Capt softens stand on Sidhu, front
Says anti-Badal forces welcome
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Rajasansi (Amritsar), Oct 13
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Rajasansi (Amritsar), Oct 13
Softening his stand on Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Awaaz-e-Punjab’s potential merger with the Congress, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today invited all anti-Badal forces to strengthen the party for the state’s betterment.
On the sidelines of his visit to the grain markets in Attari, Amarinder said, “Not just Sidhu, all those who have a secular approach and accept the Congress programmes and policies are welcome, but without any terms and conditions. Earlier, we had to act against Jagmeet Brar as indiscipline cannot be tolerated.”
The former CM had said recently, “The Sidhus are the most indisciplined people and there can’t be any alliance with them.”
Meanwhile, sources said Awaaz-e-Punjab’s preconditions for a merger were the Deputy CM’s post and a Cabinet berth for the front in case the Congress was voted to power.
Pressure from Delhi: SAD
Akali Dal spokesman Daljit Cheema said: “Sidhu & Co, whom Amarinder had termed a ‘tonga party’, have now become important for him due to pressure from the Congress high command.”
AAP leader back in Congress fold
- Amarinder on Thursday inducted former Congress leader Major Rajbir Singh Ajnala, who had switched over to AAP recently, back into the party fold. He was a ticket aspirant from Ajnala Assembly constituency, but AAP picked Sunny Rajpreet Singh Randhawa. Rajbir is the brother of former Congress MLA Harpartap Ajnala and son of former Speaker Harcharan Singh Ajnala. Amarinder dismissed AAP as a “party of crooks who want to use Punjab for vested political interests.”
Bains rules out merger
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, October 13
Independent legislator Simarjit Singh Bains has ruled out the Awaaz-e-Punjab’s merger with the Congress. Back here from New Delhi last night, he said talks for a pre-poll alliance were on with the central leadership of the Congress as well as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The state leadership of both parties does not figure in the talks, he added.
He further said, “Awaaz-e-Punjab is united. There are no differences among its members.” Bains reiterated that Navjot Singh Sidhu would take the final call on forging an alliance.
He said Capt Amarinder Singh was “frustrated over some pre-poll surveys that are not very flattering”
May go solo: Pargat
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 13
Three weeks after Awaaz-e-Punjab announced that it won’t form a party and will rather support the Congress or AAP, the front is again contemplating to go it alone, according to former Akali leader Pargat Singh.
“Congress and AAP leaders are giving conflicting statements about our front. We have had enough,” said Pargat after the Awaaz-e-Punjab quartet met in New Delhi yesterday.
On his talks with Aapna Punjab Party (APP) chief Sucha Singh Chhotepur, suspended AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi and former AAP leader Dr Daljit Singh, Pargat said, “I have been in touch with them and have been apprising them of our moves.”
Zila Parishad SAD member joins Cong
Our Correspondent
Abohar, October 13
In a major setback to the ruling SAD, Zila Parishad member Yadwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Sonu Sandhu, joined the Congress today when local MLA Sunil Jakhar visited his Dhaani Chiragh residence on the outskirts of the town.
Among those present were Youth Congress former district president Sandeep Jakhar and rural Congress president Balbir Singh Danewalia. Sandhu belongs to a family of veteran political activists who also hold key offices in the SAD government.
Surgical strikes: Farmers demand relief for evacuation
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 13
The Border Area Sangharsh Committee has demanded compensation for the residents of border areas, residing within 10 km from the International Border, of Punjab who were evacuated in the aftermath of surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
This was decided at a meeting held under the leadership of its state president, Arsal Singh Sandhu, here today. Representatives of the committee from all border districts, including Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka.
Sandhu and other farmer leaders flayed the SAD-BJP coalition government for creating unnecessary panic to convert the diplomatic and military stand-off between India and Pakistan to realise their political ends.
Committee general secretary Rattan Singh Randhawa said the unwarranted step further compounded the problems of the farmers, who were waiting to harvest paddy.
He sought suitable compensation for the evacuation move in which farmers and other residents of the border villages were evacuated.
Captain vows to set up SEZ along Punjab border
Tribune News Service
Attari (Amritsar), Oct 13
State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today promised to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) within 20 km along the Punjab border after coming to power.
Interacting with farmers of Attari and Raja Sansi in various mandis, Amarinder also expressed concern over the distress sale of paddy by farmers much below the minimum support price, as the government agencies were not purchasing the produce on time.
One of the farmers at Attari told Amarinder that he was not able to sell his paddy as the procurement agencies were raising petty objections. He said he was being offered Rs 1,200 per quintal despite his produce being right up to the mark.
In Raja Sansi, Amarinder verified the moisture content of the paddy. While Markfed official claimed 18 per cent moisture, on cross-checking it turned out to be 16 per cent only. He asked the officials to cooperate with the farmers.
He accused the Badal-led state government of pushing the debt-ridden farmers in the state to commit suicide due to “anti-farmer policies”. Amarinder lamented that as many as 10 farmers had ended their lives in the state in October alone.
He appealed to the farmers to have faith in him and refrain from taking such an extreme step. He said a special development plan for the border areas had been planned by the Congress under which special economic zone would be created within 20-km radius, where special concessions would be provided to the industry. “This will lead to employment generation. If Pakistan can have the industry right up to the border, there is no reason why can’t India do the same,” he added.
Reiterating his commitment on waving off farmers’ debts, Amarinder said nearly 600 party workers were currently engaged in a door-to-door campaign interacting with farmers as part of the party’s farmer outreach campaign “Karza Kurki Khatam - Fasal Di Poori Rakam”.
The campaign, which was launched in Amritsar yesterday, has already reached out to 20 lakh people in just a day.
AAP fields Bhagat as Jalandhar (West) candidate, draws flak
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 13
Following the declaration of recent 29 seats’ list of the AAP, activists in Jalandhar have opposed the selection of the Jalandhar (West) candidate in the city, while demanding that another candidate be chosen to represent the constituency.
Activists of the Aam Admi Party, from the Jalandhar West Constituency, expressed resentment against the candidacy of Darshan Bhagat from Jalandhar West. Stating that the party had given preference to Darshan Bhagat over a well read doctor Dr. Shiv Dyal Mali in the area, activists said this wasn’t in keeping with AAP’s vision of a better political alternative. Demanding candidature for Dr, Mali from the area they also said they shall meet Arvind Kejriwal on the issue.
They said while the chosen candidate Darshan Bhagat is plus 2 pass, he has also formerly been in the BJP from which he had been ousted for six years in 2012. In choosing him, they said, the party had ignored the well read MBBS doctor Dr. Shiv Dyal Mali.
Belonging to the Kabirpanthi Megh Bhagat community, the activists said while the Aam Admi Party stands for change in the political system, corruption free country and unemployment free state, it should have brought in a well-read candidate like Dr. Mali from the area.
Addressing the press, Labh Bhagat said, “As many as 50,000 voters are from the Megh Bhagat community in the area had suffered due to poverty, illiteracy etc and due to lack of proper political representation for them for over 70 years.”
He said some people had – for their vested interests downplayed Dr. Mali’s work and contribution in the area twisting his sir name as not representational to the community – even though he belongs to the Bhagat Community - while choosing Darshan Bhagat over him just for carrying the Bhagat sir name.
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