Sidhu meets Rahul, to discuss joining with Capt this week
Sidhu wanted to play an active role in the state politics and that’s why he has decided to contest the assembly polls. He will join the Congress soon and contest from Amritsar (East). I will assist him. DR NAVJOT KAUR SIDHU, Amritsar East MLA
AMRITSAR: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting that lasted for half-an-hour, the former BJP MP discussed his plans about joining the party.
Both Rahul and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, were holding talks with Sidhu after he floated his own front, Awaaz-e-Punjab in September. However, after Bains brothers of Ludhiana aligned with the Aam Aadmi Party, Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur and former Indian hockey team captain, Pargat Singh joined the Congress on November 28.
According to party sources, Sidhu will meet Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh this week to discuss his role in the party and work out the modalities of his joining. Both leaders had traded barbs earlier. Sidhu, while floating his front, had announced to work against the “Badal-Amarinder nexus” in Punjab and Captain had dubbed him a “clown”.
DR SIDHU SAYS SHE WON’T CONTEST ASSEMBLY POLLS
In Amritsar, Sidhu’s wife and Amritsar East MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said she won’t be contesting the upcoming assembly elections. Her name had not figured on the first list of 61 candidates declared by the Congress last week.
Talking to HT, she reiterated that Sidhu will contest from the Amritsar East constituency.
“Sidhu wanted to play an active role in the state politics and that’s why he has decided to contest the assembly polls. He will join the Congress soon and contest from Amritsar (East). I will assist him,” she said.
Dr Sidhu also said they had no plans to contest the Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll. “We have made it clear to the party. We will contest only one election and that is assembly. Sidhu will campaign in entire Punjab and in his absence I will look after his seat,” she added Amid speculation that Sidhu has been offered the post of deputy chief minister by the Congress high command, she said: “I do not know anything about this but yes whatever role high command gives, Sidhu will accept.”
She also said Sidhu has no qualms in working under the CM picked up by the high command.
On why Sidhu wants to contest from Amritsar East segment, Dr Sidhu said: “He contests or I contest, it doesn’t make a difference. We are a family.” On whether Sidhu’s entry may lead to dissent in the local Congress leadership, she said: Sidhu’s entry has a clearance from the highest level. The message must be clear to all. It is the job of Congress vice-president and the PPCC chief to tackle such issues.”
Pargat barges into Badal’s sangat darshan show and confronts him
JALANDHAR: High drama was witnessed at Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s sangat darshan on Tuesday when Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh, who recently left the Akali Dal to join the Congress, barged into the venue and confronted Badal over the issue of upcoming solid waste management plant at Jamsher village.
SIKANDER SINGH CHOPRA/HTFormer MLA Pargat Singh with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during a sangat darshan in Jalandhar.
Earlier, heated arguments were exchanged between Pargat and police officials when the MLA was stopped from entering the venue, stating that he could not enter the venue as per orders.
Pargat argued as how an elected MLA could be stopped from meeting the CM as he wanted to raise the issue of waste management plant “that could result in several deaths” in his constituency.
Then, Pargat sat on a dharna for nearly 20 minutes before the CM’s security personnel took him to meet Badal. The CM invited Pargat in a taunting way announcing that he was here to meet the public. The MLA, who spoke aggressively to Badal, said the state government was misguiding the people of his constituency by issuing statements that the plant project had been cancelled.
“There is no official notification in this regard from the government as the officials are not clear if a project being implemented under the supervision of the National Green Tribunal can be cancelled or not,” said Pargat.
When the SAD candidate from the Jalandhar Cantonment, Sarabjit Makkar, said the deputy CM had announced that the project was cancelled, Pargat snubbed him, saying, “Deputy CM te tere varge bandeyan de kain naal ki hunda? Notification kithe hai? (How does it matter if the deputy CM or a person like you say so? Where is the notification?)”
Claiming that the officials who passed the project had misguided the government, Pargat asked the CM to visit the project site, nearly 800 meters from the venue, to get idea under what conditions people were living there because of the already running dairy complex.
Badal refused this citing a busy schedule.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister Badal said the Congress was poaching the rebel Akali leaders in a desperation to form government in the state.
‘PRO-POOR POLICIES TO GO IF CONG , AAP WINS’
Bada said the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) maintaining that they would review the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government’s decisions only confirms that pro-poor policies would be scrapped if these parties ever form government in Punjab.
Sidhu as Dy CM? Wife says possible
Navjot Kaur SidhuGS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 20
As it is certain that former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu will contest the Assembly elections from Amritsar East, there’s possibility of him becoming the Deputy CM if the Congress is voted to power. Amritsar East MLA hinted at this at a press meet here today.“We inclined towards the Congress unconditionally. Whatever role the party defines for him, we will stand by it. If he is offered the Deputy CM’s post after the Congress comes to power, it will be happily accepted,” she said.Sidhu would forego all his professional commitments for the welfare of Punjab, especially Amritsar, Dr Sidhu said. “We have come up with a wider perspective for Punjab. As per the party’s policy of ‘one ticket one family’, we have decided it that he (Sidhu) will contest and I will assist him. I represented the Amritsar East constituency and am still accountable to the residents who voted for me. So, questions do not arise about contesting for any constituency other Amritsar East,” Dr Sidhu said.“Sidhu will soon join the Congress,” she said. About his role, she said, “We have made it clear to the Congress leadership that we want to work in the state. So, any thought about the parliamentary seat doesn’t arise.”
SAD in hurry to give away gas stoves
Faridkot, December 20
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates in the district are in a hurry to distribute maximum number of LPG stoves to BPL families before the poll code is announced.The boxes of gas stoves carry pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal. LPG distributors are under pressure to process maximum number of applications before elections are announced.In Kotkapura and Faridkot Assembly constituencies, SAD candidates are distributing the stoves. And in Jaitu, in the absence of Akali nominee Suba Singh Badal, his son Pali Badal distributed the stoves today. Sources said the state government has set a target of distributing 7 lakh stoves to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. — TNS
Will scrap Badals’ resort: AAP
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 20
Terming the Sukhvilas hotel project of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal as “illegal”, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today vowed that once voted to power, it would scrap this project.Addressing the media, party spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira said AAP would not only scrap the project, but also force the Badals to cough up Rs 30 crore, which they diverted from the public exchequer to construct illegal roads leading to their seven-star resort.Khaira said the Badals have looted the state’s wealth and bought huge properties and promoted their businesses in transport, hospitality, cable, mining and liquor trade.To benefit their seven-star hotel, they deliberated promoted New Chandigarh project and even carpeted a stretch of 2.8 km illegal road from Siswan T-point to Pallanpur village to cut short the distance from the hotel to the airport, Khaira alleged.He said the project violated environment rules as was exposed by AAP RTI wing co-convener Dinesh Chadha.
Ghubaya’s son to join Cong today
Ghubaya’s son to join Cong todayChandigarh: Devinder Singh Ghubaya, son of the SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, will join the Congress in Delhi on Wednesday. Sources said the MP’s son would join the party in the presence of PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh ahead of the announcement of the second list of nearly 35 candidates. He is likely to be offered the Fazilka seat. TNSAAP, TMC talks at advanced stage: BrarBathinda: AAP and the Trinamool Congress have reportedly reached an advanced stage of striking a poll alliance. State TMC ad hoc president Jagmeet Brar said it was up to party chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. A pact could be finalised in January. Sources said Mukul Roy, TMC in charge, and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia were in touch. TNSAAP leaders complain against Kolianwali
648 sewing machines distributed
Tribune News Service
Mansa, December 20
Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal today distributed sewing machines to 648 women from Malakpur Khiala of Jhunir block that falls in sub-division Sardulgarh. Of them, 155 are from Mansa, 352 from Jhunir and 141 from Sardulgarh.
Cashless campaign? No way, say candidates
Rajmeet Singh and Vishav Bharti
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 20
The cash crunch has hit the election campaign of candidates nominated by the three main parties — the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Congress and AAP are raising a hue and cry over demonetisation, while the Akalis are putting a brave face, apparently due to coalition compulsions.Congress candidates feel that the ruling alliance is in an advantageous position. They apprehend that the money that was to be used to woo voters will be replaced with “gifts” such as liquor once the code of conduct comes into force.The Congress’ Abohar nominee, Sunil Jakhar, says the Election Commission should direct banks to make money available to the contestants. In the absence of adequate cash, he is relying on a door-to-door campaign. Another party candidate, former MP Vijay Inder Singla, who kicked off his campaign with a road show, says, “Making payments to caterers, tent owners, vehicle owners and others is tough as the weekly withdrawal limit is just Rs 24,000.”The SAD candidate from Amloh, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, claims that demonetisation has not adversely affected his campaign. He says the Akali Dal is a cadre-based party whose supporters chip in with payments. Akali MLA and Khemkaran candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha says the party has made some payments in old notes as well. “At present, the biggest expenditure is on fuel, which we are managing on credit,” he adds.Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP nominee from Bholath, admits that the cash crunch is a stumbling block. “We manage some payments with cheques, but at times cash has to be paid. So, we depend upon volunteers,” says Khaira.Fatehgarh Sahib Congress candidate Kuljit Nagra says the Election Commission should come out with guidelines to provide a level playing field for the availability of cash for poll purposes.What’s Plan B? Political leaders say they will hold smaller rallies and give fewer freebies to the voters.
