VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Jat leaders say they will vote against BJP in Punjab, UP polls

Jat bodies to hold protest in Delhi on Sept 28

We are protesting against the BJP because the party has not paid compensation to those killed in violence and scores of people who have been arrested have not been released. SS SANDHU, president, Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) of “cheating” them on the issue of reservation, leaders of Jat organisations and khap panchayats on Thursday said members of the community would vote against the party in next year’s assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Choudhari Omvir Singh, founder of Vishwa Jat Manch, said, “We have decided to shun the violent mode of protest and work for defeat of the BJP in assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh as the party has cheated the Jats on reservation issue in Haryana.”

“Jats from Haryana will tour UP and Punjab and tell the voters there that BJP has cheated the community,” he added. The gathering of Jat leaders passed five resolutions, including one which demanded the Haryana government order a judicial inquiry into the violence during the February agitation by the community.“We demand a judicial probe into the violence allegedly by the Jats during the protests in the state by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. Jats were not involved in violence which occurred in the state, as they were busy with their rail-roko agitation,” Singh said.

The other demands, included release of “innocent” Jats arrested in Haryana and reservation to the community under OBC category as has been done in UP, Rajasthan and other states where the community has a sizeable presence.

Singh said Jat organisations from Haryana, Delhi, UP and Delhi would demonstrate peacefully at Ramlila Gorund in Delhi on September 28 to force the BJP government in Haryana to stop its work of “dividing’ the people in the state on caste lines.

“We are protesting against the BJP because the party has not paid compensation to those killed in violence and scores of people who have been arrested have not been released,” said SS Sandhu, president of the Jat Arakashan Sangharsh Samiti.

“We will ask the community to vote against BJP but we will not ask for voting in favour of any particular party,” he said.

As Amarinder sweats it out, Congress rank and file smiles

CAPT’S BACK-BREAKING REGIMEN IS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO HIS 2011 POLL PLANNING. AT THAT TIME, HE USED TO HOLD ONLY ONE RALLY A DAY AND REACH THE VENUE IN A CHOPPER

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh often dismisses the ‘sangat darshan’ as a pet pastime of ageing chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. In a tectonic shift in his poll strategy, however, the former chief minister is giving a much-needed fillip to the Congress campaign ahead of the assembly elections through his newly launched Halke Vich Captain, which is modelled on Badal’s programme.

