VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Capt, state Congress MLAs vow to resign if SYL ruling is adverse

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Kartarpur, July 24

Taking a tough stand on the SYL issue, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today announced that he — as MP — and all MLAs of the Punjab Congress would resign if the decision of the Supreme Court goes against Punjab.

Amarinder said this during a ‘Halke wich Captain’ programme at Kartarpur.

“Being the PPCC chief, I feel it is my duty to resign as MP. So is the responsibility of all MLAs to stand for the interest of Punjab. If the Congress’ mass resignation works, then CM Badal and his government will definitely follow the Congress line,” Amarinder said.

He said the high command would not be roped in into the matter as it has to manage other states, including Haryana and Delhi.

Amarinder said that to his knowledge, the judgment, which is reportedly against Punjab, has already been written. It could be made public by the mid of August because one judge out of the panel of five would retire at the end of next month.

“If the SC judgment goes against Punjab, it will only be because of Badal’s failure to act on time,” Amarinder said.

“While we respect the Supreme Court verdict, we are also duty bound towards Punjab. Hence, we will find legislative and constitutional ways and means to safeguard our water,” he said.

Interestingly, when Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh, who was sitting along with Capt Amarinder on the stage, was asked if he would also resign, he — in a wavering tone — initially said he would follow the high command’s directions. Later, he said that he would also resign.

Amarinder said Badal’s stand on SYL had always been vacillating and ambiguous right from the day he accepted Rs 2 crore in 1978 from his Haryana counterpart Devi Lal.

On AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, he said that while he was in Punjab, Kejriwal said Punjab had no spare water and the SYL should not be constructed. But the moment he landed in Delhi, he said the SYL needs to be constructed and all states, including Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, should get water.

On Jakhar’s announcement of indefinite fast, Capt said that sitting on fast or setting up morchas is the cup of tea of the Akalis, not of the Congress. “We don’t want to bring Punjab into any turmoil by such immature measures,” he said.

Jalandhar MP fumes over ‘seat 

snub’

Kartarpur: Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Choudhary reportedly argued with members of party strategist Prashant Kishor’s team when he was denied a seat next to Capt Amarinder Singh on the stage during a ‘Halke wich Captain’ programme here.

Santokh, along with son Vikramjit Choudhary, was seen arguing for a chair.

The strategist’s team told him that as per the protocol of ‘Halke wich Captain’, only Amarinder could sit on the stage. Other senior leaders have to sit in separate enclosures made for them. On this, the father-son duo reportedly went outside the venue. 

A member of Amarinder’s team cajoled the MP and made him sit next to the PPCC chief on the stage.

But when asked, Santokh told The Tribune that he had not asked Prashant’s team for a seat alongside the PPCC chief. In fact, Amarinder told his team to put up a chair for him. “Even the protocol says that the local MP will sit alongside the PPCC chief,” Santokh claimed. tns

AAP going soft on Bhagwant: Sukhbir

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 24

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal today alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party had close ties with separatist parties as both had scant regard for the nation’s security and the religious tenets.

Sukhbir along with his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and reviewed development projects underway in the city.

He said releasing a video detailing the security arrangements at Parliament on social media by AAP MP Bhagwant Mann was a major lapse on his part.

He said had any Akali MP committed such a blunder, the party would have taken strict action against him, but the AAP leadership had supported Mann.

“I believe AAP has close ties with radical elements who organised the last year’s ‘Sarbat Khalsa’. Such organisations have been trying to disturb peace in the state, but we will not let them succeed. These forces have already been rejected by people,” he said.

“The SAD-BJP will contest the elections on development plank and is confident of scoring a hat-trick. We aim to complete major projects in Amritsar by October. The BRTS project will be an answer to traffic snarls. Easy commuting will result in increase in tourism inflow which will give further fillip to trade and commerce. The changed face of Amritsar will be visible in the next two months,” he claimed.

Advisor to Deputy CM Manjinder Singh Sirsa, SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh, Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam, Police Commissioner Amar Singh Chahal and senior SAD leaders were present on the occasion.

AAP leaders in league with separatists, says Sampla

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24

State BJP president and Union Minister Vijay Sampla here today alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann was in league with Sikh separatists.

Talking to mediapersons after announcing the state unit office-bearers, Sampla said Mann had proved his ‘anti-India’ stance by shooting the controversial video of Parliament. “The government will have to spend Rs 60-70 crore to revamp the security set-up,” said Sampla.

“State AAP convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur supported violence against a particular community during the days of terrorism. The party is full of such leaders. Arvind Kejriwal himself is inciting communal and caste riots,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, Sampla said the party would continue to follow the coalition dharma, while hoping that the senior partner — the Shiromani Akali Dal — would do it too.

When asked about his complaint to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister on the alleged snub to BJP leaders at a national-level function in Gurdaspur recently, he said, “No one has reverted so far.”

State BJP gets new team

Chandigarh: Vijay Sampla on Sunday announced the much-awaited list of the state BJP unit’s office-bearers. Justifying the delay, he said the party “has many able leaders and it was very tough to chose among them.” 

He also named Mona Jaiswal as the state women’s unit president, Manjit Bali as the SC unit head and Sukhpal Singh Nannu as the BJP Kisan Morcha chief. The new team has representation from various castes and communities, barring the Aggarwal community, a major vote bank of the party.

Vice-presidents: Harjit Singh Grewal, Rakesh Rathore, Anil Sareen, Raj Kumar Paathi, Sandeep Rinwa, Umesh Shaakar, Archana Dutt and Iqbal Laalpura

Organisation general secy: Dinesh Kumar

General secretaries: Manjit Singh Rai and Kewal Kumar

Secretaries: Vineet Joshi, Subash Sharma, Amandeep Singh Punia, Veeran Wali, Renu Thapar, Anil Sachhar, Vijay Puri and Jayshree Gulati

Media secy: Deewan Amit Arora; Additional media secy: Subodh Verma

Treasurer: Gurdev Sharma

AAP to enrol 1.5 lakh ex-servicemen

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 24

Capt Bikram Singh Pahuwind (retd), in charge, Punjab ex-servicemen wing of the AAP, held a meeting with volunteers of Amritsar parliamentary zone in the city today. While interacting with mediapersons at a press conference after holding a series of meetings, he expressed solidarity with Punjab’s cause and the need to bring a change in governance.

“Once a soldier, always a solider is not just a saying, it is a reality which is visible on ground as ex-servicemen from all over Punjab are joining the crusade launched by Arvind Kejriwal against corruption by forming the Aam Aadmi Party,” he said in his address. “We need transparent and honest governance and now we have an alternative,” he said.

Bikram Singh said the party had set a target of enrolling 1.50 lakh ex-servicemen in the state. “However, keeping in view the overwhelming response, it is expected that the number may cross 2.50 ex-servicemen joining the AAP family,” he said.

He said keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly elections, when the ruling alliance was set to use might, money and manpower to retain its place, the AAP was devising a mechanism where the services of ex-servicemen wing along with the youth wing would be taken to thwart any attempt of booth capturing and rigging during the elections.

SUNDAY INTERVIEW: PARGAT SINGH — SAD MLA

‘Need 7-10 days to take a final decision’

As the SAD-BJP government in Punjab is heading towards its fag end, Akali MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment Pargat Singh has been the one hogging media limelight. Opening a direct front against his own government, Pargat first held protests, supporting residents of Jandiala and surrounding villages, on the issue of the solid waste management plant. Three months ago, he refused to accept the post of the Chief Parliamentary Secretary. On July 19, he was eventually suspended from the SAD. Even as Pargat has already expressed his inclination towards the AAP, in a one-to-one chat with Deepkamal Kaur, the Olympian-turned-bureaucrat-turned-politician shared his mind on his next course of action and countered charges levelled by his fellow partymen.

It has been four days now since the party placed you under suspension. Have you made up your mind for future course of action?

