On a wing and a prayer

Many Christian clerics here have thrown their weight behind some candidates who, they feel, can be trusted to become people8217;s representatives.

Many Christian clerics here have thrown their weight behind some candidates who, they feel, can be trusted to become people8217;s representatives. They are going door to door proclaiming 8216;Halleluiah! Praise the Lord8217;, followed by slogans in favour of candidates they are supporting. Their USP: the public8217;s 8220;interests8221; that have been ignored for long and a goal to ensure a dependable and stable government in the state. At some places, they are even organising nukkad rallies. Pastor Emmanuel Gill of the Christian Dalit Front said pastors in his group have been accompanying SAD Badal candidates to areas that have a number of Christians. Another priest, Deepak Kumar, said his fraternity organised several rallies for the Congress candidate from their area. Shokh Masih, a pastor in Chheharta, said it was the 8220;moral duty8221; of pastors to ensure that a suitable candidate was projected.

The 8216;I8217; in NRI

PATIALA/SAMANA: From swanky cars to slushy streets. It8217;s quite a change for billionaire Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, but he isn8217;t complaining. For the past one month now, the NRI has been going around the constituency seeking votes for his brother Surjit Singh Rakhra. 8220;As they say, democracy is a great leveller. So I8217;m here asking for votes despite my status. For me, it8217;s a great opportunity to feel rooted to my birthplace. I may have become rich, but I am after all the son of this very soil,8221; he says none too modestly. Rakhra, an Akali candidate and himself a rags-to-riches story, is only too happy, pointing out that 8220;as many as 3,000 young boys from the the US, Canada, Australia and the UK are camping here and holding the fort with me8221;. Having migrated to the US at a young age, Darshan runs a chain of gasoline stations across the country apart from owing a retail chain. He has an American wife and is based in Milwaukee. The third brother, Charanjit Singh, who also spends most of his time in the US, is here too.

8220;It feels good getting the love and respect of the Punjabi fraternity in unison,8221; he says.

BJP leader stoned to death in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: A local BJP leader was allegedly stoned to death during campaigning for the Uttarakhand Assembly elections in Bageshwar district, police said on Sunday. Rajendra Singh Bhoriyal, BJP chairman of Tusreda village, was attacked in Aulani area of the district on Saturday and died due to excessive bleeding, they added. They said his body was recovered from a field nearby and has been sent for post-mortem. State BJP spokesman Devendra Bhasin condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of the assailants. 8212; ENS 038; PTI 8212;Agencies