Paramilitary
forces in Punjab
03 March 2009
The historic decision of the Election Commission
of India to hold the Punjab Parliamentary polls in 2 phases is
a major setback for the ruling coalition.
By doing so the Election Commission has accepted the views of
the Punjab Congress that the state is indeed sensitive and that
free and fair polls cannot be expected without the significant
presence of paramilitary forces.
By splitting the polling into 2 phases the paramilitary resources
will be more visible on polling day and on the critical last few
days preceding.
This decision also confirms that the Election Commission has taken
cognisance of the attacks on Congress workers and leaders during
the Corporation elections of 2007 and the Panchayati Raj Institutions
elections last year.
The fact that polling in current Punjab has never been divided
into 2 phases before is a slap in the face of the ruling family
and a recognition by the EC that illegal strategies are being
formulated by the Akalis to undermine and sabotage the forthcoming
elections.
Whether this act of the EC will be sufficient to prevent the further
"Biharisation" of Punjab by the Akalis cannot be established
at this stage.
But what is certain is that the Akali goons and hoodlums now better
think twice for every this historic decision by the EC will be
followed by a record number of booths being repolled should they
even think of disturbing the peace.
The EC is to be congratulated for taking this decision.
Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur
03 March 2009
Enc. Punjabi version and font
Mr N Gopalaswami
Chief Election Commissioner
Nirvachan Sadan
Ashoka Road
New Delhi 110001
3 March 2009
Dear Sir,
Nullify Punjab Cabinet Meeting
A meeting of the Punjab cabinet was hurriedly convened on 2 March
2009 in full anticipation of the Code of Conduct being implemented
later in the day.
This is unethical and is tantamount to a fraud on the electorate.
The Election Commission must act immediately to nullify the decisions
of the said meeting.
None of the decisions taken are time critical and the same decisions
could be taken after the elections.
Not to do so would set a dangerous precedent for the future.
Immediate action would also make it abundantly clear to the father
and son duo that rules this state, that the EC means business.
This is a critical message for an electorate that has suffered
hugely from acts of violence perpetrated by the Akalis over the
last 2 years.
Your early action in this matter will be appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur
Punjab
S. Prakash Singh Badal ji
Hon. Chief Minister (Punjab)
Chandigarh
3 March 2009
Dear Sir,
Sub: Failure to include the 26/11 Mumbai victims in the obituaries
list
I am shocked that your government failed to include the Mumbai
victims in the obituaries list today in the Vidhan Sabha.
Not only was the loss of life massive, totalling approximately
300, but this included Punjabis, NRIs and foreigners.
As the head of a border state that has suffered so much from
cross border militancy and terrorism I fail to understand how
you can be so insensitive and callous.
May be it is the 24 months of mayhem and violence in Punjab perpetrated
by your goons on Congress leaders and workers, as well as on other
innocent Punjabis, that has desensitised your mind to such events.
The victims of Mumbai and the people of Punjab will not allow
you to forget this ommission.
You are requested to apologize immediately to the families of
the victims.
Yours faithfully,
Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur
