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Will Manmohan announce schemes for Punjab?

By Sarabjit Pandher

AMRITSAR, AUG. 30. While preparations are complete for initiating celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the installation of the holy Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple here, some quarters are anxious about the possible announcements by the Government on the occasion.

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will be here on Tuesday to take part in the celebrations by paying obeisance at the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Mandir and respects to the martyrs at the Jallianwalla Bagh and chairing a seminar on the relevance of the teachings recorded in Guru Granth Sahib. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, along with three of his predecessors, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I.K. Gujral and Chandra Shekhar, will address a gathering on September 1 coinciding with the grand procession tracing the footsteps of Guru Arjan Dev, who compiled the holy scriptures in the form of "Adi Granth".

There is a lot of excitement among the locals about Dr. Singh's first visit to the shrine and the city after he assumed office. His family lived here after the Partition in 1947.

Election code

While the authorities are tight lipped, sources close to the State Government indicate that the Prime Minister may announce a special package for Punjab and some projects for the border areas, especially this city. But others point out that the imposition of the model code of conduct by the Election Commission of India, which has announced by-elections to the three recently vacated Assembly seats, could force the Prime Minister not to make any announcement. The Ajnala seat, where the bypoll is slated, falls within the jurisdiction of Amritsar revenue district.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, went ahead with the dedicating the road from Sultanwind gate to the Golden Temple, which has been named as the Bhai Gurdas Marg and inaugurated the 132 kV power grid. Earlier, at a rally on the occasion of Rakhar Punia festival, at Baba Bakala, 25 km from here, the Chief Minister defended the anti-graft drive and the stance adopted by his Government on the river waters issue.

Simultaneously, from another stage, the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by their president, Parkash Singh Badal, indulged in major Congress bashing, keeping Capt. Amarinder Singh as their main target. But both camps appealed to the people to take part in the Quadra-centennial.

All roads in Punjab leading to this `holy city' have been profusely decorated with special gates, strings of kesari triangular flags, lights, felicitating banners and colourful frills. In the towns and villages along the roads, citizens and various organisations have set up `langars' (community kitchens) for the pilgrims.

Festive look

According to the SGPC and district administration, at least dozen processions and special `Gurmat Chetna Marches', which had devotees from different parts of the country, entered the city today. More such processions are expected on Tuesday. Various organisations of the Hindu and other communities joined their Sikh brethren to illuminate their shrines and other establishments for the next few days, while the entire border district wears a festive look.

In Amritsar, to ensure the safety of those participating in the historic celebrations and avoid congestion, the authorities have closed the walled city for all traffic. It is expected that about four lakh vehicles from all over the country would enter the city in the next three days. To meet the rush, 30 medical teams, including five mobile units, have been stationed at different venues, while the health authorities gave finishing touches to their arrangements.

The State police chief, A.A. Siddiqui, is camping in the city to supervise the security arrangements, as at least 7,000 officers and personnel have deployed on various duties. A special "Tourist Police" has been raised on the occasion, which has set up camps at various places to assist the visitors.

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