Pursuant to discussions with Capt. Sahib at Ludhiana, I was promptly appointed as NRI Representative of the Punjab Congress. Not one to waste time I travelled out of India on 12 August and proceeded to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, New Jersey, London, Birmingham and Manchester. I met with loads of NRIs, exchanged views, gauged their issues, their active interest in Punjab politics and invited them to come in large numbers for the forthcoming Punjab elections.

In my absence monsoon rain on 12 and 13 August brought Ludhiana to its knees once again, underlying the fact that the city just does not have adequate storm water drainage. It is shocking to witness that Punjab's industrial heart and largest city contributes most to the state treasury, but the state does so little for Ludhiana except sell its choicest of properties for questionable private developments.

At the end of August we had the Akhand Path for the new freshers at Gobind National College, Narangwal. I was particularly impressed by the cheques that were distributed to the students aggregating to more than Rs.5 lakhs which were from the Union Minority Affairs Department.

We also launched a new facility on my website to provide information about NRI Voting in India. Whilst there are issues requiring clarification I hope to see several thousand NRI votes registered by year end.

Throughout August there was the usual noise relating to the SGPC elections. Although Congress is keeping a safe distance, I make my opinion known to anyone that asks. I wish we could free the SGPC from all politicians and leave it for the sewadaars.

My press releases this month were both about the Mansa Power Project. I fail to understand why this government has not entered into a power purchase agreement, yet continues to acquire land merely on the basis of an MOU. What's the incentive, Mr Badal?

Anna Hazare and Lokpal meant that the media had little else to report. I commented extensively on Facebook, where to my surprise my comments aggregated to 6 regular pages, no less! My view remains that the objective is accepted by all but not the means: we cannot have persons outside Parliament writing the law. My letter to the Editor on Lokpal was published in several papers.

On Facebook I initiated several Discussions on far ranging subjects from the Ludhiana Metro to NRIs to, inevitably, Anna Hazare, which, to my surprise, were all very well contributed to. You can still contribute to these discussions and I’ll keep putting up more as time goes on.

I also launched my new-look website with lots of new functionality, including a messaging facility for NRIs to the various government officials. Let's see how many get replies!

September will be interesting with Chapaar mela, SGPC voting (if we get that far), the continuing Lokpal saga (the film cannot be far away!) cooler weather and rising political temperatures.

Thanks for your time.

Jassi Khangura

With delimitation resulting in the abolition of Halqa Qila Raipur (incidentally the only Grewal-centric constituency that Punjab ever had) Jassi decided it was time for a complete new start, not just a make over.

The new site fully reflects Jassi’s personality. It is loud but not over powering. The home page is less busy, the tabs are fewer and the pages are logically listed.

Jassi says, ‘this is now my one step portal for information on Dakha and Qila Raipur areas as well as having a separate section for NRIs.” He continues to say, “I wanted to replace my old website with something more relevant to people’s needs and requirements today, hence it has a Facebook plugin, which acknowledges the importance of that to our users also.”

The site has been developed to help people find the information they want, including data on villages and a specially designed section explaining how NRIs can register to vote in India.

Jassi welcomes feedback about the new site. Do you like it? Any downloading issues? Can you find what you are looking for?

With Supporters at Calgary Airport upon arrival   Along with members of all groups of INOC, Mr. Garry S. Gewal, Mr. Raj Chohan, MLA, Jinny Sims, MP Sabba Hundal, Mr. Gurdial Singh, Mr. Puri, Mr. Deepak Dharma and others   Mela Gadri Babian Da, Bear Creek Park–Vancouver, BC   In no specific order are Mr. Sukhwinder Singh, Mr. Buta Singh, Mr. Hans Singh, Mr. Barjinder S. Brar of Sikh Federation of USA, Mr. Mandeep Hans, Chairman INOC, Mr. Hardeep S. Sekhon, Mr. Gurmit S. Gill President Punjab Wing, Jassi Khangura MLA, Mr.  Baljit S. Dhillon,Mr. Major S. Dhillon, Mr. Bahadur Singh, Mr Jagdeep Sohal.Sitting are Mr. Eric Kumar and  Mrs. Pam Kwatra, President INOC (New Jersey)

Jassi toured Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and New Jersey. There was a press conference at each location followed by interaction with NRI’s. The NRI media generally asked incisive questions about Anna Hazare, Lokpal, the SGPC elections, the clemency plea for Prof. Devinder Singh Bhullar and about Punjab politics. Concerns were also raised about the NRI issues such as the union blacklist, property in Punjab, matrimonial disputes, passports and visas. Jassi assured all, that the incoming government would provide a higher profile to the NRI Affairs department and would review the functioning of the proposed NRI commission and would create a pro-business environment to facilitate NRI investment. Jassi stated that the loot of NRI assets in Punjab must stop and that the new government would work to win the confidence of NRIs. Jassi particularly enjoyed addressing the “Gadhri Babian Da Mela” at Bear Creek Park, Surrey, an annual event attended by the tens of thousands in honour of the late Prof. Mohan Singh which was initiated many years ago by Sardar Singh Jassowal. For a full collection of pictures, please log onto our new website, www.jassikhangura.com/media/photos or Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Jassikhanguramla

From left to right: Mr. Ranjit S. Mangat, Bibi Manpreet Kaur, Jassi Khangura MLA, Mrs. Rashpal Kaur and Mrs. Agiyapal Kaur	In his address Jassi spoke about the importance of dental health, the need for frequent tooth brushing, and the early treatment of cavities. He stressed the need to reduce the use of both salt and sugar. Jassi also encouraged an active lifestyle and he was impressed by the facilities in the mobile van of the CMC Dental College.

Unfortunately, the money from that work was nowhere near enough to make ends meet and she often had to borrow money to be even able to buy vegetables for herself and her son.

When Sunita Rani’s son became ill, she didn’t have any money to pay for his medical treatment. Her in-laws didn’t help her and she had to ask her own parents, which they provided within their own meagre means. All this time she has been living in a single room with a leaking roof, which during the monsoon means all her possessions would get wet and damaged.

Until MDVL opened a Community Dairy Unit in her village this year, where she now keeps five cows and is earning income through her entrepreneurship, Sunita Rani had absolutely no hope. Now, she says the nutrition she can provide her son has already improved as she regularly buys the much needed vegetables. Additionally, she plans to slowly improve her living conditions with the money she earns from her business and dreams of providing a better life for her son.

Jassi encourages and request’s all NRIs to register their names in the electoral roll.

Please follow the steps on http://www.jassikhangura.com/index.php/nri-voter-registration  to register your name in the electoral roll with a step-by-step guideline including a sample form filled out. For any questions, please feel free to contact Taruna Jindal-Kundra in UK, +44 751 529 8840  or Amandeep Khangura in India, +91 9878 000 104.

What would happen if in due course 100 different groups started agitating for new states, water rights, capital punishment, gay marriage, food grain royalties, guaranteed jobs for all graduates, etc.... If they all felt that they could get their way just by way of mass organised protest, then you would have mob rule and anarchy with no one in control.

Anna Hazare is taking us on a very slippery and potentially dangerous road. His arguments have some merit but it is his manner for forcing the issue that is dangerous for the future of the country.

Public protest is a fundamental right in a democracy. The problem with the Anna Hazare movement is that Lokpal is being presented as the definitive solution to corruption, whereas in reality it is at best a starting point. The biggest weapon against corruption is political will, for which civil society needs our political parties!

Anna Hazare and his team need to advise the public:

1. To what extent Lokpal would reduce corruption
2. What else should be done after the Lokpal bill is passed to further reduce corruption?”

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