Khaira promises to take up Sikh inmates’ issue

Patiala: Sangrur Lok Sabha candidate Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Congress on Wednesday pledged to demand the release of long-held Sikh prisoners, including Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar.
"Why are Bandi Singhs not being released by Modi Saab despite having completed their jail terms. I will raise their voice in Parliament. Not only Sikh prisoners, but also from Hindu, Muslim, Christians, Dalits or Jains, I will raise voice for them too,” said Khaira while terming 91 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs as “bonded labourers” but said one AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh who took stand for justice in sacrilege issue needs to be appreciated.He also claimed to have presented a private members bill for Punjab in the state assembly to protect the rights of Punjab.




20 candidates file papers
On Punjab’s second day of filing Lok Sabha nominations, 22 papers were filed by 20 candidates. Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) Sibin C on Wednesday said one candidate each had filed papers from Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Anandpur Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib, five from Sangrur, and three each from Amritsar and Patiala. Two of the three candidates from Patiala have filled two forms each. Two candidates have filed nominations from Faridkot and three from Ludhiana.
BJP to file papers from today
Punjabi singer-turned-politician and BJP candidate from Faridkot reserve Hans Raj Hans will file his nomination papers on Thursday. State BJP general secretary Rakesh Rathour said Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will escort Hans to the nomination office. BJP’s six Lok Sabha candidates — Dinesh Singh Babbu (Gurdaspur), Sushil Rinku (Jalandhar), Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Amritsar), Ravneet Singh Bittu (Ludhiana), Parampal Kaur Sidhu (Bathinda) and Manjit Singh Manna (Khadoor Sahib) — will file nominations on May 10 (Friday). BJP’s Preneet Kaur (Patiala) and Anita Som Prakash (Hoshiarpur) will do it on May 13 (Monday).