Capt seeks blessings of Bathinda dera

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service Bathinda, Mach 27

Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh today visited Dera Rumi Wala in Bhucho Kalan for blessings of Baba Sukhdev Singh before launching his campaign in Amritsar tomorrow. The Baba advised Amarinder to tread the path of justice and work for the people, if he was to regain his lost glory. Amarinder, who was accompanied by his confidant Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, said:  I would not like to make a political statement. This visit is not political." Amarinder, Baba Sukhdev Singh and Chahal took langar. Congress-PPP candidate Manpreet Singh Badal's son Arjun said he was there to deliver his father's message to "Captain uncle. General secretary of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Harminder Singh Jassi and former Bathinda MLA, who has had differences with Amarinder, was at the dera to welcome Amarinder. In Amritsar today Amritsar: The stage is set for the arrival of former CM and Congress candidate Capt Amarinder Singh here on Friday. He was last week declared the nominee from Amritsar. Local Congress leaders held a series of meetings with their supporters to review the preparations for a rousing reception to the veteran leader. Amarinder is expected to reach Amritsar around noon and he will enter the city in the form of a cavalcade. He would be welcomed at 17 different points by the local party leaders and workers en route to the Golden Temple where he will pay obeisance.  TNS

Amarinder accuses Jaitley of conspiring against Modi

BJP leader hits back, says he was first to talk of 'Modi wave'

Perneet Singh

Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 27

Firing yet another salvo at BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Congress candidate Capt Amarinder Singh said it was a well known fact that Jaitley was one of the chief architects of the BJP's "160 club" which did not want the party to win more than 160 seats to queer pitch for Narendra Modi. "A man who cannot be loyal to his own party and own leader cannot be loyal to the people of Amritsar either," he alleged. Capt said Jaitley should "exercise restraint and not rake up sensitive issues like Operation Bluestar for petty political gains". In a statement released here, Capt alleged: "Let me tell you, your party and your ally Parkash Singh Badal are as much responsible for Operation Bluestar and terrorism as anyone else". Capt also warned Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia against "intimidating and arm-twisting" Congress workers in Amritsar. About Majithia's "concern" that he (Capt) had still not come to Amritsar, Capt said he should know that it took time to plan things before executing these. Addressing a press conference here this evening, Jaitley said it was Capt who had started a debate on Operation Bluestar and that he was merely responding to it. "He sits in the company of those who are guilty for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and he wants to ask me questions". He said: "There was no need to raise the Bluestar issue and when he did so you cannot expect me to sit quiet". On "160 club" charge, he termed Captain as a "poor scriptwriter" while stating that he was among the first one in the BJP to realise that there was a groundswell in favour of Modi.

Sukhbir flays EC move to limit atta-dal supply Chandigarh, March 27

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today accused the Punjab Congress of playing petty politics by "denying" the poor access to supplies under the atta-dal scheme. He said it was "unfortunate" that the Election Commission took heed of a "false" complaint. In a statement here, Sukhbir alleged: "The Congress is scared of popularity of the scheme and wants to stop it all costs". He said the government had made arrangements for supplying each family six months' supply of flour. "But the distribution has been restricted to one month's supply, he said.

No proof of liquor at rally, clean chit likely

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27

Witnesses in a case of alleged liquor distribution at Deputy CM Sukhbir Badals rally at Ghanaur on March 20 failed to turn up to depose before the probe officer. Sources said no witness would only mean a clean chit to the SAD. Commenting on the development, a Congress functionary said: We do not expect any action from the CEO since all other complaints against the ruling party have been ignored. Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh said: Officers have tried their best to contact the witnesses in the list. All of them have given excuses for not deposing before the Patiala Deputy Commissioner. The Congress had sought a re-inquiry after an earlier probe absolved the SAD of the charges. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, PPCC spokesperson, has alleged violation of the model code of conduct by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal during a political rally in Faridkot on March 25. While speaking in favour of SAD-BJP candidate Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Sukhbir had allegedly promised to release one lakh tubewell power connections within a month. He had also said the process to issue tubewell connections would be simplified. The CEO said he had not yet received a complaint in this regard.

state quota for students in pg courses

Medical graduates cry foul

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27

There is resentment among MBBS doctors who have just passed out from various medical colleges of Punjab. They allege the state government has failed to ensure a quota for them in post-graduate (PG) streams. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chandigarh give admission in PG courses to only those students who have passed MBBS from medical colleges in their areas. Haryana allows medical graduates, who are domiciles of Haryana, to compete for the state quota seats, even if they have passed out from colleges outside the state. But it gives 5 per cent additional marks to graduates from colleges in the state. The Punjab Government, that often talks of discrimination by the Centre, has not offered any such incentive to its own MBBS graduates. A graduate from any part of the country can compete against the state quota seats, if he or she is a resident of Punjab. A worried parent of a fresh MBBS graduate said that of the first 550 medical graduates appearing for counselling for admission in the PG courses tomorrow, more than 100 were those who had graduated from other states. The Registrar of Baba Farid Medical University of Health Sciences, Darash Singh Sidhu, said that the "counselling was being held as per the policy laid down by the state government and there is no dispute in this regard. Of the total PG courses seats, 50 per cent will be filled on the basis of the All-India Post-Graduate Medical Entrance Test. The remaining will be filled from the state quota. Sixty per cent of the state quota seats are reserved for in-service PCMS doctors who have worked in rural areas. While Punjab domiciles, who have studied outside the state, are eligible to compete for the state quota seats in Punjab, those who have passed out from Punjab cannot compete in Chandigarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and other states for admission in PG courses. Conflict of interest * Haryana allows medical graduates, who are domiciles of Haryana, to compete for state quota seats, even if they have passed out from outside the state * But it gives 5% additional marks to those graduating from state colleges * Punjab offers no such incentive to its own graduates

Embassy moves Riyad court for youths release

38 boys, mostly from Punjab, held captive in Saudi Arabia

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi Hoshiarpur, March 27

The Indian Embassy at Riyad in Saudi Arabia has come forward to help the 38 Punjabi boys allegedly forced into bonded labour in the gulf nation. The embassy has filed a case in a Saudi court on behalf of 14 boys who approached it (the rest of the captives live in two separate groups and are yet to reach the embassy) and narrated their woes to the officials. The next hearing is on April 30. Speaking to The Tribune on phone from Riyad, Gurdev Singh of Manesh village in Gurdaspur said: Ours is a group of 14 boys and we have been living in a camp near a power house in Riyad. The rest of the captives have been living in two other camps. Gurdev said the remaining captives too were planning to reach the embassy to seek legal help. They were awaiting money from their parents and relatives in India for travel to Riyad from their respective places. The Indian Govt is the only hope Navdeep Singh said the embassy had assured them of all help. We have been left with no option but to return empty-handed. But the company is not allowing us even that. Only the Indian Government can save us now," said Sharanjit Singh. Among the 38 boys are * Gurdev Singh of Manesh village, Gurdaspur * Sajan Singh of Sehaniwali village, Amritsar * Manpreet Singh of Chachowali village, Amritsar * Kuldeep Singh of Timmowal village, Amritsar * Jorawar Singh of Dagham village, Hoshiarpur * Gurmez Singh of Jordha Labana village, Gurdaspur * Mangal Singh of Tangra village, Amritsar * Jagjeet Singh of Ekalgadda village, Amritsar * Harpeet Singh of Tangra village, Amritsar * Sharanjit Singh of Tangra village in Amritsar * Gurjit Singh of Shakri Gill village, Gurdaspur * Kulwinder Singh of Kala Bala village, Gurdaspur * Navdeep Singh of Aulakh Kalan village, Gurdaspur * Sucha Singh of Jindwari village, Rupnagar

POLITICS Manpreet begins campaign in Lambi

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service Lambi, March 27

Congress-PPP candidate Manpreet Singh Badal today started his election campaign in the Lambi assembly segment, holding public meetings in villages. But his 'estranged' uncle, Maheshinder Singh Badal, skipped all the events of the day. Sources say Maheshinder and Gurdas Badal, who are first cousins, do not share cordial ties. On March 19, during a meeting at Maheshinder's residence, some workers had accused Manpreet of "victimising and torturing" Congress men when he was part of the SAD-BJP Government. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Congress district president, who accompanied Manpreet said: "Mahesh ji thinks that when I am touring villages with Manpreet, he need not appear at public meetings. He is undoubtedly backing Manpreet." Maheshinder has always given a tough fight to Parkash Singh Badal. Most people of the area say they have always vote for Maheshinder, not for the party. He is popular among the downtrodden people because of charity works. Manpreet is depending on the Congress in this constituency from where Maheshinder had got more than 43,000 votes in the last assembly elections. In 2007, Maheshinder had lost to Badal by just 9,000 votes. Manpreet today visited 18 villages. To win over Congress workers, he said: "I lost the Assembly elections because I was alone then. Now I have your support and I will definitely win." Manpreet's father Gurdas Badal accompanied him everywhere.

Wont allow Cong to open account: Badal

Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, March 27

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today claimed the SAD-BJP alliance would kill two birds with one stone during the Lok Sabha elections by defeating all the 13 Congress candidates, including several senior leaders. Addressing a rally in support of SAD-BJP candidate from Khadur Sahib Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Badal said it was childishness on the part of the Congress to field all its senior leaders in a single election. The Congress is losing at the national level. In Punjab, the party will not be able to even open its account, he said. On former Chief Minister and SAD (Longowal) chief Surjit Singh Barnala extending support to the Congress, Badal said that wont matter as the Congress had already conceded defeat at the national level.

Congs Dharamsot starts campaign

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service Fatehgarh Sahib, March 27

The Congress tried to put up a united show as its Fatehgarh Sahib candidate Sadhu Singh Dharamsot accompanied by four legislators from the reserved parliamentary constituency launched his election campaign by paying obeisance to historic gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib here today. Legislators Kuljeet Singh Nagra (Fatehgarh Sahib), Kaka Randeep Singh (Amloh), Gurkirat Singh Kotli (Khanna), Amrik Singh Dhillon (Samrala) and senior Congress leader Advocate Harnek Singh Diwana were among those present at the programme. Sitting MP Sukhdev Singh Libra was conspicuous with his absence. Dharamsot, however, maintained that he had met Libra yesterday evening to seek his blessings and said the senior leader could not attend the programme as he was busy with his social commitments. I had never applied for the ticket, but feel honoured to have been chosen by the party high command to contest the elections, he said. Flaying the Punjab Government, Dharamsot said the Badals were befooling people of the state by claiming credit for the Atta-Dal scheme by spending Rs 1 per kg only while the central government was providing the same to the state government after spending Rs 23 for 1-kg wheat. The industrial units, especially in the steel town of Mandi Gobindgarh, have moved to the neighboring states due to states faulty industrial policy, he said, adding that the law and order in the state was at its lowest ebb. The Congress nominee said the government had failed to fulfill the promises made to the people during the last assembly elections. Dharamsot said he had served the people of the area for the past 25 years and had vast knowledge about their problems, while his opponent was an outsider and was picked up by the Badals for promoting their selfish interests. My agenda is to ensure all-round development of the nine assembly segments in the parliamentary constituency. Modi agent of US: MLA Fatehgarh Sahib legislator and AICC secretary Kuljeet Singh Nagra lashed out at the BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, terming him the agent of the US government. The speeches by Modi seem to be prepared by American agents and later translated into Hindi by his party, he said.  TNS

Bhattal for setting up campaign panel Chandigarh, March 27

Opposing Capt Amarinder Singh's proposal on having a PPCC working president, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said that a campaign and coordination committee should instead be set up. Talking to mediapersons here, Bhattal, said at a time when the Congress was upbeat after senior party leaders had been fielded from various constituencies, there was no need to appoint a working president. Instead, the party should have a campaign committee comprising senior leaders, she said. Amarinder had demanded that with Bajwa and other senior leaders in the fray, a working president be appointed. He had proposed the name of MLA Laal Singh. A campaign and coordination committee should be set up under Shakeel Ahmed. The latter had sought my views on the matter. On his insistence, I have sent the proposal to the Congress president, Bhattal said.  TNS

Sidhu campaigns for Gadkari in Nagpur

Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 27

Amritsar Sitting MP Navjot Singh Sidhu visited Nagpur on Wednesday to campaign for former BJP president Nitin Gadkari even as the cricketer-turned-politician is yet to visit Amritsar after being denied the party ticket from the constituency. Sources said Sidhu had a day off in the ongoing T-20 World Cup in Bangladesh and so, he flew to Nagpur to seek votes for Gadkari. His move has now fuelled speculations as to whether he would come to Amritsar to campaign for Arun Jaitley, who has replaced him as the BJP nominee here. Sidhu had said in the past that he would campaign for whoever is fielded by the party form Amritsar. He even said he would campaign for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from the core of his heart wherever he would ask him to. If I can campaign for the SAD in Delhi I can do it in Punjab as well, he had stated. Jaitley, too, had said Sidhu would campaign for the BJP. He will be canvassing for the party in the elections as soon as he is free from cricket commentary assignments in the T-20 World Cup, he recently said. Meanwhile, there is also a buzz in the political circles here that now that the the Congress had fielded Captain Amarinder Singh, the BJP would have to get in Sidhu for Jaitleys campaign to counter the former Chief Minister in the constituency, which is dominated by Sikhs.