Captain Amarinder Singh Naal Khas

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Govt staff told to distribute SAD booklets door to door

Also asked to get contact details of receivers to ensure proper delivery

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 10

With the Assembly elections round the corner, the ruling Akali Dal has come up with a 107-page booklet titled “9 saal Punjab ch vikas de” with pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal on its cover.

Interestingly, government employees have been told to distribute these booklets door to door across the state. The first lot of five lakh printed copies has been dispatched to the staff of the public relations office of the respective districts.

Instructions have been issued to the deputy commissioners to engage government staff and get these books delivered. The officials have to return with the name of the person to whom the booklet is delivered with his/her mobile phone number.

“It is the publicity material of the Akalis. They should get it done by their party workers. Why is the government thrusting such an odd job on us? People don’t give us their contact and other details even when we are on important Census duty. We do not think they will oblige us while receiving this booklet,” rues a government employee.

GS Khehra, MC Commissioner, Jalandhar, said: “We have deployed our staff for distributing the booklets in the city. There is a format for getting these received. This is to ensure that the booklets are not dumped and are properly distributed.”

Employees irked

• The move has been opposed by MC employees, tehsildars, BDPOs, anganwari workers and other government employees. “It is the publicity material of the Akalis. They should get it done by their party workers. Why is the government thrusting such an odd job on us?” rued a government employee

Contents of booklet

• The booklet carries comparison of funds distributed by the government block-wise from 2002-07 and from 2007 till now. It carries department-wise comparison of government expenditure in the last nine years with that of the Congress regime. It also carries full-page pictures of flyovers, messages from the CM and Deputy CM. The SAD’s alliance partner BJP, however, finds no mention in the booklet.

DCs told to identify spots for ads

• In another task given by the Public Relations Department, the DCs have been asked to identify spots that can be used to put up government advertisement boards and other publicity material even as these will have to be removed in two months after the election code comes into force.

AIT land ‘scam’: This is how it came to nothing

Developer earned ‘meagre’ profit, no scope of corruption: VB | Fresh probe trashes charges against Capt, 17 othersNitin Jain & Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 10

“Since the private developer had earned almost Rs 1 crore after spending a sum of over Rs 25 crore on the project, there seems to be no scope of the firm director paying corruption money of crores after earning such a meagre profit.”

This is how the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has concluded the fresh investigation to give a clean chit to former Chief Minister and Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh and 17 others, including former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kewal Krishan and two former Punjab ministers – Jagjit Singh and Raghunath Sahai Puri (all three now deceased) in the high-profile criminal and corruption case registered on the recommendation of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, alleging scam in granting exemption for transferring 32.1 acres of prime land of Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) to a private developer.

In the cancellation report filed before the district court in Mohali, which had been trying the case for the past eight years, the VB, which has also sought discharge of all accused in the case, has trashed all charges levelled against the accused.

The 21-page investigation report, submitted by Jalandhar Range DIG Rajinder Singh, who is attached to the VB and headed a SIT formed to probe the case afresh on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued on December 22, 2014, calculated the entire costing and earning of Veer Coloniser and Builders Private Limited, Amritsar, in purchasing, developing and selling 32.1 acres of the ‘controversial’ land exempted from acquisition.

It found that the private developer spent Rs 25.5 crore and earned Rs 26.5 crore in the entire scheme.

Trashing the charges of causing Rs 60-crore loss to the AIT by the development of Veer Enclave, the VB observed that the private developer not only benefitted the farmers, whose land it purchased at a higher rate than offered by the AIT but also helped the public, whom it sold the residential and commercial sites at lesser price than that offered by the AIT.

The VB probe further opined that Veer Enclave also caused no harm to the adjoining 188 acres land, on which the AIT had planned a separate development scheme. “This private colony has complied with all internal and external development norms, which could prove no hindrance in the development of adjoining 188 acres land by the AIT,” observed the VB investigation.

The VB reported that the charges of tampering with the Vidhan Sabha and AIT records, misuse of power and causing loss to the state exchequer in the exemption of the land could not be proved.

The VB also quoted the state government’s statement, “Government has the absolute and unfettered power under Section 56 of the Act to exempt any area out of the scheme area. As such, the government, considering all pros and cons had deemed it necessary to exempt an area measuring 32.1 acres out of the total scheme area measuring 188 acres,” given before the High Court in the case to justify the exemption.

The VB also relied upon the Supreme Court ruling, wherein the expulsion of Amarinder Singh from the Vidhan Sabha was declared constitutionally invalid, to exonerate the Punjab Congress chief and all other accused.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretary will be examined by the Mohali Additional District Judge on October 25 to decide the case. If the Secretary gives no objection to the VB’s fresh investigation report, the court may order cancellation and discharge of the accused otherwise it may order reinvestigation.

What SC ruled

• “The allegedly improper exemption of land took place during the 12th term of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, whereas the constitution of the Special Committee to inquire into it took place during the 13th term. It was not proper for the Assembly to inquire into actions that took place during its previous term, especially when there was no relatable business that had lapsed from the previous term. If we were to permit the legislature to exercise privileges for acting against members for their executive acts during previous terms, the courts are likely to be flooded with cases involving political rivalries. One can conceive that whenever there is a change of regime, the fresh incumbents would readily fall back on the device of legislative privileges to expel their political opponents as well as dissidents.”

Vigilance relied on SC ruling

• The VB also relied upon the Supreme Court ruling,wherein the expulsion of Amarinder Singh from the Vidhan Sabha was declared constitutionally invalid, to exonerate the Punjab Congress chief and all other accused.

