SHIROMANI AKALI DAL
Thousands of workers, prominent Panches, Sarpanches from all over the Punjab under the leadership of Founder Member of the Party Mr. Charanjit Singh Brar today returned to the parent party Akali Dal fold.

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 9: The People’s Party of Punjab suffered the mass desertion today as thousands of workers, prominent Panches, Sarpanches from all over the Punjab under the leadership of Founder Member of the Party Mr. Charanjit Singh Brar today returned to the parent party Akali Dal fold, disgusted with the alienation of PPP from the issues on which it was formed. Thousands of enthusiastic party workers from Gidderbaha, Sangrur, Barnala, Bhadaur, Budhlada, Mansa, Sardoolgarh, Maur, Bhucho, Bathinda, Bathinda Rural, Malaut, Abohar, Fazilka, Moga, Patiala, Nawan Shahr, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, Hoshiarpur and from Majha region expressed full faith in the leadership of S. Parkash Singh Badal and visionary party president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal.

           Mr. Charanjit Singh along with thousands of supporters today rejoined Shiromani Akali Dal in the presence of Party President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who utilized the moment to appeal to all original cadres to return to parent party fold rising above the personal and factional feuds.

           Mr. Charanjit Singh, who was once known as right hand man of Former Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal and was instrumental in raising PPP said that the party cadre was totally disillusioned as there was a large gap between promises and action on the ground. He said that they were sad that former finance minister mislead thousands of Party workers by promising certain principles in the holy precincts of Sri Darbar Sahib and Durgiana Mandir, giving representation to youth, keeping blood relatives away from hierarchy of party and restricting the upper age in the politics to 65. He said that they were shocked to see the Constitution that twisted all these principles to adjust their near and dears in the ‘kitchen cabinet’ of the party. He said that “the person who could not be true to the Sri Darbar Sahib cannot be allowed to mislead the masses”.

 He said that they were pained that the leaders who were lured in the party on the basis of certain principles were dumped next day after photo ops. He said that the Former Finance Minister was self centric and has no long term vision for the development of the state. He said that he could not tolerate ignoring ground level workers by Manpreet Singh Badal, who were working day and night for the party. Mr. Brar said that he felt that they have been mislead by Former Finance Minister and his coterie and was shown utopian dreams of principles based party that got shattered within few months and they have decided to rejoin their umbilical cord with 90 years old Shiromani Akali Dal that always struggled for the betterment of Punjab.

          Welcoming Mr. Brar and his supporters back in the party fold, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he was happy that they have returned to the parent party fold rising above the personal and factional feuds. He said that it was inherent duty of each party worker to stand united at the time of SGPC and ensuing Vidhan Sabha polls to decimate congress party from the electoral scene. He said that certain party workers, who have left the party due to personal, factional or egoistic feud should return to the Party fold to strengthen the party at the grass root level.

          Mr. Badal said that Manpreet tried to mislead the country by projecting gloomy financial picture of the state. He said that he was having secret parleys with the congress leadership in New Delhi to discredit the Akali leadership besides discouraging investors to invest in the resurgent economy of Punjab. He said that Punjab by record VAT collection, accelerating multi thousand crore development works has shown the mirror to Manpreet that you cannot mislead the people on the basis of false propaganda. Reiterating commitment of SAD-BJP Government’s pro-poor and pro-farmers subsidies, Mr. Badal said that by doubling the revenue growth, SAD-BJP government was committed to continue the subsidies besides accelerating development works.

          Impressed by massive show of love and affection shown by party supporters for Mr. Charanjit Singh Brar, Mr. Badal said that this today’s rally marks the winning march of Shiromani Akali Dal in ensuing SGPC and Vidhan Sabha polls. He said that presence of virtually all panches from Gidderbaha, the constituency of Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal reflect the mass revolt in the PPP.

Lashing at Congress for using proxy parties to fight SGPC polls, Mr. Badal said that electorate was wise enough to see the sinister games of congress party that always indulged in nefarious designs to divide the Sikhs. He said that no true Sikh would vote for congress party or congress supported factions in any elections that were responsible cold blooded massacre of thousands of Sikhs in ’84 anti Sikh carnage.