PPCC chief Amarinder Singh at Dhanauni village during Halke Vich Captain at Derabassi in SAS Nagar; (right) Capt having sweets at a roadside dhaba in Zirakpur on Thursday.The outreach campaign that was kicked off from Jalalabad, the assembly constituency of deputy chief minister and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on June 19 has started dominating the political discourse in Punjab.CM Badal, who was in Jalandhar on Thursday to hold another ‘sangat darshan’, did not miss a chance to take a dig at Amarinder’s outreach programme, saying there is no match between “darbars of maharajas” and “pro-people sangat darshan”.Around the same time, Captain Amarinder, who belongs to the royal family of the erstwhile Patiala state, freely mingled with rural folks of Derabassi and patiently heard their grievances before opting for a quick lunch in a lowly roadside vegetarian ‘dhaba’ at Zirakpur.“The Congress strategy is that people must see Amarinder as Captain of Punjab and not an erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala. All his programmes have been prepared to project him as Punjab-da-Captain,” a poll strategist of Prashant Kishor team, which is organising the state Congress chief’s programme, said.Captain, meanwhile, finds “many advantages” in his new poll strategy. “(Parkash Singh) Badal has destroyed the state. I get to know what people are thinking and what they want and how their problems should be addressed,” Amarinder told Hindustan Times at a dhaba in Zirakpur, where he stopped for lunch with party workers after a three-hour “productive session” with the Dera Bassi public. JAIL FOR THOSE WHO LOOTED PUNJAB DURING AKALI REGIME: CAPT A large number of people, including women, on Thursday attended the third edition of Halke Vich Captain, held inside an air-conditioned countryside marriage palace. While Captain sat on a podium, the ‘sangat’ was on chairs. Huge screens were in place inside and outside the banquet hall for people to watch the proceedings. During this interactive session, called Lokan Da Darbar, the state Congress president fielded questions, triggering thunderous applause every time he promised: “All those who have looted Punjab during the Akali rule will be sent to jails.”Poor health services, lack of teachers in schools, administrative as well police corruption, unemployment and drug menace were among the issues that dominated the session. Over 100 people got the opportunity to pose questions to Captain, who announced that if his party forms the government, a special task force will be set up to redress public grievances. The task force, he said, will work under direct control of the chief minister.In next 24 weeks, Captain is to cover rest of the 114 assembly seats. All grievances submitted by the public during these sessions will be documented. “The special task force will follow each individual case and take it to logical conclusion,” said Amarinder.Many people slammed Akali Dal treasurer and MLA NK Sharma during the session. The Punjab Congress chief, too, didn’t miss the opportunity to take potshots at him. “This Sharma will also be sent to jail. NK Sharma is the biggest problem of Derabassi and he is associated with every mafia,” Captain Amarinder told the gathering while wrapping up the interaction. ‘CAMPAIGN DIFFERENT FROM SANGAT DARSHAN’Asked how his public contact initiative is different from Badal’s ‘sangat darshan’, he said: “Badal goes to distributes cheques... We don’t do that. I am interacting with people to know their problems. There has been a total misuse of power by all the Akali Dal-BJP MLAs and ministers. My promise to people is that we will investigate into the role of every minister.”After the grievance-hearing session, next on agenda was Congress workers’ meet, which was followed by a meeting with local influencers, such as sarpanches, professors, doctors, businessmen and farmers.The new back-breaking regimen of Amarinder is in sharp contrast to his 2011 poll planning. Then he used to hold only one rally a day and reach the venue in a chopper. Now, he travels in a modest looking car and the entire day is packed with back-to-back sessions. As Captain is sweating, the Congress rank and file is smiling.

Retired army captain dies in road accident

JALANDHAR: A retired army captain Natha Singh of Laroha village near Bhogpur was killed in a road mishap when a speeding truck hit his scooter (PB08BM-6729) on Thursday morning near Lamba Pind Chowk. The people took him to a nearby hospital, but he was declared brought dead. The truck driver fled from the spot after leaving the truck on the spot. The cops from police station-8 rushed there and started a probe. The police also took the truck into its possession. The police recovered an ID card of Singh and informed his family.

CBI books Akali Dal MLA, Fastway MD in Rs 231-cr scam

Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 23

Akali Dal MLA from Talwandi Sabo Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu and Fastway Transmission Pvt Ltd managing director Gurdeep Singh were among 18 persons booked today by the CBI in a multi-crore alleged scam in the functioning of International Customer Related Management Services (ICRMS) Pvt Ltd.

Acting on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the CBI registered six FIRs under Section 120-B of the IPC read with Sections 212, 380, 406, 420, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 471, 472 and 474 of the IPC.

The development followed an investigation into the alleged scam by a SIT involving officers of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) of Company Affairs under the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Enforcement Directorate (ED), the IT Department and the CBI.

“No arrests have been made so far while searches were on and further investigation is in progress,” CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh told TNS over the phone.

It was alleged that the Board of Directors of ICRMS (incorporated in 2001) and located at Mohali and Chandigarh were changed and shareholding patterns were altered by the accused on the basis of false and forged documents to defraud the funds and assets of the company.

It was also alleged that it was a benami company of a retired IAS officer, Gurnihal Singh Pirzada, and the accused in a criminal conspiracy amongst themselves committed acts of forgery of valuable security, creating false and fraudulent documents, money laundering and harbouring absconders.

