Mann campaigns for party candidates

Ludhiana: Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab unit president and MP Bhagwant Mann said the Election Commission should ensure proper security during elections and set up CCTV cameras at all locations so that free, fair and peaceful elections could be held. Mann was in Ludhiana to participate in the election campaign for party candidates on Wednesday. He said the Congress and SAD-BJP people were responsible for Punjab's destruction. He appealed to the voters of Ludhiana to support LIP-AAP alliance candidates in the Municipal Corporation elections to see reforms and get relief from 'rampant' corruption and mafias in the civic body. He said by allegedly attacking MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, the Congress had started 'violence' in the elections, but the AAP-LIP alliance would not tolerate it at any cost. He said traditional parties have so far failed to ensure the provision of basic amenities. Residents still complain about choked sewers, broken roads, contaminated water supply, non-functional street lights and also about heaps of garbage. Meanwhile, MLA Aman Arora said that the MC faces a loss of around Rs 700 crore every year due to the presence of mafia and corruption. Both Mann and Arora carried out a road show and addressed meetings in wards 60, 71, 72, 77, 78, 80, 81 and 91.  Reacting to a query about Chief Secretary of Delhi, who was allegedly beaten up by AAP MLAs, Mann said the BJP government at the Centre and the bureaucracy were acting against AAP in Delhi. He said either CBI raids are being conducted to harass MLAs in Delhi or they are arrested. They are afraid of AAP as it was a party of common people. 

Striking a chord with Muslim community

Ludhiana: Nusrat Ali Bagga, former minister from Malerkotla, spent some time with the members of the Muslim community. He was here to campaign for Ravinder Kaushak Happy of the Shiromani Akali Dal from ward number 72. While visiting village Sunet, which is also a hub of Muslim community, he interacted with them. Apart from discussing issues related to their community, he also appealed to voters to vote in favour of Kaushak.  The election symbol of Kasuhak is tractor, but he represents SAD. "The symbol was already allotted to be me while I joined SAD later," Kaushak said. What connected Bagga instantly with the public was his religion. He offered his namaz twice at 6 pm and 8 pm at a mosque in Sunet. "Whenever we come to know that someone has come from Malerkotla, we feel good. Today also, on hearing the name of Nusrat Fateh, I left all my work and came to listen to him. The most appreciable thing was that he offered namaz with us at the mosque," said Sajid, a resident of Sunet village. 

Reaching out to women

Meanwhile, Congress candidate from ward 75, Amrita Varsha Rampal, is reaching out to people and trying to strike a chord with ladies of the house. A special tea-pakora party was also arranged at one of the parks in the locality and women were specially invited. Discussions regarding civic issues among others that need immediate attention were discussed. —  TNS