the media picked up the story of missing stocks and smelt a scam, the state government went into the denial mode and categorically declared that no stocks were missing. When this did not wash, the government attempted to explain away the mismatch, by trumping up receivables from the Centre on various counts. The readiness with which Punjab agreed to fund the whopping gap of over `30,000 crore by raising a loan and settle the issue on the terms and conditions dictated to by the banks and the RBI is proof enough to show that it is no longer a legacy issue. Instead, it is an issue of malgovernance and malfeasance, if not a plain fraud. SOME QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED

In a maze of claims and counterclaims, very serious observations of the CAG on procurement operations and allegations of fraud by the opposition, truth can only be sifted by subjecting the whole gamut of procurement transactions to a third party audit. Meanwhile, some troubling questions need to be answered.

What explains a whopping mismatch of over `30,000 crore between the value of stock held and the outstanding bank loans, especially after the inherited mismatch of `4,500 crore was squared up and the procurement operations were made independent of the government budget and treasury in 2004?

The mismatch is obviously in the accounts of the procurement agencies, namely Pungrain, Punsup, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, Markfed and the Punjab Warehousing Corporation. How has the state government so readily agreed to raise a huge loan on its books, burdening the yet to be born children with a debt – servicing burden of `3,500 crore per annum for the next twenty years, without seeking an explanation from these agencies?

In the absence of any plausible explanation for this huge mismatch, have the procurement agencies misapplied, diverted or misappropriated the sale proceeds of the stocks lifted by the central government, instead of repaying the bank loans?

Will it not open floodgates for wrongdoing by the procurement agencies and end up providing cover to serious malpractices on the part of the procurement agencies?

How the mismatch that to begin with was reported to be `12,000 crore has now shot up to over `30,000 crore and what is the guarantee that it will not further go up tomorrow? In other words, has the quantum of mismatch been independently validated?

What will it entail on the part of the government of Punjab to comply with the terms and conditions that are being rightly insisted upon by the banks and the RBI now, and what will be the consequences, if it fails to do so?

What safeguards have been put in place to ensure that such an eventuality does not recur?An accountable and responsible government will definitely ponder over these questions before subjecting the state to such a crippling debt burden. Failure to do so would lead one to the inescapable conclusion that a possible scam is being underwritten by dubbing it as a legacy issue.

Chunni Lal Bhagat, 84

BJP

I met people not as a leader, but as a servant. I distributed funds without keeping political affiliations in mind.

Constituency: JALANDHAR-WEST (SC) Education: Class 10 Assets declared in last polls: `1.7 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Cong’s Suman Kaypee by a margin of 11,343 votes 2007: Defeated Cong’s Mohinder Singh Kaypee by 11,915 votes

ASSEMBLY RECORD

Leader of BJP in House; forest & labour minister POWER PUNCH Support of the Bhagat community; old BJP hand WHAT NEXT Unlikely to get ticket due to old age and inefficiency; son trying

BY THE WAY Son remains de facto MLA and minister

Technically on number-three position in the government, he failed to get any significant project. He did get approved the Satguru Kabir Construction Skill Development Centre but the work on that is lying stalled due to objections raised by the central government for using funds from the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board for the project. The politics of the Bhagat family remains focussed on attending bhog and marriages. He remains inaccessible to the public because of his age and, in his absence, his son Mohinder Bhagat runs the show, even taking calls from journalists and answering questions for him. He still enjoys support of the Bhagat community that has always played a major role in his standing.

KD Bhandari, 49 BJP

Not a single street in my area is in a bad shape. Cleanliness here is best in the city. I am going for re-election with satisfaction.

Constituency: JALANDHAR-NORTH Education: Graduate Assets declared in last polls: `1.7 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Congress candidate Avtar Henry by 1,703 votes 2007: Defeated Congress candidate Avtar Henry by 4,929 votes

ASSEMBLY RECORD

2 Questions asked: 0 Call attention moved: POWER PUNCH Close to the deputy CM, he was made CPS too WHAT NEXT Likely to get the ticket again on back of clout, work

Sarwan Singh Phillaur, 68 SAD

I was sent here 12 days before elections in 2012, yet I won. I put Kartarpur on the world map with the Jang-e-Azadi memorial.

Constituency: KARTARPUR (SC) Education: Graduate Assets declared in last polls: `2.7 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Cong’s Chaudhary Jagjit Singh by a margin of 823 votes 2007: He won the Phillaur segment; SAD’s Avinash Chander won here

ASSEMBLY RECORD

0 Questions asked: 0 Call attention moved: POWER PUNCH 6-time MLA among seniormost SAD leaders, close to CM WHAT NEXT Most likely to get the ticket again

Manoranjan Kalia, 58

I spent more than `120 crore. If I add last two tenures, my work for the city is more than what ministers did in Congress rule.

Constituency: JALANDHAR-CENTRAL Education: Law graduate Assets declared in last polls: `2.6 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Cong’s Rajinder Beri by a margin of 1,075 votes 2007: Defeated Congress candidate Tejinder Bittu by 19,009 votes

ASSEMBLY RECORD

3 Questions asked: 1 Call attention moved: POWER PUNCH Former state BJP chief known for his aggressive style WHAT NEXT Likely to get the ticket again as he remains popular

Saturday 29 October 2016

Beas dera chief’s kin is adviser to Badal

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28

Ahead of the Assembly poll in Punjab, the SAD-BJP government has appointed the brother-in-law of Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, head of the Radha Soami Dera, Beas, as Adviser to CM Parkash Singh Badal. He has been accorded the status of minister.

Parminder Singh Sekhon, the fifth adviser to the CM, is the brother of Dera chief’s wife. He is married to the daughter of former Advocate General HS Mattewal, Badal’s one-time aide. Sekhon’s appointment at the fag-end of the government tenure is significant. The Beas dera has a massive following, with devotees across the state.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Dera, which has never come out in support of a political party, has had a pro-Congress tilt with several Congress men among Dera chief’s circle of friends. Hence, the importance of a kin of the Dera chief being allotted a prominent position in the government cannot be ignored. Sources in the SAD say the move to have Sekhon as the CM’s adviser was orchestrated by Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia.The latter has been engaging with the Dera leadership over the past few years.

A management expert, Sekhon has had the experience of working with corporate entities in India and abroad. Also, he has been involved in the welfare of Sikhs in Singapore through the Khalsa Club Association.

SAD to fall back on Panthic agenda

Ruchika M. Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28

The Akali Dal, will be dishing out a heady cocktail of its core Panthic agenda with pride for Punjabiyat, as it readies itself for the poll battle.

The party is all set to launch a pre-election campaign beginning next week. The events in the next two months, which will be just abutting the imposition of the model code of conduct, were discussed in detail by senior party leaders at a meeting held today.

The CM and chief patron of the party, Parkash Singh Badal, chaired a meeting of ministers, party MLAs and former MLAs and discussed the path that the party would take to contest the election. It clearly indicated that they are once again falling back on its “time-tested” Panthic agenda, rather than the “development agenda” that party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been stressing on.

Usually, Sukhbir chairs the party meetings. Sources say both CM and his deputy asked all those present, including some members of the party’s core committee, to ensure that all major events being rolled out by the party in the coming weeks, get maximum gathering.

Over the past few months, the party has slowly been realising that it has to consolidate its core Panthic vote base, especially in wake of the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. It thus started working towards it. With elections knocking at the door, the party was quick to open the refurbished precincts of the Golden Temple. It has also been done days before the Gurpurb (November 14) when thousands of devotees throng the Golden Temple.

The idea is to wipe out the negativity that had cropped up against the party.

The party will be celebrating the Punjabi Suba diwas in Amritsar on a grand scale on November 1. This will be followed by the inauguration of Jang-e-Azadi memorial being built in Kartarpur on Novembver 6, and the start of the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib on November 27. A rally is also being planned in Moga on December 8, Badal’s birthday, where the focus will be on projecting him as the true political head of the Sikh community. The party will also be inaugurating the Ram Tirath temple in Amritsar, in order to woo the 32 percent Dalit vote base in the state.

PPCC chief ‘chides’ Bajwa for Sidhu rant

Says Rajya Sabha MP’s remarks adding to confusion

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28

Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today said party’s Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa was only adding to the confusion by issuing statements regarding the possible induction of Navjot Singh Sidhu into the party.

Advising the former PPCC chief to desist from issuing such statements, Amarinder said those in the party’s organisation structure were not aware of any such talks. The stand adopted by Amarinder and party’s Punjab affairs incharge Asha Kumari is contrary to the Bajwa’s statements.

Amarinder said even the general secretary of the party did not know who was talking to Sidhu. “If there are indeed any negotiations, the matter will be discussed with us. Otherwise, he (Sidhu) is welcome to join unconditionally,” he said.

For the last few days, Bajwa, while batting for the inclusion of the former cricketer into the party, had been stating that the matter was under the high command’s consideration. He had even hinted that Sidhu might join the party before or on Diwali.

Amarinder said Bajwa should refrain from issuing statements as it was the prerogative of those in the organisation structure. “Bajwa may have talked in good faith. But it is just adding to the confusion. I believe he should not issue any such statement,” he said.

The development has activated the anti-Amarinder factions. The involvement of certain senior leaders of anti-Amarinder camp in the “talks” with Sidhu gives credence to the reports that by roping in the ex-cricketer, these factions want to create a parallel centre of power.

Forgotten ‘champion’ of Punjabi Suba movement

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Jaitu (Bathinda), October 28

The “Punjabi Suba” celebrations held no meaning for the family of Seth Ram Nath, a well known freedom fighter and former Punjab minister who was the “champion” of the Punjabi Suba movement.

Nath was perhaps the lone Congress leader who had broken the party lines by supporting the Punjabi Suba movement of the Akalis in early 60s and who kept persuading the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to go in for creation of a language-based state of Punjab where the Sikhs were in a majority.

He also acted as one of the two emissaries (the other being Sardar Harcharan Singh) of Sant Fateh Singh, the main architect of the Punjab Suba movement. It was through these two emissaries that Nehru had appealed Sant Fateh Singh to give up his fast unto death for carving out of the Punjabi Suba movement in 1961.

Interestingly, the role of the two emissaries and Nehru sending a letter to Fateh Singh was duly and regularly highlighted by The Tribune in its issues of January 5, 6 and 7, 1961.

“What has pained us the most is that both Congress and the Akali Dal have forgotten the contribution of Seth Ram Nath towards the movement. It was he who was successful in persuading Nehru to create Punjabi Suba on linguistic basis at a time when almost every Congress leader was opposed to the idea,” said Advocate Ashok Seth (64) and Avinash Goyal (60), two of three sons of late Seth Ram Nath. His third son Amar Kant Goyal was a labour commissioner based in Chandigarh.

The successive state governments, led by both Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, almost did nothing to perpetuate the memory of Nath except for naming the sub-divisional civil hospital after him in 1988.

Nath had breathed his last on November 6, 1986. “No memorial has been raised in his memory. We have no vested interests. But, why is this discrimination with an all-acceptable personality like Nath, we can’t understand,” rued Ashok Seth.

Intriguingly, though Nath enjoyed a close relationship with Fateh Singh, but no member of his family was invited to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Fateh Singh at his native Badiala village in the district on Thursday.

Cong forms screening committee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 28

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today approved the screening committee for 2017 Punjab Assembly elections.

The committee, which sifts candidates for the elections and recommends panels of finalists to the central election committee of the Congress, will be headed by former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and will comprise AICC incharge of Punjab Asha Kumari, state president Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress Legislature Party leader in Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi, sitting Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra Rajeev Satav and former MP Meenakshi Natarajan.

Sonia approved the committee this afternoon indicating the party’s decision to move fast on nominations. Amarinder has already been batting for an early declaration of candidates.

