WE ARE PROUD OF CAPT KANWALJIT SINGH AND HIS FAMILY: SUKHBIR

Chandigarh April 3, 2009

Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said here today that he had been grossly misquoted by one newspaper about the party's plan for Late Capt. Kanwaljit Singh's Son Jasjit Singh Bunny. In a statement here, Mr. Badal said that he had never made the remarks attributed to him regarding Mr. Bunny's future. He said that Capt Kanwaljit Singh was one of the stalwarts of the SAD. "We hold him and his family in the highest esteem. We are in fact proud of them."

The SAD President said that the alleged remarks about Mr.Jasjit Singh Bunny being already ' adjusted' were never made by him. "Whatever I said was in a full fledged Press Conference. If I had said anything of this kind, all the newspapers would have reported it but actually only one paper mis-quoted me in a mischievous manner," said the SAD President Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal.

SAD FILES COMPLAINTS AGAINST RANINDER, KAYPEE AND MUNISH TIWARI FOR GROSS VIOLATION OF MODEL POLL CODE

Chandigarh April 2, 2009

The Shriomani Akali Dal today accused the Bathinda Congress candidate Mr. Raninder Singh of breaking the model code of electoral conduct by organizing meetings and road-shows without seeking the requisite permission from the competent authority.

The Congress candidate is under legal obligation to give advance intimation to local police authorities to enable them to make necessary arrangements. it is clearly indicated in the model code of conduct that such processions should only be regulated to the right side of the road. Sh. Raninder Singh has neither obtained necessary permit from the Returning Officer nor he has taken prior approval of the Returning Officer, thus grossly violated the model code of conduct.

The party also complained against the PPCC president Mr. Mohinder Singh Kaypee of violating the model code by indulging in false claims on the number of cases registered by the SAD-BJP government against the Congress workers in the state. Mr. Kaypee had claimed in a press conference at Phillaur.

Party secretary Daljit Singh Cheema also complained to the Chief Election Commissioner against "baseless, defamatory and highly irresponsible allegations leveled by the Congress party's Ludhiana candidate Munish Tiwari. Mr. Tiwari had alleged that the death of Captain Kanwaljit Singh was the result of an intra party conspiracy in the SAD.

In another complaint lodged by SAD MLA from Majitha Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia to Election Commission of India against the poll violation by the Congress nominee from Ludhiana Parliamentary Constituency Mr. Munish Tiwari alongwith Sh. Gurdeep Singh Bhaini MLA Jagraon and Darshan Singh Brar MLA for addressing public meetings in the villages of Jagraon assembly constituency. These leaders have repeatedly made unverified allegations against the Chief Minister Punjab and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal. They had made distorted utterances with regard to the sad and sudden demise of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal and they further used derogatory words against the President of Shiromani Akali Dal and all these distorted utterances are not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Thus they have blatantly violated clause (2) of the general conduct of the Model Code of Conduct.

Clean Chit to Tytler an "outrage against humanity: Badal


Chandigarh April 2, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today came down heavily on the Union government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for "ensuring a clean chit to the known killers of thousands of innocent Sikhs during the dark November days of 1984" and added that the act of the Congress party to decorate the guilty with party tickets for the Parliamentary elections must have emboldened the investigating agency to go ahead with a clean chit to those responsible for the brutal massacre of Sikhs.

"I call upon the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene even at this late stage to ensure that the CBI is not allowed to be used as a tool to shield the killers of thousands of innocent men, women and children. His silence at this hour could prove to be a historic failure to discharge his basic constitutional responsibility. People within the Congress have come out openly against the ruling party's open political support to those guilty for the 1984 carnage and it is time the Prime Minister set an example by ensuring that law was allowed to take its course, " the Chief Minster said in a strongly worded statement here this afternoon.

Describing the clean chit given by the CBI to Mr. Jagdish Tytler as a shocking outrage against all norms of civilized society, jurisprudence and natural justice, Mr. Badal said that the victims were being " killed a second time through this denial of justice even a quarter of a century after the crime took place. "This is a highly politically motivated verdict, and one that even a Government headed by a Sikh Prime Minister would find hard to justify. It is a brazen act and really adds insult to the deep Sikh injury, " said the Chief Minister.

Mr. Badal also dismissed as "utterly absurd" trhe observation of the CBI that the witness against the accused could not be relied upon. "Who is the CBI to pass a judgment on the reliability or otherwise of a witness. This was for the courts to decide on the issue. The CBI should have committed the case to the judiciary almost twenty three years ago. First, it delays justice to a point which is unbelievable even by its own standards and now it has the cheek to hurry through with clean chits to the guilty."

Mr. Badal recalled that the CBI investigation report had already been leaked out by the agency to Mr. Jagdish Tytler and he had already commented on it even before the issue reached the court in a sealed envelop. "What is the use of all tamasha when the country's highest investigation agency is leaking all the information to the person it is supposed to prosecute,?" wondered Mr. Badal.

