OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, PUNJAB CEO PUNJAB FELICIATES PUNJABIS

Chandigarh: May 13, 2009

Ms. Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab felicitated the people of Punjab in general and citizens of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Anandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh sahib and Faridkot Parliamentary Constituencies in particular for a free, fair and peaceful poll in these constituencies. She said that the Punjabis had maintained their age old traditions of peace and communal harmony on such occasions. She appreciated the exemplary cooperation shown by the citizens, voters, officials & officers on poll duty and Media Persons making polling in the 2nd phase in Punjab to the 15th Lok Sabha a grand success.

Describing the poll position in these constituencies, she said that no incident of booth capturing, impersonation, obstruction, violence and breach of law & order related to poll had been reported from any corner of these constituencies during the entire poll except some minor incidents.

As per the information available at the office of the CEO, Punjab, overall tentative poll percentage is about 64%. Constituencies wise Poll percentage is as follows: Gurdaspur 65% , Amritsar 65% , Khadoor Sahib 69% , Jalandhar 65% , Hoshiarpur 61%, Anandpur Sahib 65% , Ludhiana 62% , Fatehgarh sahib 63% and Faridkot 64% .

DGP COMPLIMENTS POLICE FOR CONDUCTING PEACEFUL POLL IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, May 13:
The Punjab DGP Mr. K.K. Attri today felicitated members of state police and also of para-military forces (PMF) as well as State Armed Police (SAP) of other states deputed in Punjab for working day and night to ensure by and large peaceful conduct of second phase of Lok Sabha polls in 9 constituencies spread across 17 revenue districts of Punjab.
In a statement issued here today the DGP said that barring sporadic incidents, the two phase process of elections in Punjab held on May 7 and 13 was overall peaceful. He said that it could be possible only because of meticulous coordination between members of state police, PMF and SAP besides their unstinted dedication, hard work and sincerity.
Appreciating the role of members of forces, the DGP said that they have risen to the challenge and successfully accomplished the given task. He informed that more than 53 thousand State police personnel had been mobilized for the second phase besides 165 companies of Para Military Forces (PMF)/state armed police (SAP). They were deployed to cover the 8601polling stations (13160 polling booths), which included 268 polling stations identified as Critical, 1099 as Hyper Sensitive and 2548 as Sensitive. Based upon the sensitivity and clusters of polling stations, the area of these constituencies had been divided into a total of 1072 Route Zones.
The DGP said that a total of 5 cases were reportedly registered in the state so far, which included one case each at districts SBS Nagar, Batala, Khanna, and two cases at Moga. All cases are under investigation.
At Moga, a case FIR No. 43 Under Sections 382, 323, 324, 336, 148 & 149 IPC, was registered at Police Station Sadar Moga, on the complaint of one Sandeep Kumar, TV Reporter, against 30-35 unknown persons. It was alleged that the accused had thrown acid on the complainant snatched his camera, fired on his friend and fled the scene.
In another incident in Moga, a case Under Sections 382, 323 IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste & Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, was registered against Joginder Pal Jain, MLA Moga, and unknown persons on the complaint of one Jugraj Singh, resident of Godheywala. It was alleged that the accused and his friends had beaten up the complainant, abused his caste, and snatched his mobile phone.
In another incident near Moga, a case Under Sections 188, 186 IPC, 131 ROP Act, was registered at Police Station Baghapurana, against Darshan Singh MLA Baghapurana, for making a forcible entry in a polling booth in Baghapurana.
The DGP Punjab attributed the unprecedented voter turnout and peaceful conduct of the poll to the elaborate police arrangements and the well coordinated effort put in by the security forces, to maintain law and order and uphold the Model Code of Conduct

DETAILS OF CASES GIVEN BELOW

Total 5 cases were reportedly registered in the state so far, which included one case each at districts SBS Nagar, Batala, Khanna, and two cases at Moga. All cases are under investigation.
At Moga, a case FIR No. 43 Under Sections 382, 323, 324, 336, 148 & 149 IPC, was registered at Police Station Sadar Moga, on the complaint of one Sandeep Kumar, TV Reporter, against 30-35 unknown persons. It was alleged that the accused had thrown acid on the complainant snatched his camera, fired on his friend and fled the scene.
In another incident in Moga, a case Under Sections 382, 323 IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste & Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, was registered against Joginder Pal Jain, MLA Moga, and unknown persons on the complaint of one Jugraj Singh, resident of Godheywala. It was alleged that the accused and his friends had beaten up the complainant, abused his caste, and snatched his mobile phone.
In another incident near Moga, a case Under Sections 188, 186 IPC, 131 ROP Act, was registered at Police Station Baghapurana, against Darshan Singh MLA Baghapurana, for making a forcible entry in a polling booth in Baghapurana.

