Cong attacks state govt on expressway projects

“Instead of concentrating on basic vital needs,expressways have been mooted at whopping estimates of Rs 5,000 crore,which involved acquisition of 6,000 acres under cultivation,” they pointed out.

Accusing the SAD-BJP government of pushing Punjab backward on all fronts,the Congress leaders suggested that instead of an expressway from Lalru to Baddi,the existing Lalru-Banur-Landran-Kurali road be widened and strengthened. Similarly,they advised to drop the Mohali-Phagwara expressway project by widening the existing Mohali to Phagwara via Nawanshahr highway.

Casteist remarks were a misunderstanding,says complainant
Chandigarh: Congress leaders today lashed out at the statement allegedly made by BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain accusing them of moving around the city with bags of money to lure leaders from other parties to join in. In a statement issued on Friday,Congress leaders Pardeep Chhabra,Subhash Chawla,Devinder Singh Babla,J S Kang,Ravinder Palli,Vijay Rana and H S Lucky said their candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal’s clean image and the willingness to further the city’s developmental works is powerful enough to attract votes. They added that the BJP was apprehensive of losing more members as the polling date draws close. Meanwhile,putting to rest the controversy over the alleged casteist remarks made by Youth Congress president H S Lucky,complainant Sada Sawan Lehri termed it a “misunderstanding”. He said he had no grudges against Lucky and did not want any action to be taken against him. The settlement was arrived at amicably,Lehri said.

BJP Women’s Cell meets residents of Maloya
CHANDIGARH: A meeting of the BJP Women’s Cell was organised in Maloya colony on Friday. Women of the colony gathered to discuss the various problems they face on a daily basis. They complained about the reduced quota of kerosene being provided to them,frequent demolitions and the poor condition of colony roads.

BSP candidate Dhawan promises to get booths allocated to rehri union
CHANDIGARH: Bahujan Volunteer Force (BVF) members and office-bearers organised a meeting in Sector 33 on Friday to extend support to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Harmohan Dhawan. Around 500 youths attended the meeting and pledged their support to the party. Meanwhile,Dhawan visited Sector 46 and gave an ear to the problems of the residents and the rehri market union. Speaking on the occasion,Dhawan said Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal had failed on all fronts. Dhawan promised to get the booths allocated to the rehri union workers,if voted to power.

Arun Jaitley in city on Sunday
CHANDIGARH: BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley will address party activists during a convention scheduled on Sunday. Party workers,office-bearers and members of the executive committees,division and district units,party cells and ward-level activists are likely to attend the convention,to be held in the ground adjoining Ramgarhia Bhawan in Sector 27.

Farmers’ association demands special audit of mega projects
Chandigarh: Members of the Manimajra Farmers’ Welfare and Environment Protection Society demanded a special audit of the mega projects including IT Park,Medicity,Theme Park and Film City. A meeting was held on Friday to discuss the recent communication of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the UT Administration pertaining to land acquisition as well as implementation of National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy,2007. Referring to the order,the members appreciated MHA’s efforts towards restoring “democracy in the city”.