Next date to decide case

• The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretary will be examined by the Mohali Additional District Judge on October 25 to decide the case. If the Secretary gives no objection to the VB's fresh investigation report, the court may order cancellation and discharge of the accused otherwise it may order reinvestigation

AAP has poor track record, don’t expect wonders: Badal

Tribune News Service

Lambi/Muktsar, October 10

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today dared AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders to list their single contribution to the nation in general and to the state in particular.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme in Lambi today, Badal said AAP only had hollow slogans and false promises to its credit. “AAP neither has any glorious track record nor any achievement in the service of the country or the state. It was formed by a bunch of opportunists and defectors, so nothing good can be expected from them,” the CM alleged.

He further said that Kejriwal was not even aware of the basics of agriculture and village life. “A state where the majority of population resides in villages can’t be run by a party whose leaders are not well versed with the problems faced by its people,” he said.

He alleged that the Delhi CM was suffering from anti-Punjab mindset and the stand taken by his government on the issue of the SYL canal in the Supreme Court was a reflection of it.

Taking on PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, the CM said: “Amarinder has a proven anti-farmer and anti-poor track record. He had discontinued free power supply to farmers during his tenure as CM.”

He claimed that Amarinder never initiated any scheme for the welfare of the poor. On the stubble burning by farmers, he said: “We have provided machines to the farmers to stop burning the stubble, but some people are still reluctant. We are taking steps in this regard.”

We have just begun: Mann

• Moga: Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann on Monday came down heavily on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for asking Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to list his achievements. In a statement issued here, he said AAP was merely a four-year-old party, which has unleashed a war against the corrupt system in the country. “We have been fighting tirelessly for poor and underprivileged sections of society, but Badal’s only contribution to Punjab is spreading mafia rule and promoting nepotism that has virtually converted the state Cabinet as Badal and Son Pvt Ltd,” he alleged. “Instead of serving the people of Punjab he has been serving only the interests of his own family. Nowhere in India we have an example where father is the CM and son Deputy CM,” he added. "It is under the Badal government that the mafia rule proliferated and spread its tentacles in the state,” he added.

Rahul’s bus yatra to focus on farmers

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 10

To boost the ongoing farmers’ outreach programme of the Punjab Congress, AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi will participate in a four-day bus yatra in the state near Diwali.

The event will primarily concentrate on the Malwa region, which has been hit the most by the agrarian crisis. Due to security reasons, the party is keeping Rahul’s visit schedule under the wraps. Refusing to share details, party leaders only said it would be around Diwali.

The event is based on the UP model of campaigning where a three-day bus yatra “27 saal, UP behaal” was flagged off by AICC president Sonia Gandhi. A special bus for Punjab is being readied.

PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh, had yesterday, said he wanted Rahul to visit the state during the ongoing farmer’s campaign. But he said no programme had been finalised. The former CM said he also wanted Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi to visit Punjab.

Top state leaders, including Amarinder, Ambika Soni, Asha Kumari and Harish Chaudhary will travel in the bus that will halt at several places.

The ongoing farmers’ outreach programme, which begins tomorrow, will end on October 25.

During the campaign, the shortlisted 600 ticket seekers will interact with more than 25 lakh households. The party will establish direct contact with 75 lakh voters, reaching out to more than two crore people “The inputs received during the campaign will qualify the ticket-seekers for the final round of selection,” said a senior leader.

Nexus between AAP, SAD: Capt

Chandigarh, October 10

Referring to reports of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau submitting closure reports in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today claimed that there was a nexus between the ruling Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party. “The two parties seem to have ganged up to malign my image as they see a common and formidable enemy in me,” he said.

He said Kejriwal should explain as to how he got to know much in advance about the contents of the report submitted in a sealed cover to the court. “The two parties had ganged up to malign me using the Amritsar Improvement Trust case, which was filed out of sheer political vendetta against me by the Badals. Since they do not have anything to say against me, they are using this case against me,” he added. — TNS

Won’t allow govt to convert theft into loan: Jakhar

ur Correspondent

Abohar, October 10

Punjab Congress vice-president Sunil Jakhar today said he would approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court to stall the government’s move to convert the “theft” in the foodgrain scam into a loan. He slammed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely for succumbing to the Akali pressure to cover their “misdeeds”.

Jakhar met local farmers, who told him that they had to stack paddy on roads as the government’s claims on purchase and lifting arrangements had fallen flat. They alleged that purchase officials were demanding Rs 100 per quintal “convenience charges” and 3 kg cartage to facilitate the purchase.

Jakhar said the Haryana government was purchasing paddy even with 21 per cent moisture content, but here only paddy with less than 17 per cent moisture content was being purchased. “The government has not so far arranged bags to lift paddy, agreement with rice shellers is yet to be signed and farmers can’t expect early payments as banks have not sanctioned the cash credit limit,” Jakhar said.

Arrest Kairon: Bajwa

• Gurdaspur: Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday "reminded" the PM of his pre-election rhetoric of rooting out corruption, while demanding the arrest of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon in the alleged Rs 31,000 crore food scam involving large-scale diversion, pilferage and misappropriation of foodgrain in the state. He said funds for procurement were provided by the Centre. "Several CAG reports have established that there is a mismatch between the actual foodgrain in the godowns and the funds given for the purpose," he said, seeking a CBI probe into the scam. TNS

Help Punjab regain its lost glory: Preneet Kaur to NRIs

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 10

Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur sought active support of Non-Resident Punjabis settled in the UK to help Punjab regain its lost glory.

“Punjab is in crisis and cries for help,” she told the Punjabi diaspora in a jam-packed banquet hall in London while seeking their participation in the electoral process that would take place in Punjab in 2017.

