Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Mr. Tirath Singh Thakur
visited the newly renovated office (10-4-09

Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Mr. Tirath Singh Thakur visited the newly renovated office of Advocate General Punjab at Punjab Bhawan New Delhi on Thursday.

Mr.Justice Thakur was accompanied by Advocate General Mr. H.S. Mattewal, Chief Secretary Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh and senior Advocates from Punjab and Haryana High Court. It may be recalled that the existing complex of Punjab Advocate General’s office had been given a face lift to office , an ultra modern library and record room etc .

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Justice Thakur appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Govt. undertake the renovation of this dilapidated building in a tasteful manner. He hoped that the renovated complex of Advocate General would provide a congenial atmosphere to the staff to discharge their day-to-day professional duties diligently and efficiently.
Mr.Sudhir Mittal, Principal resident commissioner Punjab Bhawan Delhi was also present on the occasion.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab

Chandigarh: 10th April, 2009
Kusumjit Sidhu,
Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab

The following programme has been approved by the Election Commission of India for holding General Elections to 10-Firozpur, 11-Bathinda, 12-Sangrur and 13-Patiala Parliamentary Constituencies in the State of Punjab :-

1. Date of issue of notification
: 11.04.2009 ( Saturday)
2. Last date for making nominations
: 18.04.2009 (Saturday)
3. Date of scrutiny of nominations
: 20.04.2009 (Monday)
4. Last date for withdrawal of candidature
: 22.04.2009 (Wednesday)
5. Date of poll
: 07.05.2009 (Thursday)
6. Date of counting of votes
: 16.05.2009 (Saturday)
7. Date before which the election process shall be completed : 28.05.2009 (Thursday)

2. Hours of poll will be from 7.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M.

3. Nomination papers are to be filed with the Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur for 10-Firozpur, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda for 11-Bathinda, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur for 12-Sangrur and Deputy Commissioner, Patiala for 13-Patiala Parliamentary Constituencies, who are the Returning Officers for these Constituencies, between the hours of 11 O’clock in the forenoon and 3 O’clock in the afternoon on any day other than a public holiday from 11th April, 2009 to 18th April, 2009.

4. The nomination papers are to be filed in form 2A. Blank forms are available with the District Election Officers/Returning Officers. Typed nomination papers will also be accepted provided they are in the prescribed format.

5. In order to qualify for a Parliamentary (Lok Sabha) seat, a candidate should be registered as an elector for any Parliamentary Constituency. To satisfy the concerned Returning Officer on this point, candidates should produce a certified copy of the relevant entry of the electoral roll in force.

6. A certificate is also required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or any other person so authorized by the Election Commission of India. The oath/affirmation should taken/made by a candidate after his nomination paper has been filed and before the date fixed for the scrutiny of nominations.

7. 12th April, 2009 being a Sunday is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers cannot be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.

8. 14th April, 2009 being a holiday on account of Baisakhi & Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers can be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.

9. 18th April, 2009 being a Saturday is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers can be presented to the Returning Officer on that day also.

10. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the State from the date of announcement of elections (2nd March, 2009) by the Election Commission of India and shall remain in force till the completion of the election process.

Sonia must break her silence on Congress role in ’84 Sikh Carnage-Harsimrat

Chandigarh, April 10, 2009

Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal SAD-BJP candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency today dared Sonia Gandhi to come clean on deliberate design of Gandhi family to award Lok Sabha tickets to butchers of Sikhs, Tytler and Sajjan, and going out of way to secure clean chit for them with a design to provoke latent hurt feelings of Sikhs 25 years after the carnage.

Launching fatal attack on Gandhi family for fomenting violence on Sikhs in 1984, Mrs. Badal dared her to break her silence on Gandhi family’s and Congress’s role in 1984 Sikh carnage and assured that SAD-BJP would continue to fight till deterrent punishment was meted to all those responsible for the mass carnage of Sikhs. She said that the unfortunate remark of Rajiv Gandhi triggered one of the biggest carnage of innocent Sikhs and that remark was signal to Congress leaders, workers and law enforcement agencies to carry out the task desired by the Rajiv Gandhi. She said that deliberate delay in lodging FIRs, deliberate delay in different commissions and prolonging the trial for more than 25 years was just to save the skin of Gandhi family from this blot of carnage.

In a statement issued here, Mrs. Badal said that with this ticket episode the dubious and communal role of Congress has got exposed in the eyes of public and UPA should be prepared to face the wrath of voters in the elections.

Mrs. Badal said that history has given an opportunity to Ms. Sonia Gandhi to accept the guilt of Gandhi family in 1984 riots and seek public apology. She said that as a lady, it is imperative for her to understand the sentiments of victims of |84 riots and she should explain the circumstances under which hurt feelings of Sikhs were provoked deliberately by awarding tickets to the Sajjan and Tytler. Mrs. Badal said that Mrs. Sonia Gandhi owes an explanation to the all right thinking people for her deliberate misadventure.

Cancellation of tickets of Sajjan and Tytler acceptance of the guilt by Congress for 1984 carnage-Sukhbir

Chandigarh, 9 April

Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that much belated Cancellation of tickets of butchers of thousands of Sikhs was direct acceptance of guilt by Congress party of their active role in organizing the riots.

In a statement issued here today, Mr. Badal said that Congress can not blow away this serious issue symbolically canceling the tickets as Shiromani Akali Dal was determined to fight till all killers of Sikhs including Tytler and Sajjan were awarded exemplary and deterrent punishment. He said that real face of anti Punjabi Congress got exposed with the deliberate design of clean chit to Tytler and tickets to both architects of anti Sikh riots and any patch work of ticket cancellation would show the real scars on the killer face of Congress party.

Calling upon all right thinking people to take this opportunity offered by the elections to dump Congress party for engineering anti Sikh riots in 1984 so that it could learn a life time lesson.

Sikhs have not forgiven Congress party, says Youth Akali Dal chief

Sikhs have not forgiven Congress party, says Youth Akali Dal chief
Chandigarh, April 9, 2009- Kiranbir Singh Kang President of Youth Akali Dal on Wednesday said that Congress decision to withdraw the candidature of Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar from Lok Sabha was a 'useless exercise'and a political gimmick'.

In a statement issued here Kang said that Congress had bowed to public pressure including Sikh organisations and political aprties and huma rights bodies. He said that fielding Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler from Delhi seats was a conspiracy and insult on Sikhs. He said that Congress in way admitted that both Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler were guilty in 1984 massacre of Sikhs. He said that Delhi based journalist Mr.Jarnail Singh had lodged the protest with same intention and his action of throwing shoe on home minsiter P.Chindamram has been vindicated.

Mr.Kang said that the justice would be delivered to victims of 1984 massacre engineered by Congress only when all the key accused are hanged to death by courts. He said that Sikh community would wait for the day when justice is delivered to them. He said that Sonia Gandhi shall apologise from nation and particularly from Sikhs for hurting their sentiments. Kang said that for Congress it might have been a political issue but for vast community of Sikhs it was matter of prestige.

PUNJAB GOVERNMENT APPROVES RS.4.77 CRORE AS RELIEF FOR CROP DAMAGE

Chandigarh April 9, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed the state Chief Secretary Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh and Financial Commissioner Revenue Mrs. Romilla Dubey to ensure immediate disbursal of relief to farmers whose crop had been damaged due to the on-going inclement weather in the state. He has also directed all the Deputy Commissioners to prepare and submit a detailed report on the extent of damage suffered during the recent adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister's Media Advisor, Mr. Harcharan Bains, told newsmen here this afternoon that the Punjab government has sanctioned a release Rs. 4.77 crore immediately as the natural calamity relief fund from the State Budget to the farmers in the distracts of Amritsar, Sangrur Ludhiana, Moga, Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib for damage to their crops . Over 18,968 acres of crop has been affected by the untimely rains and hailstorm between March 20 and April 2 this year.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that after the Girdawari carried out in the affected areas by the officials of State revenue department a detailed report had been prepared to ascertain the total crop damage across the state due to un-seasonal rains and hailstorm. As per the survey report, Ludhiana district was the worst affected where crop in over 5416 acres had been damaged. This is followed by Fatehgarh Sahib (5130 acres) and Jalandhar (3101 acres).

The survey report also revealed that crop in 10,191 acres had suffered damage above 76%, while between in 5922 acres the extent of damage varies between 51% and 75%. Another 2853 acres suffered 26% to 50% damage and in 782 acres the loss was between was up to 26%.

The Punjab government has already enhanced the quantum of compensation for natural calamity from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 per acre to mitigate the hard ships being faced by the farmers in the State. Punjab is the only state to have done this. As of now, a release of Rs. 7.33 crore had been earmarked for release as compensation for natural calamity.

BADAL HEARTILY WELCOME BUNNY'S "HOME COMING"

Chandigarh April 9, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patron Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today "heartily welcomed" the decision of Mr. Jasjit Singh Bunny to return to the fold of his parent organisation.

In a statement here, Mr. Badal said," I have always maintained that Bunny is our child and belongs to the SAD from the core of his heart. We also fully understand that the events of the past few days involving his earlier decision were the result of the extreme stress and extra-ordinary pain which he had been going through following the tragic and most untimely death of his father and one of my dearest and most trusted colleagues, Captain Kanwaljit Singh."

Mr. Badal said that Mr. Bunny's "home-coming" would further strengthen the party and "he would continue to receive warm affection from me personally and from the party as a whole.