ELECTIONS TO 57 PANCHAYATS POSTPONED –
3 ROs REMOVED
Chandigarh May 24, 2008
The State Election Commission, Punjab today postponed the general
elections to 57 Gram Panchayats in twelve districts, which were
scheduled to be held on 26th May in the state. Besides this, three
election officers have been removed.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election
Commission, Punjab said that exercising the powers vested with
the State Election Commission under Article 243K and 243N of the
Constitution of India, the polls to fifty-seven Gram Panchayats
namely Gram Panchayat Mahiuldinpur and Gram Panchayat Khunda in
district Gurdaspur, Gram Panchayat Bhanra. Gram Panchayat Khalaspur,
Gram Panchayat Bhunarheri and Gram Panchayat Bhanri in district
Patiala, Gram Panchayats Pamal, Gram Panchayat Pamali and Gram
Panchayat Kanganwal in district Ludhiana, Gram Panchayat Kila
Jeewan Singh Wala, Gram Panchayat Chattiwind, Gram Panchayat Cluster
No.3 Block Jandiala Guru and Gram Panchayat Mehta Chowk in district
Amritsar, Gram Panchayat Chakk Kharak Singh Wala, Gram Panchayat
Doomwali, Gram Panchayat Talab Nehar Basti No.(1,4,5) and Talab
Nehar Basti (2,3) in district Bathinda, Gram Panchayat Dheena
in district Jalandhar, Gram Panchayat Ajnali and Gram Panchayat
Naulakha in district Fathegarh Sahib, Gram Panchayat Kakrali in
district SAS Nagar, Gram Panchayat Lohat in district Nawan Shahr,
Gram Panchayats Talwandi Nepala, Kamalgarh, Mansoorwala, Achhewala,
Nathu Chiasi, Chak Jameet Singh Wala, Jhandu, Chawarian wali,
Megha Rai Uttar, Khawaja Khara, Lakhewala, Shateer wala, Muradwala
Boomgarh, Dhani Harcharn Singh Randhawa, Sabuanna, Bandiwala,
Shiwana, Ramsukhpura, Tillaan wali, Kheeu wali Dhabh, Baj Singh,
Walla Kalan, Basti Sohan, Basti Saon Singh, Killi, Khundar Hithar
and Bharrana in district Ferozpur, Gram Panchayats Kotli Saru
Khan, Jatti Umra, Sangar Kot, Nagoke, Sanger Kalan, Chak Kare
Khan and Mandala in district Tarn Tarn and Gram Panchayat Badhni
Kalan rural Distt. Moga have postponed by the Commission and fresh
election schedule would be communicated separately.
He added that Additional District Electoral Officer, Gurdaspur
had submitted to the Commission that the Returning Officer Jarnail
Singh Secretary, Market Committee had rejected the nomination
papers of the complainant with malafide intention. The poll process
of Gram Panchayat Khunda Block Dhariwal was countermanded and
has been vitiated by the malafide, irresponsible and illegal acts
of Returning Officer. He would be charge sheeted for major penalty.
Disciplinary action for imposition of major penalty would be initiated
against the Returning Officer.
In another case the Commission has concluded that serious irregularities
were committed by Sh. Gurbax Singh, Returning Officer, Khadoor
Sahib Group-IV and could not be rectified at this stage. The poll
process has been vitiated. Accordingly, general elections to seven
Gram Panchayats in district Tarn Tarn were countermanded. Returning
Officer has acted in irresponsible, malafide and wrong manner,
therefore he would be immediately suspended and charge sheeted
for major penalty.
He said that on the report of Election Observer the Commission
has concluded that the affidavits were removed from the nomination
files as the Returning Officer Sh. Mujnhial Singh Agriculture
Development Officer had connived with the one party of Village
Mahiuldinpur in district Gurdaspur and shrewdly hatched the conspiracy.