             Prominent supporters of Mr. Charanjit Singh Brar who present on the occasion were included S.Avtar Singh Sadhawala, Surinder Pal Singh Khara Barnala, Kuldeep Singh Virk, Tejinder Singh Mohali, Gurvinder Pal Singh Goga (Founder of 2nd Phase Anadpur Sahib Jago Yatra ), Sukhbir Singh Sukhi NRI ( Vice President  Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Foundation), Chamkaur Singh, Resham Singh Bhadaur, Gurcharna Singh Sarpanch Ladda Kothi, Kulwinder Singh President Youth Club, Jagroop Singh, Karam Singh Block Samiti Member, Avtar Singh Ghuman, Dharminder Singh, Harmail Singh Barnala, Satinder Singh Satti Mohali, Ludar Singh Club President Bhai Desa, Gursewak Singh Club President Burj Rathi, Lal Singh, Jaswinder Singh besides Panchayat Members from Gidderbaha Legislative Constituency included Happy Mankot, Bhai Malkiat Singh, Joginder Singh, Gurmit Singh, Bhola, Sukhdeep Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Thana Singh, Former President Kothe Dashmesh Nagar, Balwinder Singh Sarpanch Kothe Himmatpura, Gurjit Singh, Gurtej Singh, Aman Singh, Lashman Das Duggal, Parladh Seth, Rajpal Singh, Gurnaib Singh, Angrej Singh, Karamjit Singh, Bhola Singh Sarpanch, Baltej Singh President Society Kotli, Parkash Singh, Balwinder Billu, Mukhtair Singh Lehra and supporters from Sangrur District were Bhupinder Tibba, Bhupinder Singh , Sahib Singla, Amandeep Aulakh, Hardip Kheri, Dharminder Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Makhan Singh, Iqbal Singh, Darshan Singh Burj Rath, Gurjant Singh Guman Kalan, Baldev Singh Nambardar, Sukhmander Singh and Darshan Singh Khokhar Kalan.   

SAD releases list of 33 more candidates for SGPC elections
 Chandigarh, August 9 : Shiromani Akali Dal President S. Sukhbir Singh Badal today released a list of 33 candiates of SAD for the SGPC elections. Party had already announced candidates for 130 seats and now only 7 seat remain to be decided.  Candidates who have got nomination today are both from SAD and Sant Samaj and are as under –

Distt. Amritsar
Amritsar West-Bawa Singh Gumanpura
Chaugawan-Bibi Balwinder Kaur w/o Vir Singh Lopoke
Jandiala-S. Gopal Singh Janian
Jandiala (SC)-S. Bikramjit Singh Kotla
Distt. Gurdaspur
Sri hargobindpur-S. Kashmir Singh Bariar
Batala-S. Gurinder Singh Gora
Batala (SC) S. Gurnam Singh
Kala Afgana-S. Sajjan Singh Bajjuman
Dera Baba Nanak-S. Amrik Singh Shahpur
Dera Baba Nanak (SC) (women)-Bibi Joginder Kaur w/o S. Harbhajan Singh
Dhariwal-S. Sucha Singh Langah
Dhariwal (women)-Bibi Jasvir Kaur w/o S. Ratan Singh Jafarwal
Gurdaspur –S. Sewa Singh Sekhwan
Pathankot-S. Dilbagh Singh Pathankot
Distt. Ludhiana
Doraha (SC)-S. Harpal Singh Jalla
Jagraon-S. Gurcharan Singh Grewal President Sikh Students Federation
Sidhwan Bet- S. Jaswant Singh Purrain
Mullanpur Dakha (SC)-S. Kewal Singh Badal
Distt. Moga
Dharmkot-S. Sukhjit Singh Kaka Lohgarh
Distt. Sri Mukatsar Sahib
Mukatsar-S. Sukhdarshan Singh Mararh
Distt. Mohali
Kharar-S. Charanjit Singh Kalewal Member Zila Parishad
Mohali-Jatinderpal Singh JP
Mohali (Women)-Bibi Parmjit Kaur Landran
 Distt  Patiala
Nabha Women- Bibi Hardip Kaur w/o S. Baltej Singh
Dakala-S. Jarnail Singh Kartarpur
Patiala (city)-S. Sawinder Singh Sabharwal
Sanour – S. Jarmer Singh Lachru
Distt. Ropar
Morinda-S. Ajmer Singh Khera
Distt. Sangrur
Longowal (SC)-Malkiat Singh Changal
Chandigarh-Bibi Harjinder Kaur Former Mayor
          Party has also replaced Bibi Davinder Kaur from Garshankar seat  in Hoshiarpur Distt and now allotted the ticket to Bibi Ranjit Kaur w/o S. Upinderjit Singh Mahilpuri

(Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema)
Secretary & Spokesman

DR.RK GARG SUSPENDED FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE WHILE HANDLING THE CASE OF DR. AHLUWALIA
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 9:
Taking cognizance of the serious lapses on the part of Emergency Medical Doctor, Civil Hospital Fatehgarh Sahib Dr. RK Garg while treating the Vice Chancellor of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia who was shot at in the varsity campus on August 1, 2011, the erring doctor has been placed under suspension and charge sheeted for dereliction in duties. 
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that the Health & Family Welfare Minister Mr. Satpal Gosain had entrusted the Director ESI Dr. Satwant Bhalla to conduct an enquiry into the incident to ascertain the factual position.  The enquiry report revealed that Dr. Garg neither summoned any medical nor surgical specialist to treat Dr. Ahluwalia who was brought in precarious condition at 3.37 pm.  He also didn’t even bother to inform his superiors, the Civil Surgeon and the Senior Medical Officer who were holding a meeting on the second floor of the hospital at the time when the Vice Chancellor was brought in.   
The report further indicted Dr. Garg for gross negligence while he referred Dr. Ahluwalia to PGI without deputing any doctor or paramedic thereby putting the life of the victim in peril. 

SAD RAISES ISSUE OF PAID NEWS AND BOGUS CANDIDATES WITH EC
ALSO SEEKS REVISION OF CEILING ON EXPENDITURE

Chandigarh, August 9 : The Shiromani Akali Dal today raised the issue of Non serious and Dummy candidates and paid news with the Election Commission and also sought increase in the ceiling limit on expenditure in the elections
In a representation to the EC the SAD Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that  EC should  check and strictly curb the entry of  non serious and dummy candidates, he said that it was essential to do so for conduct of fair and peaceful elections. He said that  in many constituencies dummy and non serious candidates are sponsored by the vested interest to tarnish the image of a prominent candidate. He said that these dummy and non serious candidates represent a small local group who are motivated to join the election  to gain some financial gains or to generate misconceptions about some  prominent candidates.

 Briefing about the representation  Dr. Cheema said that party has also sought revision in the ceiling on expenditure for the election campaign citing increase in actual cost of running campaign due to increased prise of all the means.

            Urging the EC to check the menace of paid news he suggested that apart form effective role of the Press Council, EC should constitute a body with wide representation at National, State and District level to investigate the instances of “Paid News”.

The SAD leader  strongly opposed the the advancement of Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in the state and told the Election Commission that there are no exceptional circumstances  or extra ordinary developments which call for early elections in the state. He also demanded simplification of procedure for granting permission to hold elections meetings and rallies etc.

SAD RELEASES ANOTHER LIST OF 66 SGPC CANDIDTES.

CHANDIGARH, August 8:---- The Shiromani Akali Dal President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal released another list of 66 SGPC candidates today. With this the total number of SAD candidates declared so far has reached 130. The remaining 40 candidates are likely to be released shortly. Releasing this list the SAD president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the Sant Samaj and SAD will contest this election together and the Sant Samaj has been given 30 seats out of total 170 seats. The detail of the candidates who has been given SGPC ticket today is as under :---

(Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema)
Secretary & Spokesman
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PPP does not need People with business mind
Organizational setup to be made public by the end of this month
  
Chandigarh : People’s Party of Punjab will make its organizational set up public by the end of this month.  Arunjot Singh Sodhi Media Coordinator of the People’s Party of Punjab while giving this information said that S. Manpreet Singh Badal would be back from his foreign trip on 17th August.  He will make this announcement after consulting prominent leaders of the party.
            He said that every section of society will be given due representation  and people with clean image alone will be included in the organisational set up.  Those who love their mother land and have quest for bringing change in the dispensing system would be prepared.  Opportunists with business intent in their minds would find no place in the party hierarchy.  Today’s voter is well aware of such people, the Media Coordinator added.

 August 8, 2011

Industry in Punjab suffering due to curbs on power purchase 

From the political office
Kewal SIngh Dhillon
MLA, Barnala, and vice-president, PPCC
The Congress party has expressed concern over the dwindling availability of power for the industrial sector in Punjab. Blaming the state government for having failed to add enough generation capacity in the last five years, the party has accused the SAD-BJP government of punishing the industry by discouraging purchase of electricity from outside the state.

Referring to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited's (PSPCL) recent curb on industrial units, restricting power they can draw through open access mechanism to half of their connected load, Congress state vice-president and Barnala MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon today said that the government has landed industry in a mess by not taking timely measures to ensure electricity supply. He said the state government had to take this step because the Centre has restricted Punjab from drawing more than 4,800 MW power from other states to avert overloading in the transmission grid. He said the industry has already been paying a hefty price for it as the state government had recently imposed cross-subsidy charges on power purchased through open access, but as there is no other option available, the industry continues to purchase costly power through the open access system.

Dhillon said that at the beginning of this year, maximum power demand in the state was 7,400 MW whereas total available capacity was only 6,818 MW, but the government did not take any short-term measures to bridge the gap, and instead waited for private companies to start their plants in Punjab, which will take few years before actual production starts. He added that the SAD-BJP government could not define a clear policy for private sector participation in power generation as experts have already criticized the MoU model chosen by the government, reasoning that consumers will have to pay more as end uses.

Dhillon said the power generation policy of the state government is in conflict with the national tariff policy framed under the Electricity Act 2003. He further reasoned that power availability is an important ingredient to lay the base for a robust economy and unless the government realizes this, no major leap can be taken in improving the fiscal health of the state.  

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VOTING TIME FIXED FOR SGPC ELECTIONS

Chandigarh, August 8:  Chief Election Commissioner, Gurudwara Elections  today  fixed the timing  for Polling of SGPC Elections to be held on 18th September, 2011 from 8.00 AM to 4.00 PM. Instructions have been issued that the Presiding Officers, Polling  Officers and Police Personnels should be at the Polling station not later than 6.30 AM. 
  
                                                                                                (Avtar Singh Narula)
                                                                                                            Secretary
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Congress condemns failure of the SAD-BJP govt. to curb the menace of road accidents in the state, claiming more than 4000 lives annually.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira
MLA Bholath
The issue of the ordinary and common citizen have been taken a back seat and are not on the agenda of the SAD-BJP govt. Education, health, safe drinking water, employment, corruption, power, roads, drug menace no more seem to be the priority of the ruling alliance, so is the case of road accidents claiming more than 10 precious lives daily.
            As we are aware, according to the govt. figures more than 4000 persons die due to road accidents in the state. On an average 18 serious accidents occur each day that claim more than 10 human lives beside leaving 16 seriously injured, of which many are handicapped permanently for life. Only today 5 people died near Behram(Distt. Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) and 9 were seriously injured.
            All political parties including the Congress have raised a hue and cry both within and outside the Vidhan Sabha but the govt.  does not seem to wake up from its deep slumber. The govt. has  time and again assured the Vidhan Sabha in each of its session and even passed a unanimous resolution to check road accidents and take preventive measures but it has not kept its word. This infact amounts to misleading the August Vidhan Sabha as well.
            I would urge the Chief Minister to convene a special session of Vidhan Sabha and discuss time bound contingency plan to discuss this menace. The Punjab govt. does not need to go far for solutions as it is common knowledge that all drivers violating all norms with impunity in Punjab adhere to all traffic regulations once they enter the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The least we can do is emulate the traffic control system prevalent in Chandigarh and implement it in Punjab. We need to enforce traffic regulation and law strictly in Punjab as there is no fear of the rule of law in the minds of the drivers.
            We also need to bring more policing on the roads after withdrawing unnecessary large police personnel posted for security of the VIP’s in the state. The CM, Dy. CM, Ministers must lead by example by shedding their heavy cavalcades and behave like ordinary citizens on the roads. Influential people and their kith an kin often get away from punishment for serious offences, which need to be tackled strictly.
            Therefore, the congress urges the state govt. to wake up to this serious matter and take corrective and preventive measures at the earliest, lest we keep loosing precious lives of our near and dear ones due to road accidents.
We also need to amend certain soft laws with stringent punishment to drunken, reckless driving, driving without licenses, underage drivers that cause loss of life. At present rash and negligent driving is covered under 304-A of the IPC which is bailable in the police station itself, even if you kill people in a road accident. Let drunken drivers be behind bars for atleast 24 hours and those causing loss of life be sent to judicial custody for six months.

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S.A.D REJECTS UPA DECISION TO DECONTROL UREA, DIESEL AND LPG
·       TERMS DECISION AS LAST NAIL IN THE ALREADY DETERIORATING ECONOMY OF FARMING COMMUNITY

·       QUESTIONS CAPTAIN’S INTRIGUING  SILENCE ON THIS VITAL ANTI- FARMER ISSUE

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 6: Shiromani Akali Dal today equivocally rejected the Congress led UPA government’s decision to decontrol urea, diesel besides restricting the number of LPG cylinders for each family. The Party described these decisions as blatantly anti-farmers and anti-common man that would wreck the economy of farming community. It may be added that Group of Ministers headed by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee today allowed decontrol the price of Urea that would immediately raise the price of Urea by minimum Rs.500 per quintal.
        In a statement issued here today, SAD President, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the Party would not accept the decision of Congress led UPA government to decontrol Urea and Diesel until a Minimum Support Price(MSP) of agriculture produce was linked to a Wholesale Price Index.
 Describing the decision anti-farmers Mr. Badal said that decontrol of Urea and Diesel would push farmers deeper into debt, who were already feeling great difficulty to sustain their economy in the agriculture profession. He said that on one hand SAD-BJP government was providing free power to the farmers besides waiving abiana to encourage them to increase farm productivity to meet national goals but Congress led UPA government was all set to discourage them by making this profession totally unviable. He said that Punjabi farmers since last 50 years working day and night to make India self-dependant on food security front but Union Government was falling in the trap of agriculture import lobby to drive away farmers from agriculture profession by taking such decisions.
        Reiterating the resolve of Shiromani Akali Dal, to oppose this decision at every available democratic level, Mr. Badal said that SAD has always struggled for rights of farmers and would not allow Congress led UPA government to kill the goose that lays golden eggs for the country.
        Questioning the intriguing silence of Captain Amarinder Singh on such an important issue of farmers, Mr. Badal said that his delibrate silence has exposed his pro MNC and anti-farmers face. He said that if Punjab Congress Party was sincere for the cause of farmers’ community, as they claim, they should sit on Dharna in front of Prime Minister’s residence and force government to roll back the decision of decontrolling of Urea and Diesel.
Mr. Badal said that the Shiromani Akali Dal was also opposed the decision of Congress led UPA Government to restrict the supply of cooking gas cylinders to each family and said that it would further burden common man who was reeling under the unprecedented price hike. He said that Congress government was always associated with rationing of essential commodities and by restricting supply of LPG cylinder to each family; this Aam Aadmi Ki Sarkar has exposed its pro MNC face.
Calling upon Congress led UPA government to immediately recall these decisions or remain prepared to face the wrath of people, Mr. Badal said that the people of this country were already itching to throw away this anti-people government.
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ANWAR MASIH SWORN IN AS MEMBER OF PSSSB

CHANDIGARH AUGUST 05:  
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Anawar Masih as member of Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) at a simple but an impressive ceremony here at Chief Minister’s residence this evening.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that with the induction of Mr. Masih, the total strength of the board had gone upto 12.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal conducted the proceedings of the swearing-in-ceremony of Mr. Masih.
          Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Agriculture Minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, FormerMLA Mr. Vir Singh Lopoke and Member SS Board Mr. Gurcharan Singh Grewal, besides the senior party leaders and workers of SAD-BJP.
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VIGILANCE NABS KANUGO ACCEPTING BRIBE

Chandigarh, August 5: State Vigilance Bureau, during its ongoing campaign against rampant corruption, today nabbed a revenue official, Kanugo red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 1,000/- in a trap case.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Mr. Gurdip Singh, Kanugo posted at Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda was nabbed red handed from his office by a Vigilance team led by Mr. Baljit Singh, DSP/VB Bathinda while he was accepting bribe of Rs. 1,000/-, as a first installment, from complainant Mrs. Kulwant Kaur of Village Kailey Bandar, District Bathinda for releasing her a cheque amounting to Rs 15,000/- from Chief Minister Relief Fund fro repair of her house.
The complainant approached the VB and alleged that the above named Kanugo was demanding bribe of Rs. 2,000/- from her for the above purpose but the deal was struck at Rs. 1,000/-. After confirming the allegation, the VB team laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed from his office and tainted money was recovered from him in the presence of two official witnesses.
He further added that FIR no.8, dt 05-08-2011 under Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) at Police Station /VB Bathinda have been registered against him and further investigation was under process.

JUSTICE BRAR APPEALS TO SGPC VOTERS

Chandigarh, August 5: Justice H.S. Brar, Judge (Retd.), Chief Commissioner Gurudwara Elections today issued the appeal to all parties  and candidates contesting  Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee Elections to behave in a dignified manner  and avoid any kind of bickering and un-necessary mud slinging in the elections.
            In an appeal to the candidates and supporters Justice Brar said that we should not, in any circumstances, display any show of force much less commit breach of peace. He also appealed to them to refrain from exercising any intimidation or coercion of any type or offering any temptations including distribution of liquor or other intoxicant to the voters as all such acts and similar acts amount to corrupt practices within the meaning of Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925.
            The Chief Commissioner said that it was your democratic right to elect members for SGPC that you have achieved after making great sacrifices, way back in previous twenties of past century, when the Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 was enacted.  He reminded them that elections of SGPC was such a sacred duty in which Sewadars were elected were Sikh Community as Members to manage its holy institution which our martyrs  have left as a sacred trust.
            Justice Brar said that the fourth coming SGPC elections was taking place after a period of more than seven years and it was duty of all of first to ensure that elections was completed smoothly in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

WHOLE DISTRICT UNIT OF LONGOWAL AKALI DAL DESERTS THE PARTY AND JOINS SHIROMANI AKALI DAL (BADAL)   

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 5: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) today suffered a major setback with complete Fatehgarh Sahib District unit of its youth wing deserting the party and joining Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in the presence of party president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal.

All office bearers of youth wing of Sri Fatehgarh Sahib unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) led by Mr. Amandeep Singh Chandhok, District President ; Mr. Pushpinder Singh Senior Vice President ; Mr. Abhaijeet Singh, Vice President ; Mr. Jatinder Singh General Secretary ; Mr. Harsimran Singh Secretary and all district office bearers of Shiromani Akali Dal with hundreds of supporters today expressed their full faith in the panthic and progressive policies of Shiromani Akali Dal ( Badal).
          They said that they were fed up with the policy of Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) of acting as stooge of Congress Party to divide Sikh Votes. They said that they cannot tolerate the pro Congress Anti Sikh Policies of Shiromani Akali Dal ( Longowal ). 
Welcoming them in the party Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that this 90 year old party has always struggled for the cause of Punjab and would not allow Congress party to divide the Sikhs. He said that these splinter groups of SAD have been deliberately created by Congress Party to divide the Sikhs and Sikhs were intelligent enough to see through the nefarious designs of Congress party.
Calling upon party workers to fight ensuing SGPC and Vidhan Sabha Polls unitedly and decimate anti Punjab forces like Congress party from the electoral scene.
Mr. Badal welcomed them in the party with a robe of honour ( Siropa ).
On this occasion Ravneet Singh Sirhandi President District Youth Unit of SAD also welcomed them. 

WATER SECURITY PRE-REQUISITE FOR ENSURING FOOD SECURITY- HARSIMRAT
·        DEMANDS RS.3000 CRORE FOR REJUVENATING 150 YEAR OLD IRRIGATION SYSTEM OF PUNJAB

            Chandigarh, July 4: Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member Parliament from Bathinda constituency today demanded the Union government to focus ensuring water security first in order to ensure food security in the country.
 While participating in debate on the Supplementary Grants for 2011-12, Mrs. Badal said that Punjab’s irrigation system was 150 years old and it needed 3000 crores for revamping it.  She said that Punjab’s water was going down at a fast pace and as per the Government’s figures the water table of Punjab would deplete in 10 years.  She pointed out that because of the old irrigation system, almost 33% water is wasted and the need was to pay attention to contain the water table of Punjab before we could think of bringing food security bill in the country. There wouldn’t be any food security in the country if there is no water security because Punjab provides 65% of foodgrains to the nation, she said.
            Raising the issue of foodgrains storage situation she said that Punjab has a total capacity of 190 lakh tonnes of storage and it is already having 200 lakh tones of foodgrains lying in its covered and open storage.  The government is not moving these foodgrains to deficit states and there is no further space left for the storage of foodgrains for the next procurement season which is to begin on 1st October 2011. She also mentioned that while the government was spending 10,000 crores a year as the carrying costs of the foodgrains procured in addition to the buffer stocks, government kept only 40 crores budget for creation of new storage space in the country.
            She also sought attention of the government to the rising number of cancer cases in her constituency Bathinda and urged the government to give grants for treatment of cancer patients and building hospitals.
            During the debate, she raised the issue of allowing construction of rural latrines for women under MNAREGA and also construction of small water channels under MNREGA.
            She also urged the government to provide more gas agencies in her constituency in Bathinda and Mansa and said that gas cylinder were already been sold for more than 900 rupees in her constituency through black marketing. She was applauded a number of times by the other Honourable Members of Parliament present in the House.
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Peoples Party of Punjab

Chandigarh : Peoples Party of Punjab condemns the Punjab Government’s brutal methods applied for crushing the farmers agitation in Gobindpura, who are being forced to part with fertile ancestral farm lands for putting up a commercial power plant.

Death of a farmer in the police action belies all explanations offered, in dealing with sons of the soil who fill the granaries of the nation to provide food security.

PPP vehemently condemns the death of a farmer in the police action. Being the harbingers of Green Revolution in the country, the farmers of Punjab today are being made defenseless and their means of livelihood – land, is being taken over without providing for an viable alternative means of sustenance.

Buying cheap farm lands and selling it expensively has become the norm of most government including that of Punjab.

PPP demands that forcible farm land acquisition processes be stopped immediately. No farm land be acquired in Punjab without offering commercial market rates and that too on terms agreeable to the farmers

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PROGRAMME FOR SGPC ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

Chandigarh, August 4: Chief Election Commissioner Gurudwara Elections today  announced the detailed scheduled  for SGPC Elections to be held on September 18, 2011
1.                 4-8-2011 (Thursday) to 11-8-2011 (Thursday) both days inclusive as the dates on which the nomination papers shall be presented;
2.                 12-8-2011 (Friday) as the date by which the list of nomination papers shall be posted;
3.                 16-8-2011 (Tuesday) as the date on which the nomination papers shall be scrutinized;
4.                 18-8-2011 (Thursday) to 19-8-2011 (Friday) as the dates on which applications for the revision of orders of the authority scrutinizing the nomination papers to the Deputy Commissioner, shall be made;
5.                 23-8-2011 (Tuesday) as the last date by which the revisions applications shall be decided by the concerned Deputy Commissioner;
6.                 26-8-2011 (Friday) as the date by which a candidate may withdraw his candidature;
7.                 29-8-2011 (Monday) as the date by which the list of polling stations shall be posted;
8.                 30-8-2011 (Tuesday) the date on which the list of polling stations shall be posted;
9.                 18-9-2011 (Sunday) as the date on which the polling shall, if necessary, be held and
10.             22-9-2011 (Thursday) as the date on which the result of elections of the constituencies shall be declared .

                                                                        JUSTICE H.S.BRAR, JUDGE (Retd.)
                                                                Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections
PUNJAB PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION

PR OFFICERS` ASSOCIATION
MOURNS THE SAD DEMISE OF BROTHER-IN-LAW OF DPRO AMRIK SINGH

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 4:

          Punjab Public Relations Officers' Association today deeply mourned the sad demise of Mr. Kulbir Singh Brother-in-Law of DPRO Ferozpur, Mr. Amrik Singh, who died after short illness.   Mr. Kulbir Singh was 50 and survived by wife and two sons.
According to the President of PR association Mr. Harjit Singh Grewal, all the members of the Association expressed their deep condolences with DPRO Ferozpur Mr. Amrik Singh and observed two minutes silence to pay tributes to the departed soul.
Associations also expressed its heart felt sympathies with the other members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul.