I have initiated the process for making future strategy. Three days ago, I held a meeting with sarpanches, zila parishad members and opinion leaders and people of my constituency. They said they would take four-five days to reach a conclusive decision as to which way I should go. I expect they will convey their views to me by Tuesday or Wednesday. Subsequently, I will sit with some politically sound and intellectually wise people to discuss the same.

By what time do you think you will be able to make a formal announcement?

It will take about a week to 10 more days. I do not want to take a hasty decision. My decision would not just be significant for me but for my supporters as well. I will have to respect others’ opinion, too, regarding the decision I take. I will also take a legal opinion on the entire matter as to whether I should resign or hold it up.

Politicians of your constituency are also raking up the issue that bureaucrats should not be made politicians as they are not able to handle things well. They are quoting experience with you and Jagbir Brar. Your comments.

Like any other politician, I have been spending about 12 hours with people. I was spending nearly half the day for socialisation, attending to all those who called on me for their personal works. I attended a host of marriages, bhogs and anniversaries. The remaining half of the day, I was busy with development works. People close to me know that I put in my 100 per cent and was truthful, which of course, many did not like.

You have said that you have enough ammunition with you against your party for media coverage in the coming days. What exactly is that?

I will talk to the press at the appropriate time. There is so much ammunition with me pertaining to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that fireworks are bound to happen the day I share it with media. In fact, the quantum of material I would share with all of you (media) will make you tired of writing. 

Are you confident that you will re-contest from this constituency only?

No. It will actually depend on what directions I get from the new party I would be joining. Since, it will be a different organisation, it may have its own plans for me.

Will your opinion be affected by the path that cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu announces to choose since his resignation as Rajya Sabha MP?

No, not necessarily. I have to see the support of people of my constituency. Our paths may be different too. Though we talk frequently, I have not been able to talk to him in the last four days. Let’s see which way both of us move.

Four days since your suspension, your own partymen have started putting the entire onus of no development in your area back on you instead of the party. How do you react to this?

It is not the case. There has been a reasonable development in my area. A new four-lane bypass got laid, which connects Nakodar Road with GT Road. Not just the main roads, even the internal colony roads were well carpeted. The area around the bus stand too has been redone with the laying of sewer work ahead of monsoons. All this could be done only because I was committed towards the development. The 10-point agenda which I gave for my area was not taken care by the state government. But frankly speaking, I do not even feel the need to contradict these small leaders in any way.

Even the former MLA and your Congress rival Jagbir Brar says that the blame of no development falls on you and the progress of the glitches that are there in the constituency stand where they were about six years ago when he quit his MLAship. What is your take on the issue?

How does Jagbir Brar know whether or not I pushed files, how many fresh letters I wrote since my joining, whom all did I meet for various problems, and how many times did I meet the officials concerned? I know that I did my best to work on the issues pertaining to solid waste management, abolition of octroi and on opening of closed passages to the houses of 13 villages and colonies adjoining cantonment area.

HALKE WICH CAPTAIN PROGRAMME

Parents seek strict action against private schools

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Kartarpur, July 24

In a ‘Halke Wich Captain’ programme held at Karatpur, residents held a direct interaction with PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh and raised many issues concerning the development and lack of infrastructure in the state. The main issue which they vociferously raised was pertaining to the exploitation by the private educational institutes.

In this progrmme, about 2,100 submitted written petitions, that will be addressed in due course of time by Congress. A woman told Capt that private educational institutes have been fleecing them by charging exorbitant fees and present government has no check on their malpractices. The PPCC president reiterated that to end this exploitation, a regulatory authority would be set up.

He said the private educational institutions must realise that they were the part of the same society and must not fleece the parents. The revival of government education and health services would be the top priority and despite financial constraints we would ensure that these two sectors don’t suffer due to lack of funds.

Further on the issue of black marketing and rising inflation, Capt asked the government of India as why it was not releasing the buffer stocks of the essential commodities in the market to check the skyrocketing prices. Replying to a question on the issue of ‘one rank one pension’, he blamed the bureaucracy for discriminating the ex-servicemen.

He said that he was surprised to learn that in the Seventh Pay Commission, the same bureaucrats had kept a provision of Rs 55,000 as special salary for bureaucratic posting to Guwahati, while only Rs 28,000 for the army personnel posted in Siachen. He suggested that the bureaucrats who don’t understand the service conditions of the soldiers should be made to serve in Siachen.

He also promised to provide priority to the ex-servicemen in allotment of tube-well connections and nomination to the local bodies like zila parishads and block samitis.

Capt announced that the Congress government would provide one-time age relaxation for those who have crossed the upper age limit for recruitment in the government services during last few years as there were no recruitments and they missed the chance.

He also reiterated that the Congress government would waive-off the application fee for appointments in the government jobs.

Capt against Dalit atrocities

• PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday held a dharna against the Dalit atrocities in the country at a grain market in Kartarpur. He warned the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre against dividing people along caste and communal lines. He questioned the mysterious silence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on such a serious issue. "I was shocked after watching the video of three Dalit youth being beaten up after being tied up to a car," he said, adding this was the worst crime and the criminals must bedealt with severely.

Iraq victim’s family meets PPCC president

• A family of a victim stuck in Iraq also met Captain Amarinder Singh and requested him to take up the issue with External Affairs Ministry. A Khanke Fatehgarh village resident, Amandeep Kaur, whose husband Kulwinder Singh, brothers Kamajit Singh and Gurdeep Singh, were stuck in Iraq, apprised Captain about the issue and requested him to take up the matter with the government

Will quit along with Cong MLAs if SYL verdict is anti-Punjab: Capt

WATER WAR Says party will find legislative and constitutional ways to safeguard state’s interests, clarifies stand totally of state unit and high command has no role in it

As per my information, the judgment in the case has already been written and it is against Punjab. It’s likely to be pronounced by mid-August. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab Congress chief

KARTARPUR (JALANDHAR): Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has said that all Congress MLAs in Punjab and he (as Lok Sabha member) will resign if the Supreme Court (SC) verdict on Satluj-Yamuna-Link (SYL) expected next month is against the state.“As one of the judges of the bench hearing this case is going to retire by August-end, as per my information, the judgment in the case has already been written and it is against Punjab. It’s likely to be pronounced by mid-August,” Amarinder said at a press conference after attending his ‘Halke Vich Captain’ programme here on Sunday.

Amarinder said state Congress respected the Supreme Court, but the party was duty-bound to safeguard interests of Punjab. “We will find legislative and constitutional ways to safeguard our interests in water-sharing,” he said.The PCC chief said after submitting the resignations, the Congress party will go to the people and seek their support and vote. “And once the Congress forms the government in 2017, we will take legal and constitutional measures to safeguard our waters like we did in 2004 by passing the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act,” he said.

“Since I am leading the state Congress, I am duty-bound to resign as an MP.”

Jalandhar MP Santokh Chaudhary, who also accompanied Captain at the press conference, initially hesitated in echoing Captain’s move to resign as an MP, but later said he will follow his leader. ‘PURELY PUNJAB CONGRESS DECISION’

The PCC chief said the decision to tender resignations was purely of the state unit and high command has nothing to do it.

“Since the high command has to watch interests of Haryana, Rajasthan and other states invovled in the case, SYL issue will be dealt purely by the Punjab Congress,” said Amarinder. ‘BADAL WANTS TURMOIL OVER SYL’

Attacking chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for not pleading Punjab’s case sincerely in the SC and before the Centre, Amarinder said either Badal’s intentions were not honest or he was not clear what to do on the issue.

“Badal wasted time in getting the governor’s assent to the unanimous resolution of the Vidhan Sabha on SYL, thus giving time to Haryana to move the SC,” he said.

He said Badal was “planning to kill people” on the pretext of Punjab’s opposition to the SYL. “He has already created an atmosphere in this regard by announcing to form morchas and he is planning to exhort people to violence,” said Captain.

“I know Badal very well he won’t think for a minute to push Punjab into turmoil to safeguard his own interests,” he said. NOT CONVINCED WITH JAKHAR STATEMENT

The PCC chief also took a dig at party leader Sunil Jakhar for announcing a fast-unto-death on SYL issue a few days back.

“Staging fasts and holding morchas is an Akali way of opposition. I don’t know why he announced this. I will talk to him,” he said.

Sidhu slams BJP, says quit Rajya Sabha as he was told to stay away from Punjab

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

Breaking his silence, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday said no party is bigger than Punjab and he quit his Rajya Sabha seat as he was told to stay away from the state.

He was addressing a press conference here.

Though he remained non-committal over whether he was joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or would be its chief ministerial face, Sidhu said he would do whatever is good for Punjab.Recounting the number of times he stood by the BJP, Sidhu wanted to know his “fault” for being shifted out of the constituency he had won four times in a row. He said a true nationalist never abandoned his people, so how could he.

Launching an all-out attack on the BJP, he said no party is bigger than Punjab and how could he give up his roots. “I always wanted to serve Punjab and Amritsar,” he added.

ww.tribuneindia.com/video/was-told-to-stay-away-from-punjab-sidhu/15497.html

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Sidhu said, “How could I have left the state that returned me to the Lok Sabha four times? How could I have left Punjab for the sake of a Rajya Sabha seat?”

He said, “No party is above Punjab. This is not about profit or loss. I could not have abandoned the people of Punjab who voted for me. I stood by the party by contesting from Amritsar at a short notice of two weeks. When there was a Modi wave I was told that I could not fight from Amritsar and should shift to Kurukshetra or West Delhi. Now I am told I could not go to Punjab. Please tell me my fault.”

Sidhu said he would go the way where Punjab benefited, refusing to reveal whether he was joining the AAP. However, the colour of his turban--yellow--gave away the party he might join.

Meanwhile, BJP sources questioned as to why was Sidhu silent all this while if he was so unhappy over the decisions taken by the party. Taken by surprise by Sidhu’s outburst again, the party is expected to come up with an official response soon.

AAP’s national organisation head Durgesh Pathak insisted Sidhu would soon join the AAP and that the date would be announced soon.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirti Azad said like Sidhu was told to stay away from Punjab, he was told to stay away from Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) at the behest of the "same person".

Sidhu has not yet officially resigned from the BJP, which continues to ignore his outburst on Monday. BJP sources say the party is in no mood to pay any further attention to Sidhu. They claim that the source of his latest outburst seems to be AAP’s “obvious disinterest” in him.

Mann told to stay away from Lok Sabha till inquiry is completed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Monday that she would set up a nine-member inquiry committee to investigate allegations of having filmed Parliament’s security procedures against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann. 

Parliamentarian Krit Somaiya will head the committee.

"I have decided to constitute a nine-member inquiry committee to probe this issue: The committee has been assigned to look into the conduct of Mann given the grave security implications relating to Parliament and suggest other remedial measures,” Mahajan said at the start of Monday’s Parliament session. 

"The act of the member of audio-visual recording of the Parliament and posting it on the social media puts the security of Parliament in peril," the Speaker said.

"The inquiry committee shall inquire into the serious security implications and related aspects.... (and) suggest suitable remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future and recommend appropriate action in the matter."

Mann has been asked to not attend sessions until August 3, when the report is due. 

Mann has been given until noon on Tuesday to submit his defence.

In a nearly 12-minute video that he shared live on Facebook, Mann filmed his vehicle crossing security barricades and him entering Parliament on Thursday to attend the ongoing Monsoon Session. Parliament was uproarious over the act as several MPs demanded stringent action. 

Parliament was attacked on December 13, 2001, killing 13 people lost their lives.

Mann later apologised for the video and removed it from Facebook. (With inputs from agencies)

Sacrilege: AAP MLA remanded in 2 day police custody

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, July 25 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi MLA Naresh Yadav, arrested in connection with the Malerkotla desecration case yesterday, was remanded in police custody for two days by a Malerkotla court on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the court heard arguments of the prosecution and the counsel and reserved its verdict. However, later the court sent Yadav to police custody for two days.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders, maintaining that Yadav has been falsely implicated, announced protests in front of offices of Deputy Commissioners at all district headquarters throughout the state for three hours tomorrow.