VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

The hawaa is changing by the day…

Harish Khare

Another six days, and all the noisemakers would fall silent, at least in Punjab. This state has been in the election mode for over one year, partly because the political class has a low level of engagement with the processes of governance, and partly because the ruling Akali Dal leadership was very much mindful of the gathering anti-incumbency mood. The last three weeks have only accelerated the election-time tensions and turmoil. 

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, came to Jalandhar last Friday and performed his coalition dharma, sang praises of the alliance partner and its very ageing (but very fit) leader, Parkash Singh Badal, even as in his own party, the BJP, the Prime Minister has erected a 75-year age barrier. The Prime Minister was in his usual acerbic mood, but the crowds were not overly enthused. He is scheduled to put in one more appearance for the ruling SAD-BJP alliance. Punjab seems to remain unreceptive to Mr Modi’s charm.

The Congress leadership, finally, overcame its reservations and named Capt Amarinder Singh as the party’s chief-ministerial face. Perhaps, the decision has come a few weeks too late. The Congress should be the natural beneficiary of the anti-incumbency sentiment. But the Congressmen have the unique gift for self-goals and internal sabotage. The Punjab Congress is no stranger to this phenomenon, and the Punjab Congressmen appear to be not in awed of the ‘high command’ and are reported to be quite active in subversion games. A party that cannot present a united face to the electorate cannot possibly hope to convince the voters to trust it with coherent and purposeful governance. Nor has the Congress succeeded in overcoming its vision-deficit.

This ‘more-of-the-same’ syndrome from the traditional political parties has opened up space for AAP. Through sustained campaigning and some inspired ground-level engagement these last three weeks, AAP appears to have recovered some of its lost sheen, especially in the rural Malwa constituencies. It is in the countryside that the populace is particularly annoyed with the Badals, for all the excesses and indignities heaped on the folks by the halqa-jathedar system. And, it is in the rural areas that AAP is reported to have made its most formidable breakthrough. 

The most unpredictable — and, mostly unmentioned — factor at work is the note-bandi. Both the urban and rural areas have felt the disruption, and February 4 would be the first occasion when the voters get a chance to have their say. Strangely enough, ‘black money’ has been totally absent from the leaders' discourse in Punjab. Too many sinners around for any one political leader or party to pretend to be uncontaminated! In any case, the Punjab voter is not easily swayed by the moral humbug.

And then, there is the Central Budget, three days before Punjab goes to the polls. Though the Finance Minister has been constrained by the Election Commission not to make any poll-bound states specific announcement, he can still change the mood with his general proposals and concessions. Populist measures and populist talk are no longer frowned upon. 

Mercifully, the electioneering has been mostly free of violence and it should remain so. Booth-capturing is rare; though, bogus-voting is rather rampant. And, there is the social media and its potential for incendiary fake news. 

Old-time observers of the Punjab scene tell me that AAP is fast catching up with the Congress. Many of them reckon that the state is heading towards confusion and stalemate. Some even insist that the SAD-BJP should not be ruled out in a triangular scenario. There are no clear-cut winners and losers, as yet. There is no all-Punjab sentiment. The ‘hawaa’ is changing by the day. 

Of all the Padma awards this year, I am most in agreement with a Padma Vibhushan for Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. He deserves it fully, for the simple reason that over the years, he has evolved beyond the narrow confines of his political party. To begin with, he was an odd man out — an educated man in a party of quasi-literates. Even though he belongs to the old RSS, he always impressed his interlocutors as a suave, polished man of ideas. And, more importantly, he is cheerfully willing to listen and discuss and, if need be, argue a contrarian point of view. Nothing dogmatic about him. Nor has he ever allowed himself to be influenced by petty concerns or petty men.

I came to know him well during his stint as the HRD and Culture Minister during the NDA days. He was Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s secret ally in many internal battles he had to fight as Prime Minister. Though intriguers and factionalists saw to it that he never became a member of the all-powerful Cabinet Committee on Security, Dr Joshi was always heard with respect by Prime Minister Vajpayee.

However, I think his best years in public service began after the NDA government got voted out. He effortlessly took to the role of an elder statesman, a respected parliamentarian and a thoughtful voice on issues of culture and education. He has friends and admirers across party lines. Unlike others who command attention on the basis of some kind of power base, Dr Joshi gets heard because he has ideas. 

He remains perhaps one of the very few public men who are not intimidated by technology — or, rather, he believes that we should be very wary of giving in to the dictates of technology. He does not believe in this new fetish that all issues of governance, equity and fairness can be sorted by application of appropriate technology. Too many of civilizational ills and doubts are sought to be resolved by a mindless belief that technology has all the answers. For this clarity alone, he deserves this high honour. 

Lt-Gen Panag has assessed Dragon On Our Doorstep in the book review pages today. What enticed me to it was the very first sentence: “Let alone China, India cannot even win a war against Pakistan.” So provocative, so blunt, and so unsentimental. And, bull’s-eye.

Pravin Sawhney, a senior military analyst, has joined hands with a younger colleague, Ghazala Wahab, to produce Dragon On Our Doorstep-Managing China Through Military Power. It is a book that is considerably contrarian to the conventional, mainstream “strategic analysis”, yet there is nothing woolly-headed about it. Their argument is that unless we find ways of arriving at some kind of modus vivendi with Pakistan, it would be impossible for India to acquire its potential and aspiration as a geostrategic player of any consequence.