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Dhillon blasts governement on farmer's killing

From the political office
Kewal SIngh Dhillon
MLA, Barnala, and vice-president, PPCC


Barnala: The Congress party today strongly condemned the state government's silence over explaining the death of a farmer during police lathicharge during land acquisition for a power project in Gobindpura village in Mansa district. Stating that the government has no excuse to explain police brutality over helpless farmers, Congress vice-president and Barnala MLA, Kewal Singh Dhillon,  while attending the funeral of the deceased farmer, Surjeet Singh, at Hameedi village of Barnala district, said the state machinery even tried to prevent people from attending his last rites today.

Dhillon earlier met the Barnala civil surgeon demanding early postmortem report of the deceased. He said that the police even tried to prevent them from visiting the hospital and were only allowed in after much persuasion. Dhillon demanded that the postmortem report should be made public as soon as possible so that the truth may be known.

Dhillon also lashed out at the government for claiming that the protest was politically motivated, stating that all the farmers whose land is being acquired and all those who are opposing it cannot be Congressmen. Citing the huge gathering at the cremation, he said it was a spontaneous mass movement against forcible acquisition of land and the common people themselves were leading the protest. He strongly condemned the government for their failure on all fronts towards the Farmers of Punjab, whether it be providing uninterupted electricity to them or swiftly buying their produce from the Mandis. Rather now the Government is going a step further to forcefully acquire their land and even get them beaten up and attacked by the Police leading to their death.
 
He re-iterated the importance of looking after the needs of the Farming community of the State as it forms the bread basket for not just the state but the entire country. Without them Punjab would not be the same.  

Dhillon also condemned the large deployment of police across the district, stating that a curfew-like situation has been created whereby people are not being allowed to venture out of their houses. Demanding that the government should give a patient hearing to the farmers and adequate compensation to the deceased farmer's family and also to those injured during lathicharge, Dhillon said there is adequate ground on which people can approach the court in this matter if the government does not change its dictatorial attitude.


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SIMRANJIT SINGH MANN SUFFERS A MAJOR JOLT IN BARNALA

FOUR SENIOR LEADERS OF SHIROMANI AKALI DAL (AMRITSAR) FROM BARNALA JOINS SHIROMANI AKALI DAL (BADAL)

Chandigarh August 03: Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by its President Simranjit Singh Mann suffered a major setback today when four of his senior leaders from Barnala district included General Secretary Mr. Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Organising Secretary Paramjit Singh, Vice President Jathedar Roshan Singh, and Ex-MC & President Cooperative Society Handiaya Mr. Gurdarshan Singh joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) here in the presence of its President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Secretary General Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.   
          While welcoming these leaders in the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) fold, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said it was a great occasion and matter of jubilation for all of us when these leaders had joined the Shiromani Akali Dal Badal because it was the only Party which had safeguarded the rights of the people besides defending the Panthic values. 
            On the occasion, General Secretary SAD (Amritsar) from Barnala Mr. Paramjit Singh Khalsa said he and his party colleagues have consciously taken this decision to join Shiromani Akali Dal Badal unconditionally on the inspiration of former MLA and SAD Area Incharge Barnala Mr. Malkit Singh Keetu and MLA Bhadaur Sant Baba Balbir Singh Ghunas. He said the autocratic style of functioning of Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann had compelled them to leave SAD (Amritsar) as they were feeling suffocated. He said SAD (Badal) was the only party that could deliver the goods effectively and fulfil the aspirations of the people through its progressive policies and programs.   
Expressing solidarity with the SAD (Badal), Mr. Khalsa said whatsoever duties would be assigned to us by the Party President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal in the forthcoming SGPC and Assembly elections, we would discharge our responsibilities with utmost sincerity and commitment in the larger interest of the Party and for the well being of the Sikh Panth.