VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Kejriwal’s Principal Secy held for graft

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 4

The CBI today arrested Rajendra Kumar, principal secretary to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and four others in a Rs 50-crore corruption case, triggering another political flashpoint between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Centre.

Those arrested allegedly extended undue favours to a private company in award of government contracts worth over Rs 50 crore.

Calling it a “political vendetta”, AAP leaders accused PM Narendra Modi of “stooping to a level to paralyse governance in Delhi”. Besides Kumar, those arrested today were — Tarun Sharma, former Assistant Director in VAT department, who is currently posted as Deputy Secretary in Chief Minister’s Office; Sandeep Kumar, Dinesh Kumar Gupta and Ashok Kumar (all worked with Endeavour Systems Private Limited).

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said never had any Central Government “stooped to such low level”. “Mr Modi, even if you leave us with just peons, we will run the government,” he said.

AAP senior leader Ashutosh said: “Mr Modi is scared of Kejriwal. That’s why he is unleashing CBI and other agencies on the AAP. He is aware that the AAP is winning Punjab with a thumping majority, and also Goa. This reflects his desperation. I wonder whether Mr Modi hates Pakistan more or the AAP.”

Sources said Kumar, a 1989-batch UT cadre IAS officer, and four others were called by the CBI in the morning for questioning. But they were arrested after being quizzed for first half of the day as the CBI was not satisfied with their replies.

The CBI had registered a case against Kumar and others in December last year alleging that the officer had abused his official position by “favouring Endeavour Systems in getting tenders of Delhi Government departments”.

The case was registered on a complaint by former Delhi Dialogue Commission member Ashish Joshi to the Delhi Government's Anti-Corruption Branch. The complaint was forwarded to the CBI in July following which the agency registered an FIR after a five-month probe.

According to the CBI, the five contracts were allegedly awarded to Endeavour Systems when Kumar was holding various posts in the government.

"The CBI has today arrested five persons, including a senior civil servant. The allegations relate to bribery and abuse of official position by the senior civil servant and others to favour a Delhi-based private firm in award of contracts of Delhi Government," CBI Chief Press Information officer RK Gaur said, adding those arrested would be produced before court tomorrow.

Notice served on 3 Punjab Cong leaders

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4

On the eve of Punjab Congress affairs incharge Asha Kumari’s visit to the city, the All India Congress Committee  today served notices on three state party leaders, seeking their explanation over a series of  meetings organised recently in Kharar, in which PPCC general secretary Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha also took part.

Harish Chaudhary, AICC secretary, has sought replies from Garcha, who served as an OSD (officer on special duty) to the then chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Kharar MLA Jagmohan Singh Kang and Mohali legislator Balbir Singh Sidhu.

Sources said Kang and PPCC senior vice-president Lal Singh had been asked to explain why the meetings were held when a zone-wise programme (June 24 to August 8) was underway.

“The high command wants to convey the message that all ticket aspirants have to work collectively and support those whose names are finalised,” said a senior leader. Garcha is a contender  from Kharar.

Spare Malerkotla

First bid to foment communal trouble, now politicsRECENT attempts to inflame communal passions have been foiled by the people of Punjab who have exercised commendable restraint despite lack of it, or even provocations, by politicians. Arvind Kejriwal could have avoided visiting Malerkotla, Punjab's only Muslim-majority town where a temple and a mosque coexist. The town has been cited as an example of communal harmony for outsiders whenever trouble erupts elsewhere. There was a sense of disbelief therefore when the desecration of Quran happened on June 24. Also shocking was the sudden appearance of a mob which attacked the house of the local Akal MLA and burnt public property. 