Ferozepur memorials in a state of neglect

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, October 28

Even as the state government is busy setting up memorials, the existing ones remain in a sorry state.

The move has not gone down well with the Congress party that alleged that notwithstanding empty coffers, the SAD was trying to play memorial card with an eye on the upcoming Assembly polls.

“Instead of focusing on the upkeep of the existing ones, the government is on a memorial-expansion spree despite its poor fiscal condition which casts aspersion on its real intentions,” said Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Congress MLA.

“On the other hand, despite promises the government has failed to develop various historical sites in this border town, including National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala, Anglo-Sikh War Memorial and Bhagat Singh’’s hideout,” he added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced to release Rs 13.50 crore for the development of the Hussainiwala memorial, which included the construction of an auditorium, installation of light and sound system besides provision of other amenities. However, the project is stuck in red tape, besides the desired funds are awaited.

Even the historic Anglo-Sikh War Museum constructed in memory of valiant Sikh soldiers, who died during the Anglo-Sikh Wars of 1845-46 continues to remain neglected in the absence of adequate manpower and resources. This memorial is located on the banks of twin canals on the NH-95, where the two Anglo-Sikh wars were fought in nearby villages of Sabraon, Mudki and Ferozeshah. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi during her visit to this border town a few months ago had expressed resentment over the poor upkeep of this memorial which was dedicated to the nation by her late husband Sanjay Gandhi in 1976.

The process to develop the secret hideout of Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades situated in the city into a museum has still not gained momentum despite a public interest litigation filed by advocate HC Arora. The condition of other Anglo-Sikh war memorials in Mudki, Ferozeshah, Mishriwala and Sabraon also suffer from negligence. “So many war memorials and museums are fighting a battle for survival, but the government is upbeat only about the new projects,” said Parminder Singh Pinki, Congress legislator.

Punjab vs Haryana: Who’s the poor cousin now?

Haryana overtakes Punjab in finances

Nineteen years after the catastrophic partition of Punjab between India and Pakistan at the altar of religion, the border state’s map was redrawn again on November 1, 1966 — this time, on the basis of language. Out of the second split emerged a new state of Haryana, shrinking the parent state’s size to the Jalandhar division of pre-1947 Punjab.

The two neighbours have since been locked in intractable politico-legal fights over the sharing of river waters and territorial disputes centered on Chandigarh, their joint capital.

While the jury is still out on this contentious corollary, a potentially ticking time bomb, a fierce sibling rivalry of sorts between the two has played out in another arena – this one on the development front.

As both states celebrate their golden anniversary next week, it’s an apt occasion to track their growth trajectory in the last 50 years and raise the oft-asked question: Who is ahead, in what and why? Beginning today, Hindustan Times will answer this in its multi-part series on gains and gaps in the two state’s rollercoaster journey.

And, the verdict on this contest is loud and clear: Haryana, once dubbed a poor cousin of Punjab, has surged ahead of the senior state on key economic parameters such as average growth rate, per capita income, industrial boom, fiscal buoyancy, foreign direct investment and even sports.

Ironically, Punjab’s golden era began soon after its tumultuous trifurcation, powered by the Green Revolution that in turn was nurtured by the Bhakra dam, the newly-built Punjab Agricultural University and consolidation of lands.Incredible as it may sound today, the Partition-wracked state clocked a phenomenal growth rate of 8% — rivalling the Californian economy — much through the ’60s and ’70s, while India was still stuck in the growth rate of 2%.

The dream run lasted until 1984, the year when the state was revenue surplus – in contrast to the `1.24-lakh-crore debt that it’s now saddled with. Thereafter, it’s been a sorry tale of a historic headstart turning into a tailspin, accelerated during the lost decade of the violent ’80s.

Paradoxically, Punjab’s loss of economic dynamism overlaps with the ground-breaking economic reforms of the ’90s that scripted India’s growth story. While the frontline state missed the bus on virtually every “revolution” – IT, automobile manufacturing, biotechnology, and retail – Haryana, in contrast, made the most of the new wave of opportunities in its rapid-fire growth.

Yet, Punjab can boast of a few bright spots – the biggest contribution to the national food kitty, surplus power, and an infra boom, besides an impressive rebound on education and health.

Haryana’s trailblazing success is not without a dark underbelly manifested in the worst girl child sex ratio in India and an unequitable growth — a critical marker of human development.

Half a century on, the key takeaway for both states is that the quality of governance is the biggest differentiator in making a leader or a laggard. It’s a lesson their rulers would do well to learn as they turn the page to the next 50 years.

Service sector drives state’s growth

Efforts are on to boost agriculture and manufacturing. We are focusing on resource mobilisation and job creation P RAGHAVENDRA RAO, addl chief secy, finance

CHANDIGARH: When 1956-batch IAS officer SK Mishra was handed the Haryana cadre after the state was formed in 1966, his colleagues who remained in Punjabjoked that if he doesn’t get his salary, he can count on them.

PARVEEN KUMAR/HT FILEINDUSTRIAL CONCERN: The Maruti Suzuki plant in the Industrial Model Township (IMT), Manesar, in Gurgaon district after labour unrest in 2012. Haryana’s manufacturing sector needs a boost to help the state on the growth trajectory.

“There was no optimism. No one was sure Haryana would be a viable state,” says the retired bureaucrat, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan for distinguished civil service.

But Haryana, underdeveloped in agriculture, industry, and infrastructure as compared to Punjab, made good progress. RAPID GROWTH

Bolstered by improvements in agriculture and manufacturing, the state saw an upturn in the service sector.

While Haryana had a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Rs 332 crore at constant prices in 1967-68, it rose to Rs 3,96,642 crore in 2015-16.

Haryana grew faster than most states with a decadal average growth rate higher than the national gross domestic product (GDP) for most of this period. It had an annual average growth rate of GSDP of 4.06% from 1970-71 and 1979-80 as compared to the GDP growth rate of 3.13% during the corresponding period.In the next decade, its GSDP growth rate was 7.01%, while the GDP growth rate was 5.89%.

Barring a dip from 1990-91 and from 1999-2000, the trend continued.

The state saw an average growth of 8.5% between 2005-06 and 201415 with only Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu performing better.

“The demand for a separate state was raised because areas that became Haryana were neglected and most of the development was taking place in Punjab. Visionary leadership and a motivated bureaucracy worked,” says Mishra.

The per capita income (PCI) was higher than the national average in the past 10 years. Revenue collections, particularly value-added tax (VAT), were robust. CHALLENGES AHEAD

But there are concerns. The tertiary or service sector is doing well, while the primary (agriculture and allied) and secondary (industry) sectors have not been consistent in growth.

There are regional disparities in income levels and development. Most of the PCI comes from six of the 22 districts.

A revenue-surplus state till a decade ago, Haryana today has a huge revenue deficit.

Additional chief secretary, finance, P Raghavendra Rao, however, says the fundamentals are strong and economy robust. “The contribution of the service sector is growing. Efforts are on to boost agriculture and manufacturing. We are focusing on resource mobilisation and job creation. The state is poised for growth,” he says.

Drug, money use: Sukhbir dubs EC concern as routine

The frustrated leaders of the Congress and AAP have given fictitious feedback to EC. Both the Congress and AAP have started fearing defeat in upcoming assembly polls. SUKHBIR BADAL, deputy CM

BATHINDA: The deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has termed concerns of Election Commission of India regarding use of drugs and money distribution in the upcoming 2017 state assembly elections as a routine matter.

On the sidelines of inauguration of railway overbridge on Bathinda-Malout road, Sukhbir said ECI is doing its job, while state government has been focusing on their own activities.

It may be mentioned here that during his recent visit to Punjab, chief election commissioner Naseem Zaidi on the basis of feedback of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had issued instructions to the police authorities.