The election to Village Mahiuldinpur was countermanded. Returning
Officer would be immediately suspended and charge sheeted for
major penalty. Appropriate action under the election Act/IPC against
the Returning Officer would be taken by the Deputy Commkissioner,
Gurdaspur.
BADAL CONDEMNS UT ACTION AGAINST CONGMEN
"My residence is no Maharaja's palace. Everyone is
welcome here", says the CM
Chandigarh May 24, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today strongly
condemned even the symbolic action of the UT administration against
some Congress legislators who had come to his official residence
in Chandigarh this morning. In a statement, Mr. Badal described
the UT action as totally unnecessary, especially after the Punjab
government had officially conveyed it to them that the Congress
legislators were welcome to move even inside the CM's residence
as 'good democratic guests.'
"My residence is no Maharaja's palace. It represents the
poor men's hopes and dreams. Everybody is welcome here,"
said Mr. Badal in a statement here.
Mr. Badal said that he could understand the frustration generated
in the minds of the Congress leaders in the wake of their humiliating
defeat in each and every election since February 2007 but "
I will defend their right to give this frustration any peaceful
expression. I have fought for democracy and human rights and battled
against repression all my life and that is why I had thrown my
doors open to my agitating rivals. I had specially deputed my
Media Advisor, Mr. Harcharan Bains, who enjoys the rank of a minister,
to extend all hospitality to the visitors and I am pleased that
no effort was spared in looking after the few Congressmen who
came to my residence led by the Leader of the Opposition this
morning."
The Chief Minister said that he did not mind the "over-excited
conduct of our Congress friends at my residence. It is completely
understandable. Most of them had never been allowed to get anywhere
near the Chief Minister's residence when Captain Amarinder Singh
held fort. So, naturally, they got a bit excited at the very prospect
of being allowed free access to the place."
Mr. Badal said that he would officially convey to the UT administration
his "disapproval of and unhappiness over" even their
symbolic action . About Mrs. Bhatthal's statement that she would
come again on May 29, Mr. Badal said, "Why wait till May
29. I will be in Chandigarh tomorrow evening itself. They are
welcome any moment. If they think the issue is urgent, they should
come at the earliest. "
Meanwhile, Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the Congressmen
actually burnt "the effigy of democracy" in Chandigarh
this morning. . Addressing a crowded press conference at the Chief
Minister's residence, Mr. Bains said that the Chief Minister had
been pained at the manner in which 'our Congress friends' turned
down our Punjabi hospitality." He said that all arrangements
had been made right from early morning to treat 'our friends in
the opposition absolute democratic magnanimity, setting aside
all political differences. We had arranged chairs for everyone,
including a VIP chair for Mrs. Bhathal and one the former Chief
Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. It is sad that he could not
come. But since our Congress friends were coming to the residence
of Chief Minister, we owed it to the spirit of Punjabi culture
to be good hosts, regardless of what kind of guests they decided
to be."
Mr. Bains had been directed to be present at the CM's residence
from 5 (five) a.m., the time when Mr. Badal usually starts his
day. Shamianas had been put up both outside and inside the CM's
residence for the benefit of the visitors. Mr. Bains, along with
Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Advisor to CM, waited for nearly two
hours for the congress contingent to arrive. When the Congress
legislators, led by Mrs. Bhathal arrived at the site, Mr. Bains
went to her with folded hands, requesting her to come inside the
CM's residence. When she led her men towards the CM's residence,
Mr. Bains ordered all gates to be thrown open. Cold water followed
by tea and snacks were offered to the visitors, and although they
refused to accept, Mr. Bains insisted that the SAD-led government
would still be guided by the spirit of Bhai Kanaiya.
Mr. Bains said that the Congressmen did not clarify any of their
demands and confined their visit to mere slogan shouting and the
'gimmick of burning an effigy of democracy. They very well knew
in the heart of their hearts that no government other than Mr.
Badal's has ever treated its rivals with such grace and dignity.
It is sad that our guests were not equal to it."