``Though Badal is a gentleman,'' quipped the tea shop owner, ``I wonder where all the money has gone?'' He adds that his nephew, a government employee, didn't get his July salary.

Malkit Singh says maybe the Badal group has spent the money to win MLAs. ``But this time the votes are going to be divided and whatever the Akalis may do, the Congress will benefit,'' he asserts.

``Tell me if the Congress is better than the Akalis?'' asks the shop-owner. ``O ji changa tan rab da na ai, eh sab ta paise banan te lage hoye ne,'' says Malkit Singh (Good is only god's name, all these politicians are busy making money).

FARIDKOT: Supporters of Congress candidateJagmeet Brar whispered to some reporters from Delhi that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, whose son Sukhbir Badal is in the fray here, has allowed six illegal openings in Sirhind Canal for irrigation purposes. According to them, these openings supply water to drains which were dug to deal with waterlogging in the area.

From these drains farmers are allowed to draw water with the help of diesel pump sets. No one checks the theft of water.

But why don't you object, asked the reporters. ``Well, if we object we will earn the wrath of the farmers. So, we are telling the people that if water has been made available it is because Jagmeet Brar is a strong candidate and the Badals are afraid of him. That's why the largesse!

-- Rajinder Taggar