The Chief Minster said that the CBI action was bound to weaken the hands of saner and peace-loving people in the country as it was bound to send a signal that justice could not be secured within the framework of the system. "This is an extremely unfortunate development and must be condemned in the strongest terms by all those who believe in justice, civil liberties and human rights. The biggest irony is that a party which never tires of claiming credit for making a Sikh a Prime Minster has honoured the killers of Sikhs with tickets, cabinet berths and other encomiums," said the Chief Minister.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab

Chandigarh 02 April, 2009

As per the directions of this office 63676 numbers of licensed Arms were deposited by the owners in their respective Police Stations, in the State. 1693 persons have been bound down under section 107/116 CaPC

The Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab has written to Election Commission of India, requesting a clarification whether during the period the Model Code of Conduct remains in force, T.V. shows could be hosted by potential candidates for the Lok Sabha Elections. Similarly clarification has also been sought whether feature films starring such potential candidates could be shown on T.V/Cable networks during this period and whether songs of such persons could be broadcast. In reply the Commission has said that the restriction was on Doordarshan and not on private channels.

Replying on the clarification regarding the display of the photographs/ calendars, etc. of National Leaders and prominent personalities in the Government Offices/premises, the Election Commission of India has said that the photographs and images of the political functionaries, who have deep influence on the minds of electors and many of whom are still active in public life and may even be contesting the current general elections, should not be displayed in the government buildings and premises as that would have the effect of disturbing the level playing field vis-a-vis the political functionaries of other parties and candidates. Giving more clarifications the commission said that the photographs of Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Ministers and other political functionaries should not be displayed, this instruction, however, is not applicable with regard to the images of the national leaders, poets and prominent historical personalities of the past, and the President of India and the Governors.

The Ministry of Agriculture has circulated to all State Agriculture Secretaries that the Election Commission of India has conveyed it’s no objection to continuation of purchase and distribution of inputs for such flagship schemes as the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) which target food and national security.

Total No. of complaints received till date were 721, out of which 263 complaints were disposed of while 458 were pending.

Harsimrat dares Amarinder to explain development projects initiated by him in Mansa and Talwandi Sabo areas

Chandigarh, April 2

SAD-BJP candidate for Bathinda Lok Sabha seat Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today put Amarinder Singh in tight spot by daring him to come out in detail the projects initiated by him for the areas fistly, as agriculture minister (representing Talwandi Sabo constituency) and later as Chief Minister.

In a statement issued here, opening a frontal attack on Captain Amarinder Singh Mrs. Badal attacked him for doing only lip service for the people of the area san any action on the ground and keeping himself aloof from the people in the air conditioned rooms office his palatial palace after winning the elections. She wondered that with twin tenures of agriculture minister and later as Chief Minister he could not find a permanent solution for major problem of pollution of ground water of malwa area and water logging of certain parts of Malwa area. Blaming him for befooling the farmers on the name of diversification, Mrs. Badal said that farmers who diversified following his policy were totally ruined today due to lack of market infrastructure to sell their products.

Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that Captain only believes in road shows so that he would not have to move on foot in the villages. She said that during his much hyped road show of so called ‘vikas yatra’, hired crowed were moved from one spot to other to shower flower petals on Maharajas first visit in five years to their area.

Decrying the feudal tendencies of Raninder Singh, Mrs. Badal said that his justification for absence from constituency due to his pre occupation in shooting association elections shows the kind of priority, he gives to the welfare of people. She said that Rajas can only rule and cannot serve the people. She said that once elected they would show their face only in the next elections, leaving the masses to fend for themselves.

SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF RAM NAVAMI

Chandigarh, April 2: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today extended his greetings to the people of Punjab on the eve of Ram Navami.

In a message Mr. Badal said that Ram Navami is the celebration of advent of the Maryada Purushottam-Sri Ram on this earth. Let this day inspire our conduct and drive us to achieve nobility in thoughts, words and deeds, he added.
He called upon people to celebrate this festival collectively in the true spirit of Punjabiat.

PUNJAB CM FELICITATES PEOPLE ON RAM NAUMI

Chandigarh April 2, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the people of Punjab on the auspicious occasion of 'Ram Naumi’, the birthday of Lord Rama.

In his message, Mr. Badal said that this sacred day reminds of high moral values preached by Lord Rama – the Maryada Purshotam to imbibe the sense of love, peace, compassion and welfare of humanity amongst the masses. Mr. Badal said that Lord Rama showed us the path of righteousness and virtuous living to carve out a prosperous and harmonious society.
The Chief Minister called upon the people to follow the teachings of Lord Rama in the right earnest, which were still relevant in the present materialistic society apart from redeeming the mankind from the yoke of evils and miseries. He said; 'such pious occasions not only promote a sense of communal harmony, amity and religious tolerance amongst the masses but also showers unbounded joy and prosperity on them’.

Mr. Badal appealed the people to celebrate this sacred day collectively rising above the parochial considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion.