VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Akali leader arrested for scribe’s murder

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 22

A day after the murder of a journalist, the police today arrested Akali councillor Karamjit Pammi. He was booked yesterday on the charge of gunning down Kewal Krishan, who also worked as a financier.

The police said they had recovered the revolver used in the crime and confirmed that “only one shot was fired, that pierced through the victim, killing him on the spot”.

BhagwantMann condemns killing

Chandigarh: Condemning the journalist’s murder, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann on Saturday appealed to the media to wage a united fight against the “high-handedness” of the Akalis. “If the media does not get united, the Akalis may resort to more such attacks,” he said.

Dope figures fake: AAP

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 22

Rejecting the claim of the SAD-BJP government that only 1.27 per cent of the youths who appeared for the police recruitments failed the dope test, AAP spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira today alleged that the given data was fudged.

He asked the government to conduct a fair dope test in the CM’s own Badal village to know about the extent of the drug menace in the state.

Terming the dope test figures as state-sponsored data, Khaira alleged that the Deputy CM was trying to downplay the extent of addiction in the state to protect Bikram Majithia and the drug mafia in the state. Khaira added that if there were a few drug addicts, why had the Badal government opened de-addiction centres in every nook and corner of the state?

Cong leader threatens stir over shrine murals

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 22

Congress leader Inderjit Singh Zira today submitted a memorandum at the Akal Takht secretariat, seeking a change in the frescoes and murals of the Golden Temple.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh was not present in his office at that time.

Zira also served an ultimatum, threatening an agitation in case no action was taken in the next few days.

Zira, who had once been a minister in the Parkash Singh Badal government, claimed that some of these wall paintings were in contravention to the Sikh philosophy and ideology. He said he had clicked photographs of some of these pictures.

Citing the instance of a mural, he said it showed a person with a crown over his head and two women standing on either side.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on the other hand, maintained that the murals and frescoes were part of the heritage and could not be changed.

Cong-Sidhu saga: All about who blinks first

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 22

There was a time when the Congress was keen on having former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu on board and PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh had invited him to join the party. That’s not the case anymore.

The Congress’ stance on Sidhu is different today from what it was two months ago when Amarinder was willing to offer the cricketer-turned-politician his own Lok Sabha seat (Amritsar), besides accommodating his wife from a winnable seat for the 2017 Assembly poll. Today, the party wants Sidhu to join unconditionally.

A section of top party leaders feel Sidhu missed his political high point first by showing indecisiveness about whether to join AAP or the Congress and then by challenging the authority of the leader who invited him to join the Congress.

Amarinder was naturally shocked by Awaaz-e-Punjab’s “without Capt” condition for joining the Congress, considering that the party’s election campaign in the state revolves around him.

No wonder the Congress hardened its line on Sidhu and abandoned all visible efforts to woo him. Part of this strategic shift was rooted in the belief that Sidhu had run out of political options in Punjab.

“Sidhu’s talks with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal have failed; he has quit the BJP and is on the warpath with the Akalis. If he has to stay politically relevant in the state, he has only one option left — the Congress. But he continues to play a game of oneupmanship when he has no party, no organisation and no supporters,” a senior Congress leader said.

Non-organisational players in action?

Chandigarh: As part of its poll strategy, the Congress has fielded non-organisational players for talks with Navjot Singh Sidhu’s outfit, said sources. Capt Amarinder Singh and Asha Kumari have repeatedly said the party has not held talks with Awaaz-e-Punjab. A couple of senior state leaders are batting for Sidhu. “Every seat counts for the Congress. He should be inducted in the party interests,” said Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa. Another former PPCC chief, Shamsher Singh Dullo, is also keen on Sidhu’s entry. TNS

Talks must be with right people: Asha 

Party’s Punjab incharge Asha Kumari says, “The Congress is a huge party with several leaders. People can talk to any leader but unless they talk to the right people, it doesn’t take anyone anywhere.”

Clamour for deputy CM’s post to Hindu face grows in Cong

SOCIAL ENGINEERING? Senior leader Brahm Mohindra says party has dearth of Hindu faces in Malwa from where Akalis had 12 candidates in 2012 against Cong’s six

We must realise that Akalis are hijacking our vote bank. We need to learn from mistakes and allot more tickets to Hindus this time, apart from promising them Dy chief minister’s post. BRAHM MOHINDRA, Punjab Congress vice-president

PATIALA: Even as the Congress is yet to declare the chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, there’s an increasing clamour in the party for projecting a Hindu face for the deputy chief minister’s post.

Vice-president of Congress’ state unit and MLA Brahm Mohindra has urged the party high command to promise to voters that a Hindu leader will be made deputy chief minister if it forms a government in 2017, apart from allocating more tickets to Hindu faces.

That there is no love lost between Mohindra and Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh is no secret. Last year, Captain visited Mohindra’s house to break the ice. The two are now on talking terms but still have a difference of opinion, and many a time Mohindra has toed the party high command line.

The demand of Mohindra, a five-time MLA, comes close on the heels of Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Dullo’s assertion that projection of a Dalit face for CM or Dy CM’s post will do a lot of good to the party. “The need of the hour is to win the confidence of Hindu voters,” he had said.

This is a fact that there are not many credible Hindu leaders in the Congress, especially in Malwa region, who can strike the right notes with the community.

Malwa region has 53 constituencies spread over 12 districts. In the 2012 assembly elections, only six candidates from Malwa were Hindus — Brahm Mohindra, Patiala (rural); Arvind Khanna from Dhuri; Aman Arora from Sunam; Mangat Rai Bansal from Maur; Naresh Kataria from Zira and Joginder Pal Jain from Moga. Of these six, only Mohindra remains in the Congress.Now, only Mohindra and Vijayinder Singla are active, while former finance minister Surinder Singla is dormant due to illness.

Mohindra said that in 2012, party failed to get the desired votes of Hindus as the Shiromani Akali Dal had allocated 12 seats to the community.

“I am raising a genuine issue. We must realise that Akali Dal is hijacking our vote bank. Hindu community has traditionally been Congress supporter, but due to some issues within the party and the better social-engineering of SAD, more votes in 2012 went to the Akali Dal. We must learn from mistakes and allot a major chunk of tickets to Hindus, apart from promising in manifesto that Dy CM will be a Hindu face,” Mohindra said.

He said Hindu voters were disillusioned with the Akalis and the BJP, and it was the right time to woo the community back.

Mohindra said he had apprised the party high command of the fact that there was a dearth of Hindu leaders in Punjab. “If we look at Malwa, I am the only Hindu MLA from this belt. Others who got the Congress ticket in 2012 either lost or joined the Akali Dal,” he said.

“The Congress must do socialengineering in Malwa belt as it is badly needed,” he said. When pointed out that the Congress was a secular party, Mohindra said that didn’t mean “we should not give proper representation to a community that gave a lot to the party”.

Aruna Chaudhary, 59

Congress

Being in opposition, I could not get any works sanctioned. I protested against the government’s stepmotherly treatment. BY THE WAY Has painting as a serious hobby

Constituency: DINANAGAR (SC-Reserved) Education: Graduate Assets declared in last polls: `4.9 cr Electoral record 2012: Defeated Bishan Dass Dhupar of the BJP by 12,927 votes 2007: Lost to Sita Ram of the BJP by a margin of 842 votes Assembly record 55 Questions asked: 2 Call attention moved: Power punch Family’s Cong history; father-in-law was four-time MLA What next Close to Amarinder; no rivals in party, so likely to get ticket

 

HOW SHE PERFORMED

Being an opposition MLA, she could not get any major development projects sanctioned for her constituency. Whatever little she did was from the MPLAD funds provided by former Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa and former Rajya Sabha member Ashwani Kumar. With `2 crore, she got two pontoon bridges constructed to connect with around a dozen villages across the Ravi. She remained in touch with voters for which she has earned goodwill. Besides highlighting issues related to her constituency in the assembly, she actively participated in protests against the SAD-BJP regime. The constituency hasn’t seen much change on the ground, though, as the basic infrastructure remains as it was in 2012.voterspeak

Nothing happened in the area in the last five years as our MLA belongs to the opposition. We paid the price for that. No grudges against MLA! Deepak Mahajan, 59, poultry feed traderShe could not do much, but is accessible. She is educated, understands problems. I’m sure if her party wins, she will be minister and work hard. Amit Kumar, 39, motorcycle showroom owner

Des Raj Dhugga, 53

SAD

I am 100% satisfied. It was a new segment for me but I gave my best. There is no reason why I will not be re-elected. BY THE WAY Known to be a music buff

Constituency: SRI HARGOBINDPUR (SC-Reserved) Education: Class 10 Assets declared in last polls: ` 1 cr 2012: Defeated Balwinder Singh Laddi of Congress by 7,437 votes 2007: He won from Garhdiwala; this seat was won by SAD’s Balbir S Bath Assembly record 0 Questions asked: 0 Call attention moved: Power punch Three-time MLA, he is close to CM Parkash Singh Badal What next No challenge from within party; likely to get ticket

  

HOW HE PERFORMED

He managed to get the first government college for his constituency. Earlier, students had to travel around 30km to Batala for higher education. He also got 15 government schools upgraded. There were also projects of village connectivity by repair of link roads. Dhugga did distribute grants to sarpanches but failed to monitor the further distribution. Also, Congress sarpanches were ignored in this distribution. To shun the label of outsider, he purchased a house in Sri Hargobindpur and remained available to the voters. However, the two main towns of the area — Sri Hargobindpur and Ghoman — are still to witness any major project or even general uplift in infrastructure, particularly the roads.voterspeak

He failed to meet a key demand of farmers — grain market in Ghoman. Though he gave grants to villages, he did not ensure proper monitoring. Gurslamat Singh Aulakh, 68, farmer, retd govt employee

A government college was a major demand which the MLA pursued and succeeded in fulfilling. He also ensured better village connectivity by getting link roads repaired.

Ashwani Sekhri, 57

Congress

Even if our party is in opposition, I was able to get projects in UPA tenure. Work is delayed because state govt has not given funds. BY THE WAY Strict about his morning walk

Constituency: BATALA Education: Law graduate Assets declared in last polls: `6.7 cr Electoral record 2012: Defeated SAD’s Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal by 18,885 votes 2007: Lost to BJP’s Jagdish Sahni by a margin of 86 votes Assembly record 33 Questions asked: 1 Call attention moved: Power punch Prominent Hindu face in state Cong, has strong family legacy What next Despite local unit’s opposition, he is likely to get ticket

  

HOW HE PERFORMED

Though he claims that he has got major projects sanctioned from the previous UPA regime at the Centre, none of these has got off the ground in the constituency. These include a 600-MW thermal power plant for Batala; development in slum areas, and housing for the poor under Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana. For the projects staying on paper, he blames the state’s non-release of funds. He remained at loggerheads with his party colleagues opposed to him for most part of his tenure. He invited criticism for supporting the BJP in the Batala municipal council. He also invited the ire of his fellow MLAs from the district for not taking part in agitations against the state government. He was also criticised for not being available in Batala.voterspeak

There is a dire need of cleaning up the town but the MLA failed. He had the right connections in the UPA regime but failed to bring new industry. Ashwani Kansra, 48, college lecturer He paid no heed to security of women. He also failed to get the bus stand shifted, and it continues to be a traffic hazard. In the assembly, he did not raise Batala’s issues actively.

Jagwinder Kaur, 45, teacher

Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, 58

Congress

I could’ve done a lot had there been a Congress government. SAD’s halqa in-charges are given more importance. BY THE WAY Runs NGO and projects for women

Constituency: QADIAN Education: Graduate Assets declared in last polls: `17.9 cr Electoral record 2012: Defeated Sewa Singh Sekhwan of the SAD by a margin of 16,156 votes 2007: She did not contest; Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal of SAD won this seat Assembly record 47 Questions asked: 0 Call attention moved: Power punch Wife of RS MP and state Cong ex-chief Partap Bajwa What next She or her son would contest; Partap Bajwa to decide

  

HOW SHE PERFORMED

Being a Congress MLA, she could not manage to bring any major development project from the state government for her constituency. Her only help came from the MPLAD fund of her husband Partap Singh Bajwa who was Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur till 2014 and is now in the Rajya Sabha. As Gurdaspur district Congress committee was dominated by those opposed to her husband, she kept away from protests that party colleagues organised at the district level. However, she did protest, through a letter to the CM, about working of the Akali halqa in-charge Sewa Singh Sekhwan and distribution of funds. She complained about not being invited to government functions where again Sekhwan, whom she had defeated, was given prominence.voterspeak

Whatever development took place was done by the SAD and its halqa in-charge Sewa Singh Sekhwan (whom Charanjit had defeated). She was rarely seen in the area.

Sangram Chaudhary, 30, rice miller

She was never in touch with voters. Now, Congress leaders are coming here after lying low for four years. The constituency lacks basic infrastructure and facilities of health.

KEJRIWAL A PAPER TIGER, SAYS SAD

CHANDIGARH: Dubbing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal a “paper tiger”, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday said the Delhi chief minister’s move to release multiple election manifestos was an attempt to gain cheap publicity. “A single and comprehensive manifesto is enough to showcase the vision, mission and the programmes of a party. But Kejriwal adopted a policy of issuing multiple manifestos to confuse people and gain publicity,” SAD legislators NK Sharma and Swarup Singla said in a statement ahead of AAP convener’s visit to Ludhiana to release party’s manifesto for the industry and traders.

Akali factions clash in Lambi; 5 hurt in firing

Dispute over development project turns violent

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi/Muktsar, October 22

Two Akali factions today clashed over a development project at Mahnikhera village in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home constituency Lambi. They also allegedly opened fire, causing injuries to five persons. Two of them were referred from the Malout Civil Hospital to the Faridkot hospital.One of the factions was led by sarpanch Guramrit Singh Gill, son of Punjabi actor Guggu Gill, and the other was led by Cheta Singh, brother of Kulwinder Punia, president of the Malout arhtiyas’ association.The clash erupted over the installation of solar lights in streets. Guramrit Gill said, “Our two activists, Randeep and Rajbinder alias Bindia, were going on a tractor loaded with solar power lights. Suddenly, some persons came and opened fire on them. They were carrying two .12-bore guns and a pistol. Both sustained bullet injuries. Thereafter, they ran away with the tractor and a pistol of one of our activists. One of our other activists, Ajaypal Singh, also got injured in the scuffle.”On the other hand, Kulwinder Singh Punia, said, “The sarpanch of our village is not installing lights in the streets of our supporters. My brother Cheta Singh had even raised objection over this on Friday and the work was stalled. However, the sarpanch’s men again started the installation of the streetlights on Saturday. When our activists tried to stop them, they opened fire. Our two activists have suffered bullet injuries and are admitted at the Community Health Centre in Lambi. They were not carrying any weapon.” The police are investigating.On September 15, five persons were injured in a clash between two Akali factions over the distribution of cheques to poor families for the repair of houses at Sehna Khera village.