Earlier in 2014 a cow carcass was found and the town had returned to normal after observing a day’s shutdown. Now as elections approach, there is a talk of “conspiracy” to ignite trouble. Last year in Punjab 13-odd incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Saheb were reported. Because of the distrust in the police, the probe was handed over to the CBI but there has been no satisfactory outcome so far. The judicial inquiry into a related incident at Behbal Kalan has neither fixed responsibility for the police firing nor unravelled the suspected “conspiracy”. To calm Sikh anger, the Akali government proposed life imprisonment for incidents of desecration but only relating to the Sikh holy book. For other religions the punishment was raised to 10 years from two years. The Akali Dal leadership has maintained an enigmatic silence on the progress of investigation in these sacrilege cases so far.

Having mishandled law and order, the rise of gangsters, Dinanagar, Pathankot, the murder of the Namdhari Mata and the attack on Sikh preacher Dhandrianwala, the police has swiftly booked an AAP MLA on the basis of a statement of a suspect belonging to the VHP and the only back-up evidence it has offered is a record of phone calls exchanged between the two. Dhandrianwala has named the mastermind behind the attack on him but the police has neither questioned nor arrested him. A failure to conclusively prove the AAP MLA’s guilt, if any, could politically backfire for the SAD and the BJP.

Kejri holds Iftar in Malerkotla amid protest

Akalis raise slogans against Delhi CM, Congress opts out as Section 144 imposed

Sushil Goyal

Tribune News Service

Malerkotla, July 4

Hundreds of Akali workers, led by former Punjab Wakf Board Chairman Mohammad Izhar Alam, staged a protest here today against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal near the venue of his Iftar party on the Malerkotla-Ludhiana road.

Holding black flags, the SAD workers tried in vain to cross the barricades erected by the police about 500 metres from the venue. They raised slogans against Kejriwal over the Quran desecration case, in which AAP MLA Naresh Yadav is among those booked.

Meanwhile, the Congress cancelled its scheduled protest against Kejriwal in view of the district administration’s move to ban the assembly of five or more persons under Section 144 of the CrPC. “We respect the law,” said the party’s former MLA Razia Sultana.

About 500 police personnel were deployed near the venue and in other parts of the Muslim-dominated city. Patiala Zone IGP Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Patiala SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and Sangrur SSP Pritpal Singh Thind supervised the security arrangements.

During the Iftar party, Kejriwal said the Quran desecration had been plotted to frame and defame AAP. He appealed to the people not to let anti-social elements succeed in creating a communal wedge.

Party MP Bhagwant Mann said they (AAP leaders) had come here not for a political rally but to join their Muslim brothers during Ramzan.

Freedom fighters, families up in arms against Badal govt

Serves ultimatum on Chief Minister to fulfil demands by July 17

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, July 4

In protest against non-acceptance of their demands, freedom fighters and their successors are now up in arms against the Badal government

Despite submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal more than a year ago, the state government has not fulfilled their demands so far.

A deputation of the Freedom Fighters and Uttaradhikari Organisation, Punjab, today gave a memorandum to the Sangrur Deputy Commissioner, serving an ultimatum on the CM to fulfil their demands by July 17 otherwise they would be forced to protest outside his residence on July 18 in Chandigarh.

The demands include free-of-cost bus pass facility for family members of freedom fighters, exemption from toll, representation to successors of freedom fighters in district-level committees and increase in job reservation to 5 per cent from 1 per cent.

State president of the organisation Harinderpal Singh Khalsa in the memorandum said the CM had been holding Sangat Darshan programmes, but he had no time for those who had got the country freed from the British.

He said they had given a memorandum to the CM more than a year ago, but despite meeting him for four times he had not given time to the organisation for discussing its demands.

Khalsa said in case their demands were not fulfilled by July 17, about 1,000 freedom fighters and their successors would gather at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali on July 18 and take out a march to the house of the CM and apprise him of their demands. He said in case they failed to get a positive response from the CM, they would announce a statewide agitation on that day.

Two freedom fighters, Nishan Singh (90) and Gurtej Singh (95) and successors of freedom fighters today met the Deputy Commissioner, who assured them that their memorandum would be forwarded to the CM.

