VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Capt: Yes, I had decided to quit Cong

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 27

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Capt Amarinder Singh today made a candid confession — that months ago he had decided to quit the Congress and float a regional party.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, he said, “Yes, I was ready to quit the party months ago. I had told AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi about the decision.”

For the first time, he admitted that he was unhappy with the state unit at that point of time (when Partap Singh Bajwa was PPCC chief) and wanted changes at the top level. “Reacting to my decision to quit, Rahul Gandhi observed this would be a loss to both the Congress and to me. I frankly told him that let it be so as I could not work in the existing set-up,” said Amarinder.

He had begun holding meetings with MLAs loyal to him on forming a party when he was appointed PPCC chief in place of Bajwa. “The intention was not to defy the party leadership, but to regroup in order to dethrone the SAD-BJP government in Punjab.

“It is my belief that to counter regional parties, the high command should give more freedom to its state presidents so that they can take decisions on the spot in the interest of the party,” said the PPCC chief

Kejriwal India's Trump, Badal losing his mind: Amarinder Singh to NDTV

OPEN VEDIO LINK TO LISTEN CAPT AMRINDER ,Punjab Pradesh Congress President

WITH BARKHA DUTT AT NDTV 24X7 TELE 

CASTED ON 27 JUN 2016

https://youtu.be/1vnb50tMuDo

23% hike likely in 7th pay panel; decision tomorrow

New Delhi, June 27

The government is likely to soon announce the implementation of 7th Pay Commission that would hike the salaries and allowances for over 1 crore government employees and pensioners by at least 23.5 per cent.A committee of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha has submitted its report on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which may be accepted, a financial ministry official said.Based on the panel’s report, the Finance Ministry is preparing a Cabinet note and the issue may come up for approval by the Cabinet as early as June 29. “The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) has finalised its report on Pay Commission recommendations...We will soon (file) draft Cabinet note based on the report,” Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said today.The government had in January set up a high-powered panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, which will have bearing on the remuneration of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and 58 lakh pensioners.The Pay Commission had recommended 23.55 per cent overall hike in salaries, allowances and pension involving an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore or nearly 0.7 per cent of the GDP.The panel recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, the lowest in 70 years. The previous 6th Pay Commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008.The 23.55 per cent increase includes hike in allowances. The entry level pay has been recommended to be raised to Rs 18,000 per month from current Rs 7,000 while the maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary, has been fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per month from current Rs 90,000.Sources said the secretaries’ panel may have recommended higher pay increase, with minimum entry level pay at Rs 23,500 a month and maximum salary of Rs 3.25 lakh.While the Budget for 2016-17 fiscal did not provide an explicit provision for implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, the government had said the once-in-a-decade pay hike for government employees has been built in as interim allocation for different ministries. Around Rs 70,000 crore has been provisioned for it, officials said. Lavasa said the 7th Pay Commission report would be effective from January 1. — PTI

Recommendations

• 23.55% Overall hike in salaries, allowances and pension
• 14.27% increase in basic pay, lowest in 70 years
• Rs 18,000/month Entry-level pay (up from current Rs 7,000)
• Rs 2.5 lakh/month Maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary (up from current Rs 90,000)

Asha Kumari stays put

New state Cong incharge says land-grab charges a non-issue

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 27

Trashing the land-grab charges against her as baseless, Congress incharge, Punjab affairs, Asha Kumari said today that she would continue in her new role, while daring the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to fight her politically instead of making an “issue out of a non-issue”.

“I am not going anywhere. I am not obliging anyone,” said the 61-year-old five-time Congress legislator from Himachal Pradesh, a day after land-grab accusations resurfaced to haunt her.

Asha’s appointment came days after the Congress was forced to relieve Kamal Nath as Punjab general secretary over his alleged role in the anti-Sikh riots.

Admitting that a Chamba court had this February sentenced her to one-year imprisonment in a case related to family property in Dalhousie, Asha said the Himachal High Court had stayed the sentence, suspending her conviction.

“The case relates to my father-in-law’s properties which my husband inherited and then I did. The transactions happened in 1975 when I wasn’t even married. Naturally, I had no role except inheriting my husband’s property. If that’s criminal, the whole of India is committing a crime. There is no corruption charge against me,” Asha told The Tribune after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi and taking charge today.

She said Sonia didn’t even discuss the case and spoke only of the poll-bound Punjab. “Soniaji knows everything about the case,” said Asha, who today relinquished the charge of the AICC secretary for Haryana.

Amarinder bats for her

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 27

PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today said he was kept in the loop by AICC president Sonia Gandhi while finalising Asha Kumari as the party incharge for the state.

He said Sonia called him up a week ago to inform about the choice and that he seconded her decision. “She (Asha) is hardworking and an able politician and we will work as a team,” the MP said.

The role of the new appointee would be to liaison between the PPCC and the AICC, he added.

Referring to the case pending against Asha, he said her conviction had been stayed by the HC and the legal proceedings were going on like that of BJP MP Navjot Sidhu.

Sunil Jakhar, chief spokesman, said by appointing Asha the party high command has empowered the more-experienced PPCC chief.

Reacting to the opposition charges, Amarinder said they should better introspect and look within before pointing a finger at the Congress.

“It is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black,” he remarked while lambasting the Akalis, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party leaders for their double standards.

Pinky accuses top cops of fake encounters

Chandigarh, June 27

Dismissed Inspector Gurmeet Singh Pinky here today alleged that almost all top officers in the Punjab Police had been involved in fake encounters during terrorism in the state.

Accompanied by several dismissed cops, Pinky said some people were killed by the police during those days but there was no record of their arrest or of encounters.

Releasing a list of 11 police officers, and claiming to have identified 54 more convicted by the court and awarded sentences on the charges of corruption as well as in terrorism-related cases, he said while a few cops like him were dismissed, these 65 officers continued to get plum postings. — TNS

Christian groups to back Cong in polls

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, June 27

After months of deliberations, several warring Christian groups in Gurdaspur district have decided to support the Congress in the next Assembly elections. Of the total 9 lakh voters, 1.75 lakh are Christians in the district, a share of nearly 20 per cent.

However, the decision comes with a rider. The community has asked the PPCC leadership to give party nominations in at least 20 Assembly seats of the state where the Christian vote is between 30 to 45 per cent of the total vote share.

The move to unite the faction-ridden community has the backing of Anil Thomas, vice-chairman of the AICC Minorities Department.

A 100-member Christian Co-ordination Committee has also been constituted. This committee will confabulate with the PPCC when tickets are to be decided.

Various political parties were eyeing this vote bank in Punjab in general and in Gurdaspur in particular. The SAD had even gone to the extent of placating the community by adjusting its leaders in the senior ranks and the youth party hierarchy.

Observers claim that out of the seven Assembly seats in this district, four have a substantial vote bank where Christians can be candidates.

Kanwal Bakshi, President of the United Christian Front, said the seats of Batala, Gurdaspur, Fatehgarh Churian and Dera Baba Nanak were heavily dominated by the members of the community.

“We have been ignored since long. Now, the time has come for the PPCC to show its secular face and give ticket to Christians. Our demand warrants attention as it is genuine. Apart from four seats in this district we also demand the party considers our candidates from all 20 seats where our community’s presence is dominant,” he said.

Salamat Masih, another senior leader who once contested the Assembly elections from the now defunct seat of Dhariwal, said in the past whenever the PPCC drew its election manifesto, there was nothing for the community.

“We also want 2 per cent reservation in state government jobs for Christians, as is there in Kerala,” he said.

The leaders claimed that another pre-condition to go with the Congress was the assurance that the party would take care of the churches across the state. “There are around 60 churches in Punjab, constructed by the British. They are in a dilapidated condition. The Congress has assured us that they will be declared heritage properties if the party comes to power,” added Bakshi.

Charges baseless, oppn making issue out of nothing, says Asha

I don’t understand why the BJP, AAP and Akalis are crying hoarse over my appointment. Why are they meddling in internal affairs of the Congress? Where is the corruption? This is not a land-grab case. The sentence has been suspended by the HC. ASHA KUMARI, Congress Punjab affairs in-charge

SHIMLA: Amid reports that her appointment as the secretary in-charge of Punjab has left the Congress embarrassed, Himachal MLA Asha Kumari on Monday met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and accused the BJP, AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of making an issue out of a “non-issue”.

Asha, who is at the centre of a controversy over her conviction in a land-grab case, also dared the opposition parties to prove corruption charges against her. A legislator from Dalhousie in Himachal, she was convicted on February 26 in a land-grab case and sentenced to a year in jail. A Chamba court held her guilty of criminal conspiracy. In March, the high court suspended her conviction, but the case is still pending in the court.

The BJP, AAP and SAD were quick to assail the Congress leadership for appointing her the in-charge of the party in Punjab which goes to polls early next year, saying the party was not serious about the state.

‘WHERE IS CORRUPTION?’

“I don’t understand why the BJP, AAP and Akalis are crying hoarse over my appointment. Why are they meddling in internal affairs of the Congress? Where is the corruption? This is not a land-grab case. The case was related to a property which was owned by my father-in-law late Laxman Sen, and tenants had forged some papers to claim ownership,” she told HT over phone from Delhi.

“No case has been registered against me under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The lower court sentence has been suspended by the high court,” she added.

‘I KNOW MY JOB WELL’

On reports of her being seen as a “lightweight” leader, the Congress secretary said she was not knew to holding party affairs in states. “It’s not for the first time that the party has made me in-charge of any state. I had managed party affairs in Jharkhand and Haryana. Only time will tell if I am a lightweight or a heavyweight leader. I don’t bother about the opposition. My goal is to see party win elections in Punjab,” she added.

The five-time Congress MLA said she would meet party leaders in Punjab when state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh returns from vacation. Replying to a query on factionalism in Punjab Congress, she said: “It’s obvious to have a difference of opinion in party with a democratic setup.”

Cong nets two self-goals in Punjab election season

2ND IN ROW With its two players misfiring back-to-back, the party has given enough ammunition to political rivals to rub it in ahead of state assembly polls

NEW DELHI: It’s football season and even the Congress seems to be caught up in the goal-fest gripping the world. In less than two weeks, the grand-old party has scored twice on the Punjab turf, but unfortunately both turned out to be self-goals.

Ahead of the Punjab assembly polls next year, the Congress thought of fielding its seasoned players to take on the incumbent SAD-BJP combine and a new challenger, the Aam Aadmi Party.

The Congress named Kamal Nath as general secretary incharge of Punjab, but rival parties pounced on the decision alleging that Nath’s name figured in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Though the party clarified Nath’s name does not figure in any 1984 riots case, he stepped down after the furore over the issue.

Barely had it put a lid over Nath’s appointment, the Congress scored another selfgoal by naming lightweight Asha Kumari as in-charge of Punjab affairs. Turns out Kumari was convicted in a 1998 land grab case in Himachal Pradesh.

With its two players misfiring back-to-back in Punjab, the party seems to have given enough ammunition to its political rivals to rub it in ahead of the assembly polls.

Congress leaders, unable to explain the rationale behind the moves, maintained that such decisions are taken at the highest level after due consultation.But political analysts see it more as an “adjustment” policy. “Rather than working towards managing the elections, the party seems to be engaged in an adjustment and appeasement policy,” said Sanjay Kumar of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).

A senior Congress functionary, however, blamed poll strategist Prashant Kishor for the decision on Nath.

Keen to accommodate Nath in a key organisational position, the leadership is believed to have chosen him for Punjab affairs in view of his ability as a manager and a fund raiser. Besides, his working relationship with Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh had also weighed in his favour.

In fact, the party had toyed with the names of senior leaders such as Digvijaya Singh, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Sheila Dikshit before naming Asha Kumari as an interim arrangement in Punjab.

The party has, however, defended Asha’s appointment, saying the case involving her was a “highly complicated and complex” land issue and “not a case of murder”. “BJP president Amit Shah is charged of murder and is out on bail. He is an accused in a murder case. Yeddyurappa (Karnataka BJP chief) is accused of corruption,” senior leader Kapil Sibal told reporters.

But the barbs continue. “It is a shame that a party with 130 years of track record cannot find one honest and clean person to lead Punjab affairs,“said expelled Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar.

Congress stages protest against ‘deteriorating’ law and order situation

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 27

The District Congress Committee (Urban) staged a protest against the central government and demanded that it should intervene to check drug abuse and improve the law and order situation in the state. Party activists held a rally and burned an effigy of the central government.

DCC (Urban) president Jugal Kishore Sharma said while the Prime Minister had himself admitted in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address that Punjab was facing a severe drug problem, the state government had turned a blind eye towards the issue. “Instead, the state leadership is issuing statements claiming that there is no such problem in the state,” said Sharma.

He said the law and order condition in the state, too, had deteriorated during the SAD-BJP government as crimes against common citizens in general and women and Dalits in particular had increased manifold. He said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal being the Home Minister of the state should own the responsibility for the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.

The protest rally was also attended by MLA OP Soni, Harjinder Singh Thekedar and women wing’s president Mamta Dutta. Speaking on the occasion, Soni said unemployment and drug abuse were the two biggest issues concerning youngsters. He said the government had failed to provide employment to youngsters, as a result of which they had taken to drugs and crimes. He said the government had also failed to attract industry in the state.

ਵੱਖਰੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਬਣਾ ਲਿਆ ਸੀ: ਕੈਪਟਨ

Posted On June - 27 - 2016

ਫ਼ੈਸਲੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਸੋਨੀਆ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਤੇ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਦੱਸਣ ਦਾ ਦਾਅਵਾ

ਰਾਜਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 27 ਜੂਨ

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਕਮੇਟੀ (ਪੀਪੀਸੀਸੀ) ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੁੱਝ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਛੱਡਣ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਵੱਖਰੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਬਣਾ ਲਿਆ ਸੀ।
‘ਟ੍ਰਿਬਿਊਨ’ ਨਾਲ ਫੋਨ ਉਤੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਦੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਲ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਕਮੇਟੀ (ਏਆਈਸੀਸੀ) ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸੋਨੀਆ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਅਤੇ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣੂ ਕਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ। ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਆਨ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਕਬੂਲਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਉਹ ਰਾਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਜਥੇਬੰਦਕ ਢਾਂਚੇ ਤੋਂ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਉੱਚ ਪੱਧਰ ’ਤੇ ਤਬਦੀਲੀ ਦੇ ਇੱਛੁਕ ਸਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਦੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ ’ਤੇ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨੇ ਟਿੱਪਣੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਈ ਘਾਟੇ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਉਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਸੰਗ ਕਹਿ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਜੋ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਹੋ ਲੈਣ ਦਿਓ ਪਰ ਉਹ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਢਾਂਚੇ ਨਾਲ ਕੰਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ।
ਕੈਪਟਨ ਦੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਹਾਈ ਕਮਾਂਡ ਨੂੰ ਪਤਾ ਚੱਲਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਣਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੀਪੀਸੀਸੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਜਵਾ ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਠਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਿਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਕੈਪਟਨ ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਛੱਡਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਰਾਹੁਲ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਸੀ, ਉਦੋਂ ਬਾਜਵਾ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚਾਲੇ ਲੜਾਈ ਸਿਖਰ ਉਤੇ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਭਰੋਸੇਯੋਗ ਵਿਧਾਇਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੀਟਿੰਗਾਂ ਵੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਸਨ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਨਵੀਂ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਕਾਇਮ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਇਰਾਦਾ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਲੀਡਰਸ਼ਿਪ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਬਗ਼ਾਵਤ ਨਹੀਂ, ਸਗੋਂ ਸੱਤਾਧਾਰੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ-ਭਾਜਪਾ ਗਠਜੋੜ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਗੱਦੀ ਤੋਂ ਲਾਹੁਣ ਲਈ ਲਾਮਬੰਦੀ ਸੀ।

ਸੋਨੀਆ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ’ਤੇ ਪੂਰਾ ਭਰੋਸਾ: ਆਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰੀ

ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ: ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਨਵ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਇੰਚਾਰਜ ਆਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਅਸਤੀਫ਼ਾ ਦੇਣ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਤੋਂ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਮੁਖੀ ਸੋਨੀਆ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਪੂਰਾ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ਘੁਟਾਲੇ ਦੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਹੋਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਆਲੋਚਨਾ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਆਸ਼ਾ ਕੁਮਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਸੋਨੀਆ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਲਾਕਾਤ ਕੀਤੀ।

-ਪੀਟੀਆਈ

ਨੌਕਰੀ ਘੁਟਾਲਾ: ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਦੇ ਜਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਸਿਆ ਡੱਡੀ

Posted On June - 27 - 2016

ਵੱਡੇ ਬੰਦਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਬੋਲਣ ਦੀ ਚਰਚਾ;ਸਹਿਕਾਰੀ ਅਦਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਵੀ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਇਆ

ਨੌਕਰੀ ਘੁਟਾਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਸੇ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਡੱਡੀ ਦੀ ਮਲੋਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਿਆਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੋਲਿਆਂਵਾਲੀ ਨਾਲ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਤਸਵੀਰ।