No deviation from Riparian Principle: Badal

PRESS RELEASE
Chandigarh May 13 – The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said here today that the issue of distribution of river waters could be resolved only through an honest application of nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle.
“There can be no deviation from this Principle and we are committed to ensuring that this is not sacrificed while implementing any proposal on inter-linking of river waters. To us, everything comes after the interests of the state had been safeguarded under the Riparian Principle,” said Mr. Badal, adding that the Punjabis in general and the Shiromani Akali Dal in particular had made unparalleled sacrifices in the defense of state’s interests on the critical river waters issue.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said that only in the case of Punjab had the Riparian Principle been violated by the anti-Punjab Congress party and its governments both at the centre and in Punjab, and there was no legal, constitutional or practical justification for this deviation from this time-honoured practice. Mr. Badal said that successive Congress governments at the centre had consistently and deliberately subjected Punjab to systematic discrimination on every issue. “The Congress ruled centre had complicated very simple issues to deny Punjab and Punjabis their legitimate rights on political, economic, religious, geographical and other fronts and all this had been done for petty political considerations. The Shiromani Akali Dal had always fought and will continue to fight for securing justice for the people of the state,” said Mr. Badal
Regarding the proposed plan on inter-linking of rivers in the country for judicious and optimum utilization of this natural resource, Mr. Badal said that his party and government would support any proposal so long as it conformed to the Riparian Principle and did not compromise the interests of the state. He said that the whole issue would be discussed and analysed by the top decision-making body of the SAD, the Political Affairs Committee, (PAC) to articulate the party’s reasoned response to the proposal. “We will support the proposal only so long as it does not run against the declared stance of the party on this issue,” said the Chief Minister.

BADAL FELICITATES PEOPLE, OFFICIALS AND EC ,

SAYS OPPOSITION OWES AN APOLOGY FOR TARNISHING IMAGE OF STATE

Chandigarh 13 May: – The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the the people of Punjab, officials of the state administration and the Election Commission of India on the smooth, peaceful and free and fair conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. Mr. Badal described 'the totally peaceful exercise of franchise as a triumph of dignified democratic conduct for which the people of Punjab have always been famous."
"The People of the state have given a strong rebuff to those indulging in vicious propganda against the people and the government of the state and raising false scare about peaceful democratic traditions of the state. I would particularly like to request the Opposition party in Punjab not to be led in future by their penchant for cheap publicity and to resist the temptation to tarnish the fair democratic image of the people of Punjab for narrow political gains. Those who kept raising a hue and cry about the impending widespread violence, intimidation, booth capturing and rigging etc on the polling day owe both an explanation and an apology to the people of the state, " said the Chief Minister in a statement here at the conclusion of the second and final phase of polling in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the heavy turn out in the first phase and second term was a pointer towards the SAD-BJP alliance’s landslide victory as the people of Punjab had out rightly rejected the policies of UPA led Congress at the Centre. He said the people have given a vent to their anger against Central government’s utter failure to check the price rise, recession, unemployment and poverty.
Mr. Badal said that he was grateful to the Punjabis for extending their cooperation in making this exercise a grand success and also appreciated the state administration for keeping a strict vigil to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections in the two phases. The Chief Minister also praised the Election Commission of India for the smooth conduct of elections in the state.

PUNJAB ACHIEVES RECORD WHEAT PROCUREMENT
OF 108.13 LAKH MT

CHANDIGARH MAY 12:
Punjab today scripted a new chapter in the history of wheat procurement as the Government agencies and private millers procured a record 108.13 lac MT of wheat till last evening.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that the wheat procurement during current Rabi season has achieved a milestone by touching all time high wheat procurement of 108.13 lac MT so far by surpassing the state government’s target of 105 lac MT due to its concerted efforts. He said that hefty and smooth procurement was evident from the fact that 108.13 lac MT of wheat had been procured so far over 100.95 lac MT procured during last season registered an increase of 107.11%. Out of total procurement of 108.13 lac MT of wheat in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 105.59 lac MT of wheat (97.7%) till date whereas private traders procured 19412 tonnes (0.2%) of wheat. Till May 11, PUNGRAIN had procured 16.49 lac MT (15.6%) whereas MARKFED procured 24.50 lac MT (23.2%). PUNSUP procured 22.80 lac MT (21.6%), PSWC procured 13.34 lac MT (12.6%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 11.53 lac MT (10.9 %) of wheat. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 16.92 lac MT (16.0%). Besides, 97% of due lifting had been done and 97% of due payment to the tune of Rs.11761 crore had been made to the farmers.
The spokesman pointed out that district Ferozepur with 13.41 lac MT of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Sangrur with 10.30 lac MT of procurement was at second slot and district Patiala with 8.45 lac MT of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1547 procurement centers and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat. Procurement of the wheat in the state was the biggest process in the world to be completed within a short span of just 25 days. The state government had made elaborate arrangements for the procurement of 115 lac MT of wheat, the spokesman added.

As per the information available with the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, the four candidates namely Harbans Singh of CPI (M) , Mr. Gurbinder Singh of INC, Mrs. Rajwinder Kaur of SAD and Mr. Hans Raj Independent has been left in the fray to the bye-election of 36- Nurmahal Assembly constituency after the scrutiny.
The election to this constituency will be held on 28th of May 2009 and counting will be done on the 1st of June 2009. Model Code of Conduct would be continued in district Jallandhar till the completion of the election process in the 36 - Nurmahal Assembly constituency.
As many as 1388 complaints have been received out of which 985 have been disposed off and 403 are under action.