LUDHIANA: The first visit of Rajesh Pilot Union Minister for Communication to Ludhiana on Sunday is connection with canvassing support for the Congress candidates for the Feb.19 elections proved a failure. It was disappointing both from the point of view of public tum-out as well as organizational ability of the party.

Pilot who was three hours behind schedule got a poor response at the public meetings he addressed.

There was hardly any gathering at the first meeting he addressed in the Gian Singh Rarewala Market falling in Ludhiana West assembly constancy. The organizers had to arrange a Punjabi folksinger to ensure an audience.

Though strict security arrangements had been made and even women coming to attend the rally were searched with a metal detector all security precautions were thrown to the winds once Pilot arrived from Sahnewal airport accompanied by the Rajya Sabha MP Harvinder Singh Hanspal and the party nominees.

A Congress (I) source disclosed that the poor response at the rally was a result of widespread infighting in the party and the failure of the local MLA Hamam Dass Johar to take all sections along. So much so that a party advertisement in some newspapers on Sunday informed that Pilot would also address a public meeting in Bhadaur Housemarket which did not materialize. Speaking at the Rarewala Market Pilot stated that elections were being held in trouble-torn Punjab to restore popular rule in the state so that the development needs of the state could be taken care of in earnest. He said after an elected government was formed here the Center would give top most priority hold negotiations with to restore peace in the state and bring back its lost glory.

Expressing the hope that his party would be able to form the government in Punjab he promised that it would set up industries provide jobs to youths and ensure that communal brotherhood and progressive spirit of the Punjabis are maintained.

The Congress (I) stalwart observed that after the elections the Process of restoring normalcy could start with the Rajiv Longowal accord as the base and the remaining things could be sorted out with the elected government. He gave a stern warning to Pakistan to immediately put an end to creating trouble here which he said would not be tolerated beyond a point.

During the course of his brief speech Pilot lashed out at the Akalis and the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said the Akali leaders like P.S. Badal S.S. Mann and Gurcharan Singh Tohra were hurling accusations at each other the other day but now suddenly had got together on the issue of boycotting the elections He said once the Congress (I) formed a government in the state even there London would regret their boycott decision.

The Union Minister highlighted the progress made by the country on the economic front since Narasimha Rao took over last year. He said now it had been possible to bring back the gold the country had mortgaged and counties like Germany were willing to give liberal loans to India.

Rajesh Pilot also addressed two meetings at Jalandhar and Adampur in connection with the election campaign of Manjinder Singh the party candidate from Adampur assembly constituency.

The gathering comprised mostly Congress (I) workers and sympathizers mobilized by the party candidate from Jalandhar north Assembly constituency Avtar Henry who is pitted against the siting BYP Vaid Om Prakash Dutt.

Speaking on the occasion Pilot reiterated the party stand on Rajiv Longowal accord.

The minister said his party did not mind if the Akalis united on a common policy for Punjab but regrettably they had only united against the Congress (I).

He said the government would do its duty ensuring free fair and peaceful elections and deal firmly with the trouble-makers But at the same time the Congress (I) minister urged the party men to exercise restraint during electioneering and let all political parties Propagate their views.

Shiv Kanwar Singh Sandhu an independent candidate from the Jalandhar Cantonment seat says that the security cover given to him is hindering his campaign and so he wants it withdrawn.

Sandhu says that the security officials are biased in favor of the Congress (I) candidate as they allow extra time to him to move around but impose strictly the 8:00 am. 6.00 p.m. canvassing timings on the other candidates.

Vijay Bhardwaj an independent candidate from the same eats says he was forced to wear a bulletproof jacked weighing 32 kg. He was fired on an hour after wearing his jacket. He also he demanded withdrawal of the security cover.

Joginder Singh Sianwalia an independent contesting from the Nakodar Assembly constituency complaints that the deputy commissioner of Nakodar is helping the Congress (I) candidates in the Assembly constituencies of Nakodar and Lohian. The DSP even pressured the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Karam Singh towithdraw from Nakodar relative of Santosh Chaudhary the Congress (I) candidate from the Philaur parliamentary constituency has complained to the additional deputy commissioner.

Jalandhar that they were fed up with the security staff as they consume liquor at night and cause a nuisance. Instead of providing security to the candidate “we have to take care of them” she said.

The relative also says that they have been provided with old escort ambassadors one of which is out of order. Consequently the escort could not be moved and the candidate Chaudhary was made to wait. He also demanded replacement of the security personnel.

One candidate said that he did not have enough space for providing shelter at night to the security personnel. He said that he had been provided with 32 security guards who have forcibly occupied one of the four rooms in his house.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1992