Keeping the promise to bring in international class vocational training to enhance the employment prospects of the rural women in Qila Raipur, Jassi Khangura will be felicitating 30 female students who will make it to the fifth batch of the one-year-old launched Certificate course in Hospitality Kitchen Management (CHKM). This course is of great success; currently running 3rd batch. These students belong to various villages in the area and were looking for a specialization after completing secondary school. They have been selected from hundreds of applicants from Punjab through stringent written and personality tests.
While Speaking with the press, Jassi Khangura said that this was the first step toward his living up to his vision of bringing all round development to Qila Raipur. He started this course in March’07. This batch for girls is scheduled to begin in April 2008. There are 4 batches every year. This course will help 120 rural youths from the area every year to build professional career in a globally employable skill. We have sent 60 students in 1st and 2nd batch respectively and next 30 students are under the first phase.

CHKM is a 1 year course launched by Majestic Park Plaza and Sarovar Hotels - the fourth largest chain of hotels in India to prepare youth in the coming months and years to meet the unprecedented and fast growing demand for professionally trained staff in the hospitality sector in India and abroad. The course is accredited by the FHRAI - the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India - the apex body in its field. The course includes a three-month residential training at the FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management, Greater NOIDA - a premium institution offering courses in collaboration with the globally renowned and respected EHL, Switzerland.

The course is structured in three phases. In the first phase, the student is provided basic communication skills and hospitality orientation at Majestic Park Plaza. The second phase comprises a three-month classroom and practical training in Hospitality Kitchens at the FHRAI Institute at Greater NOIDA. In the third phase, the student spends six months as an apprentice at one of the 35 Sarovar chain hotels in the country.

On successful completion of the course, the student is guaranteed a job. It is expected that a certificate holder from this course having 2-3 years of post qualification work experience will find very lucrative job opportunities in India and overseas. 

1/3 of seats are reserved for the SC/ST category. 

Currently the student is being asked to pay only for the three month residential training at the FHRAI Institute, Greater NOIDA which cost Rs30, 000 . Jassi has subsidized 75% of even the FHRAI fees for the students belonging to SC/ST. During the apprenticeship of six months, the student gets full board accommodation and a stipend at one of the Sarovar hotels in India. Thus this course prepares the student for coveted employment in prestigious hotels at a very low cost.  

All services provided by Jassi Khangura and Majestic Plaza are free of cost.

Within 5 years 600 youths will have started this course of which 360 will have completed it. It is likely that many of these will apply for employment visas to countries like the USA, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND

LA, Nov. 10, 2007
Gary Singh

For the past 30 years, we, along with our 100s NRI entrepreneurs are very tired, the promises given by Indian politicians. We have questions all the time in our mind:

• Are there any honest Indian politicians?
• Is it possible, in India, to be truly honest politician and still be effective?
  

• Is Jassi Khangura a honest politician who seeks to make India better?
• Is Jassi really an honest politician for medium size NRI investors?

Quite possibly, it's this guy...

• He is the man who after winning the election, call our NRI press reporter after 1/2 hour when we left a message in his hotel.
• He is the man who surrendered his British citizenship for Indian politics to help poor people
• He is the man who spend his own money for election and donate to schools and villages development
• He is the man who goes village to village and meet people after election
• He is the man who communicate NRIs to solve their problems.
  
  More than 200 NRI entrepreneurs, businessmen and local residents attended this function. We can name some of them- Baljinder Singh Buthari, Charanjit Singh Bath, Sikander Singh Grewal, S.Kamaljeet Singh Buthari, S.Charan Singh Gurm, Hardev Singh Qila Raipur, Amarjeet Singh Buthari, Billu Pohir, S.Manjit Singh Buthari, Sartaaj Singh Bhola, Karnail Singh Dhaliwal, Manjit Singh Ghuman, Bhupinder Singh Buthari, Amarjeet Singh, Varinder Singh, Ranjit Singh Gill, Lakhvir Singh Deol, Dheera Baba Latala, Jagdish Singh Khangura Latala. He is the first NRI MLA from Qila Raipur Constituency representing Congress party since India got independence addressed to NRIs in North America
  
  
  

  San Francisco, Nov. 10, 2007
  Gurinder Singh

  Jessi Khangura was on his visit to USA to thank NRIs for their support back in India. He came from UK to USA on November 09, 2007.

  He was born in India but raised on England. Now he got Indian Citizenship. He is the first MLA from Qila Raipur Constituency representing Congress party since India got independence.

  Mr. Khangura has a mission in serve his fellow Punjabi. He is the man of his words and he promised to stand behind that. His ideal is Former Chief Minister of Joint Punjab Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon.
  He is very thankful to NRIs for their support to win the elections. He promised to work for the betterment of the people from grassroots.

  
  
  

  Following proposals were discussed during his fist US visit since he has been elected MLA for Punjab Assembly.

  • Education: Mr. Khangura is not in favor Adrash Schools (Beacon Schools) as planned by Punjab Government; rather he wants to establish Senior Secondary Schools in bigger villages and want to establish busing system to bring students from neighboring villages. According to Mr. Khangura Adrash Schools will create more inequality in rural education.
  • Being a NRI, Mr. Khangura is committed to work for NRIs as well. Soon after his Election , first thing he did is that he requested Chief Minister to establish NRI Register so that government could keep track of NRI and their problems related to property, marriages and police harassments to NRIs. He is working on this.
  • During press conference Mr. Khangura had shown keen interest in bringing millions of NRIs at one platform so that their concerns could me handled on state and district levels in Punjab and also abroad.
  • His first step is to bring poor people of his constituency out of vicious circle of poverty and for that he is establishing village cotton industry. By doing this he promised to provide employment to landless villagers.

  Mr. Khangura will be proved good asset to the people of his constituency, state and nation as a whole in days to come. He is on his mission to see real progress in Punjab. Unlike to other politician, he is not giving false promises, rather he criticized government promises of Nuclear Power Plants, Metro Train in Punjab. According to him, it is not possible to get a nuclear power in few months; it takes years of planning to make it a reality. He is going to raise question to the government regarding over expenditure of propaganda of Metro Train in Punjab. According to Mr. Khangura, Government already spent Rs 10 Million for letting people know that the government is signing MOU with Delhi Metro to build Metro Train in Punjab.

Ref No. QRLD/2007-07:

Mrs. Bindra Karat
Member of Parliament
AKG Bhawan
27-29 Bhai Veer Singh Marg
New Delhi-110001

09 October 2007

Dear Mrs. Karat,

Noting your recent comments on the subject matter, in which you stated that the proposal to import wheat was initiated prior to an accurate assessment of this year’s projected yield and in which you implied that the process might have been inefficient to satisfy special interests, I would like to bring the following to your attention:

1. There are historical precedents for wheat imports. With wealth percolating across all sections of society demand will increase further.

1. Prior to the procurement season there was widespread apprehension that farmers would hoard wheat this year in anticipation of substantially higher values later in the year.

1. Statements by the then-just-appointed Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Marketing Board, Sardar Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, that wheat would fetch Rs. 1300/- per kwt from private players did not help matters as this confused the farmers further.

1. The major private procurers of wheat were actively discouraged by central government from procurement early in the season.

It is easily to be critical at a later date, but in the run-up to the last wheat procurement season the above-mentioned concerns could have only lead to a decision favoring wheat imports.

It is important to accept the necessity of recurring wheat imports, probably annually in ever increasing quantities, and to develop tender procedures that deliver best value.

It is also important to ban wheat exports, which are invariably followed by imports sometimes, as in 1996, in the same year.

As a country we need to urgently address the very significant issue of the nation’s food security, especially as Punjab, which contributes the major portion of the wheat procured for the public distribution system (PDS), is facing major issues with diversification and ecological damage.

We must correct urgently decades of underinvestment in agriculture, irrigation and agricultural R&D if we are to avoid undue reliance on food imports.

With a rapidly developing economy and the fastest rate of urbanization since independence, we have a record proportion of our population that needs to procure food.

It is an unfortunate truth that if we enjoyed today per capita incomes equivalent to Egypt or Indonesia (both approximately double that of India without PPP adjustment), we simply would not be able to feed our population without massive food imports.

We must also increase farmers’ income to reduce indebtedness, whilst keeping food inflation low.

I urge the left parties to avoid their criticism of wheat imports and to campaign for the wider objective of increased investment in agriculture.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,
Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur, Punjab

Cc. Concerned person & officials

REF.NO. : QRLD/2007-08:

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45, Sector 2,
Chandigarh.

5th October 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,

Transfer and investigate K.S. Sandhu SP Vigilance (Ludhiana)

The above-named officer appears intent on hurting numerous innocent individuals, not least me, with false accusations based purely on the statements of detainees being subjected to the worst forms of torture including scrotal electrocution and testicular compression.

As today’s foremost politician in Punjab with decades of experience surely you subscribe to the view that people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that the onus of proof is based on credible evidence admissible in court?

K.S. Sandhu, to whom you have entrusted the Ludhiana City Centre investigation, appears to enjoy the media spot light, to the extent that he has lost sight of his primary objective : the search for irrefutable and admissible evidence.

Not only does he have a mind as convoluted as his moustache but he represents the worst possible face of the Punjab police.

His recent actions warrant his immediately transfer and suspension. Moreover, I call upon you to investigate :

1. The mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of his first wife, subsequent to which he married his sister-in-law.

1. His promotion and patronage of a prostitution racket and other illegal activities during his earlier postings in Ludhiana as a SHO and DSP.

1. His accumulation of vast wealth, including benami properties in Punjab and Haryana, specifically near Karnal. How can someone recruited as

a ASI be worth crores?

1. His frequent overseas trips, which were surely to acquire yet more properties. His passport must be immediately impounded.

K.S. Sandhu is a disgrace to the Punjab government. After more than 6 months he has not been able to produce a shred of admissible evidence in the Ludhiana City Centre issue. To save his skin he has resorted false to accusations against honest individuals.

It is time to put K.S. Sandhu under the scanner.

Kindly transfer him immediately if you are to contain the rising anger within Ludhiana.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Jasbir Singh Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh.

4 October 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,

How would you feel if your son was falsely accused of running a prostitution racket?

I am writing to you as a severally hurt father on account of statements to the media by your SP Vigilance (Ludhiana), K.S. Sandhu, that my son, Jassi Khangura MLA, was involved in immoral activities in Ludhiana.

This allegation was presented to the media without a shred of evidence and is based solely on the alleged statements of a detainee being subject, no doubt, to the most severe forms of torture available to your criminally intent vigilance department.

Nothing that the previous government accused you and your family of, comes close to the heinous vulgarity of this accusation.

The Khangura family is known to you even before we entered the political arena. Everyone who knows the Khangura family finds these allegations repulsive. I am certain that you do too.

As a father you were emotionally distressed when charges were levelled against Mr. Sukhbir Badal of financial impropriety. Can you ever begin to imagine your emotional state had the previous government accused your son of the charges currently being levelled at my son?

I am certain that you do not agree with the accusation against my son. To confirm that this is the case I call upon you to search your conscience, rise above political compulsions and transfer this exceeding corrupt and morally bankrupt officer immediately.

Not to do so would set an unsavoury precedent for the future.

Kind regards,

Aggrieved father,

Jagpal Singh Khangura
25-D, Sarabha Nagar,
Ludhiana.

Reply to Statement of SP Vigilance (Ludhiana)

Today’s statement by Mr. K.S. Sandhu, SP Vigilance (Ludhiana), making allegations against me and my character, underline the desperate depths to which the Ludhiana Vigilance department has sunk.

Mr. K.S. Sandhu is utilizing his professional position to mount a personal vendetta against me and my family.

He is still hurt because 4 years ago when he exceeded his brief and came to this hotel looking for a shareholding owned by Mr. Sukhbir Badal, (which did not exist) he was transferred.

Since returning to Ludhiana he has frequently stated that he would effect retribution.

I deny his allegations completely. The statement is defamatory.

These are the allegations of a depraved mind, a failed officer and an ineffective enquiry. I can categorically state that:

1. I have never had any business dealings with Mr. Harpreet Sandhu.

1. I have never hired any residence in Ludhiana.

1. I have never engaged in any illegal activity.

Anyone who knows me will confirm that I would never indulge in or promote the alleged activity.

I call for the immediate transfer of the SP Vigilance (Ludhiana) as he has exceeded his  authority, and because he is promoting the political agenda of my opponents.

He has demonstrated beyond doubt that he is unfit to discharge his duties. Mr. K S Sandhu may indulge in these type of activities. I certainly do not.

I call upon the Chief Minister to ensure that common sense and good reason prevails in this matter. By making false allegations against me this Government will not make any progress in this enquiry.

Jassi Khangura MLA
01 October 2007

Ref No. QRLD/2007-07:

Mrs. Bindra Karat
Member of Parliament
AKG Bhawan
27-29 Bhai Veer Singh Marg
New Delhi-110001

24 September 2007

Dear Mrs. Karat,

Noting your recent comments on the subject matter, in which you stated that the proposal to import wheat was initiated prior to an accurate assessment of this year’s projected yield and in which you implied that the process might have been inefficient to satisfy special interest, I would like to bring the following to your attention:

1. There are historical precedents for wheat imports.

1. Prior to the procurement season there was widespread apprehension that farmers would hoard wheat this year in anticipation of substantially higher valued later in the year.

1. Statements by the then-just-appointed Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Marketing Board, Sardar Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, that wheat would fetch Rs. 1300/- per kwt from private players did not help matters as this confused the farmers further.

1. The major private procurers of wheat were actively discouraged from procurement early in the season.

It is easily to be critical at a later date, but in the run-up to the last wheat procurement season the above-mentioned concerns could have only lead to a decision favoring wheat imports.

Kind regards,
Yours sincerely,

Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur

Ref No. QRLD/2007-07:

Mr Navjot Sidhu MP
213 E Block
Ranjit Avenue
Amritsar 

24 September 2007

Dear Mr Sidhu,

RESIGN FROM POLITICS IF YOU WANT TO PROMOTE JAT UNITY

Noting your comments on promoting Jat unity as the newly nominated President of the World Jat Aryan Foundation, I fail to understand how you will achieve this as a high-profile politician on a platform that you clearly wish to politicise.

This is no laughing matter.

If you genuinely and passionately believe in this objective, surely you should make this your primary aim, resign from politics and use your immense personality to unite Jats across India.

Far be it for me to question your intentions, but if you are as sincere as your TV quips, then surely you will recognize the need and make this a cross party objective, one that as a Jat Sikh I would be happy to support.

I look forward to you progressing this matter with substance and not mere sloganeering.

Regards,

Yours sincerely,

Jassi Khangura
MLA Qila Raipur, Punjab"

Comments made by Mr. Sukhbir Badal in Ludhiana on 21/09/07 that the recent electricity price hikes are outside the control of the Punjab Government indicate a major abdication of responsibility.

Although, the price rise may have been determined by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC).

Mr. Sukhbir Badal cannot escape from the fact that this government has done nothing to improve the efficiencies of the PSEB.

Had this government been able to reduce the theft of electricity and improve the procurement process, this rise would not have been necessary.

This electricity price rise is entirely the responsibility of this Akali-BJP government.

Halqa Qila Raipur
22/09/07

Ref.No: QRLD/2007-08:

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh

17 September 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,

Check your facts on MSP and Inflation

Noting your comments that MSP should increase in line with inflation, although I am not sure if you mean the wholesale price index (WPI) or the consumer price index (WPI).

I would respectfully request you to check your figures.

As per annexure over the last ten years MSP for both rice and wheat has risen above the rate of inflation. Rice MSP has exceeded the WPI by 9.28% and wheat MPS (inclusive of bonus) by 13.05%.

Alarmingly during your last government, wheat MSP trailed the WPI by 5.24% and rice MSP trailed the WPI by 1.55%.

In marked contrast the Captain Amarinder Singh government protected the farmers interests much better with rice MSP exceeding the WPI by 4.24% and wheat MSP exceeding the WPI by 12.36%.

You should not be asking for MSP to be fixed in line with inflation. You should be asking for farmer’s income to increase in real terms. Only then will farmers be able to reduce their indebtedness.

The correct and just demand at this juncture should be that annual MSP increments should exceed the consumer price index (CPI) by at least 5% per annum.

When it comes to protecting the interest of Punjab farmers, rest assured that the Congress party will support any and every feasible plan that promotes farmers income. But let’s stick to fact, not fiction, first.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely

Jassi Khangura MLA
HALQA QILA RAIPUR

Ref.No.: QRLD/2007-08: 206-274

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh

28 August 2007

Dear Badal sahib,

New International Airport Should Involve Haryana and Himachal

Noting the recent statements of your government’s intentions to establish an international airport at Mohali and the deliberations of the Chandigarh Administration on expanding the Chandigarh airport, please consider an alternative location that all three states (Punjab, Himachal and Haryana) and the Union Territory could participate in, by contributing land or equity or both.

Both the Mohali and Chandigarh proposals are constrained by the availability of land. 250 acres at Mohali can by no means be considered an international scale.

Punjab and Haryana share a significant border with suitable terrain. It should be feasible for both governments to contribute 1000 to 2000 acres each along this border.

Such a facility would serve half of Punjab, half of Haryana and all of Himachal, not to forget the UT, thus ensuring due feasibility, critical economies of scale and earlier break-even. Moreover, it would become the dominant facility in North India, outside of Delhi.

Surely these 3 governments can rise above political colours to agree on this critical infrastructure project, which will substantially impact the region, attract investment in new industries and serve for all 3 states and a cargo export hub, particularly of perishable agricultural produce?

As an MLA from the Ludhiana district I should be promoting the cause of the proposed Halwara airport but being aware of the objections from the defence department, current limitations on proximities between international airports and its likely impact on Amritsar International airport, I consider the near Chandigarh option to be the better one. I am certain that Ludhiana will in due course warrant an international airport as air traffic to Punjab increases further and as aviation policy changes to serve current needs.

I simply cannot accept that Mohali will serve all 3 states. Citizens of Himachal and Haryana will have little emotional bond with this facility unless their governments are involved.

In the developed world the growth of cities is being increasingly airport-centric, with warehousing, light engineering, offices and residential developments rapidly supporting the growth in air traffic to the airport. Therefore, it is critical that the new airport has sufficient surplus land to last for 50 years of growth. 4000 acres should certainly suffice, and well as 50,000 acres in close proximity for future commercial and residential development.

Do not handicap the proposed airport by locating it where it and its support services are constrained to grow.

Kind regards,
Yours faithfully,
Jassi Khangura MLA

Copy:             

1. His Excellency Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, Governor Punjab and Administrator Chandigarh
2. Mr Praful Patel, Union Cabinet Minister, Civil Aviation
3. Mrs Ambika Soni, Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism and Culture
4. Mr Pawan Bansal, Union Minister for finance & control
5. Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Haryana
6. Sh. Virendra Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh
7. MLAs and MPs of Punjab, Himachal and Haryana

Ref.No. : QRLD/2007-08:

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh

27 June 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,
Bathinda Refinery

I fully commend my fellow NRI, Mr. L.N. Mittal, for his momentous decision to invest the colossal amount of Rs. 3506 crores in this project, in the process making its implementation much more likely.

That you have chosen this opportunity for political posturing is unfortunate especially considering the following :

1. The project was sanctioned by the government of the late Sh. Narashima Rao, with the Union Government’s letter of intent dated 3 April 1996.
2. Land for the project was allotted by the Punjab Government of Sardar H.S. Brar.
3. Uncertainty about its viability led to HPCL to be unwilling to take up this venture on its own.
4. Numerous potential global partners failed to materialize, largely on account of government control on product pricing.

Had it not been for the resurgent Indian economy under the direction of the UPA administration, resulting in a much higher demand for petroleum and petrochemicals, this refinery may well still be languishing without a partner.

Quite how you can blame the previous administration for any lapse is beyond me.

The fact is that Mr. Mittal’s involvement has absolutely nothing to do with this Akali administration. I do not recall either you or any member of your family personally lobbying Mr. Mittal.

The Bathinda refinery project has reach this stage because of:

1. The collective efforts of the previous three Punjab governments, including your third term.
2. The resilience of HPCC in overcoming a number of rejections by potential partners.
3. The entrepreneurial instinct of Mittal.

I do share your happiness on this excellent piece of news, but please refrain from manipulating the facts.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely
Jasbir Singh Khangura MLA
HALQA QILA RAIPUR

Ref.No. : QRLD/2007-08:

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh

25 June 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,

Referral of recruitment to the UPSC

Your move to refer critical Punjab posts to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is highly regrettable.

By doing so you are undermining the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).

It is very surprising that in your 4th term you are seeking to by-pass the PPSC, a key institution of state, that as Chief Minister you should be promoting and guiding.

This is in marked contrast to the view taken by you during your 3rd term when, with Ravi Sidhu as Chairman of the PPSC, you freely sanctioned the recruitment of key government posts, apparently oblivious to the substantial failings of the institution, not least the then Chairman’s own misdemeanors. Moreover, at the time you rejected all complaints about the questionable and objectionable working of the PPSC.

Now seeking to by-pass the PPSC, you are casting aspersions on its Chairman, members and officials, without making any effort to clarify to the people of Punjab your concerns and your justification of why your opinion of the PPSC this term is diametrically opposed to your opinion during your 3rd term.

Statute demarcates clearly between the functioning of the UPSC and its state level related bodies, like the PPSC. The UPSC has been constituted to select persons to the various Central Civil Services and posts and the services common to the Union and States, and therefore your referral of the proposed posts to the UPSC is an insult to this august commission.

I request you to explain to the people of Punjab why the current PPSC does not enjoy your confidence.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely

Jasbir Singh Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur

CC : Concerned persons

Ref.No.: QRLD/2007-08:

Mr. Gurbachan Jagat, IPS
Chairman
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Dholpur House,
New Delhi - 110069

25 June 2007

Dear Jagat Sahib,

Referral of recruitment by the Punjab Government.

The recent communication from the Punjab government regarding the proposed recruitment by the UPSC for the Punjab Civil Services (PCS) and allied services needs to be viewed with caution.

Irrespective of whether or not there are any earlier precedents from the states, the fact is that the Punjab Public Service Commission is currently fully constituted to discharge this function.

By accepting this reference you will be undermining the PPSC.

It would be a different matter if the functioning of the PPSC were under a cloud, or if there were major vacancies amongst its members or its officials.

Surprisingly, when the PPSC was knee-deep in controversy, during the stewardship of Mr. Ravi Sidhu, when all of Punjab was of the opinion that the then PPSC was little more than an auction house, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister, saw no reason to refer posts to the UPSC.

It may not be within your remit to speculate why Mr. Badal has taken diametrically different views about the PPSC between his 3rd or 4th terms as Chief Minister, but you may wish to ask the Punjab Government to justify why it feels the PPSC cannot currently discharge the same function.

At a time when the UPSC is itself facing severe competition from a robust private sector in the fulfillment of its own recruitment obligations, it is debatable whether the UPSC should compromise its own functioning to satisfy this politically charged referral.

I request you to reject this reference in its entirety.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely

Jasbir Singh Khangura MLA
HALQA QILA RAIPUR

CC: CM Punjab

Ref.No. : QRLD/2007-08:

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh

23 June 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,

PUDA auction is proof of the collapse of the Punjab property market

Your government has presided over the most precipitous collapse in property values ever in peacetime Punjab. Yesterday’s PUDA auction at Ludhiana is proof (attached).

Long gone are the days when real estate activity was peripheral to the Punjab economy. Today this is a key engine of any progressive economy.

The Congress party had correctly predicted that an incoming Akali government would be regressive for the property market, but none of us had expected your government to do so much damage so soon.

Business, especially real estate, runs on confidence. As long as there is a reasonable expectation of some value enhancement, the real estate market remains buoyant. Sometimes the momentum develops into a boom – something that the last government proudly achieved.

Yet real estate market confidence is rarely sufficiently robust to override negative governmental influences. That is exactly what you achieved by withdrawing the pollution NOCs, without any effort to engage the developers whatsoever.

Today we have the tragic situation where rural land transactions have almost completely abated, urban transactions have fallen considerably and flats on the peripheries of Chandigarh that were earlier being sold off-plan at Rs. 35 lakhs each, no find no takers at Rs. 22 lakhs.

Thousands of transactions of peri-urban agricultural land have failed to complete and are either in the courts or about to reach the courts, not to mention inviting the prying eyes of the land mafia. The only gainers appear to be the lawyers, the police and possibly meddling politicians.

You have in the process dashed the hopes of tens of thousands of farmers in Punjab who had hoped to dispose of a small portion of their landholding to clear their considerable accumulated debts.

Surely you do not want the Punjab landscape to be littered with incomplete real estate projects?

I accept that it is undesirable that housing becomes unaffordable for the common man or the burgeoning middle classes. Equally, it is unacceptable that major real estate developers have started viewing with cynicism opportunities in Punjab.

I hope your government can finally accept that whatever your reservations may have been about the previous government’s sanction of major real estate projects, in the wider public interest it is better to support these projects to completion without any further impediment.

Rest assured that I am not connected with any estate development project in Punjab, and have no interest whatsoever other than the good of the people of Punjab.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely

Jasbir Singh Khangura, MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur

c. Concerned Persons

S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh

Dear Badal sahib,

Sub: NRI ISSUES

I attach a copy of the agenda of my meeting with Sir Michael Arthur, British High Commissioner to India, in Chandigarh earlier this week.

As a Punjabi NRI I can wholeheartedly confirm that historically we have been given step-motherly treatment by our mother state. NRIs have wrongly been viewed as financially strong individuals who are excellent hosts on foreign soils, who have limited rights on their own assets in Punjab and who otherwise have resources to resolve their own problems in Punjab.

NRIs need this government to fully understand their concerns. Only then can this government take the initial steps towards an effective remedy.

As you are aware most of the NRI issues fit into 4 main brackets:

1. Assets in Punjab (land, property, bank deposits, shares, etc…)
2. Matrimonial
3. Litigation, mostly intra-family
4. Travel and transit

Whilst the determination of new policies and procedures to address the NRI needs can take several months, there are certain steps that you can take which will demonstrate the positive intent of this government to NRI affairs, including:

1. Creation of a NRI Register. This can be web-based, launched within 90 days. Registration can initially be provisional, and confirmed in due course on submission of certified documents confirming the NRI status of the individual.

2. Confirmed NRIs can be given the assurance that in case they are implicated in any Punjab police enquiry or FIR, or any other enquiry by any Punjab government department, the matter will be escalated by the government for scrutiny by an officer 2 ranks higher than the routinely responsible official.

3. Publication of a Proclaimed Offenders Register on the Internet. Sadly many NRIs only learn of such a status on arrival in India.- 2 -

4. Creation of a Register of NRI Assets, which would allow NRIs to voluntarily register their assets in Punjab and the formation of the Office of the Protector of NRI assets, which would have responsibility of communicating with NRIs regarding their assets and would also be responsible for consenting to any transactions in any asset so registered. I accept that such a Register could be viewed as gold dust by the land mafia, but I expect this government to fully respect and protect NRI assets. I also accept that not all NRIs will be willing to register their assets, especially where the acquisition funds have not been routed through proper banking channels, but I believe that it is the duty of this government to offer such a facility.

5. NRI marriages are essential to the economy of Punjab and to the maintenance of Punjabi culture amongst NRI Punjabis. However, many are forced, false or outright dishonest, and lead to the inevitable subsequent complaints, police actions and litigation. This problem could be substantially reduced if the NRI partner is made responsible to present 3 overseas character references from individuals that have visited Punjab in the preceding 24 month period. This would make it less likely that previous marriages and children from earlier marriages are concealed by the NRI partner. NRI partners not presenting any such references would not receive the support of the Punjab Government in the event that the marriage fails. Where marriages do break down the overseas referees could be called to account in some manner.

By moving forward on the above this government would be able to demonstrate its positive intent towards NRIs. Only then will this government be able to make an effective pitch for NRI investments in Punjab.

The purpose of the communication is not impress upon you that the above proposals, together with those in the enclosure, are readily deliverable by this government within a reasonable time-scale. If implemented these would provide an excellent platform for further NRI-specific initiatives.

I look forward to your government’s progress on these critical matters. If it helps I am happy to engage with your relevant department.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,
Jassi Khangura MLA

Enc.

Copy to:

1. Leader of the Opposition
2. All Punjab MLAs
3. Chief Secretary, Punjab

With reference to recent media reports regarding alleged statements made by Manmohan Singh and Dayal Chand Garg, officers of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, in the Punjab Vigilance Bureau enquiry relating to the Ludhiana city center issue, I can categorically state;

1) Neither I nor any member of my family has ever met Manmohan Singh or Dayal Chand Garg .
2) No such meeting has taken place in the Majestic Park Plaza hotel or any other venue.
3) I have never received a single rupee, let alone Rs.15 lac, from Mr. G.K. Ghambir or from any representative of Today Homes or from anybody connected with this project.

I am not aware under what circumstances the alleged statements were made, but I will be instructing lawyers to seek effective remedy unless Manmohan Singh and Dayal Chand Garg either deny the statements or admit that these were made under duress and are therefore invalid, failing which I will be filing a defamation suite against the said Manmohan Singh and Dayal Chand Garg.

Mrs Gurdial Kaur Khangura
15 June 2007

Nearly 100 days into the term of the new Akali BJP administration, the report card of the Garcha family is ready:

Promotional of criminality	10/10
Promotion of drug culture	10/10
Harassment of ordinary people with false FIRs and physical abuse	10/10
Suppression of basis human rights	10/10
Distribution of illicit liquor	10/10
Land grabbing directly or indirectly	10/10
Intimidation of Government employees	10/10
Acts of omission and commission	10/10
Development of Halqa Qila Raipur	0/10

True to form the Garchas have carried on where they left off in 2002.

It is regrettable that this government has allowed them to continue their illegal activities with impunity.

The Punjab Government’s failure to protect the ordinary people and government employees of Halqa Qila Raipur reflects a total abdication of responsibility for this area.

Whereas the Garchas should be looking to improve schools, healthcare facilities, roads, irrigation works, transport, etc….they are totally focused on promoting criminality.

Take the example of the lining of the Dehlon and Pakhowal distributaries. These two projects were sanctioned by the last government, after considerable lobbying by Sardar Jagpal Singh Khangura, funds were sanctioned by NABARD and tenders were advertised. Works could not be awarded because of the election code of conduct.

In the past three months the Garchas have not cared to pursue the awards of work as they do not care for the interests of the poor farmer and the common man.

The Garchas do not want this lining works to take place. Instead they wish to plunder the funds allocated for the clearing and clearance of these distributaries.

(Jassi Khangura)
MLA Halqa Qila Raipur

Ref No. QRLD/07/

Mr. S.S.Saini, IPS
Director Vigilance Bureau
Chandigarh

Date 7 May 2007

Dear Sir,
Subject : Withdrawl of investigation into the affairs of S. Jagdish Singh Garcha Ex-MLA

The above named was arrested in October 2002 and detained in jail for a number of days.

Media reports indicates that investigations by your department may be concluded and the file closed with further action.

The above named and his family represent the worst face of Punjab politics. They are the pinnacle criminality in Punjab.

They have not only accumulate vast tracks of agricultural land and urban property, but they continue to enjoy income from the illicit trade of liquor and narcotics.

Everyone in Punjab knows that the above named are the foremost criminals in Punjab.

It will be a great tragedy of politics compulsions lead the current government to close this investigation.

You are requested not to close this file but to further instruct detailed enquiries in order that truth can prevail and these persons be put in their rightful place, in jail.

Regards
Yours faithfully,

(Jassi Khangura)
MLA Halqa Qila Raipur

Ref No. QRLD/07/

Mr. Sumer Gurjar, IAS
Deputy Commissioner,
Ludhiana

Date 7 May 2007

Subject: Violation of orders of Honorable Punjab & Haryana High Court dt 16 April 2007 staying operation of Govt of Punjab Government memo no: PSPB/LPD(I)Exp2007-1880 dt Chandigarh 6 Mar 2007 addressed to all DCs of Punjab and other memos of BDPO Pakhowal & Dehlon addressed to some Sarpanches.

Dear Sir,

This is to bring to your knowledge that Honorable Punjab & Haryana High Court has granted stay on operation of Govt of Punjab memo number PSPB/LPD(I)Exp 2007-1880 dt Chandigarh 6 Mar 2007 addressed to all DCs of Punjab and other memos of BDPO Pakhowal & Dehlon addressed to some Sarpanches vide its orders dated 16 April 2007 upon petition no. 5394 of 2007 filed on behalf of Lakhwinder Singh Sarpanch Vill Gujjarwal and 17 other Sarpanches.

Similar stay was also granted on petition no 5395 of 2007 filed on behalf of Joginder Singh Sarpanch Vill Khatra Choharam and 12 other Sarpanches.