What they want

• A deputation of the Freedom Fighters and Uttaradhikari Organisation, Punjab, on Sunday gave a memorandum to the Sangrur Deputy Commissioner, serving an ultimatum on the CM to fulfil their demands by July 17 otherwise they would be forced to protest outside his residence on July 18 in Chandigarh. The demands include free-of-cost bus pass facility for family members of freedom fighters, exemption from toll, representation to successors of freedom fighters in district-level committees and increase in job reservation to 5 per cent from 1 per cent.

Cong corners SAD-BJP over Sidhu’s ‘red-beacon’ remark

Either Dy CM should quit or CPS be removed: Jakhar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 4

Cornering the SAD-BJP government over BJP MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s recent remarks about drug trade flourishing through red-beacon vehicles, Congress leader Sunil Jakhar today said if it was true, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal should resign on ethical grounds and if it wasn’t true, Dr Sidhu should be removed from her post.

On July 3, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Sidhu had slammed the Deputy CM while alleging that some leaders were using their official, red-beacon vehicles — which the Deputy CM had allotted to every Tom, Dick and Harry — to supply drugs.

PPCC vice-president Sunil Jakhar said, “It is unbecoming of a Deputy CM, who is also holding the charge of home ministry, to forego such a serious statement by a leader of their alliance partner. I appreciate Dr Sidhu for issuing such a bold statement. If it is true, then the BJP should snap ties with SAD, otherwise it is understood that the BJP too is hand in glove for the drug menace as red-beacon vehicles have equally been allotted to their leaders and officials too. The Deputy CM should step down morally and ethically,” he said.

Quoting Minister of State (Home) Kiren Rijiju’s endorsement of drug addiction against a query posed by a Congress MP from Uttrakhand Mahendra Singh Mahra in Rajya Sabha about cross-border infiltration and connivance of security agencies with drug smugglers in Punjab, Jakhar said the minister had furnished details of policemen and jail staff who were arrested for their alleged involvement in the illicit trade.

Will order third-party audit of govt works, says Cong

Bathinda, July 4

The Congress has said it would conduct a third-party audit of the state government’s working of the last three years after coming to power. Former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, head of the party’s manifesto draft committee, and Manpreet Badal, committee convener, who were in the city to interact with traders, said they would get the audit done by a company of repute.

Manpreet alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and other ruling party leaders were distributing money during Sangat Darshan programmes without approval from the administration.

On AAP’s youth manifesto that was released yesterday, both leaders said the party had made unrealistic promises. The creation of 25 lakh jobs was a joke, they said.

Bhattal said AAP’s promise of providing a free Wi-Fi hotspot in every village, city and government college was a ploy since it had promised the same in Delhi, but did nothing in this regard. Manpreet demanded that there should be a legal bidding on the parties to fulfil the promises made in their manifesto

No promise on AAP ticket to Christians

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, July 4

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal here today failed to make a commitment to the Christian community regarding its demand for ticket allotment in the Assembly elections.

Christian speakers lamented that the community was generally overlooked by political parties despite having a significant vote bank in the state. However, Kejriwal did not touch upon the issue during his speech.

Addressing a gathering of the community, the Delhi Chief Minister accused the SAD-BJP government of blowing things out of proportion in the Malerkotla sacrilege case. “As this is the election year, the Badal government is going all out to defame me and my party. I have been told that the Sangrur police have been ordered by the state government to frame my MLAs in the case.” He added that since June 24, when the incident took place, the police had been blaming the VHP for the sacrilege, but now they had suddenly trained their guns at AAP.

“Just a day before I was to start my three-day Punjab tour, the investigators started targeting my party colleagues. The Akalis have stooped so low that they will use, rather misuse, a scripture just to defame me,” Kejriwal claimed.

Chugh’s challenge

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh has challenged Kejriwal to an open debate. “I have prepared a 16-point questionnaire. If Kejriwal is able to give a satisfactory reply to even one of the questions, I will tender my resignation,” he said.