“Your concerns deserve priority. You have every right and it is the duty of the incumbent government to address your grievances in a transparent and responsive manner,” she said.

“They organised NRI sammelans and invited who’s who from all over the world, but did not even treat them well,” she said while taking a dig at the SAD-BJP’s NRI initiatives.

“I will act as your lawyer and your defendant, let Capt Amarinder Singh form the next government in Punjab,” she promised.

People have seen the misrule of the SAD-BJP in Punjab where the state had slipped down to the lowest ebb. Similarly, Modi had sold dreams, but people have got a heavy dose of taxes while waiting for “achhe din”, she said.

“AAP has been making tall and unachievable false promises,” she told the audience advising them not to be driven away by their propaganda and cited numerous failures of the AAP in Delhi.

“We have come to you with a track record of our own,” she claimed while elaborating on the success stories of the Congress regime under Capt Amarinder Singh.

Bolaria quits Vidhan Sabha

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 10

A day before joining the Congress officially, the rebel SAD leader, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, today resigned from the membership of the Vidhan Sabha.

Bolaria confirmed that he had submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal. He is set to join the Congress at a Dasehra function being organised in Amritsar that will be presided over by PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh.

The two-time MLA from Amritsar South said, “It was suffocating for me to continue as I no longer intend to be part of the SAD government. This chapter is over,” he said.

Bolaria said he had raised a voice against the SAD which had ignored his constituency. “My revolt started with the garbage dump at Bhagtanwala in my constituency. Scores of colonies are near it, resulting in damage to the health of residents. Still a solid waste management plant was proposed to be set up there to turn things from bad to worst. Despite my repeated pleas, I was ignored, so it hardly made any sense to be part of the government which seldom bothered to listen to a chosen representative,” he said.

In his resignation, Bolaria mentioned about deteriorating law and order situation, a series of instances of sacrilege to Guru Granth Sahib and farmers’ woes.

ਅਖਿਲੇਸ਼ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਦੀ ਹਮਾਇਤ

ਲਖਨਊ, 10 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ

ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਰਜੀਕਲ ਹਮਲੇ ਬਾਅਦ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਮੋਦੀ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ‘ਦਲਾਲੀ’ ਵਾਲੀ ਟਿੱਪਣੀ ਦਾ ਉੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਅਖਿਲੇਸ਼ ਯਾਦਵ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਕੌਮੀ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਸੋਚ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਹੀ ਕਹੀ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੋਦੀ ਦੇ ਭਲਕੇ ਇਥੇ ਦਸਹਿਰੇ ਦੇ ਜਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਜੇਕਰ ਬਿਹਾਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਰਾਵਣ ਮਾਰਨ ਲਈ ਉਥੇ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਜਾਣਾ ਸੀ।
ਰਾਹੁਲ ਦੀ ‘ਦਲਾਲੀ’ ਵਾਲੀ ਟਿੱਪਣੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਪੁੱਛਣ ’ਤੇ ਅਖਿਲੇਸ਼ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ, ‘ਇਹ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨਾਲ ਮੇਰੇ ਚੰਗੇ ਸਬੰਧ ਹਨ। ਜੇਕਰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕੁੱਝ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਸੋਚਣ ਬਾਅਦ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੁੱਝ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ।’ ਸਮਾਜਵਾਦੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਆਗੂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਸੈਨਿਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ, ‘ਅਖ਼ੀਰ ਗ਼ਰੀਬ ਜਾਨਾਂ ਗੁਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਕਿਸਾਨ ਮਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਮਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਸਰਜੀਕਲ ਹਮਲੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਕੀ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਨ?

SIDHU STRUGGLES TO FIND A TEAM IN PUNJAB

The outspoken leader is yet to side with any political party

CHANDIGARH: Once regarded as BJP’s ace crowd-puller, who could sway the electorate with his gift of the gab, cricketer-turned poli tician Navjot Singh Sidhu now finds himself on the periphery of Punjab’s political set up.Following his exit from the BJP, Sidhu has been clutching at straws in an attempt to regain significance in Punjab’s politics

His chances of joining the Congress appear to have taken a hit after the party’s Punjab chief, Captain Amarinder Singh, labelled him “undisciplined”. CHANDIGARH: Once regarded as BJP’s ace crowd-puller, who could sway the electorate with his gift of the gab, cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu now finds himself on the periphery of Punjab’s political set-up.

Following his exit from the BJP, Sidhu has been clutching at straws in an attempt to regain significance in Punjab’s politics.

His chances of joining the Congress appear to have taken a hit after the party’s Punjab chief, Captain Amarinder Singh, labelled him “undisciplined”. Amarinder also deflated Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s claim that her husband was in talks with the Congress top brass by declaring that “no such talks were on”.

The 53-year-old outspoken leader now finds himself in a predicament as he has so far failed to side with any party after resigning from the BJP.Sidhu appears to have made a political miscalculation by leaving his BJP-backed Rajya Sabha berth and floating a separate forum 2. The saffron party has made no efforts to bring Sidhu, who was once projected as its Sikh face and was a cause of envy for all opposition parties, back into its fold.

Political experts said Sidhu was able to achieve success in the BJP because of the party’s cadre strength and he would struggle to raise a political outfit individually.

The three-time Amritsar MP’s talks with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have also failed to reach

Sidhu currently finds himself preoccupied with a nationallytelevised comedy show, giving only sporadic appearances before news-seekers. Sidhu’s focus on his other professional commitments seems to suggest that the former Indian opener is more involved in the world of entertainment, with politics becoming his ‘side venture’.

His irregular meetings with other Awaaz e Punjab members ousness towards “the cause of Punjab”.

Once projecting himself as a symbol of the anti-Badal senti ment, Sidhu also started training his guns on Amarinder, which further limited his options after he fell out of favour with the BJP

“By restricting his options he has restricted his support base. He started as a signifi cant factor but has now become one of the common factors,” Institute of Development and Communication’s Pramod Kumar said.

While resigning from the Rajya Sabha (RS), Sidhu had written “With the closure of every win dow leading to Punjab the purpose (of joining RS) stands defeated .. now a mere burden. I prefer not to carry it”. After facing rejection from the Congress and talks with AAP not paying any dividends, it appears that a new political win dow may not open up for Sidhu.However, former nationa hockey team captain and Awaaz-e Punjab member Pargat Singh felt Sidhu’s current distant status in Punjab was only temporary. “It’s not the end of the road for (Navjot)

From SIT-1 to SIT-2, how VB changed its stance

AMRITSAR IMPROVEMENT TRUST SCAM While giving clean chit to Captain, 17 other accused, vigilance said coloniser worked in greater public interest than govt

From page 01 SAS NAGAR: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, in its cancellation report filed before a local court, has not only given a clean chit to former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and 17 other accused in the alleged Amritsar Improvement Trust scam, but also highlighted that the accused coloniser worked in “more public interest” than the government.

The 26-page cancellation report (accessed by the HT) states that coloniser Veer Builders, which got its 32 acres of land exempted from acquisition from the improvement trust in 2006, paid a much higher price to people from whom it bought the land than the improvement trust would have, thereby working in a greater public interest than the trust.

The report further states that Veer Builders earned almost `26 crore from the entire project (selling 47 commercial and 333 residential plots) while they would have spent almost `25 crore on setting up and maintaining the project. “Why would anyone bribe in crores if the profit in the entire project is only `1 crore?”questions the vigilance bureau (VB) report.he VB in September 2008 had registered a first information report (FIR) under Sections 420 (cheating), 467/468 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act at the its police station in SAS Nagar. The challan filed in February 2009 found all 18 accused involved in the alleged scam that led to a loss of `360 crore to the state exchequer. However, the charges were never framed against the accused.

In its second round of investigations -- conducted following an order of the Punjab and Haryana high court -- the VB has found that there was “no undue favour granted to any developer or misuse of power”, while seeking cancellation of the FIR against Capt Amarinder Singh and 17 others (three accused have since died).

The cancellation report has been submitted to the trial court on Friday and notice issued to the Vidhan Sabha secretary, who is the complainant in the case, to record his statement. The case comes up for hearing on October 25.

PM must walk the talk, arrest Kairon, says Cong MP

PARTAP SINGH BAJWA, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member The funds for procurement were provided through the SBI, and the Centre is well within its right to inquire into rampant corruption that is pervasive in the procurement, storage and distribution chain in Punjab.

GURDASPUR: Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his pre-election promise “Na khaunga, na khane dunga (neither will I indulge in corruption, nor allow anyone else to indulge in it)”, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday demanded the arrest of Punjab food and civil supplies minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon for the alleged `31,000-crore food scam involving large-scale pilferage and misappropriation of foodgrains in the state.

Talking to HT, Bajwa said the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) has repeatedly pointed out to mismatch between the funds provided by the Centre for procurement of foodgrains through its cash credit limit (CCL) scheme and the stocks of foodgrains present in godowns in Punjab.

The MP said as a result of this wide chasm, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had intervened, demanding that the deficit be immediately bridged, lest the loan amount runs the risk of becoming a non-performing asset on account of the dismal financial status of Punjab.Bajwa said the funds were provided through the State Bank of India (SBI), and the Centre is well within its right to inquire into this alleged rampant corruption that is pervasive in the procurement, storage and distribution chain in Punjab.

“Procurement and storage is carried out by state agencies on behalf of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Union government. It is evident from the magnitude of the scam that senior government officials of the food and civil supplies department of Punjab in collusion with Adaish Partap Singh Kairon have indulged in -- which by the CAG’s estimates is -- the largest food scam in the history of India,” said Bajwa.

he Congress leader urged the PM to immediately direct a physical inspection of foodgrains in Punjab godowns and direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into this alleged scam carried out by Kairon, who is the son-in-law of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Badal should not seek votes on basis of longevity: Jakhar

With the move of seeking a loan of `31,000 cr allegedly to cover up the Akali ‘looting’ in the food scam, CM has put every Punjabi under a debt `10,333 each. SUNIL KUMAR JAKHAR, senior Congress leader

FEROZEPUR: Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal should not seek votes on the basis of his ‘longevity’.his was stated by the spokesman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and senior Congress leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar after visiting various grain markets at Abohar, a subdivision of the Fazilka district on Monday.“Not only me, but all Punjabis will pray for the longest life of Parkash Singh Badal but Punjab can’t afford to have another term of the Shiromani Akali Dal,” he said.

“With the move of seeking a loan of `31,000 crore allegedly to to cover up the Akali 'looting' in the food scam, Badal, in connivance with Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, has put every Punjabi under another debt `10,333 each,” alleged Jahkar.

Even the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its report, had cited the food scam in Punjab, but the Akalis and BJP leaders are trying to cover up the same, he said.

“Congress will drag the matter to the Punjab and Haryana high court,” he said.

“Despite personal assurances by Badal, farmers are not only being harassed, but also being looted in the procurement of paddy,” said Jakhar.

“Not even a single penny for the paddy procured so far, has been paid to farmers yet,” he said.