Copies of the High Court orders have been addressed and delivered to inter alia to DC Ludhiana, DDPO Ludhiana & BDPOs Pakhowal & Dehlon.

However, to my utter surprise your DDPO & BDPOs have chosen to blatantly violate the orders of Honorable High Court and are continuing in harassment of 31 petitioner Sarpanches through various means.

May I urge upon you to use your good offices and restrain the erring DDPO and BDPOs from violating the orders of Honorable High Court.

I am enclosing the copies of the orders of High Court dt 16 April 2007 and also copies of the petition no. 5394 & 5395 0f 2007 filed on behalf of 31 Sarpanches for your immediate and ready reference.

I am confidant that an expeditious action in this regard shall go a long way in restoring the confidence of democratically elected Sarpanches in the present Government and help remove their apprehensions against selective victimization.

Thanks and regards
Yours sincerely,

(Jasbir Singh Khangura)
Member Legislative Assembly
Punjab

Ref.No. QRLD/07/156-25

S. Parkash Singh Badal
Chief Minister Punjab
Chandigarh.

24th April 2007

Dear Badal Sahib,
False accusations in the Ludhiana City Centre issue

I am saddened to note from media reports that supposedly on the basis of unproven allegations made by an approver, your SSP Vigilance (Ludhiana), Mr. Kanwarjeet Singh Sandhu, is reported as having stated that my mother, Bibi Gurdial Kaur Khangura, was involved in alleged financial transactions between representatives of the developers in the presence of Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Ex Minister Local Bodies and Mr. P.S. Sibia, the then Chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust.

I can categorically state that:

1. No member of my family, not least my mother, has ever attended any such meeting at any location.

This is a complete fabrication.

2. My mother has never met with Chaudhary Jagjit Singh in the Hotel.

3. Apart from LIT meetings, which my mother occasionally attended, my mother only ever met Mr. P.S. Sibia twice on the occasion of :

1. My son’s first Birthday in April, 05.
2. Mr. Sibia’s daughter’s wedding.

It is irresponsible for your SSP Vigilance (Ludhiana) to disclose the alleged statement of an approver, without making any attempt to corroborate the statements with my mother, or any member of my family.

One can only conclude that the intentions of the SSP Vigilance (Ludhiana) in this matter are malicious. Let us not forget that this is the same person who conducted a raid on our hotel in 2003 to investigate an alleged share in this hotel held by your son, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, as a result of which he was transferred out of Ludhiana.

Earlier your son was his target, now it is my mother.

Ever since his appointment as SSP Vigilance (Ludhiana) he has been making it obvious to all concerned that he will be effecting retribution against me for his earlier transfer.

It is impossible to accept that your SSP Vigilance (Ludhiana) will act in an impartial manner in this investigation, as he seems hell bent on manipulating evidence and obtaining false statements from approvers and other third persons, with the sole intention of implicating my mother and, possibly, other members of my family.

I am certain that you also believe that a fair and impartial investigation in this matter should take place. Accordingly, I request that you transfer the SSP Vigilance (Ludhiana) immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur

Government’s Intimidation of Sarpanches in Halqa Qila Raippur stayed by High Court.

One of the first acts of the new Akali Government was to endeavor to stop the development work in the villages.

The order of the Special Secretary Planning dated 1 March 07 asked that all utilizations of funds sanctioned under the Punjab Nirman Programme and United Funds be stopped forthwith and all unutilized funds immediately be returned.

DDPO Ludhiana, BDO Dehlon and BDO Pakhowal misused this order to selectively harass Congress Sarpanches in Halqa Qila Raipur.

Moreover, under extreme political pressure from S. Jagdish Singh Garcha, Ex- MLA, they attempted to forcibly extract the records maintained by the Sarpanches, even threatening to use brute police force if required.

Pursuant to writ petition 5394 and 5395 of 2007 the Punjab and Haryana High Court by its order dated 16.04.07 have stayed the order of the Special Secretary Planning as well as the BDOs from so harassing the sarpanches.

If ever proof was needed that this government is vindictive and intends to use all means, fair and foul, to harass and intimidate Congress Sarpanches and workers, this is it.

The people of Halqa Qila Raipur have full faith in the judiciary to protect their interests.

It is better that this Akali Government understands that its thuggery will not be condoned by the people of Punjab or the Courts of Law.

(Jassi Khangura)
MLA Halqa Qila Raipur

Keeping his promise to bring in international class vocational training to enhance the employment prospects of the rural youth in Qila Raipur, Jassi felicitated 30 students who have made it to the first batch of the recently launched Certificate course in Hospitality Kitchen Management (CHKM) at a rally organized at Latala 10 Mar 2007. These students belong to various villages in the area and were looking for a specialization after completing secondary school. They have been selected from hundreds of applicants from Punjab through stringent written and personality tests.

CHKM is a 1 year course launched by Sarovar Hotels - the fourth largest chain of hotels in India to prepare youth in the coming months and years to meet the unprecedented and fast growing demand for professionally trained staff in the hospitality sector in India and abroad. The course is accredited by the FHRAI – the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India – the apex body in its field. The course includes a three month residential training at the FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management, Greater NOIDA – a premium institution offering courses in collaboration with the globally renowned and respected EHL, Switzerland.  

The course is structured in three phases. In the first phase, the student is provided basic communication skills and hospitality orientation at Majestic Park Plaza (a Sarovar Hotel). The second phase comprises a three month classroom and practical training in Hospitality Kitchens at the FHRAI Institute at Gretaer NOIDA. In the third phase, the student spends six months as an apprentice at one of the 35 Sarovar chain hotels in the country.

On successful completion of the course, the student is offered to join any of the Sarovar group hotels. Alternatively, he may decide to find employment in any of the other chains. It is expected that a certificate holder from this course having 2-3 years of post qualification work experience will find very lucrative job opportunities in India and overseas.

Currently the student is being asked to pay only for the three month residential training at the FHRAI Institute, Greater NOIDA. Jassi has subsidized 75% of even the FHRAI fees for the students belonging to SC/ST. During the apprenticeship of six months, the student gets full board accommodation and a stipend at one of the Sarovar hotels in India. Thus this course prepares the student for coveted employment in prestigious hotels at a very low cost.

Speaking on the occasion, Jassi observed that this was only the first step toward his living up to his vision of bringing all round development to Qila Raipur. The next batch for the course is scheduled to begin in June 2007. There will be 4 batches every year. This course will help 120 rural youths from the area every year to build professional career in a globally employable skill.

To have grasped the Qila Raipur seat so firmly from the Akalis is a very significant achievement that the entire Qila Raipur Congress team can be justifiably proud of.

Unfortunately, we could not carry the entire state, but rest assured that the excellent work of Capt. Amrinder Singh's government will be remembered for far longer than the questionable achievements of the Badal family.

I am sincerely thankful to everyone who worked so tirelessly for my success, both those involved directly in the area and those outside the constituency in other parts of Punjab, India and the overseas who canvassed through their friends and relatives in the area. 

Victory in Halqa Qila Raipur would not have been possible without the excellent leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Capt. Amrinder Singh and his administration, Dullo sahib and the PPCC team.

Farmers and labourers, rich and poor, locals and NRIs, family and friends, I promise all of you that I will commits all of my energies to the people of this area over the elected term. 

To everyone involved, I am eternally indebted and grateful. Whilst every election campaign is different, I cannot help but feel that ours was especially so.

From villages drwajas, berras, dharamshalas, fields, we spread our message far and wide. Our physical activity was immense. Our opponents knew that there was a wind of change. But they never expected this storm and the flood of votes that were cast in our favour.

We must now all work together to make Halqa Qila Raipur a better place. In terms of effort and application, rest assured that I will not be left wanting.

FORWARD TOGETHER.
Jassi Khangura

The Congress candidate form Qila Raipur has reiterated that if elected, he will ensure that the people of Qila Raipur will for the first time feel development around them. He says the rural nature of his constituency poses unique challenges. He has well laid out plans to resolve them.
He revealed some of his plans to this correspondent saying his top priority would be to ensure debt relief to small and marginal farmers. He is already in discussions with some agencies to bring village banking and other microfinance schemes to help backward classes and other poor sections to run cottage industries and subsistence level businesses.
He plans to lobby for a transparent system for appointments and transfers for government employees, especially teachers. He advocates a participative approach to resolving issues related to PSEB employees.
Being a NRI himself, he plans to use high technology and Internet to bring top level facilitation and advisory services to the village level to help the large number of NRIs hailing from his area.
Acknowledging unemployment among the youth in rural areas as a major problem, he says major investments are being lined up to enhance the existing vocational training facilities and setting up new ones.
He reminds about the immense value and reach that e-governance can bring to delivering good governance especially in rural areas and says that e-governance will be the backbone of his mechanism of delivering on promises.
One of his innovative ideas is to launch the Rural Olympics on the international stage through a public - private partnership project especially designed for this purpose.
Jassi seems to have a firm grip of the issues facing his constituency and says long term development is only possible through raising awareness and education among the masses especially the weaker sections. In this regard, he plans to launch special programmes and incentives for healthcare, women’s participation in education, sports, small businesses and eliminating the evils like drug and liquor abuse.

Jassi Khangura – the Congress candidate from Qila Raipur has highlighted that there is need to pay immediate attention to address women’s issues especially in rural areas.

He says no society can make sustained progress without the economic and social uplift of its womenPunjab does not have an impressive record in this area.

On the other hand, Punjabi women have proven time and time again that they are no less capable or entrepreneurial than the now globally acclaimed Punjabi men. They therefore represent an immense potential, which is so far grossly underutilized.

The womenfolk in rural parts face typical problems, which need special attention.

Though the government is doing a lot by designing and implementing special programmes targeted at raising awareness of such issues and promoting girl child education, etc., there is still a long way to go.

Jassi says that if elected, he will launch special initiatives to promote rural women’s healthcare & employment. He will also work toward an incentivised programme to encourage women’s participation in sports, small businesses etc.

The Congress candidate from Qila Raipur has observed that the incidence of liquor and drug abuse among rural youth has reached alarming proportions. The rural youth especially those who are not fully or partly employed are easy prey to such evils. He said he was saddened to seethatthis malaise was engulfing wards fromall classes.

He has full sympathy with the youth and their parents. He feels the current situation is a result of quality education and challenging opportunities not having captured the masses in rural areas before the liquor and drug mafia did. Decades of neglect in education and employment generation are the root causes. Vested interests of some in these trades further compound the problem.

He assures that if elected, he plans to set up special counseling, healthcare and rehabilitation facilities for the victims in Qila Raipur. And as a long term preventive measure, he will nominate village level representatives who will assist him in working with all concerned to ensure there is 100% success rate in imparting primary and secondary education/vocational training. Once this is achieved, finding employment will be relatively faster.  

Jassi Khangura - Congress candidate from essentially a rural constituency Qila Raipur – is categoric that good governance can be brought to the villages only through e-governance.  
He reminds that for decades the average rural citizen has suffered the system whose imposing structures and hierarchy, officialdom, complicated legalese and cumbersome processes have intimidated him. 
The biggest advantage of e-governance from the villagers’ viewpoint is the easy, time efficient and inexpensive access to equitable services. It also reduces the number of avenues available for corruption and selective dispensation thus offering a relatively clean option.    
According to him the Congress government has put the state well on the way to a successful implementation of the four thrust areas – IT Infrastructure development, E-Governance development and Re-engineering, HRD and IT Education and Promotion of IT industry, employment and e-business. 
In his opinion the rural areas will face the most significant challenge in terms of IT Education and Human Resource Development. Therefore a carefully planned strategy to tap the potential of the rural youth is urgently needed.  
Keeping in view the immense value and reach that e-governance can deliver for good governance in rural areas, immediate steps need to be taken to pull all stops from the way to setting up citizen service centres, vocational training institutes especially those dedicated to IT in rural areas. There is also a need to invite participation and investment from one and all. 
Jassi highlights that in the current elections, his party has made a sincere attempt to bring development focus and pressing issues of imparting good governance as the central theme of the agenda for elections in Punjab.

If elected, he will make e-governance for rural areas as the backbone of his mechanism of delivering on promises.

Jassi Khangura, the Congress candidate from Qila Raipur has observed that  unemployment remains by far the biggest challenge to be overcome in bringing about significant and sustainable socio-economic uplift especially among the rural areas.

He insists that skilled manpower and the brand India has now arrived on the stage of the global economy. Immense employment opportunities exist in and outside India and what is needed is to impart employment generating education and training to the youth.

The approach to resolve the unemployment problem needs a paradigm shift – we need to get proactive rather than reactive. Unemployment has its route in the problem of population outburst and education policy. Though the population control measures have shown good results but they will take a long time to eliminate unemployment.

While the government continues to support the unemployed through various schemes, there are a number of initiatives that can and should be undertaken to eradicate the problem – vocational training is perhaps the surest of them all.

There is an urgent need to have a broad based vocational training infrastructure and focused promotional initiatives, which may increase awareness and acceptance among the masses of vocationally trained vis-à-vis mainstream graduates. We now need to create an atmosphere which churns out apprentices who may be globally acceptable.

There already is a large number of success stories among the urban Indian business community, which have proven through the vocational training business model that both the business unit and the apprentice stand to profit from it.