Muslims demand AAP MLA’s arrest

Members of the Muslim community, led by Dilbag Hussain, on Monday submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner in Jalandhar, seeking AAP MLA Naresh Yadav’s arrest.

Holding black flags, activists of the Anjuman Islamia and Purvanchal Kranti Dal on Monday held a protest against Kejriwal outside the venue of the AAP rally at Phagwara, demanding the arrest of Yadav in the Malerkotla Quran desecration case.

Even though a heavy police force was deployed at the rally venue, AAP hired bouncers in a bid to ensure that the event passed off peacefully.

Despite ban, Rs 200-crore mineral mixtures sold

Agriculture Minister orders probe, seizure of stocks

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4

Big fertiliser manufacturers have finally managed to get a foothold in the lucrative Punjab market. Having being banned from selling mineral mixtures last year, these manufacturers have now supplied huge quantities of mixtures to the state’s agriculture cooperative societies.

The manufacturers have reportedly managed to “woo” some officials in the Agriculture Department. A special clause has been invoked in the Fertilizer Control Order, which allows for a limited supply of these mineral mixtures (which are mixtures of zinc, sulphur, copper, ferrous, boron and other micronutrients) in the state on a trial basis.

It is another matter that the manufacturers, enjoying political patronage of a close aide of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, have managed to supply these mixtures worth almost Rs200 crore to the cooperative societies.

Four manufacturers — Crop Chemical India Ltd, Kotkapura; Lalit Chemical and Fertilisers, Lehragagga; Astha Chemicals; and Shree Kaveri Agro Industry, Sangrur — were allowed by the department to supply the mineral mixture.

These mixtures, which are basically micronutrient mixtures, and cannot be used as a “one-size-fits-all” solution for replenishing micronutrients in soil, were banned last year following recommendations by a committee formed with experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The committee had said these expensive mineral mixtures could not be used as a one-stop solution to replenish the soil health.

The university experts had mentioned that only the deficient micronutrient be used in a farm rather than the expensive mixtures as these provide far less amount of micronutrient to the soil. Another reason for the ban on these mixtures was that a large quantity of these seized by the Agriculture Department during raids in Humbaran and Longowal last year were found fake.

Agriculture Minister Tota Singh said: “Someone in the department had tried to bypass the ban. The issue has been brought to my notice and I have asked the Financial Commissioner (Development) to identify those behind the move. I have asked him to question the Director, Agriculture, on how he ordered the supply of these mixtures despite the ban.”

“All chief agriculture officers have been told to immediately withdraw the mixtures supplied to the cooperative societies so that they are not sold to farmers,” he said.

AAP is a bunch of opportunist: Chug

Amritsar, July 4

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary and BJP (Delhi) co-in charge Tarun Chugh slammed Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal for misleading the people of Punjab by boasting about achievements of his government in the national Capital.

Claiming that the government in Delhi had not achieved anything worth the name, Chugh said the only achievement AAP government had to its credit is that Chief Minister Kejriwal had to remove a number of ministers from his Cabinet due to their involvement in cases of women harassment, cheating, false certification and corruption. Chugh said by now Punjabis have understood the flop Delhi model of Kejriwal.

The two out of the four MPs of AAP abandoned Kejriwal because of his dictatorial attitude, he added. He said AAP in Punjab was a bunch of opportunist, separatist and baseless leaders, who rule the roost in the party.

Chug recalled and hailed a recent statement of social activist Anna Hazare wherein he defended his decision to break-up with Kejriwal’s group. — TNS

Bhattal, Manpreet tap traders for views

Both leaders hold meeting with business groups as part of their election manifesto formulating exercise

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda,July 4

Former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is also the head of the manifesto draft committee, along with committee convener Manpreet Singh Badal, today held a meeting with representatives of various trade and industrial organisations to seek their suggestions and opinion as part of the election manifesto formulating exercise for the Assembly polls to be held in early 2017.

They met the cotton growers association, jewellers association, arhtiya groups, workers of industrial organisations and representatives of business houses.