“It is ironical that the 21% moisture in paddy is allowed in the neighbouring BJP-ruled Haryana, but here in Punjab the norm for the moisture content is mere 17%. Instead of doing justice with poor farmers, the Akalis are registering cases against them when they protest to raise their voice,” he rued.

He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would soon visit various grain markets of Punjab to share the grief of farmers.

Being Haryanvi, Kejri has anti-Punjab mindset: Badal

WAR OF WORDS Says Delhi CM is naturally inclined towards safeguarding interests of his state and wants to snatch waters of Punjab to benefit his state

The AAP is just a ‘bunch of opportunists and defectors’, who have left one party or another to acquire power, therefore, the state and its people could not expect anything from these people. PARKASH SINGH BADAL, chief minister

BATHINDA: Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, on Monday, termed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal a ‘Haryanivi’, who is suffering from the anti-Punjab mindset.On the sidelines of a sangat darshan programme in the Lambi constituency, Badal said since Kejriwal hailed from Haryana, so he was naturally inclined towards safeguarding the interests of his state and wanted to snatch the waters of Punjab to benefit his own state.

“The anti-Punjab stand taken by the AAP government on the issue of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in the apex court was a reflection of it. The affidavit by the Delhi government in the Supreme Court termed Punjab’s stand on the issue as unconstitutional and anti-national,” Badal saidBadal added that it was on record that the AAP was just a ‘bunch of opportunists and defectors’, who have left one party or another to acquire power, therefore the state and its people could not expect anything from these people.

“The sole aim of these people was just to come to power in the state,” he said.

Lashing out at Kejriwal, Badal dared the entire leadership of the AAP to list their single contribution for the country in general and the state in particular.

“The AAP was just a party of hollow slogans and false promises without any track record nor any achievement for the welfare of the people or for the service of the country and the state,” he said.

Badal said Kejriwal was not even aware of the basics of agriculture and village life of the state.

“A state like ours, where majority of the population resides in villages, could not be run by a party, whose leaders were not acquainted with the problems faced by the people residing there. The AAP and its leaders were completely ignorant about the basic topography of the state,” he said.

The CM exhorted the people to adopt a cautious approach while casting their vote as their verdict could make or mar the future of the state.

Earlier, addressing public gatherings in Kattianwali, Karmpatti, Ratta Tibba, Mohlan, Rani Wala villages and others, Badal attacked Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, saying that the Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar has a proven anti-farmer and anti-poor track record.

“On the one hand, the SADBJP alliance provided free power to farmers but, on the other, during his tenure as chief minister, Amarinder discontinued this putting enormous burden on farmers. Captain also never initiated any scheme for the welfare of the poor strata of society,” he said.

AMRITSAR TRUST CASE

VB report timed to malign me: Capt

Chandigarh, October 9

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today refused to buy the theory of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that there was an understanding between him and the Badals regarding the cancellation report in Amritsar Improvement Trust land scam case.

The matter has put the Congress in a tight spot as the Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Awaaz-e-Punjab has already alleged collusion between Amarinder and the Badals.

Amarinder said: “The case was filed out of sheer political vendetta without any legal basis. The timing of the cancellation report is part of the calculated move by the Badal government to malign me ahead of the state Assembly elections.”

“We had followed the Badal’s policy on exemption for which he scripted my unconstitutional expulsion from the Vidhan Sabha. It was our government that later made the policy more stringent,” he claimed.

Quick to react to Amarinder’s claim of being a victim of political vendetta, AAP state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich asked him “whether it is political vendetta or a quid pro quo between Badal and him”.

He alleged that knowing it well that they would not come to power in Punjab, the Badals and Amarinder hatched a conspiracy to be soft on the corruption charges against each other. Amarinder had earlier done a favour on the Akalis by opposing a CBI probe against Majithia in the drug racket, the AAP leader alleged.

Rejecting the charge, Amarinder said the state government in collusion with the BJP-led Union Government had gone silent in the Bhola drug case. — TNS

...Says Sidhus not reliable

• Chandigarh: Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday alleged: "Since Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife are the most undisciplined persons, there will be no alliance with them, nor will they be inducted into the party." He said the Sidhus could not be trusted. “We have got rid of Jagmeet Brar and do not want more such leaders.” TNS

Bir Devinder sticks to stand

• Chandigarh: Bir Devinder Singh, the whistleblower in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case, said on Sunday that he stood by his statement made before the special committee of the Vidhan Sabha about the exemption from acquisition to Trust land. He said he had not been approached by the VB since last year. "The VB had wanted me to give a favourable statement, but I refused," said the former Deputy Speaker. TNS

AAP: Beneficiaries of quarries have links with SAD, Congress

Chandigarh, October 9

Alleging the involvement of both the SAD and Congress in illegal mining and collection of ‘goonda’ tax in Punjab, AAP has demanded that both the parties should come clear on the issue and bring transparency in the system.

AAP RTI wing co-convener Dinesh Chadha said that both the parties make allegations against each other, but RTI documents reveal that the beneficiaries of quarries have close links with these two parties. He alleged, “Illegal mining and ‘goonda’ tax mafia have been troubling the common man, transporters and crusher operators for the past many years. This mafia has been destroying natural resources by unscientifically mining green mountains. The Congress and Akali Dal leaders are collecting ‘goonda’ tax despite making allegations against each other. RTI documents show that this mafia is controlled by Akali Dal and Congress leaders having close links with the Badal family, Captain Amarinder Singh and Rahul Gandhi.”

Chadha alleged that mining contracts for all the quarries in Punjab are in the names of close relatives and associates of Congress and Akali Dal leaders. — TNS

Panchayats told to pay for govt’s publicity boards

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9

Panchayats across the state are being made to pay for “promoting the achievements” of the Badal-led government. The panchayats, totalling around 13,000, have been asked to pay between Rs 5,000 and Rs 11,200 each to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) concerned so that display boards can be put up in all villages.

In some cases, panchayat samitis, zila parishads and other civic bodies are funding the project. Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Sikander Singh Maluka was not available for comments. Sukhwinder Singh, sarpanch of Reona Bohala village in Fatehgarh Sahib, said they had already issued a cheque to the BDPO concerned. Kuljit Singh Nagra, Fatehgarh Sahib MLA, said: “It is difficult for panchayats with little income to pay for the boards. In many cases, the panchayats have been asked to pay out of the development funds.”

In many villages, the boards have already been installed. A former sarpanch of Bulewal village in the Dera Baba Nanak constituency, Surinder Singh said they had paid Rs 5,700 for the board.

Sukhjinder Randhawa, MLA, Dera Baba Nanak, said the facts being displayed on the board needed to be verified. “Contrary to the figures of the Atta-Dal scheme printed on the boards, not a single blue card has been issued in Bulewal village,” he said.

However, officials in the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, Punjab, said the display boards would make the general public aware of various welfare schemes.

Dr Sidhu: BJP kept mum on mafia rule

Says it connived with Akali Dal in misuse of funds

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 9

A day after quitting the BJP, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu here today accused the state party leadership of remaining silent over the “mafia rule” in Punjab.

She also alleged that some state BJP leaders connived with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the misuse of public funds and other wrongdoings.

“It was suffocating as no senior leader stood by me when I raised my voice against SAD. Whatever wrong was happening, we were supposed to support the mafia,” Dr Sidhu said.

Justifying the timing of her resignation, she said the interests of her constituency (Amritsar East) were at stake. “I did not resign earlier so as not to thrust a byelection upon my voters. I did not want the works to get scuttled and the funds to be misused by private hands,” Dr Sidhu said.

Referring to RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja’s murder, she claimed that he was also upset at the state BJP leadership for becoming a puppet in the hands of the SAD.

Stating that her husband was in touch with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, she rejected Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh’s offer of welcoming Awaaz-e-Punjab leaders minus Sidhu. “No state-level person is involved in talks with the Congress,” she added.

On the couple’s future plans, she said, “We have options. Sidhu and his aides have opted out of the electoral battle so as not to let the anti-incumbency vote get divided. My stand could be different.”

Loan to cover up 'theft'?

Punjab to sink deeper in debtFour months before elections the Punjab Government plans to borrow Rs 31,000 crore. This is reportedly to clear bank loans of Rs 29,000 crore advanced since 1994-95 to buy foodgrains, part of which has gone missing. In April the RBI had asked the banks concerned to treat Rs 12,000 crore as bad loans after it found a mismatch between the value of foodgrains stored in Punjab and the loans provided to buy them. Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister had then denied there was any food scam. He called it a "mismatch of calculations". The controversy has revived with the state resorting to a cover-up loan. 

Sunil Jakhar of the Congress has put it bluntly: "You cannot convert a theft into a loan…. Why should the people bear the liability of the theft committed by a few people in power?" Chief Minister Badal insists there is transparency in the procurement since the RBI monitors it, conveniently forgetting that it was the RBI itself that pointed to the food scam in the first place. The Centre has maintained a conspiratorial silence over the RBI revelations. Unfortunately, opposition leaders, busy quibbling over trivialities, have failed to take this serious issue to its logical conclusion. There are accusations of Congress-Akali Dal "understanding" with Capt Amarinder Singh being let off in the Amritsar land scam.

There is irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing. The RBI is a respectable institution and if it says the Punjab Government has not accounted for food stocks worth Rs 12,000 crore, there is no reason to disbelieve it. Another national institution of known integrity, the CAG, has indicted the Punjab Government for misspending food purchase loans and inflating transportation and other procurement-related charges. It has charged millers with delivering rice less than the requisite quantities. Despite a prima facie case, there has been no credible investigation. There are demands for a CBI inquiry but the BJP government at the Centre will not like to embarrass itself and its ally in Punjab. Arun Jaitley's Finance Ministry has already helped the Akalis put a lid on the scam. Perhaps, a high court-monitored inquiry may bring out the truth. 

Children’s park, zoo handed over to pvt firm

Leaders and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party come out in protest against AIT’s move at the historic Ram Bagh

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 9

Despite opposition from various quarters of society, Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi today formally handed over the children’s park and zoo at the historic Ram Bagh to a private concern amidst protest by workers and leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

They showed black flags at the entrance gate of the garden, which was closed by the police, in view of the protest call by the AAP. They raised slogans against Joshi and the Punjab government alleging high-handedness on their part while giving charge of the heritage park to a private amusement firm.

Meanwhile, city Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and Municipal Commissioner were conspicuous due to their absence at the programme. They had opposed the Amritsar Improvement Trust’s move of handing over the park to a private firm.

The Municipal Corporation (MC) and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) were custodians of Ram Bagh and the summer palace of legendry Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was declared a monument of national importance in October 2004.

AAP activist Ravinder Sharma alleged that the Punjab government was working as land mafia, which was proved by privatising the historical park. He alleged that there seems some vested interest of the Minister otherwise what was the reason for privatising it.

“If the government can spend Rs 5 crore for revamping the children park and zoo, then it can also maintain it,” he added.

“The only reason for commercialising the public park is to benefit his near and dear ones,” he alleged.

He said empty chairs in the pandal erected for the inaugural programme showed mood of the people, who were pained by the move. Though the programme was delayed by over an hour, leaders of the BJP were seen struggling to gather people for the inaugural event.

A controversy had erupted after the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) decided to hand the revamped children’s park and zoo to private amusement park authorities. The MC had handed the children’s park and zoo to the AIT for carrying out development works, but it was not authorised to further hand it over to any third party.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said it was mandatory to pass a resolution in the MC House meeting before taking any such decision. However, no such resolution was passed by the MC house recently, he added. He said an agreement was reached only to maintain and develop Ram Bagh and not to hand it over to private hands for commercial purposes. MC Commissioner Sonali Giri also denied passing any such resolution by the civic body.

The AIT chairman, Suresh Mahajan, said the trust had sought further directions from the Punjab government over the issue after the MC objected over handing over the park to a private firm.

An ASI official Bhanu Partap Singh said he had written to superintendent archaeologist about the issue.

The AIT has leased out park for 11 years after the private firm deposited Rs 25 lakh as fee, which is refundable after expiry of the period. The people will have to purchase entrance tickets at Rs 5 per person. They will have to pay Rs 10 for any ride. They will also have to pay for boating or riding a track train. Besides, visitors will have to shell out Rs 5 as parking fee for a scooter/ bike and Rs 10 for a car.

Congress joins the chorus

Congress leader and leader of the Opposition in the MC House Rajkanwal Preet Paul Singh Lucky said Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi had given a political colour to the national monument by giving possession of the children’s park and zoo to private hands illegally. The historic monument was made a private property by the ruling government, he said.

In a statement here today he alleged that the local MC authorities and the AIT had bowed to the pressure of the Local Bodies Minister. On the pretext of carrying out development works in the historic Company Bagh its character was destroyed by the AIT, he added.

‘Police, politicians and bureaucracy nexus with criminals causes mess in city’

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 9

Congress MLA Om Parkash Soni in Amritsar.

Member of Legislature Assembly for the fifth time and first Mayor of the Municipal Corporation (MC) Amritsar, Om Parkash Soni, believes that police, politicians and bureaucrats’ nexus with corrupt middlemen and criminals causes all mess in the city.

He claimed that a Station House Officer (SHO) at the police station could curb drugs peddling in his jurisdiction within 10 days and an officer of the MC could remove all encroachments, only if they were honest.

He also targeted politicians for being equally responsible for various problems, including drugs, law and order, besides civic issues in the city.

Being first Mayor of the city, what is your opinion about the role of the Municipal Corporation in development?

The Municipal Corporation is a representative body of local residents, which is constituted for their betterment. It runs with the money of local tax payers. Residents pay taxes for allowances of elected representatives, salaries of officials and employees. It is the duty of elected representatives to provide best infrastructure to residents. Every person in the city has right to drink clean potable water, use efficient sewerage, garbage collection and solid waste management system, swift public transport, fine roads and benefit from greenery.

But there is nothing in the city, where are we lacking?

As bureaucrats and politicians are corrupt, they are not concerned about welfare of residents. When I was Mayor of the city, I widened and introduced cemented roads, redeveloped gardens and planted trees. The situation has been getting worsen with every passing year. Residents are suffering from diseases due to unhygienic environment and contaminated water. The government has failed to provide clean potable water. Roads have been dug up in the city without any reason. Green belts have been encroached.

Several development projects have been going on in the city. What is your take?

It is a sheer wastage of money. The government has been harassing residents. The BRTS is not viable and soon after its completion the government will shut it. Development works during election season do not sustain. The city needs continuous development.

Traffic jam is one of the major issues. How can the city get rid of this problem?

There are two government agencies, which are responsible for it. The Municipal Corporation has to widen roads, make slips roads and remove encroachments. The traffic police has to implement rules. If there is a routine traffic issue, it means they are not taking any responsibility. The bureaucracy is also responsible for the mess.

When the Police or Transport Departments take action against violators, political parties come out in support of agitators and pressurise bureaucracy? Like in the case of auto-rickshaws.

We are representative of the people. Whenever the public agitates, we lead them. But the bureaucracy should not allow any wrong doing. They have to take action in routine manner. Why do officials wake up from slumber after a major accident?

You are in politics for past three decades. How was the industry transferred from the city?

It is due to the policy of the Centre government. The Vajpayee-led NDA government had announced tax free holiday for the industry in neighbouring states. So, industrialists moved to other states. As many as 22,000 units were shut down in the state due to anti-industry policy of the incumbent government. There were 400 fan manufacturing units in Amritsar. Now, only a few survive. The governments have to think about unemployment of locals. I have raised voice and met Manmohan Singh, former PM, in this regard.

Theft and snatchings incidents have become a routine affair. What is your take on law and order situation?

Not just the city, there is no law and order in the entire state. Murders, robberies, snatchings are frequently reported. The police has been working under pressure of leaders of the ruling parties. Policemen have been patronising wrong doings of leaders. An SHO in my constituency patronised thieves and gave them a free hand to commit crime. The police do not return recovered goods to rightful owners. Politicians get their share from police officials.

The city is worst hit by heroin (Chitta). The people blame leaders of political parties for selling drugs?

I can blame anyone and some else can level the same allegation on me, but it is hard to prove. I can’t take responsibility of any politician. Besides, I do not find fault with anyone. I advocate that the SHO of a police station can curb the drug menace within 10 days. But, police officials are corrupt.

Dr Navjot Kaur questions BJP’s silence on ‘mafia raj’ in Punjab

A day after resigning, MLA says party a divided house in the state, has to toe Akali Dal line

I did not join the party to support the mafia... I came in politics to eradicate the menace, but my complaints were ignored... whenever I approached the government for development funds, I was humiliated. DR NAVJOT KAUR SIDHU, Amritsar East MLA

From page 01 AMRITSAR: A day after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Amritsar East MLA and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu Navjot’s wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Sunday questioned the party’s silence on “mafia raj” in Punjab.Talking to the media, Dr Sidhu said no person with selfrespect could be part of the Akali Dal-BJP alliance. “You cannot expect justice where corruption flourishes,” she said.

“The BJP leadership should have told us to keep mum on whatever wrong was happening before joining the alliance. We were supposed to ignore and support the mafia,” Dr Sidhu said.

“I did not join the party to support the mafia... I came in politics to eradicate the menace, but the irony was that my complaints were ignored. What is the point of being in politics if you cannot raise your voice against the wrong?” she said.“You can be part of mafia if you want to make illegal money and no one will punish you. But if you want to work honestly, no one will be by your side,” she alleged without taking names of leaders patronising the “mafia raj”.

Elaborating reasons for quitting the BJP, Dr Sidhu said she and her supporters were subjected to injustice by the ruling alliance and not even the BJP leadership came forward to address the problems. “When I demanded money for my area, funds were not released. I was told such things happen in politics. I also approached BJP leaders for funds to which they told me to keep shut. I was told not to speak against the alliance,” she said.

Dr Sidhu, who had been at loggerheads with the Parkash Singh Badal-led government over development projects in her constituency, said BJP workers were being harassed at the behest of the Akali Dal. “Whenever I approached the government for funds, I was humiliated. Even local bodies minister Anil Joshi was not ready to help,” she alleged.

Replying to a question, Dr Sidhu claimed that her husband and former Amritsar MP was ousted from Punjab politics by the BJP at the behest of the Akali Dal. She said deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, ministers Bikram Singh Majithia and Anil Joshi and then BJP state chief Kamal Sharma hatched a conspiracy against her husband and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley was asked to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar.

Claiming that the BJP was a divided house in Punjab, Dr Sidhu said the party has to toe the Akali Dal line. “In fact, BJP leaders have mortgaged the party to the Akalis,” she alleged.

On reasons of delaying the resignation from the BJP, Dr Sidhu said: “I did not resign earlier to avoid byelection in the constituency. Funds were approved for the constituency and I did not want the development works to suffer,” Dr Kaur said, adding that she would not resign from the assembly and continue to carry out development works in the constituency.

On her future plans, Dr Sidhu said she was keeping her options open. She said the Aam Aadmi Party approached her six months ago. “I may even go in for social work,” she added.

Capt rejects alliance with Sidhu’s Awaaz-e-Punjab

Navjot Singh Sidhu is another Jagmeet Brar, undisciplined people like him are not required in the Congress, though Pargat is welcome as he has good credentials. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab Congress chief

HANDIGARH: Equating cricketerturned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu with former MP Jagmeet Brar, who was expelled from the Congress earlier this year, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said he doesn’t want another undisciplined person in the party.

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh launching the party’s farmer outreach programme along with other senior leaders in Chandigarh on Sunday.

Talking to the media after kicking off Congress’ farmer outreach programme here on Sunday, Amarinder ruled out an alliance with Sidhu’s Awaaze-Punjab front. Though he was welcome to merge his front with the Congress, the former CM added. “Anyone willing to join the Congress has to be a part of the party,” he said.

Answering a query on Sidhu’s wife Dr Navjot Kaur’s claim that her husband was in touch with the Congress high command in New Delhi, Amarinder said party president Sonia Gandhi was not keeping well and was not meeting anyone. Party vicepresident Rahul Gandhi was in Uttar Pradesh for about a month. “Sidhu never tried to contact me. The couple should tell who they are in contact with?” he questioned.Amarinder said Pargat Singh was welcome to join the Congress as he is son-in-law of a party leader and his credentials are good.

Replying to a question on AAP allegations that Congress and Akalis were playing a fixed match, Amarinder said: “Let the AAP leaders clarify whether the case was not out of vendetta politics and let them also clarify whether or not they trusted the Supreme Court which reinstated me as the member of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.”

He said Punjab Vigilance Bureau move to close the case related to exemption of land by the Amritsar Improvement Trust against him has vindicated his stand that it was filed out of political vendetta and had no legal basis. The state Congress chief also promised to waive debt of `35,000 crore on Punjab farmers. He said Congress workers would meet debt-ridden families who would be given a receipt that will serve as an agreement guaranteeing debt waiver once the Congress forms the government.

Speaking about the farmer outreach campaign, Amarinder said in the first phase – from October 12 to 25 — party workers would reach out to 25 lakh households, establishing contact with 75 lakh voters.

“The programme is an extension of the Congress campaign led by party’s national vicepresident Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh. The Punjab farm-debt-waiver campaign will be centred around the message — karzakurki khatam; fassal di poori rakam,” said Amarinder.

Earlier, addressing party workers, Amarinder said if voted to power, the Congress would ban auctioning of farm land. He said most of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report would be implemented.

BJP tolerated Sidhu couple for long, says Sampla

LUDHIANA: State Bharatiya Janata Party chief and Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampla on Sunday said the party tolerated Sidhu couple for a long time.Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu resigned from the party membership on Saturday after her husband Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the party last month. Sampla who was on a visit to Ludhiana to inaugurate a Patanjali outlet said that the party had accommodated the couple for a long time but they “did not respect the principles of the party”.

“We even tolerated their indiscipline for a long time but they did not mend their ways and continued to malign the image of the party” said Sampla.

He said Navjot Kaur kept on speaking against the party.

Meanwhile. Sampla said that BJP was not exploiting the surgical strikes by army on terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) recently.