Political Notes

Rozana Spokesman editor is smart at controversies, quick on apologies

2010-05-07T15:27:00.000+05:30

Joginder Singh many times challenged authenticity of Guru Granth Sahib

CHANDIGARH: The editor of Punjabi vernacular Rozana Spokesman' Joginder Singh (Sawhney) is once again in the news, as usual for his mendacious writings.

He has gone under ground to escape the police action in a case registered against him by Amritsar police for writing a controversial editorial challenging the 'purity' of the Gurbani (holy text) in the Guru Grnath Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs. Following strong reactions from Sikh quarters he has apologised. This is what he loves to do after every controversial writing. Subsequently, he goes into hiding untill he gets legal protection. This is the modus operandi he had repeated several times.

What prompts Joginder Singh, to raise unfounded controversies on Sikh religion and some sects relating to Sikhism ? He believes that raising religious controversies would give his newspaper the publicity which he can't get even after spending crores of rupees. On the face of it this is one of his business tacticts. He often tells such things to people considered close to him. He is also not ashamed of offering apology after his purpose is served.

Unfortunately, I had an opportunity to work in the Spokesman for some time as Bureau Chief, News Editor and also got an opportunity to work as acting editor when last time Joginder Singh went into hiding in a similar case of controversial writing against Guru Ravidass. This time he had appointed veteram journalist Sukhdev Singh as acting editor. Interesting part is that when I was acting editor, I was told not to publish any article/story written by Sukhdev Singh.

The members of Guru Ravi Dass community had threatened to attack Spokesman office. They were furious and were not ready to compromise. The criminal cases were registered at Amritsar, Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar etc and it was the time when he made me acting editor before he went into hiding. He apologised from Ravi Dass community on front page of the newspaper. Ultimately, Jpginder Singh came out of hiding after obtaining bail from Punjab and Haryana High Court on the plea that he was being targeted by government for writing against government policies and health grounds. He is still on bail in those cases. Of course he has created a pool of sympathisers among NRI Sikhs who likes the anti-government stance taken by him. But not many of his readers know that he is a smart business man who plans to encash every situation good or bad.

This is not first time that Joginder Singh had questioned authenticity of Sikh holy scripture. On May 24,2008 Spokesman had published a blasphemous article

"Guru Gaddi Panth Nu Saumpi gayee see, Guru Granth Nu Nahi (Gur gaddi was handed over to Sikh panth not Guru Granth Sahib which means Guru Gobind Singh had not given his succession to Guru Granth Sahib). The issue was so serious that Sikh radical groups issued threat to the writer of the article Darbara Singh Seona. He was shot dead in Patiala on September 12, 2008. To my knowledge Darbara Singh Seona was encouraged by Joginder Singh to write this article becuase he had a long discussion session with Seona on the issue. Joginder Singh had apologised for the article but Darbara Singh Seona had refused to do so. Joginder Singh remained confined to his house for many days and demanded to replace security of Punjab police with Chandigarh police. Later Joginder Singh declared Seona a 'martyr' who sacrificed life for Sikh cause.

In the present case, Joginder Singh has once again tried to challenge the authority of Guru Granth Sahib. In his petition he has told the court that he is Pious Sikh and having Guru Granth Sahib in his house. I am witness to it that he treats Guru Granth Sahib like a reference book and read it only to check spellings of Gurbani couplets he wants to quote in his articles. When he was under ground in Guru Ravidass case, he had written an article in which he quoted wrong spelling of a Gurbani couplet only because he didn't have excess to Guru Granth Sahib. He had also aplogised for this mistake from Sikh bodies.

Joginder Singh is also distorting Punjab words and force the sub editors to use wrong words. Not only Sikhs, all those love Punjabi language shall also get alerted by ulterior motives of people like Joginder Singh. Many Punjabi writers have been writing letters to Spokesman editor protesting against distorted language but he would never publish them.

Most disturbing part of whole story is that lots of people have invested money in fixed deposit scheme floated by Spokesman trust in lure for higher interest rate. All those investors belong to middle class and may not afford to loose the money. It is feared that circumstances may force Spokesman to close the publication of newspaper. In such a case the money of the people would be at risk. In the larger public interest, the government must take steps to protect the interests of poor investors.

-SATINDER BAINS

SC judgement on Amarinder's expulsion: Focus returns to politics of vendetta in Punjab

2010-04-26T19:06:00.000+05:30

CHANDIGARH: The decision of the Supreme Court, reversing the expulsion of former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on April 26, 2010 has once again brought to fore front the politics of political vendetta being practiced in Punjab for the last about eight years.

While,the decision in favour of Amarinder Singh understood to have cleared hurdles in his way to take up the command of the party once again but it has also given an opportunity to him adopt refined political practices. He may emerge a force to give befitting fight to Akalis in the state but he still needs to refurbish his image of uprightness and fairness. One can only wish that he will not carry forward the politics of vendetta, unfortunately started by his government.

The apex court has rightly set aside the decision of Punjab Vidhan Sabha which was in gross violation of the constitution of India. It was sheer out of political vendetta that ruling party 'stage managed' the expulsion of former Chief Minister in a case related to land scam in Amritsar Improvement Trust.

Amarinder Singh was accused of favouring a real estate company by denotifyiong 32 acres of prime land from an Improvement Trust development scheme during his tenure as CM from 2002 to 2007. The Vidhan Sabha previlige committee had also recommended to the state government to ask Vigilance department to register a case and probe the matter. Beside this Amarinder Singh is also facing a case of Ludhiana city center scam registered by Vigilance department.

Amarinder Singh time and agains has alleged that he was being victimised out of political vendetta. Though his expulsion from Vidhan Sabha was "unconstiutional", but it is also true that the politics of vendetta was started by Capt Amarinder Singh when he in 2002 registered various cases under prevention of corruption Act against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family members.

Parkash Singh Badal who is fourth time Chief Minister of Punjab, in the last assembly session had sought the cooperation of opposition to end the politics of vendetta and the full house supported his assertions. He rightly told the house that political bitterness was harming interests of the state and common man was suffering. The leader of opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had supported the initiative even though the harmony couldn't last long due to walk out by opposition over a issue of police highhandedness.

In this case, the learned judges of constitutional bench had prevented a major political fall out of decision by Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Had the expulsion of Captain Amarinder Singh be allowed, it would have become a bad precedent in the country, the other state assemblies taking the same route to sattle scores with political adversories.

Even the ruling SAD-BJP government which masterminded the expulsion shall reprimant its office of Advocate General for misguiding them on such an important constituional issue. This has brought a big embarrassment for the SAD-BJP government and in a way made a dent on its credibility in the public. Yet in another issue discussed in Punjab Vidhan Sabha for withdrawl of all cases of political vendetta was a dangerous move. The move died down following certain quarters strongly opposed the it.

The personla enemity between two political bigwigs of state has already done vast damage of Punjab and the number one state has been pushed to sixth place in the matter of GDP growth. It's economy is shattered and a wide gap has developed between government and the people of state.

At this point of time, Punjab needs a strong government with an orientation for development and reforming the bureacratic set up. The present government has already lost three precious years in playing popular politics. This is the age of delivering results to people and not making false commitments. Let the people sitting at helm of affairs make an introspection of three years performance before it is too late.

-SATINDER BAINS

Double face of Punjab govt exposed over permission to DJJS for congregation

2009-12-10T13:13:00.000+05:30

CHANDIGARH: The double face of SAD-BJP government in Punjab has been exposed over giving permission to Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS) to hold its congregation in Ludhiana following revealations that state government had itself in November 2002 recommended to the center government to ban this organisation.

The questions are also being raised that present government led by Parkash Singh Badal had deliberately allowed the DJJS (also known as Nurmahalia sect)to hold the function for political mileage with an eye on the votes of DJJS followers.

Similar clash between Sikhs and Nirnakaris had taken place in Amritsar in 1982 and 11 members of Akhand Kirtani Jatha were killed. Punjab had faced a long spell of militancy after the Sikh-Nirankari clash.

Interestingly, finding the literature of DJJS objectionable, the state government had on November 29, 2002 recommeded to ban the sect under the Central legislation of the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. A communication in this regard was sent to the center government, it is learnt.

The clash between Sikhs and Police at Ludhiana on December 5 2009 had claimed one life and several were injured in police firing on Sikhs when they went to stop the congregation. The Sikh bodies had demanded to ban the function but district administration reportedly under pressure from BJP granted permission for the conclave.

This is not the first time that Sikhs and followers of Nurmahalia sect have clashed in Punjab. Earlier in year 2002, the both sides clashed in Malout and Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur district.

At that time, a fact-finding committee formed by the state government comprising Sikh scholars has recommended a probe into the background of the controversial godman, Ashutosh. The one-paged report sent to the then Education Secretary, N.S. Rattan, for necessary action reads: “After scrutinising the literature and audio and video-cassettes of the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, the committee has concluded that the contents are against Sikh tenets”.

The report says “by quoting from Guru Granth Sahib, Ashutosh has been projected as a living Guru”.It further says the tone and tenor of the literature is “blasphemous, hurting Sikh sentiments”.

On careful scrutiny of the video-cassette of the Malout function, the committee members have concluded that at the function, he (Ashutosh) was equated with Guru Granth Sahib! (Sikhs consider Guru Granth Sahib as living Guru).

The State intelligence had sent the reports to the Punjab government and to the senior intelligence officers at the Punjab Police headquarters about three weeks ago, saying that the then proposed Ludhiana programme of Ashutosh Maharaj should not be allowed in the industrial city as it could lead to trouble between Sikh radicals and the followers of the DJJS.

So much so the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) had prohibited the DJJS from holding satsang outside its dera at Nurmahal in view of apprehension of breach of peace in the state.The then Chairman of the commission SM Qureshi on August 27, 2002 passed this order following SAD(Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann made a repersentation to commission.

A Ludhiana based Sikh Gurmeet Singh has now filed an application to DGP Punjab under RTI Act raising several questions about reasons behind permitting Nurmahal dera to hold its function despite intelligence input for possible clash with Sikh organisations.

The applicant has raised the point that on December 3, 2009, Punjab police had a clash with migrant laborers at Dhandari village, who were causing huge losses to business houses. To control the migrant laborers police used only lathi charge and less lethal weapons, whereas when it came to Sikhs protesting against disrespect of their Guru and Gurbani, fatal weapons were used on them.

Punjab DGP has to answer the question that on which information the government recommendations to ban DJJS, NCM order and intelligence reports were ignored.

Ludhiana violence may be begining of communal backlash against migrants

2009-12-05T10:34:00.001+05:30

CHANDIGARH: It is indeed worrying that migrant labourers who contributed significantly in development of Punjab, have induldged in violence following police inaction on complaint of robbey by a labourer at Dhandari Kalan in Ludhiana district of Punjab.

Ludhiana has strong presence of migrant labourers and it is also reason for hatered against particularly the Bihari labourers who has majority among migrants. The migrants from Bihar are often blamed for rising crime in Ludhiana and are considered a source of nuisance all over the state. In first sight it appears to be a gross negligence of police which failed to understand the gravity of situation. Being a citizen of India, Bihari migrants were within their right to lodge their complaint with the police. It is ironical that Punjab police has became immune to problems of common people. The Ludhiana incident is result of police callousness. It is shameful that Punjab DGP P.S.Gill is trying to shield the gullty policemen on the plea that police was busy in making arrangement for some function.

The radical forces in Punjab have been up in arms agains the Bihari migrant labourers. On ground, the situation is not different from Maharashtra or Assam where local have revolted against Bihari migrants and launched offensive to push them out of state. The situation by all means is volatile and it would be foolish on the part of police and state government to blind the eyes. Probably time has come to face the ground realities. The simmering anger against Bihari labourers in the Punjabi population may lead to violence in other cities of Punjab.

Punjab is a agriculture state and one should not forget that without the helping hand of migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pardesh, it would have been imposible to achieve the green revolution. The Punjabi youth has lost its love for labour and has turned white collared. Punjab government is required to handle the situation with utmost responsibility. The track record of Punjab government particularly the SAD-BJP government is dismal in handling crisis situations. Not long back this government had allowed the followers of dera Sacha Sauda to indulge in arson and violence in Bathinda district and very recently in Jalandhar the followers of Guru Ravi Dass sect indulged in large scale violence.

In Ludhiana, the industrial town of Punjab, the concentration of migrants is very high and they have formed political clout at many assembly seats. The victory of Congress candidate Manish Tewari from Ludhiana Parliamentary seat is attributed to support of migrant labourers.

We condemn the violence by migrant labourers. They are welcome to work in Punjab but such a strong reaction on minor provocation is highly deplorable. They must love the place from where they earn livelihood. Punjab government shall take stern action against those responsible for the Ludhiana violence that may be police or any trouble maker for that matter. The chain reaction, if triggered, would put the Punjab on fire once again for a wrong reason.

High polling percentage in Punjab upsets calculations of politicians

2009-05-09T21:54:00.000+05:30

CHANDIGARH: The fresh figures of voting percentage (73.53 percent) of first phase of Lok Sabha election in Punjab, concluded on May 7, has sent shock waves down the spine of senior political leaders. The results of Lok Sabha seats in state may be surprising and stunning.
They are trying to recount their eggs after Election Commission Friday said that average percentage was 73.53 percent and in high profile constituency a record 78.75 percent voters cast their votes.
The Chief Electoral Officer Punjab said that Sangrur constituency has recorded 74.03 percent voting, Ferozepur 71.43 percent and Patiala the lowest 69.87 percent.
The highest voting was recorded in Budhlada-84.34 percent followed by Sardulgarh 83.25 and Lambi 81.41 percent. Lambi is home constituency of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Talwandi sabo has also recorded 80.29 percent polling. In no other constituency poling above 80 percent was recorded. In Bathinda constituency the lowest percentage was recorded in Bathinda urban seat, only 66.52 percent.
The lowest polling was recorded in Abohar in Ferozepur constituency where only 52 percent voters turned out. It was followed by Patiala (Urban), the home constituency of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh where 61.82 percent voters cast votes.
On four Lok Sabha seats covered in first phase witnessed peaceful polling and interest of voters in the election was against the expectations of anybody. Wa it anti-incumbency factor or popularity of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance is the center of curiosity of political observers. In fact silence of voters this time has prevented political experts to give their analysis on trends.
The interesting part is that both main rivals the SAD and Congress are interpreting the high vote percentage to their advantage. SAD has claimed that people had voted in favour of development and rejected UPA due to its anti-Punjab policies. The Congress has claimed that high polling was due to strong anti-incumbency factor prevailing in the state. Lal Singh Working President of PPCC said that magic of Dr.Manmohan Singh and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi has worked in Punjab.
The claims of political parties are in fact aimed at the second phase of electioneering to be conducted on May 13 when the remaining nine seats would go to poll.

Future of Punjab politics confined to Bathinda, Patiala seats

2009-04-10T22:03:00.001+05:30

CHANDIGARH: The political scene of whole of Punjab seems to have been contained in two Lok Sabha seats of Patiala and Bathinda, the two constituencies from where the prestige of two most powerful political families is at stake.
The families of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh are involved in do or die battle and surprising results are expected from both the seats. May 7, 2009 is the date when both Badal and Amarinder would be praying fo the bright career of their wards. Patiala is home constituency of Amarinder and Badal's have adopted Bathinda after their home constituency Faridkot ws reserved during delimitation.
From Bathinda seat Raninder Singh son of Capt Amarinder Singh is contesting against Harsimrat Kaur daughter in law of Parkash Singh Badal and wife of SAD president and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. Captain Amarinder Singh's wife and two time sitting MP Preneet Kaur is engaged in tough contest from patiala seat where she is facing Prem Singh Chandumajra former MP and SAD general secretary. Sukhbir Singh Badal has made it a prestige issue to win the Patiala and Bathinda seats and so is the stake of Capt Amarinder Singh.
The Bathinda Lok Sabha seat was a reserved one till last time. It is now a general seat under the delimitation of seats. Punjab has a total of 13 Lok Sabha seats. Paramjit Kaur Gulshan of Shiromani Akali Dal had represented Batrhinda (reserve) constituency in the last Lok Sabha. It is first time that this constituency has been declared a general constituency after the reorganisation of constituencies in Punjab.
Interestingly,Harsimrat and Raninder Singh are both first timers and highly educated. Raninder was born on August 2,1967 and Harsimrat is born on July 25, 1966, both of them of same age group. They both have wished good luck to each other and promised a healthy contest. Politically, their victory or defeat is linked to the honour of their family elders. Earlier it was expected that Parkash Singh Badal, his wife or Sukhbir Singh Badal would contest the election.
A Bachelor in Science and sharp shooter by training, a political green horn Raninder Singh had participated in world cup. He was appointed general secretary of PPCC in 2006 and is seen political heir of his father. He says,"My aim is to remove unemployment, implementing central schemes and fight against drug menace among youth in Punjab.
Narsimrat Kaur is a novice in politics and her credibility is seen as a social worker. She had a few months back launched an anti-female foeticide campaign called 'Nanhi Chhan' sponsored by Harpal Singh CEO of Max India. She travelled throughout the state to propagate the message of not killing daughters in the womb. Her message was rightly delivered and that is her strong point to stand firm against Congress candidate. She is also a graduate and a known interior decorator. Her future plan is to fight against the evil of dowry.
Both SAD and Congress have drawn their strategies to ensure the victory of candidates contesting from key constituencies. Thouth other seats are also considered important but Patiala and Bathinda has significance of being play ground of royal families.
"I have entered the electoral fray. Now it is for him (husband Sukhbir Badal) to ensure my victory,’ Harsimrat Kaur, told media persons after being named the Akali candidate.
Raninder said that winning Bathinda seat is child's play for him because he had been working on ground for the last over five years. During last assembly elections, he helped Congress to win nine assembly seats under Bathinda Parliament seat. "Harsimrat is like a sister but she has no political vision", Raninder said.

To revert pro-Congress trend of dera votes in Punjab is litmus test for Akalis

2009-03-19T21:04:00.001+05:30

While political parties prepare for the final show down in Lok Sabha elections, exactly after two years of assembly elections, the big question being debated in political circles is on the support of big chunk of dera Sacha Sauda followers who voted for Congress in the last two assembly elections in 2002 and 2007.
The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal had suffered big jolts in the last two elections-lost government in 2002 and lost in its strong hold of Malwa in 2007 due to pro-Congress stance of dera followers. Would SAD be able to revert the trend this time ?
The ongoing row between dera followers and members of Sikh community is expected to play crucial factor in Lok Sabha polls. Particularly in Mlawa belt comprising 63 seats out of total of 117, the calculations of political parties may twist the course of voting, if the dera voters continued the past trend.
The Congress in 2007 had suffered humiliating defeat in Doaba and Majha winning three seats in each region but was able to save the face with 36 candidates winning their seats from Malwa. Congress's total tally was 44. It was first time in the history of Punjab that SAD had lost in its strong hold Malwa and also its alliance partner BJP getting record 19 seats out of 23. in urban areas. The Akali Dal-BJP alliance won 68, Akali Dal getting 48 out of 93 contested and BJP 19 out of 23 it contested. Five seats went to independents. Of the 63 seats in the Malwa belt, he Akalis won only 17 seats and the BJP five. In Majha belt, the Akali-BJP alliance won 22 of the 27 seats. The SAD president (Now Chief Minister) Parkash Singh Badal had won his Lambi seat with a meager margin of 9,187 votes.
The dera Chief Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh who is in thick of controversies had formed a political wing in 2002 which decided to openly support Congress party under former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. It is believed that dera chief embroiled in cases of murder, rape and kidnapping was given an assurance by Congress to help him out from cases registered by CBI. However, when he failed to get the support from center, in 2007 elections he directed his supporters to decide the support at local level and seeing the credentials of candidates. Beside dera factor the step taken by Captain Amarinder Singh to reject all inter-state water accords with Haryana also helped him to garner support from Akali Dal bastion.
The political sources said that certain vested interests were still trying to refresh the dera-Sikh row before Lok Sabha polls to trigger polarisation of voters on communal lines. The reports of clashes between Sikhs and dera folowers have been received from few places in Malwa. The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs has issued an edict for social and political boycott of dera chief and followers. Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh on Thursday also warned the Sikh leaders against seeking support from dera.
The SAD-BJP government has this time decided to contest on the issue of development. It is understood that the issue of development taken up by ruling alliance may not find favour with voters in the background that most of the development is urban oriented. This may help BJP but not the Akalis. The ruling alliance is also unaware of the anti-incumbency factor which seems existing among employees and farmers. In the given situation it would be intersting to watch how SAD play up the dera-Sikh dispute to revert the past trends.

Punjab Congress wasted opportunity to corner SAD on floor of house

2009-03-10T19:48:00.001+05:30

The boycott of Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, Punjab Congress Legislative Party(CLP) seems to have lost a good opportunity to take on its rival, ruling alliance of SAD and BJP on the floor of house particularly ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The CLP has abstained from the house during discussion on Governor'a address, leaving it open for the ruling party to blame Congress for all the ills, Punjab has been facing. SAD-BJP MLA's and leader of the House Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal utilsied the opportunity to project achievements of Punjab government. The Congress MLA's though outside the house condemning the ruling party for bad economy and law and order, but no senior Congress leader was in the house to reply to questions and claims raised by treasury benches. The SAD rather held Congress responsible for running away from debate.
The CLP had announced to boycott the house when Chief Minister made some remarks pointing at behaviour of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira who objected strongly. The opposition demanded an apology from Badal but speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon saved the situatiin playing it mild. He also expunged the remarks from record. Political observers said that it was not so major provocation that prompted Congress for boycott of entire session. The leader of opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was already away to Delhi during the session due to ticket allotment for Lok Sabha elections.
The speaker later also made an appeal to the CLP to return to house but the Congress MLA's also failed to grab that opportunity. The Congress MLA's had given call attention motion on certain important issues including rising road accidents in the state. None of the issues could be taken due to absence of members. The important bills were passed without any debate. Atleast people who had some disillussionment fromn the ruling alliance were expecting from Conmgress to speak for them in the house.
Politically speaking, the Congress lacked in direction in and outside the house. During last two years since the preesent government has taken over, the senior party leaders are engaged in blame game. The Congress has failed to show a united face and this may cost them dearly in the Lok Sabha poll.

Punjab Congress leaders infighting makes PPCC defunct

2008-12-21T23:55:00.000+05:30

It is free for all in The Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee(PPCC) which appears to have become a defunct body. The senior party leaders having engaged in mud-slinging against each other, are missing an opportunity to cash in on strong anti-incumbency factor for the coming Lok Sabha poll.
The PPCC is virtually divided into three power centers led by Chairman of party's campaign committee former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, PPCC President Mohinder Singh Kay Pee and CLP leader and former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Yet every individual MP and MLA have become an authority in themselves. While PPCC hardly issue any statement on policy matters, certain pro-active MLA's have made it a point to fill the gap with hard hitting statements against the present SAD-BJP government. A Congress MLA was rather issued a breach of previlige notice by the speaker when he on behalf of party leaked the procedings of a Vidhan Sabha Committe. He however apologised later.
The statements issued from different quarters on behalf of PPCC, the confusion prevailed over party's line of action. The party is also not united on launching party's election campaign. It is Amarinder Singh who is calling shots after he decided to go alone for election tour ignoring PPCC directive to postpone his tour.
The PPCC president who is considered a 'gentleman' in Punjab politics seems to have been caught in the clash of two former Chief Ministers Capt Singh and Bhattal who are fighting for supremacy for the last about ten years. Amarinder Singh was made Chief Minister in 2002 ignoring Bhattal's claim. Both of them have now set their eye on next assembly elections. The Congress lost the 2007 assembly poll led by Amarinder Singh. Corruption cases registered against Cap Singhj by present government pushed him to wall for a while.
However, like a phoenix, Amarinder has resurfaced again and went on prowl taking the present government by horns. He has not been joined by Bhattal and Kay Pee though local MLA's are joining the Amarinder's band wagon in a hope that he may re-emerge party leader.
Amarinder Singh has blamed that Bhattal was hand in glove with SAD and not speaking openly against highhandedness of state government. Bhattal on her part says that Amarinder had no respect for party discipline and he is violating PPCC directives. She said that infighting at this stage would only harm the party's prospects in Lok Sabha poll.
Despite opposition Amarinder Singh ahs announced to carry out second phase of election tour from Patiala. He has also announced that if parity allowed, his wife would be candidate from Patiala and his son Raninder Singh would be contesting fro Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. The announcement of certain names for Lok Sabha seats by Amarinder Singh is also irritating the PPCC leaders.

Delhi debacle spoils SAD plan to play larger role in national politics

2008-12-11T23:47:00.000+05:30

The defeat of all the four candidates of Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) in the Delhi assembly elections have come as rude shock to the ruling alliance partner of BJP in Punjab. The alliance partners have to learn many lessons from the 'tilt' of Sikh voters of Delhi.The Delhi debacle of Akalis has cost BJP heavily and would also have bearing on SAD's future strategy to expand its base outside Punjab. SAD was preparing to play larger role in the national politics.
The defeat in Delhi is seen as shrinking of the political base of Akalis outside Punjab. Before Delhi, Akalis had lost their political clout in Rajasthan where BJP has been routed by Congress. The only candidate put up by SAD in Rajasthan in 2003 assembly elections had lost his deposit. It is believed that for this very reason, the SAD backed out from Rajasthan this time and no seat was demanded from BJP in Rajasthan.
SAD was also contemplating to seek share in tickets in assembly elections from INLD-BJP alliance in Haryana. Haryana has significant strength of Sikh community but they are understood have fallen apart from SAD on the issue of forming separate Gurdwara Committee for Haryana state. The Sikhs in Delhi also turned back to Akali Dal's trump card Avtar Singh Hit and instead backed Paramjit Singh Sarna who had extended open support to Congress. He had blamed that Akalis were not serving Sikh community by joining hands with BJP.Only yesterday SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal had predicted landslide victory for BJP and SAD candidates in Delhi.
Badal however next day seemed short of words to cover the defeat of party candidates.Sukhbir Badal in a statement here thanked the voters in Delhi for helping the Party in putting up a tough fight against the Congress. He said that electoral exercise helped the Shiromani Akali Dal in creating and strengthening the base in future.To make the defeat respectable, Badal junior said that this was the first time since the formation of the Shiromani Akali Dal that the Party had contested in Delhi, considering that this was our maiden entry into electoral field in the capital.
We got overwhelming response and came close to winning the seat which we had contested at our own symbol. He said that the electoral exercise has helped the Shiromani Akali Dal in creating a grass root cadre which will help us in our future battles.It may be mentioned that the Akali Dal contested four seats in Delhi in alliance with the BJP, including three on the symbol of the alliance partner. Badal had campaigned day and night in the national capital for the victory of the alliance in general and his party candidates in particular.
Sukhbir Badal on Sunday, a day before counting, had maintained that victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party led alliance in the Delhi Asembly elections would enable his party (SAD)to play a greater role at the national level and this election would be a first step in that direction. In the next step, the Akali Dal would make its presence felt in the Assembly elections in other neighbouring states, including Haryana.The political observers said that SAD has to redraw its poll strategy in Punjab as well. The impact of Congress victory in three states would have its impact on Lok Sabha elections. Sukhbir Badal has stated here that Akali Dal was there to rule at least for the next 25 years and it was not just a rhetoric. He would certainly need a introspection to achieve his goal.