ਦਵਿੰਦਰ ਪਾਲ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 27 ਜੂਨ
ਨੌਕਰੀ ਘੁਟਾਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਹਿਮ ਭੂਮਿਕਾ ਨਿਭਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਆਗੂ ਅਤੇ ਮਲੋਟ ਦੇ ਮਿਉਂਸਿਪਲ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਉਰਫ਼ ਡੱਡੀ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਬਿਊਰੋ ਨੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਇਸ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਜ ਦੇਰ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਥਾਣਾ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਿਜਾ ਕੇ ਪੁੱਛ-ਪੜਤਾਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ। ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਡੱਡੀ ਦੇ ਕਾਬੂ ਆਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਇਕ ਸਹਿਕਾਰੀ ਅਦਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਵੀ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਨੇ ਅਮਿਤ ਸਾਗਰ ਨਾਲ ਨੇੜਤਾ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਮੰਨੀ ਹੈ। ਅਮਿਤ ਸਾਗਰ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਅਦਾਲਤੀ ਹਿਰਾਸਤ ਅਧੀਨ ਜੇਲ੍ਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ। ਮਲੋਟ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਤੇ ਜਲ ਸਪਲਾਈ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਾਗਰ ਨੇ ਹੀ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਦੀ ਭੂਮਿਕਾ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਨਿਲਾਮੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਖੁਲਾਸਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ। ਡੱਡੀ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਤਕਰੀਬਨ ਡੇਢ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਤੋਂ ਲਾਪਤਾ ਸੀ। ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਘੁਟਾਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਤੋਂ ਹੱਥ ਪਿਛਾਂਹ ਖਿੱਚਣ ਬਾਅਦ ਲੰਬੀ ਹਲਕੇ ਦੇ ਜਥੇਦਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਦੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਸਲਾਹ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਤੇ ਪੁਲੀਸ ਨੇ ਐਤਵਾਰ ਰਾਤੀਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਾਬੂ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ। ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਬਿਊਰੋ ਨੇ ‘ਪੈਸੇ ਦੀ ਯੋਗਤਾ’ ਨਾਲ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਜੋ ਤੱਥ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਲਿਆਂਦੇ ਸਨ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਨੇ ਸਥਾਨਕ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਐਸਡੀਓ ਅਤੇ ਜੂਨੀਅਰ ਇੰਜਨੀਅਰ ਦੀ ਭਰਤੀ ਲਈ ਚਾਰ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਖੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, ਸੁਮਿਤ ਜਿੰਦਲ, ਗੌਰਵ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਅਤੇ ਅਜੈ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਲਖਨਊ ਭੇਜਿਆ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ 10 ਤੋਂ 30 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੱਕ ਦਾ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਵਾ ਚਾੜ੍ਹਿਆ ਸੀ। ਪੁੱਡਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਜੂਨੀਅਰ ਇੰਜਨੀਅਰ ਦੀ ਆਸਾਮੀ ਲਈ ਕੁੱਝ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਭੇਜੇ ਗਏ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੋਟੀਆਂ ਰਕਮਾਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ। ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਖੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਗੁਪਤਾ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਅਮਿਤ ਸਾਗਰ ਦੇ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਇਆ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੱਤਰ ਦੇਖਣ ਲਈ 30 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੌਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ। ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਕ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਸ਼ਾਲੀ  ‘ਜਥੇਦਾਰ’ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਡੱਡੀ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਯਤਨ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਹ ਯਤਨ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਡੱਡੀ ਤੋਂ ਸਖ਼ਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਪੁੱਛ-ਪੜਤਾਲ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਖੁਲਾਸੇ ਨਾ ਕਰਾਏ ਜਾਣ। ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਦੇ ਇਕ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਮ ਗੁਪਤ ਰੱਖਦਿਆਂ ਡੱਡੀ ਨੂੰ ਹਿਰਾਸਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈਣ ਦੀ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਬਿਊਰੋ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਮੰਨਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਡੱਡੀ ਦੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਅਸਲ ਦੋਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਕਰਨੀ ਆਸਾਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।

ਕੁਮਾਰਹੱਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੁਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਡੱਡੀ

ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਬਿਊਰੋ ਨੇ 18 ਮਈ ਨੂੰ ਮਲੋਟ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਮਿਤ ਸਾਗਰ ਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਉਰਫ਼ ਡੱਡੀ ਦੀ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਘੁਟਾਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਮੂਲੀਅਤ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਈ। ਡੱਡੀ ਉਸੇ ਦਿਨ ਤੋਂ ਭਗੌੜਾ ਸੀ। ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਤਕਰੀਬਨ ਡੇਢ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਤੋਂ ਹਿਮਾਚਲ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਕੁਮਾਰਹੱਟੀ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੇ ਇਕ ਦੋਸਤ ਦੇ ਫਲੈਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਛੁਪਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ। ਵਿਜੀਲੈਂਸ ਨੂੰ ਹੁਣ ਯੂਥ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਆਗੂ ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਉਰਫ਼ ਬਿੱਟੂ ਸਰਪੰਚ ਦੀ ਤਲਾਸ਼ ਹੈ। ਬਿੱਟੂ ਸਰਪੰਚ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਭਗੌੜਾ ਹੈ।