Singh said those booked included Sukhbir Shergill, Gurbir Kaur Shergill, Jatinder Dua, Sagar Singh Dua, Itinder Singh, Gurvinder Singh Sarin, Paramjit Singh Chopra, Gurmeet Kaur Dua, Vishal Arora, Narinder Singh, Rajdeep Singh, Brij Kishore Tiwari (company secretary), Kewal Krishan Gupta (chartered accountant) and Raman Uppal.

The alleged scam involved transfer of funds worth Rs 231 crore from the accounts of the company and several bigwigs, including top politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen of the region had held key positions in the firm.

Besides, a senior UT police officer and ADC to Governor were accused of interfering in the investigations.

On September 16, the HC had ordered the constitution of a SIT, consisting of two credible officers of repute each from SFIO, ED, IT Department and CBI and entrusted them the investigation into the matter.

• Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu and Fastway managing director Gurdeep Singh are among 18 persons who have been booked in the alleged scam involving the transfer of funds worth Rs 231 crore from the accounts of International Customer Related Management Services 

Will form task force to redress people’s grievances if voted to power: Amarinder

Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, June 23

Interacting with local residents during the “Halke Vich Captain” programme here today, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh said if voted to power, their government would set up a special task within 100 days of their rule to address grievances of the public.

 “Failures of the SAD-BJP alliance have brought Punjab on its knees. Even most basic amenities have been denied to people,” Amarinder Singh said.  

The most of the complaints and the problems raised during the interactive session at Dera Bassi related to the registration of false cases, high-handedness of the Akalis towards Congressmen and the lack of basic amenities like drinking water, drainage system and roads.

Replying to a question about the state government’s move to subject students of various educational institutions to dope test, the PPCC president said, “On the one hand the state government is denying the existence of the drug problem, and on the other it is planning to conduct dospe test of students”. He said the state government must first acknowledge the existence of the problem before seeking solutions.

The former CM also flayed local MLA NK Sharma, alleging that he failed to check illegal mining in Dera Bassi and those involved in the transport business were also facing loses. 

Capt further added that he would soon reveal a host of irregularities committed by Sharma in Dera Bassi. Amarinder lashed out at the local MLA for failing to ensure the overall development of the constituency. “We will make him accountable for each and every lapse,” Capt added. 

He further said the area residents were fed up with the local MLA as nothing had been done in the name of development. Later, the PPCC president said his interaction with people was different from the concept of sangat darshans. Capt said if the CM’s sangat darshan had been successful, people would not have thronged his event with their problems and complaints. 

Oust SAD-BJP alliance, Amarinder to people

• Lalru: While addressing a rally at the local grain market, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh lashed out at the SAD-BJP government for its alleged failure on all fronts. He said it was shocking that even clean drinking water was not available in many parts of the constituency.
• “It is shocking that the most basic amenities are missing in the constituency and people are forced to drink chemical mixed water, resulting in the spread of water-borne diseases in the area,” he said.
• He called upon residents of the area to oust the SAD-BJP government in the forthcoming elections. “If a state government fails to provide even safe drinking water to people, it has no moral right to continue in power. If voted to power, we will ensure safe drinking water in all villages of the constituency,” he added.

VIPs, residents leave behind trail of litter

• A trail of litter was left behind by those sitting in the VIP enclosure and the local residents during the interactive programme, “Halke Vich Captain”, here on Thursday.
• Plastic water bottles were seen strewn at the venue after the event was over and PPCC president Amarinder Singh left. As soon as the event was over, the local residents and party workers left behind empty water bottles. They even did not bother to put them in dustbins.
• A visitor said, “Though the Modi wave has swept the country, his Swachh Bharat Abhiyan failed to make any difference at the event.”

ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਸਮੇਤ 18 ਖਿਲਾਫ ਕੇਸ ਦਰਜ

Posted On June - 23 - 2016

* ਮੁਲਜ਼ਮਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਾਸਟਵੇਅ ਦਾ ਐਮਡੀ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ

* 231 ਕਰੋੜ ਦੀ ਘਪਲੇਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਦਾ ਮਾਮਲਾ

ਜੀਤ ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ

ਨਿਤਿਨ ਜੈਨ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 23 ਜੂਨ
ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਨੇ ਤਲਵੰਡੀ ਸਾਬੋ ਤੋਂ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਜੀਤ ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਅਤੇ ਫਾਸਟਵੇਅ ਟਰਾਂਸਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਲਿਮਟਡ ਦੇ ਮੈਨੇਜਿੰਗ ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟਰ ਗੁਰਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮੇਤ 18 ਜਣਿਆਂ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਭ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟਾਚਾਰ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਹੇਠ ਕੇਸ ਦਰਜ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕੇਸ ਇੰਟਰਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਕਸਟਮਰ ਰਿਲੇਟਿਡ ਮੈਨੇਜਮੈਂਟ ਸਰਵਿਸਿਜ਼ (ਆਈ ਸੀ ਆਰ ਐਮ ਐਸ) ਲਿਮਟਡ ਨਾਮੀ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਏ ਕਰੀਬ 231 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੇ ਘਪਲੇ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਹੈ। ਜਾਂਚ ਏਜੰਸੀ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ਹਾਈ ਕੋਰਟ ਦੀਆਂ ਹਦਾਇਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਛੇ ਐੱਫਆਈਆਰਜ਼ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਦੰਡਾਵਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਧਾਰਾਵਾਂ 120ਬੀ, 212, 380, 406, 420, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 471, 472 ਅਤੇ 474 ਤਹਿਤ ਦਰਜ     ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਕੇਸ ਕਾਰਪੋਰੇਟ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਮੰਤਰਾਲੇ ਦੇ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਫਰਾਡ ਜਾਂਚ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ (ਐਸਐਫ਼ਆਈਓ), ਐਨਫੋਰਸਮੈਂਟ ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟੋਰੇਟ, ਆਮਦਨ ਕਰ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਅਤੇ ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਉਤੇ ਆਧਾਰਤ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਜਾਂਚ ਟੀਮ (ਸਿੱਟ) ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦਰਜ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਕੇਸ ਦਰਜ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਫ਼ੌਰੀ ਬਾਅਦ ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਨੇ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, ਮੁਹਾਲੀ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ 15 ਟਿਕਾਣਿਆਂ ਉਤੇ ਤਲਾਸ਼ੀ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਚਲਾਈ। ਇਹ ਛਾਪੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਈਵੇਟ ਕੰਪਨੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਫ਼ਤਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਰਿਹਾਇਸ਼ਾਂ ਉਤੇ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ।
ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਤਰਜਮਾਨ ਦੇਵਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਫੋਨ ਉਤੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ, ‘‘ਹਾਲੇ ਕੋਈ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ, ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਤਲਾਸ਼ੀ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਅਗਲੇਰੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਵੀ ਚੱਲ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।’’ ਮੁਲਜ਼ਮਾਂ ਉਤੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ 2001 ਵਿੱਚ ਬਣਾਈ ਇਸ ਕੰਪਨੀ, ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਅਤੇ ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਨ, ਦੇ ਬੋਰਡ ਆਫ਼ ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟਰਜ਼ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ੇਅਰ ਹੋਲਡਿੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਾਅਲੀ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਤਬਦੀਲੀਆਂ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਦੇ ਫੰਡਾਂ ਤੇ ਅਸਾਸਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰੋੜਾਂ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੀ ਘਪਲੇਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਇਹ ਵੀ ਦੋਸ਼ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਰਿਟਾਇਰਡ ਆਈਏਐਸ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਗੁਰਨਿਹਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੀਰਜ਼ਾਦਾ ਦੀ ‘ਬੇਨਾਮੀ’ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਸੀ।