VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Cong in talks with CPI, not Sidhu

Capt says national party won’t negotiate seats with ‘bunch of individuals’

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

The Congress has started discussions with the Communist Party of India (CPI) for a potential pre-poll tie-up, even as the party today reiterated that it was not involved in talks with Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Awaaz-e-Punjab.

“The CPI’s state leadership approached us through our Punjab leaders. We have formed a committee to see if this matter can be taken forward,” Congress incharge for Punjab Asha Kumari told The Tribune. She said the party would similarly confirm talks with others, including Sidhu, as and when it happened.

Rejecting reports of the Congress engaging Sidhu with the offer of the Deputy CM’s post and 13 seats, Asha said, “We are not talking to Sidhu nor has he approached us.”

The committee set up by the party comprises AICC secretary (Punjab) Harish Choudhry, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and MLA Lal Singh. The CPI’s vote share in the 2012 Assembly poll was nearly 1 per cent.

The panel was formed after Hardev Arshi, secretary general, CPI’s Punjab unit, got in touch with state Congress leaders, expressing willingness to hold talks about a pre-poll arrangement. The CPM has so far ruled out a similar pact despite Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh urging CPM secretary general Sitaram Yechury to consider a truck to prevent the division of “secular votes”.

On Sidhu, Amarinder said the talk about the Congress offering him the Deputy CM’s post and 13 seats was “ridiculous”. “These are wild speculations. A national party won’t discuss seat-sharing with a bunch of individuals who cannot even win their own seats. Among the five Awaaz-e-Punjab members, Sidhu, his wife, Pargat Singh and the junior Bains brother (Simarjit) cannot win their own Assembly seats. Should the Congress negotiate with losers? We have said again and again we are not talking to Sidhu,” Amarinder told The Tribune.

He is scheduled to meet Rahul here tomorrow to discuss the latter’s plans to tour Punjab.

Give in writing on farmers’ debt waiver: Sukhbir to Capt

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 20

Terming the promise of writing off farmers’ debt by the Congress a lie, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal has demanded that Capt Amarinder Singh and party MLAs must give in writing that their personal property should be sold off to pay farmers if their government fails to honour the promise.

The Deputy CM was here for a state-level function at Guru Nanak Stadium to celebrate 50 years of Punjabi Suba.

On the Congress’ campaign making farmers fill forms for claiming debt waiver when the Congress comes to power, Sukhbir said that Amarinder was lying about waiving farmers’ debts.

“Along with the forms, Amarinder must also give an affidavit to farmers that if he fails, he would sell off his palace and property to pay farmers. Congress MLAs must also sign a similar affidavit in their respective constituencies,” he said.

Sukhbir said that the Congress, in fact, charged tubewell bills from farmers for three years, but it was the SAD-BJP government that waived those.

“Amarinder doesn’t talk about five years of his rule because he is ashamed of his term,” he said. “We speak with pride about our achievements in the past nine years, but tell me five things that the Congress has done for the state in their five years,” he said.

On why no names of the BJP leadership were in the book ‘9 Saal Punjab Ch Vikas De’ released by the government, he said that it was a book of the government, not of the Akali or BJP leadership.

On AAP convener Kejriwal, he said that he only creates trouble whenever he comes to the state. He said there has been discrimination with Punjab on the issue of Chandigarh and in not giving Punjabi-speaking areas of Haryana to Punjab. “We have been struggling to get Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas of Haryana for 50 years and we will continue to do so,” he said.

No names, pics of Suba heroes

• The names or pictures of the leaders who struggled and made sacrifices for Punjabi Suba could be seen during the celebrations of the 50 years of Punjabi Suba. But several hoardings adorning the stadium only had pictures of CM Parkash Singh Badal.

Govt spent Rs 176 crore on promoting itself: Channi

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20

Denouncing the “fund-starved” Akali Dal-BJP government, Punjab Congress Legislature Party chief Charanjit Singh Channi today said the government was wasting crores on publicity to cover up its non-performance and non-governance since 2007.

In a press release, Channi said the Badal government spent a whopping Rs 176 crore on promoting the government’s achievements and now they have kept a budget of Rs 150 crore in the election year. Sharing the information procured under the RTI Act, Channi said, “The total expenditure in all these years comes to be Rs 176.31 crore. The budget for the current year is Rs 150 crore. Besides, they have also kept Rs 50 crore for the field publicity and impact-assessment related jobs for only one year.”

The expenditure on propaganda on Google and Facebook from March to August last totalled Rs 31.2 lakh. Then there is expenditure for display advertisements under a separate head. He said the allocation under this head during the current year was Rs 75 crore. This all was being done just seeing the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state, he said.

He said the Congress after coming into power would order probe into such wasteful expenditure. He said the government had earmarked Rs 50 crore for impact assessment during the current year. Channi said the impact was visible from the luxury buses of the Badals plying on every route in the state.

The Congress would approach the state Election Commission to stop this misuse at once because all this was being done to mislead the voters of Punjab, he alleged. “This is a government that believes more in showmanship rather than delivery,” he said.

Awaaz-e-Punjab leaders to meet in Delhi today

As the Congress leadership today claimed that all reports of talks with former MP and Awaaz-e-Punjab leader Navjot Singh Sidhu were baseless, Jalandhar Cantonment MLA and front leader Pargat Singh said such reactions were coming as the parties were feeling insecure because of their presence, particularly that of Sidhu.

Pargat, who has been claiming that their front incharge Sidhu is in talks with both Congress and AAP, said, “The four of us, including Bains brothers, will meet tomorrow in Delhi and decide the future course of action there.”

He said, “It is not Sidhu who is approaching the parties. Instead it’s the parties that are knocking at the doors of his flat in Delhi trying to negotiate with him.” — TNS

Rahul assures debt waiver for farmers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 20

Residents have been receiving recorded message from Rahul Gandhi, vice-president of the Congress, in which he has assured that if the party comes to power, they would waive off debts of farmers.

While listing achievements of the UPA government in agriculture sector, Gandhi said, “We are aware that farmers are in trouble. When we were in power, we helped them a lot. We increased the minimum support price (MSP) of crops.”

“You must know that in 2008, we waived off Rs 70,000 crore debt of farmers to rescue them. I promise that the Congress will hear voice of farmers. We will waive off debt after coming to power. Strengthen the Congress and the poor,” said Gandhi in a recorded message.

The phone message includes a jingle in which a popular singer assures farmers that the Congress will get back their happiness and crops will flourish. The commentator gives a call “Chaunda a Punjab, Captain di Sarkar.” However, farmers in the district are taking the recorded message as a pole stunt of the Congress Party.

Gulzar Singh, a farmer said, “As elections are around the corner, political parties will come with more such offers. After coming to power, who cares about the election manifesto?”

Navdeep Singh, a student said, “The SAD had promised to give laptops to students. Where are laptops? No one will believe poll promises. The Election Commission should ensure that no one makes false promise to get votes.”

PROVIDING RELIEF TO FARMERS

Captain should submit affidavit, says Majithia

Tribune News Service

Mattewal, October 20

While criticising the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee president, Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said, “He (Capt) has been misleading the debt-ridden farmers in the name of ‘Karza Mukti Yojna’, after coming to power.”

He said, “If there is any truth in so-called scheme, then Captain should sign an affidavit with farmers, otherwise he should submit apology.”

After distributing grant of Rs 40 lakh for development works of Khera Bala Chakk and Gadarjada villages, he said when the Congress was in power in Centre and the state nothing was done for the welfare of farmers.

He reiterated that the SAD had always pleaded the case of special economic package for Punjab at all possible forums, but the Congress had always given a step-motherly treatment to the state. He further stated that the Congress looted natural resources of Punjab and gifted these to others states for petty political gains.

“On the issue of water, Punjabi speaking areas and giving Chandigarh to Punjab, the Congress party has stood against the interests of the state,” he added.

He said, “How can the people forget that the Congress Party threw Punjab into dark era of bloodshed for more than two decades for petty political gains?”

Others who were present on the occasion, include Major Shivi, Sukhvinder Singh Goldy, media advisor, Prof Sarchand Singh, sarpanches and panchayat members.

Capt’s word on Singla triggers undercurrents in party

Harminder Singh Jassi, Jagroop Gill abstain from disagreeing overtly

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 20

Following Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Capt Amarinder Singh statement on recommending the name of the former finance minister Surinder Singla to the party high command for contesting Assembly election from Bathinda (Urban) seat, aspirants have started lobbying for the ticket from the city through their close associates and senior party leaders in Delhi.

Former minister Harminder Singh Jassi, who was seeking ticket from the same seat, said he didn’t know in which context Capt Amarinder Singh had issued such statement, but the Congress had proper procedure of giving tickets to the candidates.

It is learnt that finding it difficult to get ticket from this seat this time, a few months ago, he sent his close associate Iqbal Singh Dhillon to Maur to create ground for him.

Dhillon is holding meetings with party workers and even organised a bike rally last month at Maur.

Sources in the party claimed that if Harminder Singh Jassi didn’t get party ticket from Bathinda (Urban) then he would shift to Maur or Talwandi Sabo.

Jassi was MLA from Talwandi Sabo and had contested from the same seat in 2002 unsuccessfully.

Jagroop Singh Gill, another ticket aspirant, said, “We have put forward our claim on the basis of what we have done for the party in the last 40 years and Singla will put forward his claim. It is up to the party high command to decide.”

Former president of the district bar association Rajan Garg, who is also a ticket aspirant, said, “We also welcome the announcement made by the PPCC president that Hindu faces would be fielded on urban seats in the region.”

Even as tickets aspirants are claiming that they welcome the any decision by the party high command on candidate from this seat, they have started trying their best to push their names for the ticket under the carpet.

A political expert claims that Surinder Singla can get the ticket as it is a Hindu majority seat and with the indication that the party would field Hindu candidates from urban seats in the region.

Taking cue from Cong, AAP to promise farm debt waiver

Will ask farmers to furnish details of landholding and outstanding loan; to start campaign from grains markets

BATHINDA: Taking a cue from the Congress’ electoral initiative, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to build its poll campaign in Punjab, promising farmers to waive their agriculture debt. The party will ask farmers to fill a letter titled ‘Karza muafi sankalp chithi’ from Friday, an AAP leader said.

The Punjab Congress had launched a similar campaign titled ‘Karza kurki khatm — fasl di poori rakam’ (end of debt and property attachment, full remuneration from crop) on October 12.

The Congress ticket aspirants in all assembly segments are carrying along a maang patra (demand letter) to every house and asking people to furnish details about their families, landholdings and outstanding debt.

They are issuing a receipt as mark of the agreement guaranteeing debt waiver once the party comes to power.

The party has given all ticket aspirants a target of getting 6,000 forms signed in their segments till the first phase of the campaign ends on October 25.

The AAP leaders on Thursday received the letter pro forma and directions to start the campaign from grains markets across the state from Friday onwards.The form has “Kejriwal Kejriwal Sara Punjab Tere Naal” slogan on its top. They will ask to furnish farmers’ details such as name, village, size of landholding, phone number and outstanding loan besides their signatures.

AAP’s Bathinda parliament zone media coordinator Neel Garg said, “Though we have been asked to start this from Friday, we will be starting the campaign in Bathinda from Saturday due to issue of printing of pro forma.”“We will complete the campaign by October 31. The party has directed us to set up stalls in all grains markets to approach farmers and get the forms filled. To ensure participation of more farmers, we have decided to make an announcement in this regard from village gurdwaras. Volunteers will put up stalls at villages,” he said.

State made record growth during Cong rule: Capt

During my stint as Punjab CM, the deteriorating economy of the state was put on the track again, transparent and corruptionfree recruitment for government jobs was facilitated, real estate business touched new heights. AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab Congress chief

FEROZEPUR/CHANDIGARH: Punjab had surpassed all records of development during the Congress regime from 2002 to 2007. This was stated by former Punjab chief minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Captain Amarinder Singh while talking to HT on Wednesday evening after his arrival here for the ‘Kissan Yatra’.

Capt said, “During my stint as Punjab chief minister, the deteriorating economy of the state was re-put on the track, transparent and corruptionfree recruitment for government jobs was facilitated, real estate business touched new heights, the historical Punjab water repatriation Act was approved, and hassle-free procurement of crops was ensured. Good governance resulted in better facilitation of all public services, be it education, medical or any other.”

He added, “We dedicated our five years of rule to public interests, but most ministers in the present Akali-BJP government, led by Parkash Singh Badal, are filling their on own pockets, by patronising land, sand, cable network and drug mafias.”

Sangat darshans are an old concept, as in ancient times, then emperors used to do hold them, but in the present era, they are a sheer wastage of public money, he alleged.

“When the Akalis are ready to offer their so-called surplus power to other states at a rate of `3.4 per unit, then why don’t they provide it to the industry in the state at the same rate,” he questioned.He said people living within the radius of 30km along the Indo-Pakistan border must be given subsidies and incentives on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir.“We will provide a medical insurance cover of up to `3 lakh to every Punjabi after coming to power,” he said.

‘BJP HAS DESERTED SINKING AKALI SHIP’

Terming the growing rift between the BJP and its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as the proverbial last nail in the Badal regime’s coffin, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said even the BJP has realised the futility of standing by the Akalis in the run-up to the state assembly elections due early nexy year.

Amarinder said the BJP’s alienation of the SAD was evident in Prime Minister Narendra Modi shunning chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pleas for central support to the state during his Ludhiana visit on Tuesday.

“The SAD is nothing more than a sinking ship, which the BJP has clearly decided to desert,” Amarinder said.

He further said that the BJP did not want to drown with the Akalis in the forthcoming assembly polls.“The Bharatiya Janata Party seemed to have realised that it would be politically suicidal for it to continue to hold Akalis’ hands,” said the Punjab Congress chief, adding that in any case, the alliance between the two parties was never based on principles but was an opportunistic partnership entered for political gains.

‘Capt not answerable to Sukhbir’

CHANDIGARH: The Congress on Thursday dismissed Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s demand that Captain Amarinder Singh should list out his achievements as the CM as “contemptible and unworthy of consideration”.

The party instead released a 10-point “chargesheet” detailing the “failures” of the Akali-BJP government on various counts.Accusing Sukhbir of “selective amnesia”, Punjab Congress MLAs Lal Singh, Kewal Dhillon and Rana Gurjit Singh said the deputy chief minister had asked the question on earlier occasions too and Amarinder had submitted a detailed response to the same in the state assembly.

“The state Congress president’s achievements as the chief minister are not limited to five, but are over 100,” the Congress MLAs said.

Will approach EC on Akali ads: Channi

SAYS TO MISLEAD THE VOTERS, GOVT SPENT `176 CR ON PROMOTING ITS ACHIEVEMENTS

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress Legislature Party chief Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday said the “fundstarved” Akali Dal-BJP government in the state was wasting crores on publicity to “cover up its non-performance and nongovernance” since 2007.

He said the Congress would approach the state Election Commission to stop this “misuse” at once because this all was being done to mislead the voters of Punjab.

The Badal regime spent a whopping `176 crore on promoting the state government’s achievements and now they have kept budget of `150 crore in the election year, he said.