The instructions were regarding the preparation of a robust strategy by November 15 to check the drug menace. “The frustrated leaders of the Congress and AAP have given fictitious feedback to ECI,” said the deputy chief minister (CM).

“Both the Congress and AAP have started fearing defeat in coming assembly elections,” deputy CM said.

He added the apprehension among both the opposition parties can be gauged from the fact that their leaders are approaching ECI on every issue.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir said the AAP will face the fate of People’s Party of Punjab as the people of Punjab will end AAP’s political journey.

Addressing the gathering, Sukhbir said railway overbridge on Bathinda-Malout-Muktsar road worth `72.40 crore will prove boon for the commuters.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir also inaugurated revamped Bhai Ghaniya Chowk on the occasion.

Prominent among those presented on the occasion were SAD MLA Saroop Chand Singla, Darshan Singh Kotfatta and mayor Balwant Rai Nath.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir’s visit created traffic chaos as heavy traffic jam was witnessed on Rose Garden road after police blocked the traffic to clear way for deputy CM’s cavalcade.

Moreover, Gurmeet Singh, superintendent of police in deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s security misbehaved with media persons when they tried to talk to Sukhbir on the occasion.

Misgovernance, militancy setbacks

PUNJAB

Uneducated leaders with limited political horizon, who fought for Punjabi Suba, ruined Punjab AJIT SINGH CHATHA, former chief secyCHANDIGARH: Resilience is Punjab’s strength.

KESHAV SINGH/HT FILE

ROAD TO RECOVERY: The flyover at Zirakpur town on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway is a sign of growing infrastructure in Punjab. The pace of progress has been slow but the state is hopeful of finding its way out of its fiscal woes.

As celebrations to mark 50 years of being a Punjabi Suba (state) begin, bouncing back to its prime slot as India’s growth engine is the challenge the border state faces. Geographically, the Punjabi Suba is roughly equal to what was once the Jalandhar division of post-Partition Punjab before the reorganisation of 1966.

When the Congress government led by Giani Gurmukh Singh Mussafir took oath on November 1, 1966, Punjab opened its account with a Rs 1.5-crore deficit.

“Opening with a cash balance of Rs 4.39 crore (Rs 6.39 lakh revised figures),” finance minister Baldev Prakash announced on March 28, 1967, while presenting the budget for 1967-68.PROUD PAST

During the first two decades, Punjab was the highest per-capita income state in the country and clocked the fastest growth rate.

After 1994, the debt rose to 40% of the GSDP and revenue deficit kept rising due to high interest payments. The revenue deficit increased from Rs 244 crore in 1988-89 to Rs 2,336 crore in 2000-01.

This year, Punjab will pay Rs 10,788 crore as interest payments.

With 15,000 small-scale units, Punjab accounted for 15% of the nation’s smallscale industry. Backed by rapid growth in agriculture, the state was revenue surplus until 1985-86.

LOST ITS MOJO

The 1971 war with Pakistan, decadelong militancy in the 1980s and aftermath of Operation Bluestar took a toll on the state’s economy. Once a fast-growing state, it slipped into the category of slow-growing ones. Former chief secretary KR Lakhanpal says, “Punjab’s plight is entirely due to misgovernance in the past 25 years. Punjab has lost its mojo. It will take a heroic leadership and Herculean effort to revive it.”

Such is the misgovernance that Punjab ministers are exempt from paying tax and known for spending lakhs a month on fuel for official vehicles.

Punjab remained under President’s rule for eight years and five months on six occasions. The Congress ruled the state for 19 years and the Shiromani Akali Dal for 22 years.

A former chief secretary (1992-95) Ajit Singh Chatha blames the culture of freebies for the fiscal woes. “Uneducated leaders with limited political vision, who fought for Punjabi Suba, ruined Punjab,” says Chatha, who was deputy commissioner of Lahaul and Spiti when Punjab was trifurcated. “Punjab’s history offers a glimmer of hope…it will find a way out of the current morass,” says Lakhanpal.

NEXT: AGRICULTURE