Fate of Jalandhar Parliamentary seat

NATURAL CALAMITIES / DISASTERS WHENEVER THEY OCCUR CREATE HAVOC 
Natural Calamities / Disasters whenever they occur create great havoc, loss of property, and buildings etc. The recent incident is of Joshi Math in Uttarakhand where the buildings witnessed cracks and declaring the area sensitive. The houses have been evacuated and the orders for demolition have been issued keeping in mind the safety and security of the residents. There may be number of reasons for these cracks but one thing is clear that the families residing in these houses for decades have to evacuate their houses for their safety. In the past two to three decades, Uttarakhand has witnessed a series of development may be of road highways, hotels, and increasing number of tourists. Few years back natural disaster of flash floods were witnessed in Kedar Nath creating havoc disaster for the residents of those areas which were affected badly. The Union / State Government should try to frame a policy how to save the hilly areas in future? The hilly areas are attractive for the tourists to witness the real flavor of nature, green belts, snow peak tops of the mountains, rivulets, water falls, greenery, fresh air / non polluted air. The construction of dams is also priority projects for the government to generate electricity in future. Similarly, to keep the traffic of vehicles intact the roads on the hilly areas are being widened. The construction work on the hilly areas be only allowed after seeking full report in regard to the status of the hilly areas /mountains that whether they are hard rocks or not? Can they bear the weight of the constructed buildings to be constructed or guidelines be issued how to go for the constructions for development purposes. Even though the state government has announced immediately financially relief for all those who have evacuated their hoses yet the major issue will of their rehabilitation in coming future.

THREATS OF SNOW AVALANCHE 
The State Disaster Management Authority of Jammu & Kashmir has issued high warnings of snow avalanche to number of districts. During heavy snow fall the people have been requested to refrain from moving to the areas where there is threat of avalanche during heavy snow fall. The latest snowfall in the hilly areas has given a look of white blanket throughout the areas. Shivering cold cannot be ruled out during heavy snowfall and similarly the plains can also witness declining temperature with bitter cold wave which cannot be ruled out. Yesterday, Bandipore and Sonmarg Districts in J&K witnessed snow avalanche.

BHARAT JODO YATRA IN PUNJAB 
Indian National Congress led Bharat Jodo Yatra is in Punjab but yesterday when the Yatra commenced the party’s Senior Leader and Member Parliament Santokh Singh Chaudhary had cardiac arrest and when taken to the hospital was declared dead. Santokh Singh Chaudhary had political affiliation even during his youth days as his father Late Master Gurbanta Singh was a seasoned politician and Congress leader and was Minister in the then Punjab Cabinet, his brother Late Ch. Jagjit Singh also remained Minister in Punjab Government. Similarly, Ch. Santokh Singh was a Minister in Punjab Government and won twice from the Jalandhar Parliamentary Constituency Lok Sabha. His son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary is M.L.A. in Punjab. Indian National Congress suspended the Bharat Jodo Yatra for few hours and will commence on 15th Jan. Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi visited Chaudhary Santokh Singh’s house in Jalandhar and paid condolence to the bereaved family.

JALANDHAR PARLIAMENTARY SEAT
With the sudden demise of Chaudhary Santokh Singh the political leaders of various political parties will be keeping eye on the Jalandhar Parliamentary by-elections. More than one year away the general parliament elections, the Election Commission of India can announce the bye-election when they will be conducting by- elections to other states. The by- election will be an acid test for AAP and similarly Congress will having an edge with sympathy vote where as SAD(B), S.A.D.(M) and B.J.P. will also be contesting in the by-election with their candidates. BJP will have to focus more in this parliamentary by- election, the reason this time there can be no alliance of BJP with other political parties. Nothing can be predicted but when foes become friends and friends become foes in politics at any time or any moment. 

Authored by:
Rajat Kumar Mohindru,
Journalist,  
Jalandhar City.