Manmohan Singh is pride of Punjab and the country: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared the stage for the first time with PM Manmohan Singh at a poll rally in Amritsar on Monday, describing him as the "pride of Punjab and the country" who had taken India forward in all spheres.

"Manmohan Singh is pride of Punjab and India," Rahul, who is on his third visit to the state during the current Lok Sabha elections, said.

He said the UPA government will always stand for the "aam admi" unlike the NDA, which during its tenure, ignored various sections of society, including the poor, the farmers and the Dalits.

"When the Congress government came to power in 2004, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and we all made just one promise that we will work for the 'aam admi,' farmers of Punjab, mazdoor (labourers), Dalit and it will be there government. We functioned as per our promise," he said, slamming the NDA for "thinking" about the rich and upper classes.

He said the opposition parties made a new promise daily and ridiculed NDA's slogan of 'India shining' during the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, saying the slogan in English was only meant for the privileged.

Gandhi said the BJP leaders told the entire country that India is shining. "But they did not go to the houses of the poor, the farmers, the Dalit and other weaker sections. They just went to the houses of the rich. You (voters) then showed them the door," he said.

Gandhi said the biggest achievement of the UPA in its five year rule was employment guarantee scheme providing for 100 days of assured employment during the year.

Listing out the other achievement of the government, he said the UPA waived agriculture loans worth Rs 70,000 crore and provided right to every citizen of the country to secure any information under the Right to Information Act.

He said the farm loan waiver was worked out after taking the feedback from the farmers who said the loans were the biggest problem.

"Not only the loans worth Rs 70,000 crore were waived, but the doors of the banks were opened for new loans," he said.

Gandhi said the Prime Minister told him that the farmers of Punjab benefited by Rs 2,000 crore due to the hike in the MSP prices.

"We have worked for the poor, the backward and other such classes," he said exuding confidence that Manmohan Singh would become the Prime Minister again so that all sections can prosper.

During his earlier visits to the state on 5th and 9th May, Rahul addressed election rallies at Barnala, Mohali, Ludhiana, Moga and Hoshiarpur.

(DD-11.5)

Capt Amarinder accuses Badal of bartering Punjab interests

CHANDIGARH, May 11: Former Chief Minister and the Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee Capt Amarinder Singh today said, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had yet again bartered the interests of the state by agreeing to the interlinking of the rivers.
In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder observed, “Mr Badal, for his selfish ends has unabashedly bartered the interests of Punjab peasantry and that of business community by agreeing to interlinking of rivers”.
The former Chief Minister pointed out, “this secret agreement of Mr Badal with the parties forming National Democratic Alliance was exposed by the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narender Modi in his speech at NDA Rally at Ludhiana, yesterday when he said in his speech that Mr. Badal has agreed to the interlinking of rivers”.

Capt Amarinder regretted, Mr Badal did not have the guts to deny this agreement, despite knowing that it will have disastrous implications for Punjab. He pointed out, it needs to be recalled that earlier also during his stint as Chief Minister of Punjab, he had received Rs two crores from Government of Haryana headed by Chaudhary Devi Lal for the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal in the area of Punjab.

The former Chief Minister argued, “Mr. Badal’s agreeing to construct the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal and interlinking of the rivers will adversely affect the cause of people of Punjab, in defending the river water dispute pending in the Supreme Court of India”.

This way, Capt Amarinder regretted, Mr. Badal and his son Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal have let down the people of Punjab and committed unpardonable sin.

Issued by Karanpal Singh Sekhon

Election campaigning in Ludhiana today was finished on a high by the visit of Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister.

Ludhiana May 11

The Prime Minister held a press conference at Majestic Park Plaza Hotel, in support of Manish Tewari saying “a vote for Manish Tewari is a vote for me”. S. Lal Singh, President, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee was also present on stage.

He met Jassi Khangura, Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, Harbans Singh Kanwal, Gurpreet Khangura, Deepak Singh and other key Congress supporters from India and overseas. He then proceeded to have lunch at the hotel before holding the press conference.

The Prime Minister said that he was certainly happy to continue in his role for the coming term, if that was what the public wished. He sought to cut speculation and focus on facts. He stated that terrorism must be countered. He also said, when questioned, that he had previously found Nitish Kumar to be someone who professed himself to be non divisive, but that after Kumar’s statements at the NDA rally yesterday he now seriously questioned this. He said that he did not think religion had a part to play in politics and that the goal was to do the best for the country and not to single out any particular community, especially when fighting terrorism.

It was a great honour and delight to have Dr Manmohan Singh make this historic visit to Ludhiana and to meet with us, and a day we shall not forget.

Amarinder for confining Majithia to own constituency; supports Jeet Mohinder

CHANDIGARH, May 9: The former Chief Minister and the Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee, Capt Amarinder Singh today said, the Election Commission must confine the erratic and mercurial Bikram Singh Majithia, the brother in law of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to his own assembly segment during the run up to and the day of elections.
Capt Amarinder also supported the Talwandi Sabo MLA, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu and said, the case registered against him was just an afterthought after the Election Commission ordered the registration of case against Majithia for his criminal offence.
In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder pointed out, “in view of the incident involving Bikram Majithia in Talwandi Sabo and in view of his irrational temperament non conforming to the directions of the Election Commission or to law of the land, I hope the Election Commission takes all necessary steps to stop Majithia from entering into any of the constituencies other than his own during the run up to the elections and on the polling day to ensure free and fair poll”.
The former Chief Minister observed, Majithia was becoming a law unto himself. The way he had opened fire on people in Talwandi Sabo on the date of voting on May 7, only proved that he is a risk to the public safety moreso during the elections. “It would be in the interest of preserving the law and order to confine him in his own constituency”, he observed, while hoping the Election Commission will enforce the restrictions on him.
About the Talwandi Sabo MLA, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, the former Chief Minister said, he and the entire rank and file of the party stood by him as he was being falsely implicated. He pointed out, Sidhu was being charged for an offence which he never committed as he was never present at the spot at that time.

Jeet Mohinder seeks CBI probe into Lelewala incident

CHANDIGARH, May 9: The Congress MLA from Talwandi Sabo, Jeet Mohinder Singh today demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the registration of an FIR under section 307 against him, saying this was just an afterthought of the Akali government aimed at countering the registration of a criminal case under similar sections against Bikram Singh Majithia, the brother in law of the Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Reacting to the registration of an FIR against him under section 307, he pointed out, this was simply an afterthought as at the time mentioned in the FIR, he was sitting on dharna with thousands of his supporters and the officers of the district administration, Bathinda, including the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police were very much present there.
He pointed out, since the officers were working under the direct control of the state government, it would not be possible for them to conduct the inquiry in an impartial manner. He said, it was the old habit of the Badals to victimize the political opponents by slapping false and fabricated cases on them. Moreover, he pointed out, the complainant Simarjit Singh Bains, claiming himself to be the agent of the Akali candidate Harsimrat Kaur belongs to Ludhiana and why did he take so much time in complaining against him (Sidhu).
Giving details of the incident, he said, on May 7, he did not even go to the village Lelewala during the whole day of polling. He said, at 5 pm his workers from Lelewala told him on telephone that around same time Majithia, came with a convoy of about 70 vehicles and without any provocation started indiscriminate firing at them with an A.K. 47 rifle. The workers narrowly saved their lives by running away.
At last, under the pressure of the people, the case was registered against Majithia and his companions at 09.30 PM and only thereafter Dharna was lifted by the people. It is necessary to mention here that the said case was registered against Majithia under directions of Election Commission. The other aspect of the matter is that despite so much provocation the protest remained very peaceful, he pointed out.
He said, under the directions and pressure of Badal family, the officers of the district administration got the false, fabricated and baseless case registered against him as an after thought by conspiring against him and to counter the case registered against Majithia. He said, if the facts mentioned in the FIR registered against him (Jeet Mohinder Singh) are gone into deeply, it comes out that the same are not true in any manner, because Simarjit Singh Bains, who got the FIR registered and who claims himself to be an election agent of Akali candidate, is a resident of Ludhiana and a councilor there and why did he take so much time to complain to police.

Well begun is half done, says Amarinder


CHANDIGARH, May 7: Former Chief Minister and the chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee, Capt Amarinder Singh today expressed satisfaction and confidence over the available trends from four constituencies, which went to polls in the first phase, that indicate clear sweep for the party.

He said, despite the attempts by the Akalis to sabotage the election process by resorting to incidents of violence and intimidation of the Congress supporters, at several places, they showed exemplary courage and full faith in democratic process. He said, those who had indulged in violence must be brought to book.

In a statement issued today after the completion of first phase of elections in the state, Capt Amarinder observed, despite all the efforts by the ruling Akali-BJP alliance, the voters in all the four constituencies came out to vote for the Congress. He remarked, “well begun is half done and we will follow it up in the second phase in all other nine constituencies”.

Capt Amarinder reiterated that the Congress was set to make a clean sweep in all the 13 assembly segments across Punjab. “The results are going to be historic this time”, he said, while adding, with this the countdown for the Akalis had already started.

The former Chief Minister maintained that more than the Congress, it was the people within the Akali Dal who were too keen to see early exit of this government as they were feeling oppressed and humiliated with the autocratic and arrogant behaviour of Sukhbir Badal towards them.

Capt Amarinder expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for showing courage against all odds and not succumbing to the pressures by the ruling Akali Dal. “They must be planning their safe and early exit now”, he remarked about the Badals.

Congress legislators ridicule Sukhbir’s day dreaming

CHANDIGARH, May 7: Several Congress legislators today ridiculed the day dreaming of the Shiromani Akali Dal president and the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that his party was winning in all the four seats which went to the polls in the first phase today.

In a joint statement issued by the party legislators, Sukhpal Singh Khera, Harmohinder Singh Jassi, Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Mangat Rai Bansal, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Sher Singh Gagowal, Ajaib Singh Bhatti and Makhan Singh, maintained that the SAD president seemed to be consoling himself by indulging in self praise. They observed, “the junior Badal must be certain about his historic defeat in Bathinda so he has started resorting to self consolation”.

Referring to his remarks that these elections will mark the end of the political career of Capt Amarinder Singh, they remarked, “it is ridiculous fantasy of Sukhbir Badal to imagine that his party would win all the four seats including Bathinda and Patiala”.

They advised Mr Badal to read the writing on the wall and start mending his ways lest it be too late. “A storm is already brewing up within your party and it will explode after May 16”, they warned him, while adding, “better take care of that than day dreaming about victory which is too far and distant”.

The legislators thanked the Election Commission of India, the state election officials and other police and government officials for maintaining peace and conducting fair polling in the first phase despite mischievous attempts by the Akalis.

Dera has announced unambiguous support to Congress

LUDHIANA, May 6: Former Chief Minister and the Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee, Capt Amarinder Singh today said, the Akalis might try to sabotage the elections in Bathinda and discourage people from casting their votes as they had started sensing defeat. He also said that the Dera Sacha Sauda had made it abundantly clear to its supporters to vote for the Congress as they had been victimized by the Akalis all these years.

Addressing a press conference here today before addressing a largely attended public meeting in support of the party candidate Manish Tewari, Capt Amarinder said, although he was satisfied with the security arrangements in Bathinda, but still there were apprehensions of violence by Akalis. He said, he had received reports that the Akalis were transporting people from other parts of the state to threaten and intimidate Congress voters. He hoped, the Election Commission will take note of it and prevent any such incident.

To a question about the support from Dera Sacha Sauda, the former Chief Minister said, the Dera has made it clear to its supporters to vote for the right candidates. He pointed out, “the Akalis cannot be the right candidates for them as they were brutally victimized by this government, five of their members were killed and they were not even allowed decent last rites”.

Asked whether he apprehended any violence anywhere in the state, particularly in Bathinda tomorrow, Capt Amarinder said, “the Akalis were getting too desperate and frustrated and there is all possibility that they might resort to some mischief”. He hoped that the security forces and the election observers will do their job well.

He said, the election commission had ordered the installation of close circuit cameras in all the polling booths and everything would be closely monitored. Besides, he added, the commission had also appointed micro-observers in the constituency. “Hopefully there should not be any problem, but you never know”, he pointed out.

To another question about the overall outcome of elections in Punjab, he said, there was strong probability of Congress sweeping the entire state. “I have been in politics for 42 years now, I have never seen such an upsurge in favour of any party all these years, it is for the first time that people are supporting any party so overwhelmingly”, he remarked, while adding, the results are going to be historic.

At the same time, he added, there would be massive upheaval in the Akali politics as some leaders are waiting in the wings for action. He pointed out, the discontent within the SAD is growing and once the results are out, it will explode. He disclosed that several Akali legislators were already in touch with him for a long time and they are waiting for the appropriate moment.

Amarinder refutes having entertaining Tytler


CHANDIGARH, May 5: Former Chief Minister and the Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today refuted the claims of one Malwinder Singh Mali that the tainted Congress leader Jagdish Tytler had ever visited his residence New Moti Bagh Palace after 1984 riots.

In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder remarked, “it is a ridiculous drama which deserves to be dismissed with the full scorn it deserves”. He made it clear that Tytler never visited New Moti Bagh Palace and there was no question of entertaining him.

Having a dig at the organizers of the drama of Malhi apologizing before the Akal Takht, he asked, “presuming for the sake of argument that Tytler had visited my residence as Mali claims, who was he to apologise on my behalf and what authority did Mali have to receive the Palace guests”.

He said, Mali had been sacked long ago as he had started misusing his position and indulging in corruption. “It is more than obvious as at whose behest he is seeking pardon for the sin he never committed”, Capt Amarinder remarked.

Akalis start distributing liquor, money in Bathinda


CHANDIGARH, May 5: The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today revealed that the Shiromani Akali Dal has started distributing liquor and money among the voters in Bathinda parliamentary constituency. It said, despite the issue having been brought to the notice of the authorities no action has been taken and culprits were being let off.
In a complaint submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner, the committee disclosed that on Monday evening Akali workers had come in two vehicles one Innova and one Fiesta and were seen distributing money among the people living in the slums on Dhobian Road. However, when some Congress workers reached there they fled away. Although police came but they never tried to chase the cars.
Similarly in Mansa SAD workers were found transporting liquor to be distributed among people to lure them to vote for the Akali candidate. Although police reached the spot and seized the car with liquor but no action was taken showing clear connivance of the police with the Akali workers.

The complaint also revealed that the SAD workers were marking the fingers of the people whom they were paying money to ensure that they are not able to vote. Because marking the index finger is considered to be the sign of having cast the vote. This, the Akali workers are doing to ensure that all the people whom they pay money and suspect of not voting in favour of their candidate are prevented from voting.

IN a separate complaint the campaign coordination committee alleged that the Punjab State Electricity Board was issuing fresh power connections to the people in Gidderbaha assembly segment in Muktsar district falling under Faridkote parliamentary constituency. This was being done with clear motive of influencing the people to vote for the Akali candidate.

Another complaint alleged that Rishipal Singh, the SDB cum Assistant Returning Officer, Gidderbaha was a close Paramjit Kaur Gulshan Shiromani Akali Dal (B)-BJP Candidate from Faridkot Parliamentary Constituency. Dr. Rupinder Singh, who is younger brother of Rishipal Singh is married to Niripjit Kaur daughter of Paramjit Kaur Gulshan. Both the brothers Rishipal Singh and Dr. Rupinder Singh are misusing their official position and are influencing the voters in favour of Shiromani Akali Dal (B)-BJP Candidate Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, in gross violation of Model Code of Conduct and against service rules. It demanded immediate transfer of Rishpal Singh as his continuance at the said post will be misused to the advantage of the Akali candidate.

Women Congress workers attacked in Ludhiana

LUDHIANA, May 3: The women workers of the Congress led by Dr Amrit Kaur, the mother of the party candidate from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency Manish Tewari were attacked by Akali workers in ward 61 in the Simlapuri area. Dr Amrit Kaur had a narrow escape in the attack while several vehicles were damaged.

The women workers were taking out a procession in support of Tewari. However, when they reached near the Gill canal they were attacked with stones and other weapons by the Akali workers. Once the women workers alerted other party workers about the attack the Akalis fled from the scene.

Several workers suffered mild injuries while a number of vehicles were also damaged in the attack.

Several Congress leaders have condemned the attack and said, it was the frustration of the Akalis that they had resorted to violence. In a joint statement senior leaders Harnam Dass Johar, Milkiat Singh Birmi, KK Bawa, Jassi Khangura and others condemned the incident saying resorting to violence only indicated one thing that the Akalis had conceded the defeat.

Meanwhile the Congress has sought extra security for its candidate saying the Akalis can resort to any desperate act of violence. The party has also demanded registration of an FIR and action against the culprits.

Congress seeks deployment of central security forces in Bathinda

CHANDIGARH, May 2
Karanpal Singh Sekhon

: The Congress today sought adequate deployment of the central security forces for the parliamentary elections with special focus on Bathinda and Patiala. A delegation of the PCC met the Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla here today and urged him to deploy at least five personal of the central security forces in each of the polling booths to ensure free and fair polling.
Expressing apprehensions of widespread violence and booth capturing by the ruling Akali-BJP alliance, the delegation sought deployment of more central security forces in the state. It said, given the past experience of two years as also that of the local bodies’ elections when the ruling alliance used brute state power to win elections, it is necessary that there is adequate deployment of central security forces in all the constituencies particularly Bathinda and Patiala.
The delegation revealed that the ruling Akali Dal in its desperate bid to influence the outcome had deputed the workers of the Students’ Organisation of India to threaten and intimidate voters. There was every possibility that they might resort to violence and booth capturing during the elections. Hence it is necessary to ensure foolproof security measures to prevent any untoward incident.
Making a special mention of Bathinda, the delegation pointed out, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Badal had made it an issue of personal prestige hence they wanted to win from there at any cost. “Since they know that they stand no chance to win, they are now preparing for violence and rigging”, the delegation alleged.
To ensure free and fair elections the delegation suggested, “minimum five Central Paramilitary Forces personnel should be deployed at each polling booth especially in Bathinda and Patiala parliamentary constituencies”. It said, a minimum of 7500 Central Paramilitary Personnel be deployed in each Parliamentary Constituency especially in Bathinda and Patiala. The paramilitary personnel going to be deployed in these constituencies as per the reports, is too inadequate, it added.
It urged the CEC that all the teachers and presiding officers on election duty who participated in the meeting with Ms Surinder Kaur Badal wife of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on April 27 at Jeet Palace in Bathinda, should be immediately changed and new staff be deployed on election duty in their place.
The delegation sought that the ration card of the electors may be included in the list of documents for establishing identity at the time of casting their votes, if any elector fails to produce his or her voter identity card.
The delegation sought strict compliance of the orders of transferring out the government officers indulging in political activities in favour of ruling party be ensured. It made special mention of former Patiala DIG, SK ASthana, saying, “it is distressing to note that the police officers such as Mr. S.K. Asthana IPS, DIG, Patiala despite his transfer from Patiala on complaints against him, is still staying and indulging in political activities in favour of the ruling party by making mockery of his transfer orders by the election commission”.
In another case Sh. Jatinder Jain IPS, has been posted at Bathinda by creating special post of DIG Vigilance and he is virtually acting as political worker of ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (B) in Bathinda parliamentary constituency. It is most disappointing that invariably when a complaint is made, enquiry is entrusted to a junior officer who never dares to report correctly.
The delegation led by Karanpal Singh Sekhon included Naseeb Singh Gill, RR Bhardwaj and SS Swaich. Sekhon said, Chawla gave them a patient hearing and assured that he would look into every detail.

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