The Tribune – BJP to oppose assembly resolution on Bhullar

Jangveer Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 23. The BJP today put its alliance partner (Shiromani Akali Dal) in a spot, stating it would not support the proposed assembly resolution demanding clemency for Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.

BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar, when questioned on the issue during an interaction here, said there could be no compromise on the issue of terrorism and the law must take its own course in Bhullar’ case.

Asked as to how the party would react in case the SAD tabled a resolution in the forthcoming assembly session starting October 3, the BJP leader said: “We will oppose the move both outside and inside the assembly”.Though the BJP’s national stand on the issue is clear, there was a feeling that the SAD could bring around the Punjab BJP , keeping in view the forthcoming assembly elections.These hopes have been belied with the BJP making it clear that there was no way it could support any resolution demanding leniency for Bhullar.

Meanwhile, sources said the BJP had initiated formal talks to exchange three seats with the SAD following its core committee meeting yesterday. Shanta Kumar met the Chief Minister after the meeting to brief him about the development.

Party sources said the BJP was ready to exchange Garhshankar, Batala and Amritsar West seats held by it with three seats from the SAD quota. The party has lost the Garhshankar seat twice. As far as Batala is concerned, there is a feeling that party legislator Jagdish Sahni’s performance has been less than satisfactory. The character of the Batala constituency has also changed post-delimitation with the seat becoming rural in character. In case of Amritsar (West), the party has lost the seat three times. Moreover, the seat has been declared reserved.

For giving away these three seats, the party is keen to get the Ludhiana West seat for former party president Rajinder Bhandari. The SAD legislator, Harish Dhanda, holds this constituency. The BJP is also keen to contest from Amritsar East and Ludhiana East, that have been created post-delimitation.

On allegations that the BJP’s popularity had nosedived due to increased factionalism, Shanta said there could be minor differences, but these were being sorted out.

- Party begins talks on swapping Garhshankar, Batala and Amritsar West seats with SAD

- Party keen to get the Ludhiana West seat for former party president Rajinder Bhandari

- The BJP also keen to contest Amritsar East and Ludhiana East seats created post-delimitation

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110924/punjab.htm#6

The Tribune – SGPC ex-member among 60 SAD workers join PPP

Varinder Singh, Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 23. Over 60 Shiromani Akali Dal activists based in Sultanpur Lodhi joined PPP’s today in the presence of party chief Manpreet Badal. Those who switched loyalties included SGPC ex-member and president of Sultanpur Lodhi Municipal Council Jathedar Jaimal Singh, Block Samiti member Jathedar Gulzar Singh and councillor Gurpreet Raja.

Jaimal said: “Manpreet has a vision to take Punjab ahead. He has resolved to eradicate the menace of corruption…so we decided to join him.” His supporters said they were feeling “gagged” in the SAD.

Manpreet alleged that the SAD coerced and intimidated the voters during the recent SGPC polls. “It was for the first time that an observer had to order a re-poll in the SGPC elections in Gidderbaha constituency. I don’t understand why the SAD leadership was so desperate to win a seat where there was no competition?” he questioned.

Tie-up with Left likely on September 27

PPP chief Manpreet Badal has said that the poll alliance with the Left parties was in the offing. A formal announcement in this regard, it is learnt, was likely to be made on the death anniversary function of Harkishan Singh Surjeet at his native village on September 27.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110924/punjab.htm#4

The Asian Age – Chidambaram would be in jail had there been Jan Lokpal: Hazare

Maharashtra Ralegan Siddhi

23 September 2011. Amid the fresh controversy in the 2-G spectrum case, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare on Friday said Home Minister P. Chidambaram would have been behind bars had the Jan Lokpal legislation been in existence.

“Had there been a Jan Lokpal now, Chidambaram would have been in jail,” Hazare, who earlier branded the Union Home Minister as a ‘mischievous person’, said.

Chidambaram would have to ‘go home’ in the 2G scam, Hazare said at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district.

“Chidambaram is ‘khodsal’ (a Marathi word which means a mischievous or a dishonest person),” the Gandhian had alleged soon after returning to his village this month while giving an account of his arrest and release in Delhi ahead of his fast on Jan Lokpal issue. Chidambaram is facing heat from a united opposition which has pressed for his resignation and a CBI probe over his stand in the controversial 2G spectrum allocation after a Finance Ministry note to the Prime Minister’s office(PMO) was submitted to the Supreme Court by Janata party leader Subramanian Swamy.

The note suggested that the 2G scam could have been averted if the Finance Ministry, then under Chidambaram, had insisted on spectrum allocation through auction.

The Government and Congress have stoutly defended Chidambaram asserting that his integrity is not in doubt and there is no question mark over his conduct. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/chidambaram-would-be-jail-had-there-been-jan-lokpal-hazare-865

Visit to the UK from 17 till 27 June 2011

On Friday June 17 I went by Eurostar to London St Pancras and from there to the house of my brother Amrik Singh in Hayes, Middlesex, just west of Southall. In the coming weeks I will post pictures of this visit. Monday 27 June I went back to Sint-Truiden, Belgium.

26 June, Grand Union Canal, Bull’s Bridge, Tesco
On my first walk along the canal I turned left and followed the Paddington Branch

26 June, Grand Union Canal, Bull’s Bridge
Willow Wren Wharf, Houseboat moorings

26 June, Grand Union Canal, Bull’s Bridge
Willow Wren Wharf, Houseboat moorings

26 June, Grand Union Canal, Western Road bridge
From here I walked through Southall Green and Montague Road to King Street

To see my UK Public Transport pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157611244941713/

More UK pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Fight over rare replicas of Holy Granth; Badungar assures help to freedom fighter Gurnam Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 23. Noted Sikh scholar and former SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar has assured to look into the complaint of Colonel Gurnam Singh (retd) that he was being pressurised to donate his rare replicas of Guru Granth Sahib. The police has also assured not to trouble the veteran armyman Gurnam Singh.

Colonel Gurnam Singh (retd), grandson of renowned Sikh historian and scholar Baba Prem Singh, has alleged harassment at the hands of certain police officials posted in the district, alleging that these officers have connived with a local SGPC employee in trying to usurp rare olden replicas of Guru Granth Sahib and have raided his house thrice.

“The block printed replicas, which were brought to India by noted Sikh scholar Baba Prem Singh who was personally invited by the Maharaja of Patiala to settle in Patiala after the Partition, are under threat to be usurped,” claims Gurnam Singh.

Badungar claimed that he would visit the house of Gurnam Singh in a couple of days and ensure that no one harasses his family. “This is a religious issue and I would ensure that justice is done,” he added.

Father of Gurnam Singh, Manmohan Singh Bhalla was a freedom fighter himself while Gurnam’s brother is former senior police officer.

According to Gurnam Singh, he had two very old replicas of the sacred holy book and as he was staying alone in the house with his mother Rajinder Kaur (90) a freedom fighter and holder of the Tamra Patra, they decided to donate one book to a religious shrine almost a month ago. “A few people came to get the sacred book from me but as we doubted their integrity, we refused”, claimed Rajinder Kaur.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110924/punjab.htm#12

BBC News – Pakistan floods: Authorities ‘struggle to provide aid’

22 September 2011

Authorities in Pakistan are still struggling to reach those worst affected by floods, weeks after devastating monsoon rains in the south.

Aid workers, who are also affected by flooding, have had difficulty getting help to the thousands stranded on higher ground, officials told the BBC.

Officials say 8 million people have now been affected by the crisis. Last week they put the figure at about 6 million.

This year’s floods in Sindh are thought to be worse than last year’s deluge.

Caused by heavy monsoon rains, the floods have already killed 248 people and damaged or destroyed some 665,000 homes across the province since they began last month.

Officials have also expressed fears about the rapid spread of disease and say that the problems affecting the southern province are only getting more acute.

Already, more than two million people are estimated to be suffering from flood-related diseases following the torrential rain, cases of malaria and diarrhoea are increasing, and at least 7,000 people are being treated for snake bites.

Thousands stranded

A basic shortage of manpower was the reason cited by officials for the problems in channelling aid to those most in need.

“People who have in the past worked as aid delivery workers are themselves in problems, their homes are inundated and families displaced,” Irshad Bhatti, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), told BBC Urdu.

Mr Bhatti added that a lack of co-ordination between different agencies, officials and the military made matters worse.

“Aid delivery is being carried on by a number of aid agencies and the military, but there is no co-ordination, and as a result efforts of all these entities are proving ineffective,” he said.

The logistical challenge is immense. Large areas are under water, officials say, and thousands of groups of people are taking shelter on patches of high ground in small groups.

Mr Bhatti says that officials have informed the government in Sindh province of the problem and highlighted the urgency of co-ordinating emergency relief.

Last week the United Nations launched an appeal for $365m (£231m) to help those in Sindh and neighbouring Balochistan province affected by the crisis.

The government response to the flooding has been heavily criticised. Correspondents say that the perception is that for a second year running, the government has failed hundreds of thousands of flood victims.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15015765