PATIALA: With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) fielding former army chief Gen JJ Singh (retd) against Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh from Patiala in the state polls to be held on February 4, the ex-servicemen stand divided in the constituency.

While some are accusing Gen Singh of “lowering the prestige of the post of an army general”, there are many who are set to join his campaign.

The All India Ex-Servicemen Joint Action Front (Sanjha Morcha) on Sunday lambasted Gen Singh, also for his comments against Amarinder.

“The general has not only downgraded the status of a former chief of army staff (COAS) but also disgraced the high office of governor (a post he held in Arunachal Pradesh),” said retired Lt Generals JS Dhaliwal, SS Brar and KS Dogra; and Maj Gen SPS Grewal (retd).

“If at all he wanted to contest polls, he should have done that for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, instead of downgrading himself to the level of assembly elections,” said Dhaliwal.

Brig Devinder Singh Grewal (retd) went further: “When he was made army chief, the media underlined that he was the first Sikh to hold the post. But Gen JJ Singh said, ‘I am Maratha’, as his regiment was Maratha Light Infantry. Why has he come to Punjab to contest polls? He should go to Maharashtra. He has no connection with Patiala. Amarinder is here and often meets ex-servicemen.”

Gen Singh, who has cited family connections and childhood days in Patiala for a local connect, hit back, saying, “Some ex-servicemen with vested interests, and motivated by Capt Amarinder, are hitting below the belt. They are afraid of my popularity.”

“Does having held the rank of COAS stop you from serving the nation through politics?,” he asked, and added, “Amarinder never faced a bullet in his three years in the army, while I led from the front in all important operations.”

Many of his ex-colleagues have started coming to Patiala to campaign. Lt Gen Jagdish Singh Dhillon (retd), under whom JJ Singh once served, said, “I will certainly campaign in Patiala as JJ remained my junior in the army. I am here to support him.”

“There can’t be double standards. Another former army chief, Gen VK Singh (retd), also contested elections. Why the objection against Gen Singh? It’s his personal choice,” he said.

Brig Ramesh Bhatia (retd), a batchmate, is among those who has come to native Punjab from Dehradun to support Gen Singh. “Many of my colleagues are coming to give a befitting reply to Amarinder in the polls,” said Gen Singh.

Ex-servicemen matter not only in terms of population but also perception in Patiala, which has a cantonment with nearly 5,000 votes. Add to that, around 6,500 votes of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen, who have been known to vote for Amarinder and his clan in the past. Patiala in all has 1.5 lakh votes.

PUNJAB DIARY

Congress had the ‘upper hand’

PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh and his supporters at the party headquarters in Chandigarh. Tribune photo

Chandigarh: At the Punjab Congress headquarters in Chandigarh, it was an unusual scene at the joining of AAP leaders from Gidderbaha last week. A number of Congress supporters who had come with Gidderbaha candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring were made to sport AAP caps reading ‘Mai Aam Aadmi’. For a moment, those wearing AAP caps outnumbered those wearing Congress robe. A few minutes later, AAP caps were in the air before landing in the feet of those assembled there. The Congress had the upper hand over AAP, at least at the event.

FASCINATING FACEOFF

Brig vs Major in Balachaur

AAP candidate Brig Raj Kumar campaign with their supporters in Balachaur on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Balachaur, January 8

If it’s a Captain (Amarinder Singh) versus a General (JJ Singh) from Patiala Urban, a retired Brigadier is taking on a Major from Balachaur. While the Aam Aadmi Party picked Brig Raj Kumar (60), party worker Major Jarnail Singh (49) turned rebel and recently became a nominee of the Aapna Punjab Party (APP).Raj Kumar is a Gujjar, just like two other contestants — four-time MLA Ch Nand Lal (SAD) and Darshan Manguwal of the Congress. Jarnail, a Jat Sikh, claims that he is in the fray to bring justice to non-Gujjar communities as the Gujjars, having remained in power here, have enjoyed most of the benefits. Gujjars comprise about 30 per cent of the population in the constituency.Campaigning at Saroya village, Raj Kumar terms Jarnail a “party-hopper”, having switched over from the Congress to AAP and then to APP, while the latter terms the former an “outsider”.There are about 1,100 ex-servicemen and 2,200-odd serving Army personnel in Balachaur; both leaders are claiming their support. While Raj Kumar served the Army for 36 years, Jarnail took premature retirement in 2007 after 20 years of service.Talking about his family, Raj Kumar says, “My daughter, Neha Chaudhary, is a commercial pilot in New Delhi, while my son, Capt Arjun Chaudhary, is posted in Leh. Both can’t come for campaigning because of their jobs.”“Me and my wife were putting up with our daughter in Delhi when I observed AAP’sworking. Iwas impressed. Having retired two years ago, I felt that this party could provide me a platform to work in my native place,” he adds.“Then, we moved here. I was born in a village near Garhshankar. My schooling up to Class IV was in a government school at Balachaur, after which I went to Sainik School, Kapurthala. My father, Dhyan Chand, served as a patwari in Balachaur. This constituency is so backward that some villages don’t even have water supply. Women have to fetch it from neighbouring areas.”Jarnail’s wife is a lecturer at Fatehgarh Sahib, while his daughters are studying at Panjab University and DPS School in Chandigarh. “My family is too busy to do canvassing,” he says.The two officers have a common take on the two kinds of battles. “You have to strategise in both cases. You can somewhat predict the enemy’s next move from across the border, but not in a political contest. It was a regimented life for us in the Army, but here things are chaotic — but more interesting. The meal times, in particular, have become erratic.”

Manmohan to unveil Congress manifesto today

Manmohan Singh

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 8

Former PM Manmohan Singh will unveil the Congress manifesto for Punjab at the party headquarters here tomorrow in the presence of state leaders, including PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh.The manifesto, which Congress leaders are describing as unique, will promise sops for several sections, mainly farmers, the poor and the homeless, girl students, youth and Scheduled Castes.A major promise will be houses for the homeless across rural and urban sections. A job for one person per household is another tall promise the Congress is likely to make. Also on cards is tuition and hostel fee waiver right up to the doctorate level for girls from economically weaker sections.For farmers, the manifesto will hold a greater promise given party vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s involvement on the issue of loan waiver and revised MSP for farm produce.With Punjab farmers’ dues running into some Rs60,000 crore, the Congress is expected to promise a loan waiver.Speaking to The Tribune today, chairperson of the Congress manifesto panel Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said: “The manifesto will not be a routine text of promises. We have explained therein how we will fulfill these promises. In fact, the finer points of the manifesto were earlier discussed with Dr Manmohan Singh and we explained to him the details of financial inflows and outflows. Our manifesto is a genuine document of the party’s intent.”Screening panel meets againThe Congress screening committee, headed by Ashok Gehlot, met again in Delhi today to discuss 40 pending seats. The Tribune has learnt 18 seats have been sealed and discussions on the remaining will continue ahead of the central election committee’s meeting on January 10.

Mann Ki Baat: I want to be CM

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann

Chandigarh/Jalandhar: The tug of war between AAP leaders for the CM’s post has come out in the open. One of the main contenders, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, has started campaigning for the post. During a rally in Jagraon on Friday, Mann asked the audience to raise their hands if they wanted him as the Chief Minister. He repeated this exercise at other rallies. However, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had said recently that only the elected candidates would take a call on picking the CM. When asked about the matter, party’s political affairs incharge Sanjay Singh quipped in Jalandhar on Sunday, “Mann has said that if the party makes him the CM, he will be happy. No person will ever say that he will be unhappy to be CM.”  TNSEC scissors threaten AAP filmChandigarh: When a party has actors Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi and Bhagwant Mann in its ranks, reaching out to the masses through films is an obvious choice. The Aam Aadmi Party has made a film highlighting issues such as the drug menace, sacrilege, lack of development, and family rule in Punjab. AAP wants to show the movie during its rallies, besides posting it on social media. But the party will have to wait .The Election Commission has asked for 10 cuts. “We have appealed against the cuts. There is nothing objectionable in the film. It is based on our manifesto,” said a party spokesperson. TNSSGPC member Gora joins Congress Muktsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member and SAD leader Gurpal Singh Gora, along with his supporters and some sarpanches, joined the Congress in the presence of PPCC vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal, Indian Youth Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Congress candidate from Malout Ajaib Singh Bhatti in Gidderbaha on Sunday. Gora told the gathering that he was upset with the SAD after the desecration incidents. TNSCong MLA’s brother, nephew join APP Gurdaspur: Dera Baba Nanak Congress MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s brother Inderjit Singh and nephew Deepinder Singh Randhawa joined the Sucha Singh Chhotepur-led Aapna Punjab Party (APP) here on Sunday. Soon after joining the party, Chhotepur announced that Deepinder Randhawa would be the party candidate from the Dera Baba Nanak seat. He will be engaged in a four-cornered contest with Sukhjinder, GS Khushalpur (AAP) and former minister Sucha Singh Langah (SAD). TNS

 

Party vows to depoliticise police force

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 8

The Congress manifesto will focus on “complete elimination” of the VIP culture, besides laying down a code of conduct for the party’s elected representatives, including MLAs.Sources said the manifesto would promise to make the police functioning immune to political interference, besides implementing the Parkash Singh committee report regarding police reforms in letter and spirit. For the past few years, political interference allegedly by halqa chiefs in the police functioning remained a burning issue in the state.The Congress would promise to rid the department of that sort of political culture. The eight-hour duty norm will be implemented for police personnel. Security cover would be provided only on merit.There would be a list of dos and don’ts for the elected representatives. Promise would be made to enact new laws to tackle existing problems such as monopoly of cable network. All officers will have to declare their assets and the Lok Pal will be strengthened.The manifesto would announce to protect Punjab’s right over riverwaters and to restore the primacy of the state at the national level. There is likely to be a special package for border belt. Other major focus would be on women empowerment and gender equality.

SAD nominee faces tough questions

Sacrilege, police firing incidents haunt Akalis in Faridkot segment

Suba Singh Badal

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, January 8

Akali Dal’s candidate from Jaito Suba Singh Badal faced a volley of tough questions from the son of Krishan Bhagwan Singh, one of the two persons killed in police firing while they were protesting the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib at Behbal Kalan village on October 14 last year.During campaigning at Niamiwala village today, the Akali leader was listing out “achievements” of the government when Sukhraj Singh, son of the deceased, questioned him why the government and Akali leaders had been ignoring Niamiwala and other villages in the area for the past 10 years.“Where were you in the past 10 years? You never came before. Why now?” Sukhraj asked Suba Singh.The village sarpanch, Jagdev Singh, tried to put up a defence by saying that Sukhraj Singh was a first-timer. He claimed that once elected, Suba Singh would develop villages. The nominee soon left after that.Not only in Niamiwala, the SAD candidate is facing a tough time in Bargari, Sarawan, Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Behbal Kalan villages as well. These villages were the centre of the agitation for more than three months in the light of sacrilege incidents.Though the government has laid the foundation stones of community centres in the memory of two persons killed in police firing — one in Niamiwala village and the other in Sarawan village — the government has been unable to pacify villagers.Congress’ candidate Mohammad Sadique and AAP’s Master Baldev Singh, meanwhile, are focusing on these villages. The two candidates are promising to arrest those responsible for the sacrilege incidents and prosecute policemen who had killed protesters in Behbal Kalan.Sadique began campaigning by visiting gurdwaras at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala villages. He says the Justice Zora Singh Commission report on sacrilege incidents is a cover-up. “The CBI is not making any headway after more than six months of investigation.”

In the line of fire

• While campaigning at Niamiwala village, the Akali leader was listing out ‘achievements’ of the government when he was interrupted by Sukhraj Singh — son of Krishan Bhagwan Singh who was killed in police firing while he was protesting a desecration incident on October 14. Sukhraj questioned him, “Where were you in the past 10 years? You never came before. Why now?”

Stones hurled at Sukhbir convoy in Jalalabad, 4 hurt

FAZILKA: Four persons were injured and a police vehicle damaged when stones were hurled at the convoy of deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal by a group of protesters at a village in his constituency, Jalalabad, in Fazilka district on Sunday.

HT PHOTOAfter the incident, cops deployed at Kandhwala Hajar Khan village near Jalalabad in Fazilka district on Sunday.

THE SAD LATER BLAMED AAP, WHICH DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT, THOUGH A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT WAS SHARED BY AAP ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

The SAD later blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which denied any involvement, though a video of the incident was shared by the AAP on its social media accounts.

Sukhbir was unhurt as his car had already gone past the dozen-odd protesters, who were reportedly miffed at not getting a chance to talk to him about an issue with public toilets. This was Sukhbir’s first visit to the segment — where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded its firebrand leader Bhagwant Mann — after officially being declared the party candidate.

It occurred around 6pm, when Sukhbir was moving towards Fazilka after a public gathering at Kandhwala Hajar Khan, 20 km from the district headquarters. Ketan Baliram Patil, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Fazilka, acknowledged that the vehicle of SP Amarjeet Singh, who was deployed for Sukhbir’s security, was among some vehicles damaged. “A probe is on and very soon the culprits will be taken to task as per law,” he said.

After the incident, a large number of policemen, besides a battery of officials, reached at the spot. Among those injured were Akali leader Palwinder Singh, who is a former sarpanch, and Manpreet Singh. They were taken to the Fazilka civil hospital but the injuries were not reported to be serious. Village sarpanch Harjinder Singh Bhullar alleged, “This was the handiwork of AAP workers who cannot digest the eventuality of an Akali Dal victory.” But AAP’s Mann refuted it. “Our party does not believe in violence. Rather, this is the outburst of the common man against 10 years of misrule by the Akalis.”Before Kandhwala Hajar Khan, Sukhbir had addressed gatherings at three other villages.

Balbir Sidhu’s wife campaigns in Mohali

Balbir Sidhu’s wife Daljit Kaur interacts with residents at Phase I in Mohali on Sunday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Mohali, January 8

Daljit Kaur Sidhu, wife of Balbir Sidhu, Congress candidate from Mohali Assembly seat today carried out an extensive campaign for her husband at Sector 70 and Phase 1 here today.Accompanied by Mahila Congress leaders and workers, Sidhu sought vote for development. Talking to residents during campaigning, Daljit Sidhu said that after Congress came to power in Punjab, the self-employment process for women would be strengthened and special women training centers would also be opened to help women make both ends meet.—OC