Bhattal said the meeting with various traders, groups and representatives of industrial units was highly fruitful, adding that the party would give due attention to their suggestions and demands for incorporating them in their manifesto.

Later, hitting out at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal-headed government in the state, Bhattal said the ouster of the corrupt and non-functioning SAD-BJP government was imminent.

Bhattal said the Badal government had failed on all fronts, leading to huge resentment among all sections of society, including farmers, poor and down-trodden.

She said people of the state were fed-up of the Badal government. The state was reeling under financial burden with its debt mounting to an all time of more than Rs 1.30 lakh crore, she added.

Bhattal said due to the wrong polices of the state government, the economy of the state was in a shambles.

There has been virtually no development in the state under the present regime and agriculture and industrial growth has suffered immensely, Bhattal added.

The law and order has completely collapsed in the state and the common man is worried about his security and well-being, she said.

People from many areas raised issues relating to shortage of electricity, VAT refund of businesses, implementation of single window system, certain approvals and increase in industrial zones.

She alleged that the Badals, during their rule of 10 years, had only built up their family empire by looting the wealth of the people.

Former minister Harminder Singh Jassi, former minister Chiranji Lal Garg, Congress Bathinda president Mohan Lal Jhumba, Congress leaders Harvinder Tinku Grover, Rajan Garg, Iqbal Singh Dhillon, Pawan Manni, Congress Bathinda media in-charge Rupinder Bindra and others were present on the occasion.

Farmers continue with their protest

Protesters flay Central and state governments for not finding a solution to their demands

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 4

The farmers’ agitation outside the District Administrative Complex here entered its 42nd day today. A large number of farmers from Sangrur district today participated in the protest. The protesters raised slogans against the Centre and state government. The agitation was led by Amrik Singh, district president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Ugrahan.

While addressing the gathering, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, state president of BKU (Ekta) Ugrahan, alleged that the Central and the state governments had failed to find a permanent solution to farmers’ suicides and the rising debt of farmers.

He also said the government policies that were affecting the agriculture sector were increasing revenue of corporate houses and businessmen

Joginder Singh said instead of giving a relief to farmers, now the government was also cutting down the existing schemes of the farmers. He added every day new taxes were being imposed on the citizens to fill the coffers of the government. Common man is paying taxes but the government is providing concession to the big business houses, he added.

The farmers are demanding waiver of the debt of farmers and farm labourers, who are unable to pay their loans; paying a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each immediately to suicide victim families; permanent job and unemployment allowance to unemployed famers; a solution to the stray cattle menace.

Other demands of farmers are Rs 40,000 as compensation for the damaged wheat crop due to fire as some farmers, whose crop were burnt, had committed suicide; round-the-clock electricity supply ahead of paddy season; quashing of false cases against the protesting farmers and compensation to those injured or dead during farmer agitations.

They also demanded the implementation of Swaminathan report; survey of suicides from 1990 onwards; release of motor connections on government expenses; full compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to farmers who faced damage to the cotton crop following the whitefly attack and making laws in favour of farmers instead of corporate houses or arhtiyas.

The Demands

• The farmers are demanding waiver of the debt of farmers and farm labourers, who are unable to pay their loans; paying a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each immediately to suicide victims’ families; permanent job and unemployment allowance to unemployed famers; a solution to the stray cattle menace.
• They also demanded the implementation of Swaminathan report; survey of suicides from 1990 onwards; release of motor connections on government expenses; full compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to farmers who faced damage to the cotton crop following the whitefly attack and making laws in favour of farmers instead of corporate houses or arhtiyas

NOMINATION TO PUNJAB HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL

Chandumajra took Rs 1 cr, didn’t keep word: NRI

Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 4

A dubai-based, Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, today alleged that Anandpur Sahib MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra took Rs 1 crore from him in the name of party fund with a promise to get him nominated to the Punjab Human Rights Commission.

Sidhu alleged that neither he was nominated to the commission nor the MP return his money. However, Sidhu admitted that he did not give money directly to Chandumajra but to an Akali jathedar at his (Chandumajra) behest. Sidhu also presented the recording of a telephonic conversation between him and Chandumajra during the press conference.

Terming the allegations false and baseless, Chandumajra claimed that he was being targeted under a conspiracy. “I have also lodged a complaint with the police in this regard at a police station in Nawanshahr,” said Chandumajra. “First of all, the person levelling allegations against me is not eligible for the post. Secondly, he does not possess any proof to substantiate his claim. It’s a conspiracy of the Opposition against me and I will expose it,” claimed Chandumajra.

At Cong Shahkot meet, salvos fired at SAD-BJP govt

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 4

The first meeting of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) at the Vidhan Sabha level for the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency was organised today at Shahkot. The meeting was addressed by the AICC in-charge Harish Chaudhary and Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, besides other Congress leaders.

Lambasting the SAD-BJP government in the state, Chaudhary listed its failures before a well-attended meeting held at a local banquet hall here.

He questioned the sincerity of the ruling alliance and asked why the guilty in the cases related to sacrilege had not been nabbed. Why the killers of the head of Namdhari sect was still at large, the MP asked. He informed the farmers of a Rs 12,000 crore scam in the food and civil supply department headed by the CM’s son-in-law Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon.

Chaudhary also took the government to task for not disbursing scholarship worth Rs 700 crore meant for SC students of Punjab.

Speaking on the occasion, Harish Chaudhary, AICC in-charge, questioned AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s claims of achievements in Delhi till date.

He exposed the AAP for misleading the people of Delhi by making false promises of which none have been fulfilled. Kejriwal should clear his stand on the involvement of an AAP MLA in the reported sacrilege of Koran in Malerkotla, the AICC leader asked.

Chaudhary assured the Congress workers of Shahkot that this time the candidate for the upcoming assembly polls would be announced well in time.

Others who addressed the gathering were former MP Santosh Chaudhary, Rana KP Singh, ex-MLA, Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, general secretary PPCC, Jagbir Brar, president, DCC (Rural), ex-minister Brij Bhupinder Kang and Hardev Singh Laddi

Supporters raise slogans

• The senior leadership of the Congress was stunned when they noticed that the supporters of leaders in race to get a ticket from the Shahkot assembly constituency, namely, Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, nephew of Darbara Singh, former Governor of Rajasthan and Brij Bhupinder Singh Lalli, former Home Minister of Punjab, started raising slogans in favour of their leaders in front of the stage. It was only after Laddi and Lalli asked them to calm down that their respective supporters sat down. Congress spokesperson Dr Navjot Dahiya is also in the race for a party ticket. It is pertinent to mention here that the Congress has been facing an impending defeat in Shahkot for the last four terms from SAD candidate Ajit Singh Kohar. Infighting between the leadership in Shahkot is one of the reasons for the defeat of the Congress.

ECHS Hospital to benefit 6,000 Army veterans

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 4

Vajra Air Defence Brigade under the aegis of Vajra Corps of the Indian Army organised a special welfare meet for widows of veterans besides dedicating Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Hospital for veterans in Jagraon.

The ECHS Hospital was inaugurated by Anupvir Kaur, zonal president, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA). The hospital will benefit more than 6,000 veterans in Jagraon.

The veterans were satisfied to have all facilities such as the Canteen Store Department (CSD), Defence Pension Distributing Office (DPDO) and ECHS Hospital in one complex.

It was a big welfare step taken to ease the day-to-day difficulties of the veterans of the area.

In the run-up of the special welfare meet, an extensive outreach drive was undertaken, wherein special teams contacted widows of the veterans of Ludhiana district and resolved issues related to OROP, pension anomalies, healthcare, arrears of 6th Pay Commission and recruitment of their wards.

A medical camp for widows was also organised and specialists of ENT, eye, gynecology and orthopaedics, among others, attended to the health problems of the veterans’ widows.

