Punjab: Junior Mann, man with a mission in polls

Sirhind, Feb 9: While some candidates try to woo voters in thename of development and put forward a bag full of promises, there areothers who have made this poll an arena to highlight social issues thatconfront Punjab.

One such candidate is Emaan Singh Mann, son of Akali Dal(Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and nephew of Chief MinisterAmarinder Singh. He is contesting his second consecutive assemblyelection from the party that his father founded.

''I know I may not get many votes by highlighting social issues,but I want to create awarness about the problems that we areconfronting in Punjab'', the junior Mann said when approached by agroup of reporters during his busy election schedule in the Sirhindconstituency.

Having studied social science at Knox College in Ilinois and laterat the University of Notredam, he is soft spoken, quite unlike hisfather, who has been dubbed as a 'radical' politician due to his oftenrepeated demand of a seprate Sikh state.

Emaan, has launched an awareness campaign against drug abuse,liquor consumption and female foeticide.'' What use is development, ifour youth get hooked onto drugs and liquor'', he points out in hiselection rallies.

On female foeticide, he says '' this will destroy the very socialfabric of our society, if we do not halt it right now as Punjab has theworst male-female ratio in the age group of 0-6 years''. He is angrythat neither the Congress nor the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) hashighlighted this problem in their respective manifestos.

''Female foeticide is not even an issue in the elections in anyof the constituencies in Punjab, not even in Sunam'', he points outwhile refering to the recovery of a large number of foetus in Patrantown near Sunam last year.

Emaan and his party activists are visiting various villages andcreating awareness among the people about drug abuse and the need topreserve the girl population. '' The future of Punjab is at stake if wedo not check drug abuse'', he added.

During his political campaign , Emaan mainly stresses that votersshould not sell their right of voting for drugs and they shouldhonestly cast their votes. '' I am not asking you to vote for me, butdo not get swayed by liquor or drugs'', he tells the electorate. Hisspeeches are more in the form of sermons, quite in contrast with hisfather's fiery political ones. The 'elder Mann' who is contesting fromthe Dhanula assembly segment is being considered as the winningcandidate, not the case with the junior Mann.

This foreign educated youth traverses the villages of hisconstituency to spread his message. At the start of his electioncampaign, Emaan organised medical camps in Fatehgarh Sahib district andadjoining areas to provide expert treatment to people.

The only time that he sound political is when he criticises hisuncle Amarinder's government of crushing the voice of people by usingpolice force and lathi-charging students, teachers etc. He also takeson SAD chief Prakash Singh Badal and accuses him of abandoning'panthic' (Sikh) ideals.

He may not match the popularity of Congress candidate and sittingMLA Harbans Lal or that of SAD nominee Didar Singh Bhatti, but hedefinately has made an impact in the segment. He presents an image ofsincerity and committment while waiting patiently for his supporters tomake speeches even when there are very few people around to listen tohim.

In last assembly election, the late SGPC president Gurcharan SinghTohra campaigned for Emaan but now Tohra supporters are with the SADcandidate. Emaan at times goes to the people alone early in the morningand attends small corner meetings. He tells the people how important itis to cast vote and that they must know their candidates well beforeexercising their franchise.

Emaan, despite his foreign educated background, is not a show-offand mixes well with the people. Candidates all over Punjab may bespending crores on elections, but junior Mann just can't afford tofollow the suit.

UNI
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