Chhotepur on his ‘way out’
Himmat Shergill likely to be named Punjab AAP convener
Vishav Bharti
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 24
After surfacing of a video clip showing Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab unit convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur allegedly accepting cash, the party has decided to remove Chhotepur from the post, it is learnt.
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AAP’s legal cell incharge and candidate from Mohali Himmat Singh Shergill is likely to be the new state convener.
A senior AAP leader said the leadership had been getting complaints regarding Chhotepur’s conduct over the past few months. “However, we didn’t have any evidence. But some time back we came across the clip in which he is seen accepting cash,” said the senior leader, not wishing to be named.
He said the clip showing “Chhotepur accepting cash from a party worker” was reported first by a Punjabi radio in North America.
He said when national convener Arvind Kejriwal, upon his return from a meditation course in Dharamsala, was shown the clip, he was furious and suggested Chhotepur’s expulsion. The issue was discussed by AAP’s Political Affairs Committee on August 13, which decided to give Chhotepur a chance to defend himself.
He said when Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia confronted Chhotepur on August 19, the latter “accepted his mistake” and assured to not repeat the action. “We also have a recording of it.”
He said a formal announcement will be made within a couple of days. “First of all he will be removed from the post and there are provisions to suspend him or cancel his primary membership,” he said.
‘Let them do whatever’
- Sucha Singh Chhotepur, when contacted, said, “Let them do whatever they want to do. I will react only after something is announced.” When asked whether he had accepted his “mistake” before Manish Sisodia, he said “let them make the clip public, I will react only after that”
Services of 2 Ludhiana pvt hospitals terminated
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 24
A day after Team Insaaf supremo and Independent MLA Simarjeet Bains accused the government of being hand in glove with doctors in duping beneficiaries of the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana, the state government has terminated the services of Aastha Kidney Hospital in Maya Nagar and Garg Hospital in Jawaddi.
The private hospitals had allegedly charged money from the patients in lieu of treatment and also availed the monetary benefit from Bhagat Puran Yojana. When confronted, doctors of both hospitals returned the money charged from poor patients. A departmental inquiry has been initiated into the matter and if the owners and doctors of the hospitals are found guilty, further proceedings will be initiated against them, the communiqué has stated.
As per the orders received from Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Vini Mahajan, Civil Surgeon Dr Renu Chhatwal said the department had taken this issue seriously and an inquiry had been initiated into it. She said for the time being, the services of both hospitals regarding the Bhagat Puran Yojana had been terminated.
She said if the hospitals were found guilty in the inquiry, the department might cancel their registration and also take legal action against them. She added that the United India Insurance, the company related to this scheme, had also paused the work on bill claims.
Mahajan and Chhatwal said, “Bhagat Puran Yojana is a very important scheme which has been started by the state government for the welfare of people. The hospitals will not be allowed to indulge in such malpractices.”
They also appealed to the people to submit their complaints at toll-free number 104 and assured that timely action would be taken.
Charged for treatment
- Aastha Kidney Hospital in Maya Nagar and Garg Hospital in Jawaddi had charged money from patients in lieu of treatment and also availed the monetary benefit from Bhagat Puran Yojana
- When confronted, doctors of both hospitals returned the money charged from poor patients
- A departmental inquiry has been initiated into the matter and if owners and doctors of the hospitals are found guilty, proceedings will be initiated against them
Land scam: PMO seeks report
Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi
Hoshiarpur, August 24
The probe into the four-laning of National Highway 70 from Jalandhar to Chintpurni has taken a new turn after the whistle-blower complained that some officers were allegedly trying to mislead the investigation.
Now, the PMO has sought comments from the Superintending Engineer of the regional office of the Union Ministry of Shipping and Road Transport at Chandigarh in this regard.
The whistle-blower in the case, RTI activist Rajiv Vashisht, had filed a complaint in the PMO that the matter was not being investigated properly and the investigation was being misled by some officers. He had alleged that the complaint was about payment of compensation at exaggerated rates in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts for acquisition of land for the four-laning project.
He alleged that the investigation was on for Rs 286 crore paid for 33 km in Hoshiarpur and there was no investigation being conducted for Jalandhar district’s payment of Rs 179 crore for 14 km.
Following the complaint, the PMO asked the Chief Secretary of the state government to get the complaint investigated.
The investigation was then handed over to state government’s Additional Chief Secretary NS Kalsi.
Meanwhile, CM Parkash Singh Badal had ordered vigilance inquiry into the matter and a special investigative team was formed to probe the matter.
The Additional Chief Secretary had written to the Hoshiarpur DC in this regard who had informed him that that the matter was being investigated by the Vigilance Bureau’s special investigation team (SIT) and on July 8 the SIT had taken all records in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Section Officer of the PMO had written to the Punjab Chief Secretary again and the complaint was sent to the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau who in turn wrote to the DIG, Vigilance Bureau, to take action on Vashisht’s complaint vide its letter dated July 22.
In reply to it, the IG (EO Wing) of the VB had informed that an investigation into matter was being conducted but it was for Hoshiarpur district only as per orders given to them.
Vashisht said knowing this through RTI, he had again sent a complaint to the PMO alleging that there were some officers trying to mislead the investigation on the name of vigilance inquiry whereas SIT’s investigation was only about Hoshiarpur and payment of Rs 179 crore paid for a stretch of 14 km in Jalandhar district had been left untouched.
Vashisht said the online status of his complaint registered in the PMO showed that the matter was handed over to Aditya Prakash, Superintending Engineer (SE) of the regional office of the Union Ministry of Shipping and Road Transport at Chandigarh on August 22.
Prakash said he had been asked to give his comments on the issue. He said he would ask the Chief Engineer of the state for highways to seek all details from the Executive Engineers concerned and send a report to him. “It is only after going through the information provided by the Chief Engineer that I can comment on it and I will be sending my comments to the higher authorities,” he added.
Bhagwant defends Kejri
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 24
Defending Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal over state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur’s claim that he was not getting an audience with him to raise objections over the selection of party candidates for the Assembly elections, MP Bhagwant Mann said perhaps the latter should make more efforts.
Mann, who was at Bilga village in Nakodar constituency, said, “I think our national convener is the most accessible leader. If he (Chhotepur) has any grouse, he should make more effort to meet the party leader and sort out the differences.”
Will contest against Sukhbir, says Mann
Bhagwant Mann today declared to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections from the Jalalabad constituency from where Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is the legislator currently.
He challenged Sukhbir Badal to contest against him from Jalalabad.
AAP trying to get rid of convener: Capt
Tribune News Service
Sunam (Sangrur), August 24
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh today alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was trying to get rid of his state party convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur. He alleged Kejriwal was making efforts to sideline Chhotepur, who was a known Punjabi face in AAP, just to pave way for his own entry in Punjab.
With regard to a video showing Chhotepur allegedly taking money, Amarinder said Chhotepur had a flawless record in his public life of 40 years. He alleged that it was Kejriwal’s nature to first use people and then start defaming them to get rid of them. He said AAP was already witnessing dissent in its rank and file.
Amarinder was here today to give answers to people’s questions at a ‘Halqe Vich Captain’ programme and to mobilise the Congress cadre for the Assembly elections.
He said the SAD-BJP alliance had no chance of winning the Assembly elections as people were fed up of their regime.
In reply to a question, Capt demanded from the Election Commission of India the deployment of central security forces in the state during the 2017 Assembly elections. He said this was necessary in view of the presence of about 60 criminal gangs in the state.
Manpreet will contest’
- Malerkotla: Capt Amarinder Singh has said Manpreet Badal would certainly be a party candidate as he was the convener of the Congress manifesto committee. On cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, Amarinder said he should join the Congress as he had Congress background in his DNA. TNS
Sukhbir: Chhotepur video proves AAP party of looters
Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service
Malowal (Amloh), August 24
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the video showing Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur taking money had proved that the new political outfit was a party of looters.
Sukhbir was here to preside over a Sangat Darshan programme for 49 panchayats of the region. He said AAP was a party of looters and the people in the state should beware of the false promises made by AAP leaders.
He said the SAD was the people’s party and its main aim was to raise the living standard of the people.
He said the General Sales Tax (GST) Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament would be tabled in the next session of the Assembly starting from September 5. Answering a query pertaining to PCOCA (Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act), he said the Advocate General had been asked by the council of ministers to study all aspects regarding it. Any decision on the issue would only be taken after getting the final report, he added.
About declaring Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna as the party candidate from Amloh, he said leaders and workers of every constituency already knew who would be the party candidate from that particular area. The list of candidates would be formally declared soon, he said.
He also laid the foundation stone of a sewerage project worth Rs 16.72 crore for Amloh and disbursed development grants worth Rs 8.7 crore for the 49 villages.
What the Deputy CM said
- The Deputy CM said AAP was a party of looters and the people in the state should beware of the false promises made by its leaders
- He said the AAP was like a Naxal group wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state
Sampla announces BJP’s state executive
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 24
Vijay Sampla, state president, BJP, today announced the party’s state executive. There are 57 state executive members, 31 permanent invitees and 119 special invitees.
Among the prominent faces in the state executive are Manoranjan Kalia, Prof Brij Lal Rinwa, Avinash Rai Khanna, Prof Rajinder Bhandari, Ashwani Sharma, Kamal Sharma, Tikshan Sud, Master Mohan Lal, Swarana Ram, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla and Arunesh Shakar.
Among the permanent invitees are Vinod Khanna, Swaran Salaria, Neeraj Tayal, Bhagat Chuni Lal, Anil Joshi, Madan Mohan Mittal, Surjit Kumar Jyani, Dinesh Thakur (Babbu), KD Bhandari, Som Parkash and Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla.
Sampla appointed Jaswant Singh Padda, a former district vice-president of Tarn Taran MC as Tarn Taran district president of the BJP.
Gurdaspur residents seek road repair
Tribune News Service
Gurdaspur, August 24
Hundreds of shopkeepers blocked the Mandi bus stand road for about three hours forcing the police to divert traffic through alternate routs to clear the rush.
The 3-km stretch of the road has become a bone of contention between residents and the PWD authorities. For the last four months, the road has been in a dilapidated condition with PWD officials claiming that “they are helpless as they cannot spray tar due to the rainy season.”
To this, Anu Gandotra, a leader of the Gurdaspur Beopar Mandal who spearheaded today’s agitation, said, “It is utter negligence on the part of the PWD. The rainy season is just their lame excuse as there are several other methods available to ensure that the road is sprayed with tar.”
About 400 shopkeepers signed a memorandum claiming that many of them had fallen ill after inhaling dust particles.
Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal admitted that the grievances were genuine and added that he had instructed officials to look for a solution.
Sukhdev Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD, said, “There is little we can do as rains are acting as impediment in starting the repair work. Once the rainy season is over, we will start work,” he said.
However, shopkeepers claimed that the road was in a bad condition even before the monsoon had arrived. Residents have given an ultimatum to the authorities to get the road repaired till August 28 or face a bandh on August 29.
Assembly poll likely in Jan-end
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 24
The Assembly elections in the state are likely to be held in the end of January or early February next year. Though the dates will be announced by the Election Commission later, the state administration has been asked to gear up for the elections by January.
A five-member delegation of the Election Commission visited the state yesterday to assess election preparedness. It asked the government to be cautious about drug abuse during elections, besides keeping tabs on currency flow.
The delegation held a meeting with the deputy commissioners, police commissioners and senior superintendents of police from all over the state. Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh reportedly told the delegation that the revised electoral rolls would be ready by January 2, 2017.
After the publication of the revised electoral rolls, the process of filing nominations, withdrawals and scrutiny will begin. It will take nine days, sources say. After that, 14 days will be allowed for campaigning. As a result, the polling date could be either in the last week of January or early February. It is likely that the polling in Punjab will coincide with polling in Uttar Pradesh.
Govt cautioned on drug abuse, money flow
- A five-member delegation of theElection Commission, which visited the state on Tuesday, has asked the government to be cautious about drug abuse during elections, besides keeping tabs on currency flow
Akali leader shoots self in Sahnewal
Our Correspondent
Sahnewal, August 24
Akali leader Kishanpal Sandhu allegedly shot himself at his residence this afternoon. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Sandhu was the former senior vice-president of the Municipal Council, Sahnewal. He was an active Akali leader. He was reportedly suffering from depression for some time.
Sources said the leader was found lying in a pool of blood by his wife who rushed to his room after finding an empty cover of the pistol outside.
Hardeep Singh, SHO, Sahnewal, said it appeared to be a case of suicide, but they were investigating the matter. “The family members are not in a position to give any statement as yet,” he said.
Swaraj Abhiyan comes out in Gandhi’s support
New Delhi, August 24
Swaraj Abhiyan, an organisation led by Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, today came out in support of suspended AAP MP from Patiala Dharamvira Gandhi and accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and the Congress of running the show like a kingdom.
It also accused the ruling Akali Dal of losing its way and being involved in corruption.
Backing the new Punjab-centric front formed by Gandhi, which may contest the 2017 Assembly polls, Abhiyan said the front would take care of the interests of Punjab.
“We support the front's alternative politics that can cater to regional aspirations of the state. The Akali Dal has lost its way while the AAP and the Congress run the show like kingdoms operating from Delhi,” it said. — PTI
Development hit as mafia grabs land
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 24
Many development works, to be carried out by the Amritsar Improvement Trust, in the city are held up as land mafia has grabbed its land by resorting to unfair means.
The trust had planned to raise a commercial project over two acre and 550 square yard, adjoining NM Cinema Hall, on the Court road in the seventies. However, since then the land has been under litigation. It has been used for parking cars, dumping garbage, hanging washed clothes, besides a religious shrine.
Similarly, the land for the proposed state-of-the-art multi-discipline stadium, with indoor and outdoor sports complexes, has been lying unused. A group of people is claiming ownership of eight acres out of the 21 acre of the entire multi-purpose project.
Trust officials on condition of anonymity said the same group from whom the trust took over the possession of prime 9,500 sqyd worth Rs 125 crore at posh Ranjit Avenue last year, was behind claiming the ownership of the eight acre.
Due to litigation, the dream of budding sportspersons to practice and play at the international-level ground has remained unfulfilled.
Now, a few religious shrines have come up in residential colonies including New Amritsar and Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar Scheme. In one such case, it forced the AIT to shift plot of the allottee to another location within the scheme.
The Trust authorities are now contesting these cases to get the land vacated. Some of the trust property under litigation is at prime locations.
Officials of the AIT said, “Complaints have been received from the people about religious shrines coming up on plots in these localities.”
They said in one of the cases the trust had to give an alternate plot to the allottee. It was a matter of concern as land mafia was active to grab land under the garb of religious shrines, they added.
They said the trust would soon take action against unauthorised shrines coming up in its schemes.
Riot victims’ panel rues non-fulfillment of promises by Akali govt
Amritsar, August 24
The 1984 Sikh Katleam Pirit Parivar Sangharsh Committee has alleged that the Akali Dal government has not delivered the promised social welfare benefits.
Addressing mediapersons here today, committee president Mohan Singh said victims of the 1984 riots had been made a subject to earn sympathy votes before every election.
He said the Akali Dal and its top leadership had been promising them compensations since 2002, but nothing was given. He recalled that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced residential plots, commercial booths, jobs on compassionate ground and Rs 3 lakh in cash during a Sangat Darshan programme at Sangrur in 2002.
Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had announced to give jobs on compassionate grounds to children of red card holders, which were issued to some 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, on September 11, 2014, he added. Mohan said 32 years had lapsed since the horrific anti-Sikh pogrom and Parkash Singh Badal became Chief Minister for five times, but no promise was fulfilled. — TNS
Only Badals earned profit in fund-starved state: Cong
Tribune News Service
Rajpura (Patiala), August 24
A large number of traders and industrialists today held a meeting with the special committee on urban issues, constituted by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) to look into the problems faced by the electorate in urban areas.
On being apprised of the problems faced by them, former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and National AICC spokesperson Vijay Inder Singla said the trading community was suffering because of the wrong policies of the state government for the past nine years.
Bansal said the present financial year began with a negative balance of Rs 610 crore and the outstanding debt escalated to Rs 1,38,165 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 1,24,553 crore in 2015-16. He said the ruling SAD-BJP government was monopolising the state’s finances. “While the business of the Badals has grown, Punjab’s finances are in a mess. The state’s debt has gone up from Rs 61,000 crore in 2008 to Rs 1.4 lakh crore this year, one of the highest among all states,” he said.
Singla said Sukhbir Badal would never understand the challenges faced by small traders as his own business was flourishing and the SAD government operated as the Badal and sons pvt ltd with the Badal clan (relatives) occupying the key positions in the state. He added that it was hard to imagine the progress of the state when the people at the helm were only interested in filling their own pockets. He cautioned the traders from falling into Sukhbir Badal’s trap for the third time.
The two leaders and also condemned AAP, claiming that the party stood as a model of broken promises, lies, conspiracies and lust for power. The said AAP wanted to grab the power by hook or crook. Kejriwal was fooling the traders community by using his Baniya image. They said the AAP’s power tussle with the Centre had regularly made headlines in the past 18 months while the common man had been burdened by increased taxed.
“Kejriwal formed AAP on the pretext of weeding out corruption but his record is far from satisfactory. His ministers have been forced to resign or sacked for involvement in corruption cases. The CBI has arrested Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar and four others in a 50-crore corruption case. Every other day, we hear about AAP MLAs’ tryst with the law & order either,” Bansal said.
1984 riot victims say CM Badal made fake promises
AMRITSAR: Accusing the Punjab government of not keeping the promises made to victims of the 1984 Sikh riots, the activists of the ‘1984 Sikh Katleam Pirit Parivar Sanghrash Committee’ said chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal has always played politics on the issue of Sikh riots but never did anything for the victims.
GROUP SAYS CM HAD PROMISED `3 LAKH EACH TO VICTIMS AND JOBS TO GIRLS OF THE FAMILIES, BESIDES COMMERCIAL BOOTHS AND HOUSES
In a press conference, the president of the committee Mohan Singh said that in 2009, the CM had promised an amount of `3 lakh each to the victims along with jobs to the girls of the families, besides commercial booths and residential houses.
But till now nothing has been done, he said.
They also said that deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal had also promised government jobs to the victims along with the card bearers but nothing has been done for them despite Parkash Singh Badal becoming the chief minister five times. The activists also expressed their displeasure over empty promises made by Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
The committee now demanded that the government should provide free 200 units of power to the victim families apart from fulfilling all the previously made promises.
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