Eye on polls, Badal takes Punjab on pilgrimage
Punjab government earmarked ₹46.5 crore for allexpenses paid pilgrimages of 1.24 lakh people since Jan this year
CHANDIGARH: Religion is the opium of the masses, said Karl Marx. No one understands it better than the Parkash Singh Badal-led Akali-BJP government of Punjab.
DALJEET KAUR SANDHU/HT
The government has pressed into service 90 trains and hundreds of state transport buses to take people on an all-expenses paid pilgrimage to Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra, Kashi Dham in Varanasi, Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir and Ajmer Sharif Dargah in the past one year. Badal recently announced that if voted back to power in 2017, he will roll out a free pilgrimage service to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan too.
On a pilgrimage overdrive, the government is sending 10 trains and 100 buses to Patna for the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in the first week of January. That is not all. There is a free bus service to the Golden Temple (daily), Anandpur Sahib, Vaishno Devi and Jwala Ji in neighbouring Himachal from all major towns of the state.
Sources in the CM’s office say that 98,940 pilgrims have visited Sri Hazoor Sahib, while 22,440 and 3,060 have been to Varanasi and Ajmer Sharif, respectively.
SECULAR IS SACRED
It was following the widespread anger at incidents of Guru Granth Sahib’s sacrilege that Badal took a leaf out of his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra scheme in January. While the Madhya Pradesh scheme is only for non-taxpayers above 60 years, Badal’s scheme covers everyone across communities. Besides filling a form and providing an Aadhar or voter ID card, all a pilgrim needs isa clean ch it from a governmentdeputed health practitioner.
Punjab tourism minister Sohan Singh Thandal said the scheme, which covered four pilgrim spots, received such a rousing response that the government has now started sending buses to Damdama Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and Jwala Ji. “It depends on the demand, which is conveyed by the MLA to the deputy commissioner (DC), who then relays the request to the state transport commission,” he says.
Opposition leaders say the ruling party legislators are milking the scheme to woo their constituency. Thandal admits that party workers accompany every bus that goes from his constituency. Legislators such as Baba Bakala MLA Manjit Singh Mianwind even made it a point to accompany the pilgrims on the train.
Initially, the trains were flagged off with much fanfare by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and environment minister Bikram Singh Majithia.
Since the inauguration of the Heritage Street and Golden Temple entrance plaza in November, the government has been running a daily free bus service to the Golden Temple from most of the 117 assembly constituencies .“It’ s a bid to educate the youth about our heritage,” says Thandal.
ROUSING RESPONSE
Rupnagar DC Karnesh Sharma says the scheme is receiving an enthusiastic response. “All four trains from Anandpur Sahib — three for Sri Hazoor Sahib and one for Kashi Dham — are overbooked. The journey is a dream come true for many,” he says.
Baba Bakala SDM Tejdeep Singh Saini, who undertook the five-day pilgrimage to Sri Hazoor Sahib as the nodal officer, says, “The pilgrims don’t have to spend a paisa on food and lodging.” The train is second class and the food and stay are arranged by the railways, which also provides passengers with an insurance cover.
COURTING ANGER
While the pilgrim trains may be creating a buzz, they have attracted the ire of the Punjab and Haryana high court. Taking suo motu notice of the scheme in January, the court said, “Considering the fact that the state is failing to make even routine payments,” it should provide details about the source of funds for the scheme. The state then disclosed that it had set aside ₹46.5 crore under the tourism head for this scheme. “The scheme is to strengthen the social and cultural fibre of the state,” state chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal said.
Ludhiana resident Kuldip Singh Khaira has filed a petition in the HC, alleging that public money was being wasted at the instance of ruling party lawmakers for “free tour to supporters” to garner votes . The government is yet to respond to the allegations.
Dr Jagroop Singh Sekhon of the political science department at Guru Nanak Dev University, terms the yatras a desperate exercise in futility that will have no impact on the ruling combine’s poll prospects. “Religion is a personal affair, why should the state government intervene? These funds should instead be spent on health and education,” he adds.
CHANDIGARH CHAPTER:::MC POLL RESULTS
