Kejri draws people in hordes

Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 30
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal’s charisma saw city residents come out of their homes on a Sunday afternoon during his first-ever roadshow in the City Beautiful.

Patriotic songs such as "Maa tujhe salaam", "Kranti" and "Vande Matram" boosted the morale of AAP supporters, who had gathered at the Hallo Majra roundabout for Kejriwal’s roadshow.

The roadshow, which started at around 10 am, one hour behind schedule, from the Hallo Majra roundabout, saw people join in hordes from all walks of life. The support from the public in Chandigarh appeared immense.

Kejriwal visited southern sectors, colonies and villages and blamed the Congress government for doing little for the downtrodden and those living in colonies and villages. Fancy slogans and catchy songs were the highlights of the impressive roadshow.

During the roadshow, Kejriwal halted his cavalcade at several places and addressed city residents. During his speech, he was waving at people and appealing to residents with folded hands to vote for AAP candidate Gul Panag for the Chandigarh seat.

AAP workers distributed synthetic Nehru caps with AAP slogans and its poll symbol (broom) printed on both sides among residents.

At several locations, children dressed as Kejriwal, welcomed the AAP leader and his team. Some families were seen distributing bottles of water, bananas and biscuits among AAP volunteers.

Interestingly, the UT Administration had given permission for only 10 vehicles for Kejriwal’s roadshow, but countless number of cars, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws and mini-trucks became part of the roadshow as it moved around in the city.

Kejriwal said Panag wanted to serve the common man and she followed the party's basic principle of fighting against corruption.

The response from the public in Chandigarh was great and the police were trying hard to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident. The roadshow finally ended at Mani Majra at 3.15 pm.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

People are looking for change: Kejriwal

Tribune News Service & PTI

Gul Panag will use development funds only on your advice. At present, there are two Chandigarhs -- one is beautiful and the other is neglected. Gul Panag will make the entire city beautiful. — Arvind Kejriwal

Chandigarh, March 30
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal today lambasted Narendra Modi, claiming that the BJP leader had written to the Centre demanding a three-fold hike in gas prices to help industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

Kejriwal claimed he was in possession of a letter written by Modi to the Centre, asking for such a hike. “The motive behind the hike in the prices of gas by three times was to extend benefit to Ambani”, he said while speaking at a roadshow in the city.

The roadshow, lasting around five hours, was to garner support for AAP candidate Gul Panag.

Kejriwal also said there was nothing like a ‘Modi wave’ in the country and it was a hype generated by media.

He wondered why Modi was contesting from two seats Varanasi and Vadodara if there was a wave in his favour. Kejriwal said Modi was so scared and lacked confidence that he decided to contest on two seats.

“People are angry. They want a change. I’m not here to seek votes. I’m here to ask you to save the country. Only one party is capable of indulging in a clean, non-corrupt politics,” he said.

While speaking during road shows at various locations in the city, Kejriwal said both the Congress and the BJP were identical as these parties were involved in corruption. The successive Congress governments at the Centre had ruined the country. Now the BJP, if came to power, would do the same, he said. AAP is the only party which was raising the issue of corruption. He said both the parties were against farmers. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had acquired the land of innocent farmers and handed it at cheap rates to people like Robert Vadra and Mukesh Ambani. Alleging that these parties were helping businessmen and sidelining the poor, Kejriwal said the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Modi both travelled in the planes provided by Ambanis and Adanis.

On Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, Modi in his speech in the city yesterday had said “Kirron Kher ko jita kar seat meri jholi mein daal do”. To this, Kejriwal retorted, “Mein seat ko jholi mein nahi dalunga par Gul Panag ko aapki sewa mein laga dunga”.

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Gul Panag gets support from Sikh Regiment veterans

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29
AAP candidate Gulkirat Kaur Panag struck an emotional chord with retired and serving officers and their families during a bimonthly get together of the Veteran Sikh Regiment Officers Association at Defence Services Officers’ Institute (DSOI) here today.

Gul, who was not sporting her party’s trademark ‘aam aadmi’ cap, said, “I owe every ounce of what I am today to the armed forces. I am the granddaughter, daughter and sister of the Sikh Regiment. For me, being here is like being home.”

The actress-turned-politician got swayed by emotions when the association passed a resolution to support her in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

However, the lady making a foray in politics did not make any promise to them neither did she speak about how she would tackle the problems of ex-servicemen and their families. Rather, she banked upon her defence roots.

Issues pertaining to the city, however, did not crop up.

While campaigning for his niece at the gathering, Gul’s uncle Major General Charanjit Singh (retd) said, “The AAP cannot give money or liquor to influence voters, but can give an incorrupt Member of Parliament (MP)”.

On the sidelines of the event, Gul went all guns blazing against the Ministry of Defence. She said, “The ministry is highly corrupt and is not soldier welfare-friendly at all. Even for basic rights, including disability pension and war-widow pension, soldiers and their families have to fight cases in the Supreme Court.”

She claimed, “Right before the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, in order to woo defence voters, came up with One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme. The party does not have any interest in the welfare of the soldiers.”

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Colonies, villages will be priority: Gul

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28
The villages in the UT have remained neglected despite Congress candidate Pawan Bansal's 15-year tenure as Chandigarh MP, said AAP candidate Gulkirat Kaur Panag during her door-to-door campaign in Vikas Nagar here today.

She added that the development of villages and colonies in terms of healthcare, education and sanitation would be on top of her priority list.

Later, she held a corner meeting with villagers and the sarpanch of Kaimbwala village to discuss their grievances and shortcomings in the village.

The AAP candidate said Bansal had a lot to explain for the appalling state of affairs in the villages that have subsisted during his 15-year tenure.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Kejriwal reaches out to Jhajjar voters

Says Hooda ruined farmers by ‘selling’ their fertile land to corporate houses

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, March 28
For the first time during his election campaign in his home state, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received no opposition while taking out a roadshow in support of his party nominee from Rohtak, Naveen Jaihind, here today.

After being shown black flags in Faridabad, Gurgaon and Rewari, Kejriwal was accorded a warm welcome by his supporters when he reached Badli village.

At 11 am, many youth and elderly men donning the AAP cap raised slogans to welcome their star. As soon as Kejriwal disembarked from his vehicle, his supporters garlanded him.

After some time, his cavalcade reached the Devilal gate of the village via the main market where he addressed a gathering. Kejriwal criticised BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for making a ‘fool’ out of the people for their vested interests. He also targeted Bhupinder Singh Hooda on farmers’ issues and alleged that he had done nothing except ruining the farmers by ‘selling’ their fertile land to corporate houses.

Later, his cavalcade moved towards Jahangirpur village, where some villagers and AAP MLA Surender were waiting for his arrival.

Here, an elderly woman presented him Rs 1,100. Kejriwal accepted the money saying that since the woman has contributed this from her hard-earned income, it is equivalent to Rs 11 crore of the Ambanis for the Aam Aadmi Party.

Later, he took an-hour drive from Jahangirpur village to reach Daak Khaana ground in Jhajjar city where a stage was set for a question-answer session. Some youth, led by Shyam Ahlawat, honoured him by offering a traditional turban. In the interactive session, people asked him why did he quit as the Delhi Chief Minister when he was performing well.

Answering them, Kejriwal said he could not compromise on his principles, so he resigned from the post of Delhi Chief Minister as the Congress and the BJP had joined hands. In his speech, he criticised the Congress and the BJP for spreading corruption and ignoring the interests of the common man.

At 3.30 pm, he reached Kosli town via Khativaas, MP Majra, Jahajgarh, Chhuchhakvaas, Matanhel, Ladayan, Jatauda and Babepur villages, but had to move ahead without addressing the gathering due to a heavy rainfall.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

The Disrupter : Arvind Kejriwal and the Audacious Rise of the Aam Aadmi

The meteoric rise of the Aam Aadmi Party from inception to running the state of Delhi in thirteen months is a story with three principal strands. First, Arvind Kejriwal, iconoclast, leader and disrupter par excellence, who has dared to defy the fundamental templates of Indian politics and governance. Second, the coalescing of a group of unprecedented diversity-a journalist, a lawyer, an academic, a policymaker, a CEO, a retired NSG commando, an architect and a poet, among many others-on the streets of New Delhi, all bound together by a shared idea of an India that could have been. And third, of the awakening of the aam aadmi and of his realization that he can be as active a participant and change-maker in national politics as any other.In The Disrupter, veteran journalists Gautam Chikermane and Soma Banerjee provide an in-depth, fly on-the-wall account of how these three strands came together to create a brand-new political tapestry. And how a single political party shattered the status quo, captivated the imagination of the citizenry, taking people beyond the usual cynical labels of caste and creed and changed the contemporary political narrative in ways that are both unthinkable and unpredictable.

Source Link: http://jainbookagency.com

It's now or never: Panag to voters

A fitness freak, AAP candidate starts her day early, goes campaigning in city door to door Amit Sharma Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26 It's a strict fitness regime, including 50 push-ups and pull-ups, that marks the beginning of the day for model, actor-turned-politician and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Gulkirat Kaur Panag. She hits the road sharp at 7 am after having a cup of tea.

High on energy, Gulkirat, popularly known as Gul, prefers to walk to the doorstep of all residents with a message: "It's now or never".

Gul believes in fitness. She feels that a leader needs to be fit and full of energy. She goes out on a morning walk and exercises every morning before heading for the campaign.

Though Gul moves out on an empty stomach, she is full of energy, which was visible during her early morning campaign at Hallo Majra and Deep Complex today.

The dark and dingy lanes of Hallo Majra could not deter the Bollywood star from walking tirelessly through every nook and corner of the place for over three hours.

Gul's core team members accompany her, holding a mike and speaker and appealing to the voters to vote against corruption for a better India. Curious people peeped out of their windows to know what the commotion was all about.

While meeting voters and urging them to vote for the AAP, Gul mentions that educated people with a clean image have come together under the banner of the AAP and need their support. "Agar iss bar aap log hamara saath nahe denge, to phir koi dubara bahar nahin niklega", she told residents of the colony.

Jumping over stagnant water and on uneven roads, Gul went door to door, hugged women and called herself their daughter, who needed their support. She promised that she would take up issues which former MPs failed to deal with. Gul candidly and patiently heard the residents and laid out her agenda for the villages and colonies. She promised to make health care, education and sanitation focal points for development.

Targeted by opposition parties as an outsider, Gul makes it a point to clarify that as a young girl she went to Mumbai around 15 years ago to pursue her career. However, she was always connected to her roots in Chandigarh and Punjab.

In a bid to connect with the residents, Gul makes it a point to sit down with residents and have tea at their house. While all AAP supporters went ahead, Gul entered a house in Deep Complex and asked a family to get tea for her. She enjoyed her cup of tea sitting on a cycle parked outside the house.

Sticking to the day's schedule, Gul left Hallo Majra at around 10.15 am to have a light breakfast before further heading for a press conference at 11.15 am. Soon, she joined back the AAP campaigners in the Sector 7 market where she met shopkeepers and later residents of the area.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Gul shows the ‘aam aadmi’ face

Travels by CTU bus from ISBT-43 to Sec 17, interacts with passengers, CTU employees

Amit Sharma Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22
Shedding her glamorous look to connect with the aam aadmi, model-turned-actor Gulkirat Kaur Panag, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate, today travelled by a local bus from the ISBT, Sector 43, to the bus stand at Sector 17. Accompanied by some of her supporters, all wearing the trademark AAP cap, she reached the Sector-43 bus stand surprising passengers waiting for buses. She sought suggestions for improving the public transport.

Later, the 35-year-old met employees of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and heard their problems. Interestingly, Gul spoke in the local dialect to connect with the employees. She shared with them the experiences she had while travelling by CTU buses during her school days. Gul told them that when she used to miss her bus, even if she was late by a minute or so, her elder sister chased the bus on scooter so that she (Gul) could catch it.

“When I was studying in Kendriya Vidyala at Sector 31, I used to take a CTU bus from Sector 10 every day. Then, CTU buses were known for their punctuality and good service. However, now CTU buses are falling apart forcing the aam aadmi to resort to more expensive means of transportation at the time when fuel prices are going through the roof,” she added.

Gul, along with her supporters, boarded a Sector 17-bound CTU bus. On the way, she interacted with the passengers.

The AAP candidate told TNS that new buses, better connectivity and safety of women in buses would be on her priority list. She said for the safety of women passengers, every bus should have CCTV cameras installed inside, which should be regularly monitored.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

AAP sacks two leaders for demanding money

NEW DELHI: Sending out a strong message to party office bearers, the Aam Aadmi Party today sacked two leaders from Uttar Pradesh for demanding money in exchange of party tickets.

Addressing a press conference at his Tilak Lane residence, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal announced sacking of Avadh zone convener Aruna Singh and Hardoi's treasurer Ashok Kumar for demanding money in lieu of giving party tickets for Lok Sabha elections.

"These two demanded money from prospective candidates in exchange of party tickets. We received complaints, following which we asked for evidence. When the party looked into the evidence, we found the allegations to be true.

"However, no kind of financial transaction occurred. Based on the evidence, we decided to sack the two," Kejriwal said.

A party leader said one Rajesh Kumar from Sitapur had alleged that money was being taken in exchange of tickets, following which a sting was done by a news channel.

"Initially, when the voice record came to us, it was not clear. So, we asked the TV reporter to get fresh evidence and verified it after which an action was taken against the two." said the leader.

Kejriwal asked the media and also the candidates looking for party tickets to conduct a sting operation if they found anyone demanding money.

"Whosoever does that, conduct a sting. We will verify it and the person will not be in the party for more than 24 hours after that," he said.

Kejriwal added that whenever such cases come up, the party looks for the voice and raw footage before arriving at any conclusion.

"I am sending out a clear message, whosoever paid money for the ticket should assume that their money will be wasted.

The candidate will also not get any ticket if he does this, Kejriwal said. - PTI

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

AAP nominee says no to police cover

Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Anandpur Sahib, Himmat Singh Shergill, has refused to accept police security for campaigning.

In a letter addressed to Harbir Singh Atwal, Ropar Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shergill said his party was against VIP culture and not interested in using security as status symbol.

The police had sent two security officials to his residence this morning. “I have written to the police authorities concerned against the security as well as telephoned them,” he said.

Shergill said instead of providing security to politicians and other VIPs, police personnel should be deployed to protect the common people, prevent accidents, regulate traffic and prevent crimes.

Only then could an atmosphere of security provided to the society as a whole, he said.

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AAP’s Panag, Shergill kickstart campaign from Khatkar Kalan

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 19
Gul Panag, AAP candidate from Chandigarh, and Himmat Singh Shergill, the party's candidate from Anandpur Sahib, today kickstarted their campaign from Khatkar Kalan, the birthplace of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

To BJP's Chandigarh candidate Kirron Kher that one of the reasons she was in the poll fray was to ensure yet another seat for BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Panag said: " I have great regard for Kirron ji, who is like a mother to me."

Reacting to her rival's statement that she (Panag) had been mislead into joining AAP, she said: "There is only one alternative, AAP. I feel proud that AAP has chosen me to represent my city. The BJP and the Congress are two sides of the same coin."

On Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal, Panag said the fact that the Congress had allotted him the party tricket despite the bribery charges against his nephew showed the Congress had scant regard for the people and that its anti-corruption stance was a farce.

To observers saying she didn't stand a chance against stalwarts like Kirron and Bansal, she said: “My critics, perhaps, haven't gauged the public mind. There is an overwhelming wave in favour of a political change."

Shergill, who has fought for Gujarat Sikh farmers facing eviction, said: "Modi claims the farmers from Punjab have no claim on the land, despite the fact that they have turned the once barren land into a fertile tract. It is strange that the SAD Government in Punjab, rather than fighting for these farmers, has bestowed the title of 'Sardar' on Modi."

He said it was sad that in martyr Bhagat Singh's land, the youth had lost their zeal for life and had taken to drugs.

He said the voters must punish those responsible for the state of affairs.

Shergill vows to end VIP culture

Anandpur Sahib: Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Anandpur Sahib Himmat Singh Shergill on Wednesday kickstarted his campaign after paying obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Talking to mediapersons, Shergill said his fight was against maladies in society and politics such as corruption, unemployment and drugs. On the use red beacons by bureaucrats and politicians, Shergill said they would put an end to the VIP culture. Criticising the SAD over its alliance with the BJP, Shergill said the Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat was trying to usurp over one lakh acre of fertile land belonging to Sikhs.

Mann to contest Khadoor Sahib seat

Amritsar: Simranjit Singh Mann, SAD (Amritsar) chief, will contest the Khadoor Sahib seat. He will launch his campaign after praying at the Golden Temple on Saturday. Mann had earlier won from Tarn Taran in 1989. A party spokesman alleged that the Congress and the SAD-BJP were responsible for Operation Bluestar and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. — TNS

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Black flags greet Kirron

Protesters raise slogans, hurl eggs; most of them Dhawan’s supporters Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 18
Actor and BJP candidate Kirron Kher was met with black flags and slogans as she arrived in Chandigarh today. The disgruntled party workers also threw eggs at the BJP candidate. BJP workers, who were upset with the party high command for sidelining local party leaders and giving ticket to Kher, first showed black flags alongside the stretch from Hallo Majra roundabout to the Tribune roundabout on her route from the Chandigarh Airport to the BJP office “Kamlam”, in Sector 33.

The senior BJP leaders even changed her route to save her from the protesting crowd. But when Kher reached the party office along with her husband Anupam Kher, who is also an actor, many party workers waived black flags at her.

Thereafter, when she entered the party office and started addressing the party workers and the media, again a group of BJP workers interrupted her address and waved black flags at her inside the party office. The protesters were raising slogans “Kirron Kher go back”. To counter their slogans, some of the party workers raised slogans in support of Kher and BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi.

BJP workers even threw eggs at Kirron Kher’s husband Anupam Kher’s car, when he came out of the party office.

There was tight security arrangement made by the Chandigarh Police at the BJP office and also at her parent’s house in Sector 8. The police even rounded up four protesters from the BJP office. The BJP high command preferred Kher to city unit president Sanjay Tandon, former MP Satya Pal Jain and former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan, who were ticket aspirants. Today, only Tandon and Jain accompanied her to the party office. The protesters, who raised slogans against Kher, were mostly Dhawan’s supporters.

I am city’s daughter, not a paratrooper: Kirron

Kirron Kher, while interacting with mediapersons, said she was not a paratrooper candidate, rather she was the “city’s daughter”. On the protest by the BJP workers, she said people protest against big leaders and it was a part of political life. She said all were a part of the BJP family and all those who protested against her would come around. On Dhawan’s absence, Kher said he was their party leader and she would sort out differences after meeting him. On former minister and Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal’s statement that she didn’t know anything about the city, Kher said she knew where Mani Majra and Dadu Majra were.

4 district presidents resign

Opposition against Kirron Kher’s candidature refuses to die down. To oppose Kher’s candidature from the Chandigarh seat, four district presidents resigned from their posts on Tuesday. With this, all five BJP district presidents have resigned following the development. The district presidents who resigned are BC Puri, Ravi Sharma, Devi Singh and Shakti Devshali. However, they will continue to be party members.

Had to leave party office in car

BJP workers, who were protesting against Kher, even used unparliamentary language and hurled derogatory remarks at BJP leader Satya Pal Jain. The workers were so agitated that Kirron Kher left the party office in her car with police protection.

BJP city chief meets Dhawan

BJP general secretary Aarti Mehra and city unit president Sanjay Tandon met BJP leader Harmohan Dhawan at his residence and asked him to come out openly in support of Kher, but nothing worked out among them.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Gul Panag meets residents

Chandigarh: Aap Aadmi Party candidate Gul Panag started her day with a jan sabha in Sector 29. Thereafter, she held meetings with volunteer groups, followed by another jan sabha at Colony Number 4 in the evening. The later part of the evening saw Gul reaching out to the residents of Khajeri and Sector 41 through "nukkad" meetings. While highlighting the problem of corruption, Gul Panag said the AAP's fight for swaraj aimed at reducing excessive discretionary powers in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats and promoting "clean governance".

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Ready to take on Modi : Kejriwal

Says final call during Varanasi visit on March 23 Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, March 16
The stage is set for a high-voltage contest between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Varanasi with Kejriwal today announcing that he would challenge Modi in the historic city.

Addressing a rally, Kejriwal said he would formally announce his decision to engage Modi in Varanasi during his visit to the city on March 23. He urged AAP supporters from all over India to gather at Varanasi for the rally.

The AAP chief, who landed in Bangalore on Friday evening and wound up his visit by addressing the rally today, said both the Congress and the BJP were equally corrupt. He said it was necessary to defeat the top leaders of the two parties and take wind out of their sails. “Good candidates must be put up against top leaders,” he said.

He said AAP functionary Kumar Vishwas had been sent to Amethi to engage Rahul Gandhi. “There was a meeting of the party and I was told that I must contest against Narendra Modiji. I know it’s a very big challenge. The challenge is acceptable to me,” Kejriwal said.

“We have not come here for position or money. We are here to sacrifice our lives for the country. There is not even an iota of desire in any corner of my heart for post or money. I do have one desire though. Like Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for the country, I shall also consider myself fortunate if I could give away my life while fighting for the betterment of the country,” he said.

“I have been given the ticket by the party, but this does not hold much significance for me,” he said. He would engage Modi happily when people of Varanasi would endorse his decision to contest against Modi, he said.

Kejriwal said he was just an ordinary man. “I don’t have money or manpower. You people have to fight the election for me. I am just a face,” he said.

He said he had heard talks that Modi might contest from a “safe seat” also besides Varanasi. If this turns out to be true, it will show the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in a poor light, Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal, however, gave enough indications that though he would be contesting the Lok Sabha elections, his eyes were still firmly set on the Delhi CM’s post. More than once, he said in the course of his speech that AAP would secure majority in the Delhi Assembly elections and he would make a return as the Chief Minister.

The AAP leader also introduced the 13 AAP candidates from Karnataka to the supporters and said they were like “jewels”.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Should the media not applaud Kejriwal’s anti corruption plank?

It is true that every anti corruption movement in recent history has decisively shifted the centre of gravity of Indian politics yards to the right, as writers have asserted recently. Such campaigns have always had considerable media support.

Internal tussles have had their external stimuli quite consistently until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990-91. Thereafter, free from external ideological pressures, Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao set Manmohan Singh, his finance minister, on a new path. This became Manmohan Singh’s chosen route even during his own two terms as prime minister. He hitched his wagon to a hyperpower seeking full spectrum global dominance, and sometimes by that association looked energetic during UPA-I.

The hyperpower started running out of steam by 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed, signaling structural flaws in the engine of capitalism. That is the development after which Manmohan Singh has looked limp and directionless throughout UPA-II.

The current hype around Narendra Modi is designed to provide the contrast. The alternative to Modi is no longer the Congress but a coalition of muscular, regional parties with help from either of the mainstream parties. Brooding over this politics, like Banquo’s ghost, is the AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal. His contribution to the outcome of these elections will be only known May 16, when the results are declared.

One achievement must be credited to him straight away. He has removed the screen behind which Congress and the BJP romance. Kejriwal has taken full advantage of the media attention – at the India Today Conclave, for instance – to tear into the Congress-BJP collusion. Will this considerable expose not have a bearing on the election? That the two parties are indistinguishable on economic and social issues cannot be lost on the electorate, particularly minorities. Look at the list of their candidates: they are both equally thick skinned on corruption.

The situation poses an interesting question. As mentioned at the outset, all anti corruption campaigns have provided occasion for politics to be shifted further to the right. In which direction will Kejriwal’s double-fisted assault on both, the BJP and the Congress, shift Indian politics?

"Crony capitalism” is clearly in his target. This cannot be honeyed music to “crony capitalists” who have controlling interests in both the national parties.

When one considers the ideological infighting within the Congress upto and after Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru comes across as something of a Samson, holding on his shoulders the temple of a secular, socialist republic. On all social and foreign policy issues his colleagues, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Rajaji – were all suspicious of non-alignment. They would have taken India into the Western camp from day one of Independence. Don’t forget, it was only “transfer of powers” that took place in 1947.

It were the ideological heirs of Nehru’s opponents who in 1969 sought to wrench the party away from Indira Gandhi’s socialist platform. There was considerable external support to Indira’s instinctive moves. After all, Indo-Soviet relations peaked during the 1971 Bangladesh war.

This was the phase of lightening moves and counter moves on the international and the national chess board. Just when New Delhi was at its coziest with Moscow, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto facilitated Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to Beijing. Then, by a splendid irony, next year, in 1972, Indira Gandhi and Bhutto were face to face at the Shimla Summit.

When Indira plotted to split the Congress in 1969, she prepared the ground by relieving Morarji Desai of the finance portfolio. He resigned.

But Morarji Desai, shown the door by Indira in 1969, became the prime minister of the Janata Party led government in 1977. By 1999, intermediate stages were no longer required by Hindu nationalism’s moderate Atal Behari Vajpayee to become prime minister for a full term.

It is not surprising therefore that this year, Narendra Modi was being audaciously built up as the mascot for good governance and Hindu nationalism.

This is when Kejriwal may have spoilt Modi’s party. For the last four months AAP has been pegging away at his crony capitalist links. The media is playing down the negatives. The results May 16 will establish how much of Modi’s sheen was lost by being exposed to charges of corruption.

Source Link: http://www.theindianrepublic.com

AAP shields Kejriwal, says 'paid media' sin for democracy

New Delhi, Mar.14 (ANI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday defended party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is at the centre of another controversy over his remark that he would send every compromised media person to jail if his party comes to power at the Centre.

"See, paid media is a sin for the country. People who manipulate news and present it in a different way are actually lying. They are misrepresenting the actual news," said senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia.

"The claims by the media that there is no corruption in Gujarat, and that development has been done there, is nothing but a pure lie. So, there is a nexus between the BJP and the media. It has to be exposed," he added.

He also asked why the media has failed to present the true state of schools and hospitals in Gujarat.

"This is not the first time that we are raising this issue of the media. Voices have been raised even from the inside about this malpractice," he said.

On Thursday, during a fund raising event in Nagpur, Kejriwal had alleged that the whole media is sold out, and that if his party ever forms the government at the Centre, then he would probe this, and would send every guilty media person to jail. (ANI)

Source Link: http://in.news.yahoo.com

BJP condemns Kejriwal’s jibe at media

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday strongly condemned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s recent remark that he would send every media person to jail. “This is an anarchic attitude. They want to destroy democracy by eliminating the media. They possess a Maoist ideology, and it is visible now. It is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct,” said BJP spokesmen Prakash Javadekar.

“It is evident that he is trying to threaten the media. Now, it is up to the media to deal with him,” he added.

Javadekar also said that it was the media which has given publicity to Kejriwal, and added that he has taken full advantage of them. “Now, he is denying this statement. He should standby his statements,” Javadekar said.

On Thursday, during a fund raising event in Nagpur, Kejriwal had alleged that the whole media is sold out, and that if his party ever forms the government at the Centre, then he would probe this, and would send every guilty media person to jail.

AAP shields Kejriwal, says ‘paid media’ sin for democracy

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defended party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is at the centre of another controversy over his remark that he would send every compromised media person to jail if his party comes to power at the Centre. “See, paid media is a sin for the country. People who manipulate news and present it in a different way are actually lying. They are misrepresenting the actual news,” said senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia.

“The claims by the media that there is no corruption in Gujarat, and that development has been done there, is nothing but a pure lie. So, there is a nexus between the BJP and the media. It has to be exposed,” he added.

He also asked why the media has failed to present the true state of schools and hospitals in Gujarat.

“This is not the first time that we are raising this issue of the media. Voices have been raised even from the inside about this malpractice,” he said.

On Thursday, during a fund raising event in Nagpur, Kejriwal had alleged that the whole media is sold out, and that if his party ever forms the government at the Centre, then he would probe this, and would send every guilty media person to jail. - ANI

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Committed to work within framework of Constitution: Kejriwal

PUNE: Labelled as an "anarchist" by his critics, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has stated that his party is committed to function within the framework of Indian Constitution.

Responding to the charge of being an anarchist leading elements with diverse ideologies lacking cohesiveness, Kejriwal said, "We can have people amongst us wedded to different ideologies but we are committed to the framework of the Indian Constitution." The former Delhi chief minister said he would not like to be bound by ideological confines and does not believe in "isms" denoting political leanings.

"I am influenced by (Mahatma) Gandhi. I follow the humanist ideology. We want to empower people and change the system which is based on political corruption," he said in an interview to a Marathi news channel telecast yesterday.

Replying to questions, Kejriwal said he was earlier an atheist (person who does not believe in God) but had become a "believer" since the last three years as he felt that his course had been chartered by the divine will.

"I would not have imagined even in my wildest dream that I would quit my income tax job. I never thought of fighting elections. This is all God's will. There is a power that guides you," he said, adding that he believes in the Bhagwad Gita philosophy that professes doing one's ordained duty without expecting fruit of action.

"Gita is not just faith but is a science," Kejriwal felt. - PTI

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Panag dons Aam Aadmi cap, named for Chandigarh seat

Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13
Former Miss India and Bollywood actor Gul Panag today joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and will be its candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.

Senior party leader Manish Sisodia declared Panag’s candidature at a press conference here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Panag said, “You cannot bring change in society just by tweeting on social networking sites. One must be part of politics in the country to cleanse it. I cannot sit neutral and be a fence watcher. If you want to bring a change in the country, you need to jump into the political battlefield.”

Replying to a volley of questions on being a “paratrooper candidate”, Panag said, “I grew up and studied in the City Beautiful. I travelled by CTU buses and more importantly I am ‘Chandigarh’s daughter’. Therefore, there is no question of me being a paratrooper candidate.”

“Chandigarh has been my family’s home ever since my grandfather Shamsher Singh, who served the Army, settled here in 1960. I feel honoured to be the Aam Aadami Party candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from the city. I am delighted to get an opportunity to contribute directly to the welfare of my city and the country,” said Panag.

On rival parties’ alleged tactics of uploading her morphed pictures on social networking sites, Panag said it showed the character of the parties. These pictures were clicked during a magazine photo shoot four or five years ago, which were now being morphed by these parties and uploaded on social networking sites, she said.

Earlier, Jaspal Bhatti’s widow Savita Bhatti was declared the Aam Aadami Party candidate for the Chandigarh seat, but she opted out of the race after reportedly failing to get along with local party activists.

Key issues

Panag said Chandigarh was facing issues similar to those being faced by the country such as dynastic politics, corruption and crony capitalism. She requested the city residents to be part of this movement.

Panag’s take on Bansal

Panag, who will contest against former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, said she respected Bansal because he was her father’s schoolmate. However, she said Bansal was with a party which did not bring any positive change in the country. She said she would contest the elections on “merit”.

Wedding anniversary gift!

Incidentally, it was Panag’s wedding anniversary on Thursday. She tweeted late at night, “Forgot it was my wedding anniversary on Thursday”. On March 13, 2011, Panag had tied the knot with her childhood friend Rishi Attari in a low-key ceremony.

Chaos at press conference

An AAP volunteer, Pawan Sharma, who was denied the ticket, raised slogans against the party. He disrupted the press conference. Ultimately, mediapersons sent him out. Commenting on the disruption, Panag said these were brickbats, but she was hopeful that bouquets would also follow.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

AAP’s candidate reaches out to disgruntled leaders

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur March 12
The announcement of former minister Sucha Singh Chottepur as the AAP candidate from Gurdaspur Parliamentary seat has put the BJP and the Congress on their toes. A former minister said Chottepur is expected to get a massive chunk of the Jat Sikh vote, besides support from voters disgruntled with both the mainline political parties. The seat comprises nine Vidhan Sabha seats, out of which six are dominated by Jat Sikh voters.

Sources said he was reaching out to AAP leaders, who did not get the party nomination. These include a prominent Rajput leader, Davinder Darshi. The Rajput community holds a considerable sway in the three seats of Bhoa, Sujanpur and Pathankot city. Chottepur today held a breakfast meeting with Darshi, where the latter assured him his “unstinted support”.

Darshi is also the president of the Punjab Rajput Mahasabha and the Rajput community, which has nearly two lakh votes in the constituency. Having remained an SGPC member for 17 successive years from 1982 to 1999, he also enjoys a clout amongst the Sikh clergy, which will boost his chances to win.

“Arvind Kejriwal has become a metaphor for change in an environment sullied by opportunism and political corruption. Thanks to popular disillusionment with modern day political parties, the AAP is gaining a strong foothold in the Gurdaspur seat,” said Chottepur.

Chottepur contested the last assembly elections from Qadian seat — the home town of PPCC chief and sitting Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa. Considered to be close to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, he was lured into the Congress fold but at the last minute, he decided to contest as an Independent. He managed to get 16,000 votes but he could not thwart the victory of Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, wife of Partap Bajwa.

Eying Sikh Jat votes

Sucha Singh Chottepur (in pic) is expected to get a massive chunk of the Sikh Jat vote bank, said a former minister. The Gurdaspur seat comprises nine Vidhan Sabha seats, out of which six are dominated by Sikh Jat voters.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

ਫੂਲਕਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਬਾਦਲ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਹਫਤੇ ਦਾ ਅਲਟੀਮੇਟਮ

ਆਉਂਦੀਆਂ ਲੋਕਸਭਾ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਲਈ ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਲੁਧਿਆਣੇ ਤੋਂ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਐੱਚ.ਐੱਸ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਨੇ ਉਪ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਹਫਤੇ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਦੇਂਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਬਾਦਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਲੈ ਦੋਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਧ ਕਰਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਆਪਣੀ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪਦ ਵਾਲੀ ਕੁਰਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਲਾਂਭੇ ਹੋ ਜਾਣ। ਨਵੰਬਰ-84 ਦੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੜਨ ਲਈ ਮੋਟੀਆਂ ਫੀਸਾਂ ਲੈਣ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਖਾਰਜ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਨਵੰਬਰ 1984 ਦੇ ਪੀੜਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਕੇਸ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਲੜੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਕੋਲੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਪੈਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਆ। ਇਸਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਆਖਿਆ ਕੀ ਫੀਸ ਲੈਣਾ ਵਕੀਲ ਦਾ ਹਕ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਇਹ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੱਕ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ। ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਐੱਚ.ਐੱਸ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਨੇ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੇ ਇੱਕ ਨਵੇਂ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ ਦੇ ਉਦਘਾਟਨ ਮੌਕੇ ਭਰੇ ਗਲੇ ਨਾਲ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਜਜ਼ਬਾਤੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਕਹੀ। ਸਾਰੇ ਦੇਖ ਸਕਦੇ ਸਨ ਕਿ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਹੰਝੂਆਂ ਦਾ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਅਦਾਲਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਜਾਣਗੇ ਕਿਓਂਕਿ ਅਦਾਲਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੇਸ ਕਈ ਕਈ ਸਾਲ ਲਟਕਦੇ ਹਨ--ਬੜਾ ਲੰਮਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਲਗਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਤੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਚਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਚਿੱਠੀ ਲਿਖ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਓਹ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰ ਖੁਦ ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਉਣ ਜੇ ਖੁਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਸਕਦੇ ਤਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਬਾਦਲ ਕੋਲੋਂ ਇਸਦੇ ਸਬੂਤ ਮੰਗਣ।

ਸ੍ਰ. ਫੂਲਕਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਜੇ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋਸ਼ੀ ਸਾਬਿਤ ਹੋਏ ਤਾਂ ਸਿਆਸਤ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦਾ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਪੇਸ਼ਾ ਵੀ ਛੱਡ ਦੇਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਜੇ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਬਾਦਲ ਦੋਸ਼ੀ ਸਾਬਿਤ ਹੋਏ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੁਰਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਛੱਡ ਦੇਣ। ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਨਾਜ਼ੁਕ ਮੌਕਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਂਤ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਤੁਲਿਤ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਅੱਜ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਈ ਵਾਰ ਭਾਵੁਕ ਹੋਏ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਿਲ ਤੇ ਲੱਗੀ ਚੋਟ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਚੇਹਰਾ ਵੀ ਬਿਆਨ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਰੇ ਗਲੇ ਚੋਂ ਨਿਕਲਦੀ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਵੀ। ਨਵੰਬਰ-84 ਦੀ ਦਰਿੰਦਗੀ ਵਰਗੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਅਡੋਲ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਇਹ ਲੋਹ ਪੁਰਸ਼ ਵੀ ਅੱਜ ਰੋਣ ਹਾਕਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਪਿਆ ਸੀ। ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਸਿਆਸਤ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੀ ਪੱਥਰ ਦਿਲ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੈ।

ਕਾਬਿਲੇ ਜ਼ਿਕਰ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਨੇ ਸਮਾਣਾ ਵਿਖੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਨੇ 1984 ਦੇ ਦੰਗਾਂ ਪੀੜਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਕੇਸ ਮੋਟੀਆਂ ਮੋਟੀਆਂ ਫੀਸਾਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਲੜੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਬਾਦਲ ਅਤੇ ਐੱਚ.ਐੱਸ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਵਿਚਾਲੇ ਵਾਕ-ਯੁਧ ਛਿੜ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਹੁਣ ਬਹੁਤ ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਵੇਗਾ। ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਅਹਿਮ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸ੍ਰ. ਫੂਲਕਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਅਲਟੀਮੇਟਮ ਹੁਣ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਲੀਡਰਸ਼ਿਪ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਨਵੀਂ ਚੁਨੌਤੀ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ।

ਜਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਐੱਚ.ਐੱਸ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਤੋਂ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਐੱਚ.ਐੱਸ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਪੇਸ਼ੇ ਤੋਂ ਇਕ ਵਕੀਲ ਹਨ, ਜਿਹੜੇ ਲੰਬੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ 1984 ਦੇ ਪੀੜਿਤ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਸਿਆਸੀ ਹਲਕਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਚਰਚਾ ਸੀ ਕੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਕੋਲ ਕੇਂਦਰੀ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮਨੀਸ ਤਿਵਾੜੀ ਦੇ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਕੋਈ ਕਾਬਿਲ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਫੂਲਕਾ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਜਾਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਦੀ ਭਾਲ ਹੁਣ ਹੋਰ ਔਖੀ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਸ੍ਰ. ਫੂਲਕਾ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਜਾਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹੁਣ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਅਤੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਖੜੀ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਨਵੰਬਰ-84 ਦੇ ਨਾਇਕ ਵੱਜੋ ਉਭਰੇ ਸ੍ਰ. ਫੂਲਕਾ ਦੇ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਕਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਖੜਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ।

Source Link: http://punjab-screen.blogspot.in

It'll be an honour: Panag

AAP leader Sisodia to announce her candidature in city today Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12 Bollywood actress and social activist Gul Panag, who is all set to contest on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket from the Chandigarh seat, has stated that there is no point in sitting on the sidelines and cribbing.

Replying to her followers on Twitter, who had asked her why she wanted to join politics, Gul Panag wrote, "How long can one sit on the sidelines and crib?"

On contesting from the City Beautiful on the AAP ticket, she tweeted, "It will be an honour to represent Chandigarh. I have applied for the ticket and am waiting for the party's decision. If it is a yes, I need your support."

Emphasising that she is not a celebrity but an aam aadmi, she wrote, "As aam as you. I will do my best."

Gul Panag is the daughter of Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), who had recently joined the AAP. Meanwhile, AAP leader Manish Sisodia is coming to city tomorrow to announce her candidature for the Chandigarh seat. Sources in the AAP said Sisodia would hold a party workers' meeting in Sector 21 and thereafter announce Gul Panag's candidature in her presence.

The city unit of the party has received a call from the party head office in Delhi about Sisodia's meeting in the Sector 21 party office.

Tough task ahead for her

It will be tough for Gul Panag to contest on the AAP ticket from the Chandigarh seat, especially after Savita Bhatti's decision to withdraw her candidature. Panag has a big challenge of uniting the city unit of the AAP, which is divided into groups.

250 had applied for the ticket

Around 250 people had applied for the AAP ticket for the Chandigarh seat. Of them, 31 were shortlisted. Seven were called for interview to Delhi, but none of them was selected. After the announcement of Savita Bhatti's name, there was resentment among AAP workers. Finally, Bhatti had withdrawn her candidature.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Questions to Mr. Modi

Can’t deal with ‘stupid’ people: Bhatti

Sends email to Aam Aadmi Party high command in Delhi; withdrawal of candidature accepted
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 10
Savita Bhatti, wife of late comedian Jaspal Bhatti, in her email to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) high command, said the city unit of AAP was divided and in-disciplined. Bhatti also stated that she couldn’t stoop so low to deal with “stupid and power hungry minds”.

“I wish to officially submit my withdrawal of candidature from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. In my interaction in the past one week, immaturity and clash of egos has been on display. It’s a house terribly divided and indisciplined,” Bhatti’s letter reads.

“I have fought against corruption with Mr Jaspal Bhatti. I cannot stoop down to deal with stupid and power hungry minds. I will continue to be a crusader against corruption in my small little way,” letter further reads.

Meanwhile, Savita Bhatti also addressed mediapersons today. Bhatti said the party had accepted her request to withdraw her candidature. On her decision to withdraw, she said her vision did not sync with the local AAP volunteers. But it was not the end of world, she said.

She further said that she would continue her fight against corruption. She said she wanted to contest the elections in a dignified manner, she said. She assured that she would continue to work for the party and would also support the new AAP candidate from the city.

Party workers demand consensus candidate

AAP leader Bhagwant Mann on Monday met party workers and Savita Bhatti. In the meeting with party workers, it was suggested that there should be consensus on the name of the local candidate and only after voting should the name be finalised. Maan told the workers that he would convey their suggestion to the party high command.

Lt Gen HS Panag’s name doing the rounds

Since Savita Bhatti has withdrawn her candidature, the name of actor Gul Panag’s father, Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), who had recently joined the Aam Aadmi Party, started doing the rounds for the Chandigarh seat, but Panag has denied any such development.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

EC dissatisfied with AAP’s response to showcause notice over protest outside BJP office

Trouble seems to be brewing for Arvind Kejriwal led – Aam Aadmi Party, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as the Election Commission of India has finalised its report on the AAP supporters protesting outside BJP office in Delhi. It is highly likely that the probe might blame the AAP for violating the model code of conduct.

The Chief Electoral Officer’s report has exhibited great levels of dissatisfaction over AAP’s response to the showcause notice that had been sent to AAP by EC. On Friday, the AAP replied that the protest was an ‘instant reaction’ to the party convener’s detention Gujarat.

In response to the Election Commission’s showcause notice, the AAP had mentioned that the protest was not a planned event. They said that the party respects the Model Code of Conduct that had been enforced. However, the protest was simply an instant reaction to the series of events that occurred in Gujarat.

AAP’s general secretary Pankaj Gupta had filed the reply to the showcause notice. AAP, in its response, also assured the Election Commision that it will cooperate with the Election Commission in implementing the model code of conduct.

Ameya Abhiyankar, the DEO, to whom the response had been submitted, confirmed that he had received the response and the response is under examination. He said that he would send the reports for the same to the Election Commission.

AAP had been asked to revert on the notice within 24 hours of its issuance, stating reasons on why actions should not be initiated against it for holding the protest without permission from poll officials and violating the poll code of conduct.

In a related development, Delhi Police had in its report accused Aam Aadmi Party protesters of indulging in “riotous acts and using criminal force” to prevent it from discharging their duty with regard to Wednesday’s protest that had turned violent.

Source Link: http://www.theindianrepublic.com

Did the media turn its back on Kejriwal?

It’s often been said about Indian cricket that its players get a raw deal. They’re made out to be ‘Gods’ after performing in one series, and then a couple of failures in the next one, and our media runs foul. They’re attacked for their technical shortcomings, their attitudes; almost anything and everything they do is wrong.

ArvindKejriwal will empathize with them. He probably knows exactly what they’re talking about. Cricket players can at least enjoy a reign of good press after a strong performance in one series. Kejriwal’s journey in the national media landscape has only been of around 3 months, and he’s already traversed both ends of the spectrum, from the highs of being the toast of the media to being their current favourite punching-bag.

What went wrong though? Yes, it is true that the Indian media is incredibly fickle. But even three months is a notoriously short time for the Indian media to completely transform the way it views a political personality. From the ‘saviour of Indian politics’, ‘the messiah of the AamAadmi’, Kejriwal is routinely dismissed nowadays as an ‘anarchist’, ‘disrespectful of the Indian Constitution’ and basically ‘deluded’. What caused such a drastic change in perception?

Let’s keep aside those allegations about paid media for once. Of course, they may be very true, and perhapsmedia everywhere in the worldleansone way or the other. But the Indian media is different from them. It does not ‘lean’ towards any principle or ideology, it only seeks to create heroes and then destroy them.

We saw it in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav was lauded beyond recognition for his decisive victory in the last Assembly elections. I remember reading reams and reams of newsprint gushing about how his speeches are inspirational (really?) and how he never talks in English to keep his connect with the people. If you read newspapers, you would have actually believed Akhilesh would transform Uttar Pradesh in the next five years. There were only a few wary voices that had the courage to point out Samajwadi Party’s previous history of goonda-raj, but they were mostly drowned out in the blitz of AkhileshYadav’s ‘youth credentials’.

It was the same with Mamata Banerjee, when she overthrew the Left. Readers following the media knew each and every detail about Mamata’s life, from the type of saris she wore, to the footwear she used as well as what she used to eat while campaigning. The Bengal media went berserk over the ‘aamaadmi’ connections of Mamata. This was the same media which had, in 2007, come down heavily on her for blocking TATA’s project in Singur. It was actually hilarious, then, to see the same newspapers lauding Mamata Banerjee for her pro-people policies.

One can understand why the media does it, and doesn’t tire of it. It makes for a great human interest piece. First, create an environment of complain and misery. Convince your customers that everything in India is wrong. Then, find a messiah somewhere. Hype him up as the panacea to everything that has gone wrong. Increase expectations to a level that can never be fulfilled. And when your subject stutters, come out with all knives out. The comfortable cycle is established.

Of course, that does not mean Kejriwal is not at fault. Since the man ascended the CM gaddi, he has been caught up in various issues, formost of which he deserves the short end of the stick (Junta Darbar, Somnath Bharti fiasco). But on everything else, the media seems to have reversed its previous stance. One can understand the critics decrying his failures, but the same media which once made him out to be a messiah, now picks up his failures to lampoon him.

Probably that’s whyKejriwal has stopped caring about what the media says about him anymore. He just needs to be present in the news everyday; it hardly matters to him if they’re saying nice things about him or not. He’s not alone. No one in power takes the media seriously anymore. NarendraModi has already made it clear that he prefers to completely bypass the media in his campaign trail. Most leaders have really stopped caring whether the media says nice things about them or not, they now just use the media as a tool to reach out to the voter and let them know that they’re still around.Azam Khan went so forth as to ridicule media for focusing on his lost-buffaloes case. In 2-3 sentences, he sarcastically thanked them for sparing enough time to cover the case of his buffaloes who seemed to be more famous than he was!

This is also how the Indian media is treating Modi now. First, he was the untouchable. Now, as it seems most likely that he will sweep these elections, the Indian media has changed tracks. Now theydevote enough airtime to laud him. Apparently, now he’s the strong leader who will pull India out of troubled times. Don’t get fooled by them though. Once Modi does take up the post, they’ll be waiting with bated breath for him to fall. They won’t miss an opportunity to pull him down from the pedestal they’ve created; I can even see a potential headline, ‘Strong leader image busted, Modi proves he’s just like Manmohan.’

But here’s the heartening aspect of things nowadays. The Indian citizen is coming of age. The advent of social media, for all its faults, is bringing in the real voice of the man on the streets. And the actual media is increasingly being forced to cater to the dominant opinion on social media, as recently displayed in the #AAPwedsAajTak case. When a video showing Kejriwal colluding with AajTak anchor to play up certain sections of the interview came up, most news channels did not play it until the hashtag started trending on twitter.

It is a reassuring fact that the opinions of the mainstream media which they seek to enforce on us are being challenged left, right and centre on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. Earlier, the media could decide for us and be comfortable in the notion that no one was out there to challenge them. But that’s changed now. And it’s high time the media notices this and moves on with the changing times. Otherwise, the day’s not far off when cable packages will offer Indian news channels along with other entertainment options.

Source Link: http://www.theindianrepublic.com

YouTube video of Kejriwal interview goes viral after he criticises media

In the video, Kejriwal is seen instructing the TV anchor to highlight certain aspects of the discussion.

NEW DELHI: A day after accusing the media of taking money from industrialists to give publicity to the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal found himself embroiled in a controversy.

A YouTube video showing him requesting a TV channel's anchor to emphasise certain aspects of the interview went viral on social networking sites on Monday.

In the video, after the interview was over, Kejriwal is seen telling the reporter to highlight certain aspects of the TV discussion.

"Please play it up more," he tells the TV anchor referring to his opinion on the Indian corporate during the interview.

The interviewer promptly agrees to the request. The interview replies, "Yes, we will play it up. The Bhagat Singh (comment) is good. We will get a lot of reaction to this."

Earlier Kejriwal had accused the media of taking money from industrialists Ambani and Adani to give publicity to the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

"Media has been claiming for the last one year that Modi has carried out a lot of development work. Media is lying because they have taken money from Ambani and Adani," Kejriwal had said. (With inputs from agencies)

Source Link: http://in.news.yahoo.com

Savita Bhatti opts out, deals blow to AAP

Sends email to party high command, cites ego problems, differences among workers as reasons
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat Savita Bhatti has opted out of the elections.

Savita Bhatti, who was fielded to take on the Congress’ likely candidate, former Union Railway Minister and sitting MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, shot off an email to the AAP office in Delhi and its Chandigarh unit, stating that she was not interested in contesting the elections.

The AAP had given the ticket to Savita Bhatti, wife of the late Jaspal Bhatti, on March 1.

Sources said in her email, Bhatti said as the city unit of the AAP was divided and party volunteers had ego problems, she did not want to contest the Lok Sabha elections. However, she said she would continue to work for the good cause of the AAP, the sources said.

On International Women’s Day yesterday, she had held a rally at the Sector 17 plaza where she pitched for the safety and protection of women. However, in the evening she decided against contesting the elections.

The sources said she was unhappy as she was not getting much support from party volunteers in the city after her candidature was announced.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Bhatti said she had withdrawn her candidature from the Chandigarh seat and communicated her decision to the party high command.

The observer of the Chandigarh unit of the AAP, Rupinder Kaur Dhaliwal, said last night she received a call from Bhatti saying that she did not want to contest the elections.

“I requested her to reconsider her decision, but she did not agree,” said Dhaliwal.

Though the party high command is yet to accept her decision, the sources said the names of city-based businessman Naresh Garg Bobby, a Chicago-based NRI, Dr Munish Raizada, and another businessman HK Arora were doing the rounds for the AAP candidate from the city.

Bhatti sent the email last night after attending a party workers' meeting at its Sector 21 office. While Bhatti's supporters said some party workers were not allowing her to function properly, others said she was not campaigning properly, which was required to win the Lok Sabha elections.

SMSes, emails were sent to party high command against Bhatti

After the announcement of Bhatti's name as the AAP candidate from the city, a number of AAP leaders had distanced themselves from her campaign. Even on the first day of her campaign on March 2, only a few people had turned up at the Sector 17 Plaza. There was resentment among party volunteers, who alleged that she was not approachable and did not respond to their calls and SMSes. Some of them had started sending SMSes and emails against her to the party high command.

Volunteers question her silence on Railgate

At the meeting held in Sector 21, AAP volunteers had questioned her silence on Railgate involving sitting Congress MP Pawan Kumar Bansal. An AAP volunteer said the party’s founder leader, Arvind Kejriwal, had announced Bansal’s name in the list of "corrupt politicians". It was also decided to highlight Railgate and other scams before the public, but Bhatti told the meeting that she would not say negative things about rival candidates. When Kejriwal and other senior AAP leaders could highlight corruption-related issues of senior leaders of the Congress and the BJP, why was Bhatti hesitating in raising such issues in Chandigarh? he questioned.

Political drama outside Bhatti’s residence

After sending her email to the party high command, Bhatti did not meet party workers. The sources said she had take medicines for blood pressure and was sleeping. In the evening, she left for the Golden Temple in Amritsar without meeting anyone. Earlier in the day, several supporters of Bhatti sat outside her residence in Sector 19 and requested her to reconsider her decision. A party volunteer, Meena Sharma, while addressing mediapersons, however, hit out at Bhatti. She said Bhatti had cheated the party and if she was not interested in contesting the elections, she should not have accepted the ticket at the first place. As Meena Sharma’s was leveling allegations against Bhatti, the latter's supporters confronted her and heated arguments took place among them.

Bhagwant Mann to submit report

Satirist-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann, who recently joined the AAP, has been deputed by the party high command to look into the issue. After Bhatti’s decision not to contest the Lok Sabha elections, Mann will meet her as well as party workers. He will submit a report to the party high command about the situation in the local unit of the party. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mann said he would meet party workers on Monday to hear their point of view. He would also meet Bhatti and submit a detailed report to the party high command. Sources said Mann would also suggest names of probable candidates in case Bhatti did not reconsider her decision.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

AAP not strong to beat BJP, Cong tells M’rashtra Muslims

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, March 9
Afraid of losing its hold over the community, the Congress is mobilising Muslim organisations in Maharashtra against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The minorities' cell of the Congress has chalked out plans to hold meetings in different parts of Maharashtra to get the Muslims behind its candidates during the Lok Sabha elections.

At one such meeting in Mumbai recently, noted activist Shabnam Hashmi told leaders of the Muslim community that the Aam Aadmi Party did not have the might to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Every vote for the Aam Aadmi Party would help the BJP," Hashmi said.

The activist also hit out at members of the Muslim community in Gujarat and other places who were engaging with Gujarat CM and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "We cannot forgive and forget the Gujarat riots," Hashmi said.

Others who spoke on the occasion like Congress leader and former MLA Yusuf Abrahani said the Muslim community should vote for those who have the potential to defeat BJP candidates.

Congress leaders want to paint their candidates as the only ones who are strong enough to defeat the BJP's representatives in Maharashtra.

Muslims account for around 12 per cent of the population in Maharashtra and their vote can affect the fortunes of political parties in at least 18-20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The community accounts for 20 per cent of the population in Mumbai's metropolitan region.

"The BJP's portrayal of Narendra Modi is a cause for concern among Muslims across India. Members of the community will vote for the strongest candidate who can defeat the BJP," Farid Khan, who runs an organisation called Mili Shoora, said.

He felt that even members of the community who agree with the message of AAP would end up voting for the Congress and other stronger parties across the country.

Number game

Muslims account for around 12 per cent of the population in Maharashtra and their vote can affect the fortunes of political parties in at least 18-20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state The community accounts for 20 per cent of the population in Mumbai's metropolitan region

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Ink thrown at Yogendra Yadav at AAP's rally in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A man threw ink at AAP leader Yogendra Yadav on Saturday at a rally at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

A man appeared on the stage where Yogendra Yadav was addressing a rally, shouted slogans and smeared ink on his face.

"I don't know who he was. Someone came from behind, shouted 'jai mata di' and smeared ink on my face," Yogendra Yadav said.

"I did not see the attacker's face. I do not know what were his intentions," Yogendra Yadav added. The AAP leader also said that he was not embarrassed by this incident.

The attacker has been taken to Parliament Street police station for questioning.

A few days back, a man threw black ink at Sahara chief Subrata Roy while he was being produced in the Supreme Court.

Source Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Kejri: I’m not a terrorist, Modi should have met me

Jaipur, March 7 Rebuffed by Narendra Modi, AAP leader today said he was not a terrorist and deserved to be called by him for a meeting out of courtesy.

"Now I wanted to meet him, but we were stopped five km away from his residence. I am not a terrorist. Being an ex-CM, I deserve a courtesy call from Modi, instead we were stopped. This is not democracy," he told reporters. Trashing claims of development and good governance in Gujarat, Kejriwal said the state "has nothing but rampant corruption" and the voice of farmers was being suppressed.

Kejriwal, who toured Gujarat for the last two days, said a picture totally different from reality was presented about Gujarat during the last one year by Modi and a section of media under a "big conspiracy".

"What I saw in the last three days was totally different from what is being presented by Gujarat. Our teams visited villages and exposed the truth. When locals came to know about the AAP visits, they called us and told us the reality," Kejriwal said at a seminar -- 'Pillars of Democracy- Shaking Us, Waking Us?' -- here.

"Corruption is rampant in Gujarat. I was told that rates for transfers and appointments are fixed. For the job of state registrar, the rate is 33 lakh and for transfer of a DSP, Rs 2.75 crore. Without bribe, you cannot have a license or a BPL card and cannot run an industry." — PTI

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

AAP-BJP clashes

Police failure, bias to the fore

ALMOST every newspaper headline on Thursday said the same thing: "Kejriwal's detention sparks AAP-BJP clashes". The media, including TV channels, focused on three things: the detention of Arvind Kejriwal and attack on his car in Gujarat; AAP workers' protests outside the BJP offices in Delhi and elsewhere leading to violent clashes. In Delhi 13 AAP activists and 10 BJP supporters were injured. Jhansi, Kanpur and Allahabad also witnessed a similar backlash. This was the day when the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha poll schedule. It is an ominous beginning. Violence in any form by anyone is unacceptable.

Arvind Kejriwal's Gujarat visit would not have attracted the media attention that it did had the Gujarat police not detained his cavalcade. There were protests against his visit to Narendra Modi's home state and his car was attacked. Why was no police protection provided to the former Chief Minister of Delhi? Yet the detention and the attack gave AAP workers no right to resort to protests, that too violent, without prior permission of the authorities when the code of conduct had come into force. The police in Delhi, Lucknow and elsewhere waited for clashes to happen before taking action. Why were the workers allowed to gather outside the centrally located BJP office in Delhi? Finally, since the clashes involved workers of both parties, why did the police single out AAP workers for registering cases of rioting and damage to public property against them? Obviously, the police in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have a lot to answer.

In the war of words that followed Wednesday's developments BJP spokespersons were all full of sound and fury, while Arvind Kejriwal, a cool-headed master media strategist, apologised and asked his party workers to maintain calm. Narendra Modi, who is still the Chief Minister of Gujarat, has preferred to keep quiet. Perhaps, he does not want to involve himself in a slanging match with a challenger he calls too small to matter.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Kejriwal heads to Modi's home with 16 questions

AHMEDABAD: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dismissed Narendra Modi's repeated claims of Gujarat's development and said that he will head to the Chief Minister's residence to meet him with a list of 16 questions.

“What we saw in Gujarat is quite shocking. It’s opposite to what was being said. We are going to meet Narendra Modi at his residence. If he is free to meet us, fine. If not, we will return when he gives us an appointment, said Kejriwal, who is in Gujarat to verify the development claims often made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“There was a lot of talk about how progressive Gujarat has been, but what we have witnessed in last two days is the exact opposite. We will go to Narendra Modi's residence now and ask him 16 questions,” he added.

The former Delhi chief minister also trained his guns on Modi over gas pricing, saying: “I want to ask Modi if his government plans to raise the price of gas from KG Basin basin to dollor 16 per unit.” Kejriwal on Thursday said that there was development in Gujarat but it was of Ambani’s and Adani’s.

“There was growth in Gujarat but it was of Ambani’s and Adani’s. The farmers in Gujarat were decimated. The common man has suffered in Gujarat,” said Kejriwal.

“There is no 24 hour electricity supply to the people. People have told me that they have to pay bribe to get job and other services. We will show the truth about the Gujarat model. It is nothing but trash,” he added.

He also reiterated that it is against the party policy to indulge in violence, and urged party workers to spread the truth about Gujarat development model in the state.

“I asked people why they voted for Modi if they are so irked with him. They told me that Modi does not let anyone stay in the opposition. He either buys them or scares them,” he added. - ANI

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

After police detain him, Kejriwal blasts Modi

AHMEDABAD: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of being "anti-farmer" and "anti-common man" after police detained him briefly.

The former Delhi chief minister hit out at the BJP's prime ministerial candidate after his 30-minute detention at a police station in Radhanpur in north Gujarat. The incident took place just hours after he began a four-day tour of Gujarat to test Modi's claims that the state was a model of development.

"There is no development here," Kejriwal told the media and a large group of supporters even as several Modi backers waved black flags at him.

"Modi is anti-farmer, Modi is completely anti-common man," Kejriwal went on. "The only people who have benefitted in Gujarat are industrialists."

He said Modi was making exaggerated claims of developing Gujarat while addressing election rallies across the country and was rattled because he (Kejriwal) was "exposing the tall claims".

An Aam Aadmi Party leader told IANS that Kejriwal was detained allegedly on charges of violating the model code of conduct which came into effect after the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha election schedule.

The Kejriwal aide said the AAP founder leader was on his way when police stopped the motorcade.

Kejriwal, the aide said, asked the police why he was being detained since he was not addressing any election rally -- which would need official permission -- and his car had no speaker.

"Still they took us to the police station," the aide said. "We were kept in the police station for half hour and then let off."

Kejriwal has said that he will tour Gujarat for four days in order to check the chief minister's claims about the state's all-round economic progress.

Kejriwal had said before leaving for Gujarat he would "expose" Modi if he found his claims to be fake. - IANS

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Bhagwant meets Kejri in Delhi, joins AAP

Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 4
Bhagwant Mann today formally joined the Aam Aadmi Party. He met senior AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Yogender Yadav, in Delhi.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Mann said on his return to Punjab tomorrow, he would start working as an AAP activist. He said the AAP leadership had told him that it was considering Punjab as one of the important states and would soon visit there to launch a full-fledged campaign.

“The AAP leadership is satisfied with the response from Punjab as far as its membership drive is concerned,” said Mann.

“I have an understanding that AAP would hold a major rally in Punjab either during Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib or on the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh on March 23,” Mann said. He said it was expected that the AAP leadership would declare candidates for the remaining Lok Sabha seats in the state by March 13.

Mann had resigned from the People’s Party of Punjab yesterday. PPP insiders said efforts were made to persuade Mann not to quit the party. They said some PPP sympathisers had visited Mann at his residence in Mohali to urge him to reconsider his decision to quit.

Revolt brewing

Sangrur: A revolt is brewing in the Sangrur district unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with its members opposed to comedian-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann being allotted the party ticket for the Sangrur parliamentary seat. The district unit is against a parachute candidate and has sent an SMS to the party high command on the issue. It is of the opinion that any leader from another party joining AAP should not be fielded by the party, said district convener Dr AS Mann. —TNS

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Can’t spend huge money on rallies: AAP’s Gandhi

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 4 Citing inability to spend huge amounts on poll campaign, Aam Aadmi Party’s Patiala nominee Dharamvir Gandhi has constituted a 15-member committee comprising members from various walks of lives for undertaking a door-to-door campaign in all the nine legislative assembly segments of Patiala.

The party is planning to hold three road shows covering various cities, towns and rural areas to reach out to maximum number of people. The first road show would be held in Ghanaur, Rajpura and Banur on March 7. Party president Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders will also visit Patiala later this month to address political gatherings in the city, Rajpura and Samana.

After inaugurating AAP’s new office today, Dr Gandhi said: “Our main focus will be on holding mohalla (locality) gatherings. We will meet students and other employees outside their respective colleges, universities and institutions apprising them of our party ideologies”.

Gandhi not his real name

While people know AAP's Patiala candidate as Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, his surname is not Gandhi. His real name is Dr Dharamvir Bulha. His classmates at Government Medical College, Amritsar, started calling him Gandhi since according to them he was a "revolutionary".

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

AAP UP Road Show begins with an overwhelming public response

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday (March 1) began his three-day tour of Uttar Pradesh with a roadshow from the party’s Kaushambi (Ghaziabad) office.

Accompanied by party leaders Manish Sisodia, Illias Azmi and Sanjay Singh along with a large number of party volunteers and supporters in a cavalcade of vehicles, Kejriwal embarked on a 500 kilometres journey by road.

Throughout the day, people were lined up at many places to meet the AAP leaders and listen to them. The roadshow passed through Hapur, Moradabad, Rampur and Bareilly, among other places. Overwhelming response in these areas forced Kejriwal and other party leaders to accept their greetings in an open jeep whenever the cavalcade passed through towns and villages. The AAP leaders stopped at around 25 places to meet people and at some places Kejriwal addressed the supporters and public.

In his speeches, Kejriwal spoke about the party’s success in Delhi and the achievements of the AAP government during the month and a half it was in office in the national capital. He also asked the people to teach a lesson to the parties which had indulged in rampant corruption in Uttar Pradesh over the decades. Kejriwal reiterated the AAP’s commitment towards the Janlokpal, the issue on which he resigned as chief minister of Delhi.

Manish Sisodia appealed to the people to negate the perception about Uttar Pradesh in the coming Lok Sabha elections that it is a state divided on caste and communal lines.

The AAP leaders will stop for a night halt at Shahbad in Hardoi district. The roadshow will pass through Hardoi and Unnao districts before entering Kanpur on Sunday, where the party has organised its first rally in Uttar Pradesh. During the three-day tour, Kejriwal and other party leaders will cover 17 parliamentary constituencies in this round, before returning to Delhi on Monday evening.

Source Link: http://www.aamaadmiparty.org

AAP activists organise Jhadu Chalao Yatra in city

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 2 The Amritsar unit of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) today organised Jhadu Chalao Yatra that received an overwhelming response from the residents. It passed through different villages enroute to Rajasansi and Ajnala.

The rally started from a place opposite the UK International Hotel with a cavalcade of around 250 bikes, which later expanded to more than 500 bikes.

The members of the AAP stopped at Kalyian Wala Khu site from where the skulls of martyrs were being excavated.

Convener, AAP Amritsar Unit, Ashok Talwar, said it was very unfortunate that no political party had ever tried to uncover this historical place where several innocent Indian soldiers were buried by the British.

Talwar said AAP would concentrate on eradicating drugs from the rural areas, especially in this border belt, providing better education and employment to the youth. He said a marketing mechanism would be developed for farmers so that they could resort to diversification of crops.

The main aim of this rally was to create awareness among the masses of rural areas about the policies of the AAP and the regressive acts of different governments that had exploited the people for their vested interests, said Gurbhej Singh.

Advocate JS Gill, Jagdeep Singh, Sardara Singh and NS Walia also addressed the people.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Will never be a politician: Savita

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 2
Riding on the legacy of her comedian-actor-director husband, Jaspal Bhatti, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate, Savita Bhatti, today kicked off her campaign for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat from Sector 17 here.

After performing a brief ceremony at the Sector 17 Plaza, where she often used to enact spoofs along with her late husband on major social issues, Savita said: "I am not a politician, I will never be a politician. The AAP has given me a platform to fight against the issues which me and my husband were highlighting for long."

Not denying that the rapport which her husband made with the masses through TV shows would benefit her during her campaign, she said she would be talking of the common man and their issues.

"I would not be talking of what other parties are doing and what all they had promised, I would talk about what all I can do," she said. adding that the main agenda would be corruption and social issues.

On being asked about Chandigarh-specific issues, she said she would talking in detail about the same in the coming days.

A senior member of the AAP said Savita Bhatti would be instrumental in roping in Bollywood personalities to add colour.

AAP in charge, Haryana, Rajeev Godara, who was accompanying Savita, said the selection of candidates had been on a merit basis. He dismissed that there was any differences over the selection of candidates.

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Next govt won’t be formed without AAP support: Kejriwal

Kanpur, March 2
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal today claimed that his party would secure 100 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and that the next government couldn’t be formed without its support as he launched a fresh attack on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his alleged links with Mukesh Ambani.

Addressing a rally here as part of a three-day road show in Uttar Pradesh, he accused Modi of maintaining silence on FDI in retail and accused the BJP in Rajasthan of getting into a “setting” on the issue of Robert Vadra's land deal.

Kejriwal said he would visit Gujarat from March 5 to 8 to see the so-called development claimed by Modi in the state. He also did not spare the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh saying that there had been more than 100 riots in the state in the last two years.

Targeting Mayawati’s BSP, he said voting for it was a waste because it amounted to voting for Modi. “Only AAP can give an honest government. If you all, Hindus, Muslims and people from other castes come together and do not come under the poisonous influence of other parties, then I can assure you that this time your (people’s) government will be formed in the Centre. "AAP is going to get at least 100 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Moreover, we are going to get more seats than the Congress. At least the government in Centre will not be formed without the AAP’s support. "AAP will help in forming the central government and we will change the face of the country,” said the 45-year-old former Delhi Chief Minister.

Kejriwal questioned Modi’s stoic silence over FDI in retail, alleging the principal opposition party has received money from a multinational retail firm. — PTI

Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com