Sawhney and Wahab refuse to be over-impressed by all the nationalistic noises we are becoming so good at making every night in our television studios; instead, a simple question: “why the mere 6 lakh strong Pakistan Army is not deterred by the 13 lakh-strong Indian Army?” Our domestic loudmouths may be content with their gratuitous anti-Pakistan tirade, but, as Sawhney argues, we would remain at a disadvantage because “while Pakistan has built military power, India focussed on building military force.”

In our national narrative, we are prone to patting ourselves on the back for having “isolated” Pakistan internationally. Sawhney, on the other hand, sees Pakistan managing its relationship with China so sophisticatedly that this partnership has become a new threat to India. This partnership is the central strategic challenge to India. 

The long-term threat from China is unmistakable, perhaps it is even inevitable. The contest, though, need not be a zero-sum game. Sawhney’s argument, precise and straightforward, is: “India needs to understand that the road to managing an assertive China runs through Pakistan.” 

This would mean a new approach to dealing with Pakistan and all the issues related. “Whether we like it or not, the path to India becoming a leading power is through Pakistan.” It is easy for an analyst to advocate such a new approach but not so easy for the Indian political class to consider it. After all, all our domestic disputes and bitterness come down to who can stare Pakistan down better. Clever bureaucrats and cleverer diplomats keep manipulating the political leaders who love to fool themselves and the nation “through bean counting and bravado.” The Sawhney and Wahab book deserves a read for its lucidity and clarity. 

Clarity is not our civilisational strong suit, but a cup of coffee does induce clear-headedness. Join me. 

KEEPING EAR TO THE GROUND: AS POLL TRUMPETS FADE, WHAT WILL THEY PROVE?

The ‘foot soldier’ fights shy of numbers, warns of anarchy

Jupinderjit Singh in Chandigarh
In Punjab, three principal voices are calling out to people to vote them. The Tribune team seeks out CM Badal, Capt Amarinder and Arvind Kejriwal to know what polls and their outcome may mean to them

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once compared Parkash Singh Badal with Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid icon. The compliment’s political significance is that it didn’t come just from the chief minister’s ally. It meant that Badal is a living legend, who treats his adversaries with respect. 

Personally, Badal reveres Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the medieval king who not only united the Sikhs but also reared self-respect among the repressed. Yet, at 89, he calls himself a ‘foot soldier’ of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). His Chandigarh residence is full of portraits of the king as he frequently alludes to the generous ruler and credits himself with bringing back peace and communal harmony in Punjab. “That’s my biggest achievement.”

He calls all politicians, including rivals Capt Amarinder Singh and Arvind Kejriwal, as friends. “I am not against anyone… They are like my friends. I have no rivals. I am against them politically. For me, difference of opinion is political.” Though Badal and Capt Amarinder have been adversaries for almost three decades, it is for the first time that they directly face each other at Lambi (Muktsar). “He targets my family. But I have never said anything against him or any candidate’s family. I believe in clean politics. I talk about their political thinking and designs. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the radical or militant organizations (have become) one and the same thing while the Congress has come to mean divide-and-rule. If they come to power, peace and communal brotherhood would be disturbed,” Badal says, his words, almost, a grim foreboding. 

The veteran in him is a traditional politician. Modern gadgets or tools of social media do not attract him. Equally abhorrent are poll surveys. “I never make assessments or predict poll results. I believe that one should do one’s work. Surveys have been proved wrong most of the time.”

What is the most important issue in the election? “It should be river water sharing. The issue confronts Punjab the most. The gravity of it will be clear in the next few months. We may not have water to share, but we may be forced to do so. Both Congress and AAP are directly or indirectly against Punjab. The Congress started it all with the SYL project and AAP head Kejriwal is from Haryana and the Delhi chief minister. He will never support Punjab,” says Badal.

Badal dismisses allegations of amassing property and involvement of his family in drugs. “I don’t know about my property. I got much ancestral land. Also, Bikram (revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia, brother of Badal’s daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur) has got a clean chit in inquiries against him. It is all propaganda; there is no involvement of any of our family.” 

He says Congress and AAP talk much about drugs and vow to break the politician-smuggler nexus if voted to power. “Drugs are no issue in Punjab. Drugs are not grown here. They are produced elsewhere in the country and abroad. Punjab is a transit point. We have done much to prevent it.” 

How does he compare SAD with others? “For us, the issue is vikas (development). For them, it’s vinash (destruction). Our party is for aman (peace) while they are for gadbad (anarchy).”

For a man who started out as sarpanch in 1947, people and principles might have changed, but not his ‘asool’. The poll result will test him, yet again.

Rahul attacks Kejriwal, calls him power-hungry

Tribune News Service

Jalalabad/Dhuri, January 28

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today took on AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that after proving a big failure in Delhi, he wanted to become the CM of Punjab, which was evident from the fact that AAP had not announced any CM candidate.

He reiterated his allegations that many senior leaders of the Akali Dal were involved in drug smuggling in the state. He announced to bring a new law to curb drugs with strict provisions to prevent smuggling.

"Drug smuggling is rampant in Punjab and top SAD leaders are behind it. The menace has ruined the lives of Punjab youth, but the Akalis are trying to cover it rather than taking concrete action," said Rahul while speaking at a rally in Dhuri for party candidate Dalvir Singh Goldy.

Addressing a rally in favour of party’s Jalalabad candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu, Rahul reminded voters of Guru Nanak Dev teaching of equality and alleged that the Badals were doing the opposite by taking everything under their control.

He repeatedly attacked SAD president Sukhbir Badal for taking control over cable, sand, transport and other businesses in the state.

“Our PM Narendra Modi on Friday announced in Punjab that he would end corruption and demanded votes for Sukhbir, who is a symbol of corruption. It shows that the PM does not practice what he preaches. Be aware when you cast your vote,” he warned voters.

Cong takes on Akalis over sleazy video

• Ravneet Bittu and Navjot Singh Sidhu accused the Badals of making a fake sleaze video of SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya to finish him politically. Davinder Singh Ghubaya, son of Sher Singh Ghubaya, reached the rally in Jalalabad along with his one brother and two sisters. They were called on the stage by Rahul. In his brief address, Davinder alleged that the act of releasing the fake video by the Badals proved that they could stoop to any level to eliminate those who dared to question them. The Rai Sikh community would not tolerate this attempt to disgrace their leader and the Akalis would be taught a lesson on February 4, he claimed.

AAP has no base in Majha and Doaba: Sukhbir

Tribune News Service

gidderbaha/Sangrur, Jan 28

SAD president Sukhbir Badal today claimed that AAP did not have any base in Majha or Doaba. “There will be three-cornered contest among SAD, Congress and AAP candidates on 21 seats in Malwa. I have toured the whole state and we are forming the government with 85 seats this time,” claimed Sukhbir.

He criticised his estranged cousin Manpreet Singh Badal, who earlier represented Gidderbaha and served as the Finance Minister, by targeting Manpreet’s brother-in-law Jaijeet Singh ‘Jojo’.

“Earlier, you people had to give ‘Jojo tax’ along with other taxes. We stopped this illegal practice,” said Sukhbir.

In a lighter vein, he asked the media to show the video clip of rebel SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, which has gone viral, to everyone.

He also claimed that with the rejoining of the Barnala faction, SAD has gained in strength. “I have not seen it (the video clip) so far. If you have seen it, show it to all,” said Sukhbir.

Barnalas back in SAD fold

• The family of former Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and his loyalist Baldev Mann on Saturday rejoined the Akali Dal in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a long-time rival of the Barnala faction in Sangrur. Earlier, Barnala’s son Gaganjit quit as PPCC vice-president, after the party did not allot ticket to any member of the family. TNS

EC bars ex-Army chief from wearing medals while canvassing

Patiala: In written orders, the Returning Officer has asked former Army chief JJ Singh “not to wear” his medals during his political campaign as it amounts to the violation of the model code of conduct. Shiromani Akali Dal member Joginder Jaswant Singh was named the SAD-BJP candidate from Patiala. During his election campaign, JJ Singh was seen wearing 20 medals he had bagged during his stint in the Army. In the past over three weeks, he was seen canvassing in an open jeep, with a handful of supporters following his vehicle while he addressed the public with the medals on his chest. Following a complaint by a former Army Captain Amarjit Singh Jaijee, the Returning Officer issued a show cause notice to JJ Singh a few days back. In his complaint, Jaijee had alleged that the ex-Army chief was lowering the dignity of the Army by using the medals to garner political votes in the city. He further had alleged that such medals being should not be worn on political functions. — TNS

AAP releases photos of Majithia with drug lord Satta

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 28

AAP today released photographs of Bikram Singh Majithia with international drug lord Satpreet Singh Satta.

Addressing mediapersons here, AAP’s Amritsar Lok Sabha byelection candidate Upkar Singh Sandhu and its candidate for the Majitha Assembly segment, Himmat Singh Shergill, said there was enough evidence to put Majithia behind bars.

Shergill, who is also AAP state legal cell head, said AAP has always been vociferously speaking about the strong connections of Majithia with the drug suppliers and this photograph is evidence to prove this fact.

He said while the other accused, Bittu Aulakh, had already admitted in his statement before the Enforcement Directorate that Majithia introduced Satta to Jagjit Chahal for supplying pseudoephedrine, a synthetic drug and other raw material to him. However, Majithia has been denying the charges.

Shergill said these photographs have blown the lid off and exposed the involvement of Majithia in the drug trade. Reading out the report of the ED, Shergill stated that Satta also acted as Majithia’s election agent in 2007 and stayed in his house.

While challenging Majithia to give up his security cover and surrender his passport, Shergill said Majithia was scared to move about in the public without the security cover because he was well aware of his misdeeds and was aware of the fury among the public for his contribution in ruining the lives of several youngsters of Punjab by patronising the drug trade in the State in general, and in the border belt in particular.

Taking a jibe a Capt Amarinder Singh, Shergill said Amarinder protected Bikram from the CBI probe due to family relations and also did not utter a single word against him during the recent Congress rally in Majitha.

Among others, AAP leaders Upkar Singh Sandhu, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer, media in charge (Majha Zone), and Gurbhej Singh Sandhu were also present.

Kejriwal’s formula seems impractical for border belt

He said take money from parties but vote for AAP

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 28

Although Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked voters to take money from other parties and vote for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), his formula seemed impractical in border villages. Dalit voters of Bachiwind village said they were forced to return money after the panchayat elections.

It has been observed that politicians pay for votes on a large scale during every election. Kejriwal’s statement appeals to people from the weaker sections but, they find it tough to digest.

While sharing their views on the statement of the AAP chief young voters said contestants offered them money during the panchayat elections. After facing defeat in elections, one of the candidates forced voters to return his money, they added.