On the occasion, Anupvir Kaur distributed wheel chairs, hearing aids, special walking aids, adjustable walking aids, ECHS and CSD cards to the entitled veterans’ widows.

Kejriwal comes calling

Valmiki community to boycott AAP in Punjab Assembly elections

Ludhiana: The Valmiki community will boycott the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab for ignoring Bhagwan Valmiki Teerath during his Amritsar visit on July 3. Rajkumar Sathi, office secretary of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj (BVDS) and in charge of Amritsar unit of the body, said Bhagwan Valmiki Teerath was the centre point of religious trust of the Valmiki community in the entire world. But during his Amritsar visit, Kejriwal had no time to visit the teerath to pay obeisance to Maharishi Valmiki while he did go to the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir. This attitude shows that Kejriwal not only has scant regard for the Dalit community, but it also amounts to discrimination and crass show of casteism,” he said. The BVDS leader said while the Punjab unit had taken a decision in principle to oppose AAP in Punjab elections, the issue would be discussed at the national level in a meeting of the central committee of BVDS to be held on July 16 and 17 in Uttarakhand under the presidentship of Swami Chanderpal Anarya, Supreme Director. Naresh Dhingan, Chief Organisor of BVDS, Punjab, would brief the leadership about utter disregard shown by Kejriwal to the Valmiki community. The central committee, he said, might make an appeal to members of Valmiki community in other states also to boycott AAP as show of solidarity and unity between the ranks of BVDS and the Valmiki community as a whole.— TNS

Akalis playing communal politics: Kejriwal

MALERKOTLA (SANGRUR): Attacking the Akali-BJP government, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal said some forces were trying to divide the country on communal lines.

Speaking at an “Iftar” party hosted by AAP workers in Malerkotla, where Quran sacrilege took place, Kejriwal denied his party MLA’s involvement in the incident and termed it as act of Akalis to defame him. AAP legislator Naresh Yadav has been booked in connection with the sacrilege incident. “Akalis have stooped so low that they have taken the recourse to a religious scripture to defame me,” he said.

“What was the need to burn pages of holy Quran to target me? For me, Quran is as pious as Bhagavad Gita, Bible and other religious scriptures. A true Hindu can never thinks of disrespecting any holy book, said Kejriwal. “The Malerkotla incident was political motivated. Since AAP has emerged as a challenge to the communal forces, they are not missing any opportunity to defame the party,” Kejriwal said.The Delhi avoided speaking to the media and left the venue in a hurry. Earlier, the SAD workers burnt effigies of Kerjiwal and Yadav. They also gathered to show black flags to Kejriwal, but couldn’t as the district administration had imposed prohibitory orders in the town.

ECHS HOSPITAL FOR ARMY 

VETERANS INAUGURATED

LUDHIANA: Vajra Air Defence Brigade, under the aegis of Vajra Corps of Indian Army organised a special welfare meet for 200 widows of veterans and inaugurated Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Hospital for veterans in Jagraon, on Monday.

Anupvir Kaur, zonal president, Army Wives Welfare Association, inaugurating the ECHS Hospital in Jagraon near Ludhiana on Monday.

With an aim to provide ease to more than 6,000 veterans in Jagraon, the hospital was inaugurated by Anupvir Kaur, zonal president, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA). She said that the facilities of Canteen Store Department (CSD) and Defense Pension Distributing Office (DPDO) are provided along with ECHS in a single complex.

In the run up of special welfare meet, extensive outreach drive was undertaken and widows of the veterans of Ludhiana district were contacted to resolve the issues related to one rank one pension (OROP), pension anomalies, healthcare, and arrears of 6th pay commission along with recruitment of their wards. Medical camp with ENT, eye, gynecology and orthopedics specialists was also held to address the problems of the widows.

Anupvir interacted with the widows and distributed wheel chairs, hearing aids, special walking aids, adjustable walking aids along with ECHS and CSD cards to the entitled widows.