The need of the hour is for private businesses to come forward and take a lead in replicating this success in the rural areas. Jassi says his family has already invested in and saved one such vocational college from closing down but the need is to set up many more.

NRIs from Qila Raipur are in for a pleasant surprise. Jassi Khangura – the Congress candidate from this area plans to launch exclusive facilitation services through a number of initiatives. 
Having been a NRI himself and having maintained a very close association with his roots in this primarily rural constituency, he says he knows exactly where it hurts and what needs to be done to resolve issues for both the residents and the non-residents.  
While lauding the immense focus and innovative steps taken by the Congress governments both at the Centre and the State level to address NRI issues, he points out that Punjab’s NRI cells are already being emulated by other states in India.  
However, there is a long way to go. NRIs have been demanding express judicial dispensation, which needs a major policy change at the national level. While he plans to push for quicker decision making on this and similar other areas, if he gets elected he promises that NRIs from his constituency can expect the highest levels of personalized facilitation in Punjab. He plans to extend the NRI cells to the village level in his constituency. 
He intends to use the latest technology and the Internet to ensure that the people from his area have access to facilitation for the complete range of services ranging from village news to matrimonial referral and counseling (for both sides), legal assistance, investment and property advisory, development initiatives for the area, immigration, passports, education and employment advisory, health and insurance, etc.    
 He asserts that NRIs also want to play an active role in the affairs of their native place and the time has come when an infrastructure is provided and a platform created to facilitate their participation.

Jassi Khangura – the Congress candidate from Qila Raipur has highlighted the need for an inclusive and participative approach to resolving the employees’ concerns including those related to restructuring.

He highlights that Capt Amarinder Singh government has been committed and has taken major steps for improving the financial performance of PSEB.

Many PSEB employees feel there is need to modify the 2003 decision by the Centre to make the state electricity boards’ restructuring mandatory. They feel the restructuring should be made optional. Many of them also feel the pinch of the freeze on recruitments.

Jassi insists all such issues should be resolved through an intensive consultation process. Employees are an integral part and significant stake holders in the turn around initiative of PSEB. On his part, he says if elected, he would do all he can to make the process more participative and inclusive.

Jassi Khangura – the Congress candidate from Qila Raipur strongly believes that the lives of the backward sections of society in his constituency can get transformed with the now world famous microfinance schemes. Those in backward sections need credit in small values and generally do not have the collaterals that the commercial banks would normally expect from them.  Microfinance schemes help eradicate poverty from among very small farmers, small traders, subsistence dairy farmers, businesses run by housewives, and very small cottage industrial enterprises. In particular he plans to bring in the Village Banking system.Microfinance schemes offer loans, not grants, to low-income microentrepreneurs, because at the root of their poverty is lack of opportunity, not lack of desire to work. While many poor families have ideas for fostering their own employment by creating small businesses, few can access the capital they need to begin. They are excluded from conventional financial sources (e.g., commercial banks) because they lack credit ratings and assets to pledge as collateral. Village Banking does not simply extend loans to low-income families, it helps to create community-run, community-focused credit and savings associations, particularly in areas untouched by the formal financial industry. The village banking method is highly participatory in nature. It gives the beneficiaries a voice and it involves them in the development process. Members not only receive loans, they form cohesive groups who manage and collect repayments on those loans, who save diligently and decide on ways to invest those savings, and progress together, forming networks for mutual support.He says that if elected he will ensure that the State Government and some other institutions will initiate microfinance schemes for the very small enterprises run by members of the backward classes in Qila Raipur. The scheme can then be replicated across the state.Mr. Khangura reiterates that uplifting backward classes through novel means is a special feature of his agenda for the constituency which has never sent a Congress nominee in the past. He is confident that people belonging to the backward sections have realized that only he and his party care to listen to their problems and make an effort to address them. Qila Raipur will be a Congress seat from now onwards - he avowed.

Jassi Khangura – the Congress candidate from Qila Raipur says that the small and marginal farmers in his essentially rural constituency face the vicious cycle of debt and declining income and need immediate relief!

He has taken upon himself to get them soft and easy loans and get waivers wherever possible. He says this will be on top of his agenda if the voters send him as their representative to the Vidhan Sabha.

A reduced debt farmer can positively evaluate crop diversification, which is increasingly becoming the need of the hour. The Punjab farmer has always been ahead of the rest of the nation and at this juncture he needs to lead by taking some risks and trying new crops thus reducing his dependence on traditionally cultivated crops and the minimum support price syndrome every year.

Internationally there have been some new developments in the field of financing the very small farmers, which have demonstrated how this section of the society can be brought out of the debt cycles. We plan to bring them to Qila Raipur to study the typical needs of the local farmers and suggest innovative and cost effective funding solutions.

We plan to set up Debt Counseling Offices in villages which will provide guidance to small farmers on best available deals for their specific needs and also the fine print of the credit terms.

Our endeavor is to take the small farmer away from the never ending debt cycles and on the path of prosperity and self reliance.

Qila Raipur rural games event popularly known as Rural Olympics – need branding and promotion at the international level. Jassi Khangura – the Congress candidate from this area is confident that this event can become the beacon to promote rural sports in Punjab.  

Since the event has all the ingredients of an international crowd puller, it is bound to become a hit on the global circuit. To make this happen, world-class infrastructure will need to be created at Qila Raipur.

Given some focused attention and sincere efforts, substantive investment for this event can be organized from government, NRI and private sector enterprises. The significant revenues generated from the event, tourism and other associated sources will ensure these investments enjoy market level returns.

This approach will also deliver higher remuneration, recognition and long term welfare to the participants.

The far and widespread NRIs from the area are themselves the best brand ambassadors for an event like this.

Mr. Jasbir Singh Khangura – the Congress candidate from Qila Raipur expresses regret and disappointment at the postponement of the Free Heart and Sugar Check Up Camp which was organized for 28 Jan 2007 by New Delhi Heart and Lung Institute.

Just because my father was to inaugurate this event, our political opponent Jagdish Singh Garcha, Akali Dal Badal Candidate want to prevent the health conscious voters of Qila Raipur from availing the free check up by experts from a leading institution and have made complaints to the Election Authorities.

In view of this although frivolous complaint, we have requested the institute to postpone it. A new suitable date will be announced soon after the elections.

We strongly feel that this obstructionist mindset of our political opponent Jagdish Singh garcha, Akali Dal Badal Candidate is a major cause for the continuing poor health care levels and infrastructure in this area. Instead of promoting awareness and raising standards, they believe in depriving the masses from whatever little is reaching them.  
This reflects that they are small-minded and they are probably intellectual competency.

We are sure the people of Qila Raipur region have now started seeing through their game plan and will USE THE POWER OF THEIR VOTE to get such elements out of the way of their health and well being!