While sharing an incident, villagers said a contestant had spent Rs 10,000 to install a submersible pump in a house. After he was defeated in the election for sarpanch the contestant allegedly forced the family to return their money as he suspected that its members did not cast votes in his favour. Now, the family is returning money in installments. Meanwhile, another person from the village claimed that a contestant in panchyat elections implicated him in a false case of drugs. “The candidate was annoyed as he suspected that I was no more loyal to him. I spent 90 days in jail due to the false case,” he said.

According to villagers, politicians offered them Rs 500 per vote. “We will not sell votes in the upcoming elections as we want a change in the system,” they said.

Farmers submit charter of demands to PPCC chief

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 28

Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Punjab, prepared a charter of demands and submitted a copy of it to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held on February 4.

Elaborating on the demands, Harmeet Singh, state president of the union, said the union had demanded that loans of the farmers should be waived off unconditionally and free electricity to them should be continued.

They also demanded a government job for at least one member of the famers’ family, who committed suicide; children of such families be offered free-of-cost education and five seats be reserved for them in various agriculture-related courses in Punjab Agricultural University; and a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for such families.

Opposing the construction of the Satluj-Yamuna Link, the union members have also asked the new government to emphasise on rainwater harvesting to save ground water.

Accusing the Union government of planning to discontinue the Minimum Support Price (MSP) practice, the members demanded that the MSP must be continued and raised for certain crops.

They also demanded that the new government must also come up with a concrete solution to the stray cattle menace which had emerged as a big problem for the farmers.

Besides checking the drug trade in the state, they demanded that the farmers and farm labourers should be paid Rs 5,000 per month as pension after the age of 60 years.

The members demanded that the new government must punish those who are responsible for the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.

Sidhu lambasts SAD, dubs it ‘lokan di sarkar for ik parivar’

Says goons have a free run in state, equates AAP with East India Company

Kulwinder Sangha

Mohali, January 28

Congress leader  Navjot Sidhu said here today that he had urged  party  vice-president Rahul Gandhi to frame a stringent law, if voted to power, for taking tough action against those selling “chitta” in  the state. 

Navjot Sidhu, who had come to address a rally in support of Congress candidate from Mohali Balbir Singh Sidhu in Phase VIII, said “chitta” could not be sold in Gujarat or Rajasthan because of the fear of the law. “That fear is absent in Punjab where the police and drug peddlers were working hand in glove. Rahul Gandhi has promised one job for every household and an unemployment allowance,” he added.  

    Navjot Sidhu  came about three hours late  but the large gathering kept waiting for him. Supporters had even thronged the stage and the Congress candidate had to help him climb the stage. While cracking jokes, Sidhu repeatedly kept saying, “thoko tara” (clap).

  While attacking the Punjab Government, Navjot Sidhu said SAD leaders kept announcing that they believed in “raj nahin, sewa” but the reality was “10 per cent jail sewa, 90 per cent mewa”. He said the SAD was “lokan di sarkar for ik parivar”. Punjab was considered the “ann data” of the country, which had now been turned into a “bhikari” by the Badals. 

 He alleged that the Badals had multiplied their wealth many times over the past 10 years. They owned 50 buses 10 years ago and the number was now 650. They owned two companies earlier and the number had now gone up to 10. “Loktantar” was turned into a “gundatantar” by them, he alleged. 

Launching an attack on AAP, he said the  “topiwalas” were like the East India Company, which came, divided people and left after ruling the area. He said AAP leader Kejriwal kept changing his stand every now and then and was contesting the elections in the state without seven announcing AAP’s Chief Ministerial face. He had promised 25,000 jobs in Delhi but could give only 1,417.

 While requesting the gathering to vote for the Congress in the Assembly elections, Navjot Sidhu said,“politics is a mission for me and not a dhandha”. 

People had started gathering at Phase VIII before 2 pm.They were coming in small groups from various villages holding Congrsess flags and raising slogans in favour of the party. They waited for Navjot Sidhu, the main speaker, who reached the venue about three hours  late around 5.30 pm

Preneet lashes out at SAD government

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 28

Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur today lashed out at the SAD government in the state for unleashing a reign of terror against Congress leaders and workers in the past decade.

Addressing an election meeting organised by Vijay Kumar Kuka, chairman of the Punjab Congress Urban Development Cell, Patiala unit, at Charan Bagh, Preneet said Akalis had committed a lot of excesses on the common man and those owing allegiance to the Congress.

She said the Congress government if voted to power would not only put the state on a path of progress but would also make people live 

without any fear of victimisation at the hands of the government.

“The Congress will constitute the next government in Punjab and its foremost priority will be to provide employment to the youth of the state,” she asserted.

Most SAD candidates give PM’s rally a miss

Almost all BJP leaders were present to drum up support ahead of Assembly elections

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 27

Most of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates of the region gave the rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jalandhar today a miss.  

The PM was in the city to address a joint rally for candidates of the ruling alliance. Almost all BJP candidates were present during the rally and tried to drum up support ahead of the Assembly elections.  

BJP candidates of Doaba, including Manoranjan Kalia from Jalandhar Central, KD Bhandari from Jalandhar North, Mahinder Bhagat from Jalandhar West, Som Parkash from Phagwara, Tikshan Sood from Hoshiarpur and Arunesh Shakir from Mukerian attended the rally. A few candidates also came from Malwa, including Kamal Chatley from Ludhiana West and Pawan Bansal from Ludhiana North.

However, only a few SAD candidates from Doaba were seen on the stage, including Ajit Singh Kohar from Shahkot, Pawan Tinu from Adampur and Baldev Khera from Phillaur. Candidates from other constituencies falling in Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur did not attend the rally. 

Even Kartarpur candidate Seth Satpal Mal and Nakodar MLA Gurpartap Wadala, who hail from Jalandhar, chose to stay away from the PM’s rally. The rally was held about 20 km away from their areas.

Wadala said, “I could not attend the rally because I was busy in resolving some tiff between two groups in my constituency. The matter was not resolved on time and I got late.” 

SAD candidate from Banga Dr Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi said, “The rally was primarily meant for the BJP candidates. I did not get any invitation but I sent my supporters. These days all candidates are busy in campaigning in their own constituencies and it is not easy for them to go outside. Even I could not attend the programme of Daljit Singh Cheema held in Nawanshahr yesterday.” 

‘Sukhbir India’s most corrupt man, and Modi stands by him’

CHALLENGE In deputy CM's bastion, Rahul Gandhi says Capt as CM will put state back on track in 2 yrs

From page 01 JALALABAD: With exactly a week to go for the February 4 Punjab assembly elections, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi trained his guns squarely at deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, calling him “India’s most corrupt man” at a rally in his constituency, Jalalabad of Fazilka district, on Saturday.The rally launched Congress’ final assault in the constituency where Sukhbir, who has won twice here, is facing a challenge from Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann. A day after formally naming state unit chief Capt Amarinder Singh as the Congress’ CM candidate, Rahul said Amarinder alone can resolve all the problems plaguing the state.

Alleging that the Badals have a “percentage” in the liquor business, own a major chunk of the TV business, and also take their “share” in every other trade, Rahul attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi through it. “PM Modi claims to be fighting corruption. Punjab has the maximum corruption in India, and the symbol of that corruption is Sukhbir Badal. Yet, Modi seeks votes for Sukhbir.”

Rahul invoked the saintly deeds of the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak and said: “Sukhbir Badal claims to protect Sikhism, but his philosophy is of ‘sab mera’ (everything is mine) is in direct contrast with that of the Guru, who said, ‘sab tera’ (everything belongs to God).”About the AAP, he also urged people to call their relatives and friends in Delhi — “ask the auto drivers, slum-dwellers, Dalits” — to ask about AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s work there. “He has spent more on advertising than on the people. And now he wants to leave Delhi and become Punjab CM,” Rahul said, adding, “Municipal polls are due in Delhi soon, and AAP will be badly beaten.” He did not mention Mann.

OF PUNJABI PRIDE, ITALY AND DRUGS

Seeking to invoke the ‘Punjabi versus outsider’ line of argument that the Congress and the SAD both have been taking against the AAP, he underlined that his mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s native town in Italy had had a Punjabi mayor.

He underlined how he was mocked when he said (in 2012) that 70% of Punjab’s youth was addicted to drugs. “Sukhbir Badal, the Akalis said I had put a question mark over Punjab’s youth. I only spoke the truth. And now the entire Punjab, Akalis and AAP are saying it too.”

He added, “As soon as Capt Amarinder Singh becomes the CM, we will make a tough law against drug smuggling and give their property to the people.” He promised that Punjab will be “back on track” in two years with Amarinder as CM.

TARGET POOR

He particularly targeted the poor in his speech, counting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act as “promise delivered by the Congress”. “Even the atta-dal scheme for which the Akalis take credit is actually a (food security) scheme of the Congress and Dr Manmohan Singh.”

Declaring that “being a true Congressman, I cannot make false promises”, he returned to Modi, saying, “I will not promise ₹15 lakh in every poor person’s bank account. Due to false promises, only the poor suffers.” He listed demonetisation as an example. “Did you see any rich person in bank queues?” he asked the attendees, and apologised for keeping them waiting for an hour “due to the fog”.

Merry mocktail replaces the Patiala peg in Punjab’s Royal City

PATIALA : The Patialvis are sure that tradition will return royal heir Capt Amarinder Singh to victory from Patiala Urban in the forthcoming Punjab assembly elections and the observers nod in accord. However, with the fielding of former army chief Gen JJ Singh as the SAD-BJP candidate there and the modest surgeon Balbir Singh of the AAP completing the triangle have turned the contest into a mocktail of sorts.

PATIALA : The Patialvis are sure that tradition will return royal heir Capt Amarinder Singh to victory from Patiala Urban in the forthcoming Punjab assembly elections and the observers nod in accord. However, with the fielding of former army chief Gen JJ Singh as the SAD-BJP candidate there and the modest surgeon Balbir Singh of the AAP completing the triangle have turned the contest into a mocktail of sortsThe phulkari-paranda city turns into a smear battleground with the General saying that he has ‘20’ medals on his chest and the Captain with his ‘colourful dreams’ has only ‘two’. The Captain dismisses the JJ Singh as “a lacklustre and average General!”

CAPT’S EDGE OVER GEN

“Punjabi voters enjoy such repartee,” says Surjeet Lee, a retired linguistics professor of Punjabi University. He is quick to add that Patiala city is indeed the Captain’s citadel, saying: “We do not take Amarinder as a politician but as one of Patiala’s own, so also his wife Preneet Kaur, a cultured and concerned citizen. Their family had done a lot for Patiala and they gave the city institutions like the Mohindra College that dates back to 1875, the Yadavindra Public School and Preneet played a positive role in upgrading of the Rajendra Hospital.Interestingly, the General too has a Patiala connection because both his paternal and maternal families migrated from the Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan) district to Patiala for some time when he was but a two-year child, which does not make him an ‘outsider’. Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, father of Amarinder Singh, had given shelter to thousands of refugees. Ironically, this makes the relationship between the Captain and the General as one of the ‘saviour’ and the ‘saved’.

AAP MAKES INROADS

The ‘Tom and Jerry’ show between the two ‘faujis’ makes for entertainment and voters are largely silent but a kinnow juice vendor on the Patiala road, smiling in an orange turban matching the colour of the fruit, sums it up: “The fight in the rural areas is between the Congress and the jhadoo (broom).” The AAP is generally referred to by its symbol in the Patiala rural areas.In a largely silent election, for as the voters say the real battle is being fought in the virtual world on social media, AAP supporters returning from a rally suddenly stop on a busy city road, wave a broom and dance to the song ‘Kejriwal Kejriwal, sara Punjab tere naal’! The city also has a fair share of NRIs who have turned up to influence their relatives to vote for the AAP. Harcharan Singh Punia, a retired college principal now living in Vancouver, says “We gathered a million dollars for the AAP in Canada. It has not been easy but AAP has made inroads into the royal reserves. It is evident from the fact that Preneet with her daughter, and grand-daughter are canvassing in the ‘bastis’. Our vote is for change.” While the AAP is attracting more of the younger lot, yet some senior citizens have been swept by it. Punjabi writer and former Railways’ PRO Surinder Sharma says,”Change is always sweet!

CAPT ATTACKS ‘OSD CULTURE’, SIDHU SLAMS KEJRI

JALALABAD: “Main babe nu soot kar rehan Lambi ch, ’te eh Bittu karega number 2 pagal nu Jalalabad ch.” Seeking to underline his aggression, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh said this at least five times at the party rally here that he will “set right the old man (CM Parkash Singh Badal)” in Lambi segment while Ravneet Singh Bittu will do the same to “the crazy number two” (referring to Sukhbir Singh Badal) in Jalalabad.

He also hit out at the SAD’s style of functioning, referring specifically to Sukhbir’s officer on special duty (OSD) Satinderjit Singh Manta who has been operating in Jalalabad and is also seen as the reason behind Ghubaya clan shifting allegiances to the Congress. “There’s a Manta here, many Mantas elsewhere, and similar characters in Lambi too. We will end this culture.”

Earlier, describing Amarinder as the chief-ministerto-be, Congress star campaigner and Amritsar East candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu said that while Kejriwal had offered him the deputy CM’s chair and a ticket to his wife former BJP MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu), “I asked him: Who will be the CM?” He said Kejriwal wanted to operate the state through a remote control.GHUBAYA’S KIN JOIN CONG TOO

Even though he was absent, SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya was a significant presence at the rally. So was his ‘sleazy’ video scandal.

While his younger son Davinder, 25, who is Congress candidate from Fazilka, was present on stage, Bittu invited his two daughters — Gurpreet Kaur, 26, and Sukhpreet Kaur, 27 — and elder son, Varinder, 29, and made them join the party. Varinder made a brief speech about how Sukhbir tried to “defame” his family. “This is the dirty politics that we want to counter,” said Bittu.

SUKHBIR’S SLIP OF TONGUE

Addressing a rally at Barnala on Saturday, deputy chief minister made a slip of the tongue. “Badi mushkil naal assin Punjab di aman shanti bhang keeti hai (We have worked hard to disturb the peace in Punjab),” he said when he was advising the voters not to fall in the AAP trap, whose leaders, he said, were “naxalites”.

WHEN SAD BLAMED ITSELF FOR SACRILEGE!

‘Congress and SAD responsible for sacrilege in Punjab: Sukhbir Badal’. Read that again. No, the SAD president was not being self-aware! It was a spelling error in the press release sent by his party to journalists after his rally in Bhucho Mandi segment of Bathinda district on Saturday. The strap line in the press release, however, made up for it by naming the AAP as accused of disrespecting religious texts. But there was another, relatively minor, bloomer too. While the party candidate from Bhucho is Harpreet Singh Kotbhai, the press note, undersigned by Sukhbir’s media adviser Jangveer Singh, said the rally was in favour of Balvir Singh Ghunas, who is fighting from Bhadaur. A revised version followed 18 minutes later, with the corrections made, of course!

Punjab polls: Doles, deras and drugs

Pramod Kumar
In the run-up to the Assembly polls in Punjab, political parties are wooing voters with a heady cocktail of faith, freebies and twisting of facts —be it about the drug menace or development. While the yearning for change is there, it remains to be seen whether hardened attitudes will change or not.IF pollsters are to be believed, elections are a matter of incumbency levels, not performance. A matter of perceptions and popularity ratings of leaders and not of the political parties. And the only slogan audible is change. Change for whom and for what remains ambiguous. Change the present incumbents and bring us in, to do the same. It has been reduced to a battle of false claims and promises, trivialising of issues and to quote Michael Parenti, "Elections have been reduced to parades of clowns and acrobats, elephants and donkeys." Elections in Punjab are no different and have presented to the people a heady cocktail of three Ds, that is deras, doles and drugs, garnished with choicest abuses.

If politicians are to be believed, elections are a matter of doling out atta-dal, sugar, utensils including pressure cookers, gas stoves, shagun at the time of marriage, bicycles for girls, smart phones, government jobs for each family, debt relief, pension to farmers, compensation for unemployment, incentives for suicide victims’ families, houses for the homeless and so on.

Each party is trying to outcompete the other. It is competitive populism and blatant attempts to entice voters with these freebies at the expense of the state exchequer and in the same breath claiming to practice fiscal prudence as the state government is under debt.

Reasons that drive political parties

Political parties have not cared to analyse reasons and ways to raise the purchasing capacity of the poor and how pauperisation and land alienation of the farmers have become endemic. Why has the demand for drugs and alcohol multiplied among the youth? What are the ways to check the demand and increase avenues for productive engagement of youth?

During elections, political parties promise jobs, doles and subsidies. When in government, they reduce employment in the public sector to improve the fiscal health of the state. They exhort people to mind their own health and give subsidies to private hospitals and impose user charges. This all is done without addressing the issues concerning livelihood. Political parties, however, are not expected to confess, particularly at the time of elections, that they have ceased to govern. When the market is allowed to govern, the government becomes powerless to effect any radical changes. And the proponents of market reforms have no plans for those who do not have the resources and income to buy even two meals a day. These poorer sections of society are reduced to mere victims, beneficiaries, clients and recipients. In this dichotomous relationship the state is seen as the "dole giver" and the people the "dole receiver". In other words, a patron-client relationship defines the boundary conditions for electoral discourse.

The term "anti-incumbency factor" came into currency in the 1990s as the political parties in power failed to fulfil electoral promises in view of the realities of the new political and economic policies. The "anti-incumbency factor" provides an honourable exit to one political party to be replaced by another party with a similar track record. In the process, it does not allow to surface the insensitivity and incapacity of the political process to raise and resolve real issues. 

An interesting example is the manner in which even the real issue of drugs have been raised in Punjab. Isn't it interesting that after more than three decades of using drugs to woo the voters, all politicians have now realised that the noises against drug abuse can get them more political dividends? Hence, each one is trying to outcompete the others in the blame game. There are claims that the drugs problem can be eradicated in four weeks by the competing political parties. Politics over drugs has become more serious than the problem itself. If researchers show that the 70 per cent of the addicts is youth, political discourse distorts it to say that 70 per cent of Punjab's youth is on drugs. 

Do not play politics with drugs

The first and foremost thing that emerged from the recent debates is that the political parties have to stop playing politics with drugs. People can wait till elections and hope that after garnering votes on this issue they may address this problem in all earnest. The Centre and the states should work together to check illegal drug trade and also to impose Section 68 of the NDPS Act, 1988, to forfeit the illegally acquired assets of people involved in drug trade. Policies to be made to make youth employable, build a partnership with the parents, community leaders to become mentors for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.

Diktat by deras

Having used doles and drugs to woo voters, all politicians find it handy to use deras as the opium of masses to garner votes. Deras are poor cousins of religion in Punjab. They have occupied the religio-caste space. The presence of deras is a symbol of religious tolerance, a practice of diversity and pluralism. In the past decade, the deras have been in news because of the indulgence of some of the deras in electoral politics and incidents of violence involving some representatives of the institutionalised religion. For instance, incidents of violence involving various dera followers with sections of Sikhs such as Dera Nirankaris in 1978, Dera Bhaniarawala in 2001, Dera Sacha Sauda in 2008-09, Dera Noormahal in 2002 and Dera Sachkhand Ballan 2009-10. The causes or the immediate provocation for this conflict are rooted in various practices and rituals of the deras such as the notion of a living Guru which is strictly opposed in the institutionalised Sikhism, the imitation of the imagery of the Sikh Gurus by the dera heads and the replication of the style or content of the Sikh holy book by the deras.

There are six major deras in Punjab. These deras together have influence in around 56 constituencies. The Radha Soami in 19, Dera Sacha Sauda in 27, Dera Nurmahal in 8, Dera Nirankari in four, Dera Ballan in eight and Dera Namdhari in two constituencies.  Not all the deras actively engage in politics. However, Sacha Sauda came into prominence in 2007 elections when it openly supported the Congress. As a consequence, the Akalis suffered a loss in around 21 assembly constituencies.

Interestingly, as used to be in the past the Akali Dal did not make any emotional appeal like the danger to the Sikh panth and frenzy against followers of competing deras. On the contrary, all the political parties are trying to outcompete each other to woo deras. As mentioned, deras are a religio-caste space. To invoke their authority is to violate the secular principles of the  Constitution. But, political parties are actively engaged in appropriating religious symbols with impunity. On the other hand, deras are issuing the diktat to induce people to vote according to their faith rather than their conscience. It is violative of the secular principles and free and fair elections.

It appears that people have swallowed the make-believe pills being traded by the political parties that the misuse of deras is justified, are being wooed by doles and drugs rather than seeking an alleviation of their miseries. If they really believe that problems like drugs and corruption can be resolved in a jiffy, then elections are the luck of the draw and a game of the sharpest gambler.

The writer is  Director, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh

ON A DIFFERENT WICKET

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu addressing an election rally at Dussehra Ground, Phase 8, in SAS Nagar on Saturday as party nominee from SAS Nagar Balbir Singh Sidhu looks on. In his own style, Sidhu said the Badals had ruined Punjab’s youth and agriculture.

Badals ruined Punjab’s youth and agriculture: Navjot Sidhu

SATIRICAL ATTACK Addresses rallies in support of Congress candidates in SAS Nagar, Dera Bassi and Kharar constituencies of district; draws applause from gatherings as he takes digs at the Badals and Aam Aadmi Party

People at Dussehra Ground, Phase 8, in SAS Nagar on Saturday as Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses the rally.

It is a battle for turban and pride. It’s time to save your pride since the Badals have plundered your wealth. NAVJOT SIDHU, Congress leader

From page 01 SASNAGAR: Armed with his trademark puns and satires, Congress star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday urged the voters to end the “Badals’ misrule since they have ruined Punjab’s jawani (youth) and kisani (agriculture)”.

The cricketer-turned-politician said this in a series of rallies while campaigning for party candidates in SAS Nagar, Dera Bassi and Kharar constituencies of the district.

Addressing the gathering at Dussehra ground in Phase 8 , SAS Nagar, seeking votes for party candidate Balbir Singh

Sidhu, he said, “Yeh pagdi te anakh di ladai hai. Pagdi sambhal sardara pagdi sambhal, Badalan ne loot liya tera maal (This is a battle for turban and pride. It’s time to save your pride since the Badals have plundered your wealth).”He reached the rally venue more than three hours late. Soon after Sidhu, clad in kurta pyajama and jacket, climbed up the stage, he got a huge applause from the gathering.

He swayed his hand as if playing a cricket shot and targeted the Badals and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with his puns and satires that were reciprocated with laughter and applause.

There were echoes of “Sada haq ethe rakh,” at the Dussehra ground as Sidhu promised to make “all officials who have ruined Punjab accountable”.

“In the last 10 years, they (Badals) have turned the democracy into gunda tantra. After the elections, the Akali Dal will be khali dal,” he said. Terming Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as liar, Sidhu said, “Kejriwal bepaenda lota hai te udi jhooth bolan di koi hadh ni hai (He is a bottomless vessel and there’s no limit of lying for him).”

In SAS Nagar, seeking vote for the party candidate, Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “The youth of Punjab need to be aware of the AAP’s false propaganda. To win election, the AAP leaders are befooling Punjab’s youth. They actually don’t care about Punjab and its people as winning election is their sole agenda. The AAP is like the East India Company that believes in divide and rule policy.”

Earlier, Sidhu addressed a rally in Zirakpur in support of party candidate from the Dera Bassi seat Deepinder Dhillon.

After the SAS rally, Navjot Singh Sidhu campaigned for Congress’ Kharar candidate Jagmohan Singh Kang. At the Kharar rally, Sidhu said, “Only Congress has the vision for the youth in Punjab. For job creation in the state, the Congress, after coming to power, will introduce the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Employment Generation Scheme.”

SELFIE TIME FOR YOUNGSTERS

People of all age waited to hear Sidhu even as they had to wait for hours at SAS Nagar rally venue. “I was a fan of his cricket and now his oratory skills. I came here to hear him speak,” said Rupinder Singla, a Class-12 student from Balongi. Many youngsters were busy clicking selfies with Sidhu. “O yaar, main koi Hema Malini hoon, ki tu photo te photo khichi ja reha hai,” Sidhu told a youngster.

ਬਾਦਲ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਅਕਸ ਵਿਗਾੜਿਆ: ਰਾਹੁਲ

ਸਰਬਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ
ਫਿਲੌਰ, 28 ਜਨਵਰੀ
ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਕੌਮੀ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਇਥੇ ਚੋਣ ਰੈਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਨੇ ‘ਤੇਰਾ ਤੇਰਾ’ ਤੋਲਿਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਦਲਾਂ ਨੇ ‘ਮੇਰਾ-ਮੇਰਾ’ ਤੋਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਭਰ ’ਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਈ ਮੰਨੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਝੂਠ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਝੁਕਦੇ ਪਰ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਕਾਰਨ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਅਕਸ ਵਿਗੜਿਆ ਹੈ।
ਇਹ ਰੈਲੀ ਹਲਕਾ ਫਿਲੌਰ ਤੋਂ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਵਿਕਰਮਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੌਧਰੀ ਦੇ ਹੱਕ ’ਚ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।  ਰੈਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕਾਂਸ਼ੀ ਰਾਮ ਦੀ ਵਿਚਾਰਧਾਰਾ ਚੰਗੀ ਸੀ ਪਰ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਆਗੂ ਉਸ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਚੱਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਜਦੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ’ਚ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਬਣੇਗੀ ਤਾਂ ਡਾ. ਅੰਬੇਡਕਰ ਦੇ ਨਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ’ਚ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਬਣਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਬੈਕਲਾਗ ਖਤਮ ਕਰਕੇ 50 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਦਲਿਤ ਵਰਗ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਵੀ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਅੱਗੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ’ਚ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਬਣਨ ’ਤੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੌਸਮ ਦੀ ਮਾਰ ਕਾਰਨ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਦੇ ਮੁਆਵਜ਼ੇ ਲਈ ਧੱਕੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਣੇ ਪੈਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਨਰੇਗਾ ਵਰਕਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਉਜਰਤ ਲਈ ਧਰਨੇ ਦੇਣੇ ਪੈਣਗੇ ਸਗੋਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੈਸੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਖਾਤਿਆ ’ਚ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮੋਦੀ ’ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਬੋਲਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਖਾਤਿਆਂ ’ਚ ਪੈਸੇ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ ਪਰ ਵਿਜੇ ਮਾਲਿਆ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਠੱਗ ਕੇ ਫਰਾਰ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ। ਆਰੰਭ ’ਚ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਰੈਲੀ ’ਚ ਦੋ ਘੰਟੇ ਦੇਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਪੁੱਜਣ ’ਤੇ ਮੁਆਫੀ ਵੀ ਮੰਗੀ।  ਰੈਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਇਚਾਰਜ ਆਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰੀ, ਸੰਸਦ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੌਧਰੀ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ।