Saturday 15 October 2016

Now, terror-hit families protest at CM’s doorstep

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

The wife of a cop who had died at the hands of terrorists being taken away during a protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s residence in Sector 2 drew more protesters here today as family members of police personnel killed during the days of terrorism raised slogans against the state government.

About seven women relatives of these policemen were herded into a police van and whisked away. Sukhwinder Kaur, who lost her husband during that period, said, “Our men in khaki laid down their lives for their brethren. Now, the police are treating us like rogues.”

Meanwhile, Home Guard personnel and their families continued their protest in front of the CM’s house. Speaking on their behalf, Jitender Singh said, “There are only 550 of us who are demanding jobs. The department has 725 vacancies.”

Gursewak Singh, who is representing the families of martyrs of the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, said, “The government promised us 10 acres each. About 1,500 families have already been given land. Only 161 of us are left.”

AAP leader Dev Mann visited the spot and spoke to various protesting groups.

Angra to be new police chief

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 15

The Punjab Government has transferred Police Commissioner Amar Singh Chahal to Patiala as DIG, Patiala, ahead of the ensuing Assembly elections. He would be replaced by Lok Nath Angra, IG, Jalandhar Zone. They were among the seven IPS officers shuffled by the Punjab Government.

Angra said he would be joining the city police commissionerate in the next couple of days. He said controlling crime in the city and maintaining law and order would be among his priorities. As the Assembly elections were round the corner, his main emphasis would be to conduct the elections in a peaceful manner. He said the drug menace was another area he would focus on.

Answering queries about petty crimes, including snatchings and robberies, he said he would initiate steps to scale them down. He said notorious gangsters would also be put behind bars.

SAD-BJP pushed state into medieval times: Dharamvira

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 15

Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi described the spate of murders and police brutalities in Jaloor, Ghungrana, Mansa, Jalandhar and the violence against struggling Suvidha Kendra employees by the police as a sinister design of the ruling SAD-BJP combine and condemned it for pushing Punjab back into medieval times.

He further condemned the treatment meted out to Congress leaders by ruling party workers and the police, terming it as a suppression of democracy. He said this amounted to the suppression of people’s voice against the liquor and drug mafia, which according to him, had been let loose by the ruling combine on the people of Punjab, destroying lakhs of lives.

Recalling the failure to apprehend the people who desecrated the Guru Granth Sahib, killers of the Namdhari Mata Chand Kaur besides those who attacked Sant Dhadrianwale or killed businessman Billa of Jalandhar, he said all these cases were a testimony to the breakdown of law and order in Punjab.

“These crimes combined with the killings in the gang war are the manifestations of various mafias that have cropped up in every field of the economic activity and intruded into social and political life of the Punjabi society,” Dr Dharamvira said.

He squarely blamed Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for the botched up implementation of the 2006 Supreme Court ruling regarding the seven-point police reforms. “Even Captain Amrinder Singh in his avatar as the Chief Minister did not bother about damning reports of many police commissions since 1979 and used the police and various mafias for his personal ends,” he said.

“The appointment of halqa in-charges and giving them an unbridled power has led to the spread of illicit activities, making the life of people a hell. The nexus of the police-politician-vendor has made various mafias a potent threat to the law and order in the state,” he added.

Dr Dharamvira called upon the people of Punjab to teach a lesson to those played a crucial role in “criminalising” the Punjab society in the 2017 Assembly poll. He also urged people to support a common Punjab front to defeat the mafias and decriminalise of the Punjab Police in order to democratise Punjab.

‘Complete breakdown of law & order in state’

Recalling the failure to apprehend the people who desecrated the Guru Granth Sahib, killers of the Namdhari Mata Chand Kaur besides those who attacked Sant Dhadrianwale or killed businessman Billa of Jalandhar, he said all these cases were a testimony to the breakdown of law and order in Punjab.
“These crimes combined with the killings in the gang war are the manifestation of various mafias that have cropped up in every field of the economic activity and intruded into social and political life of the Punjabi society,” Dr Dharamvira said.
He further condemned the treatment meted out to Congress leaders by ruling party workers and the police, terming it as a suppression of democracy.

Cong wants ticket aspirants to furnish ‘loyalty bond’

Candidates can apply for ticket from maximum 2 wards

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

Two months before the MC goes to the polls, the Congress city unit has decided to follow the party’s Punjab unit pattern wherein ticket contenders are asked to sign a “loyalty bond” while seeking the ticket.

The decision was taken during a meeting held at the Congress Bhawan in Sector 35 here this evening. Former union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Congress city president Pardeep Chhabra, the party office-bearers and councillors attended the meeting.

During the last three years, four Congress councillors — Raj Bala Malik, Sat Parkash Aggarwal, Rana Kashmiri Devi and Satish Kainth —joined the BJP. All these councillors had won the last MC elections in 2011 on the Congress ticket.

A senior Congress leader said the ticket contenders would have to declare that he/she would remain loyal to the party after winning the elections. The party would also seek a written undertaking from those applying for a ticket that they would not turn a rebel if it denied them a chance to contest, the Congress leader said.

Congress city chief Pardeep Chhabra said ticket contenders would have to submit application fee of Rs 2,000. A leader can apply from two wards at the most. The application forms would be available in the party office from October 17 and would be received till October 24, he said.

In his address, former MP Pawan Kumar Bansal exhorted the party workers to contest the MC poll as a team whereas Chhabra said there was no other group in the party.

Cong workers to gherao Punjab Guv’s house

Members of the Congress city unit will gherao the house of Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on October 22 in protest against the alleged anti-people policies of the BJP Government.

3 weeks after sangat darshan, sarpanches await Rs29 cr grant

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 15

The sarpanches of villages falling in the Phillaur constituency are completely distraught as they have not received the cheques of Rs 29 crore they were promised for development works during a sangat darshan programme held three weeks ago.

A two-day sangat darshan programme was convened in Phillaur by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on September 23 and 24 in which none of the panchayats that met him have so far received any grants. This has not been the case in Adampur, wherein the panchayats had been issued cheques at the venue site itself and payments of Rs 17 crore were released immediately for the works.

Nirmal Singh, a sarpanch of Sheikhupur village, said, “It has only been assurances that have come our way so far. We had been promised Rs 9 lakh for the reconstruction of drains and cleaning of sewer pond but so far we have not been paid even a penny. We were told to pass resolution for the same from the panchayats which we did two days ago. We have been making rounds to the office of the BDPO but nothing has come our way so far.”

Sarabjit Singh, Congress sarpanch from Sangh Dhesian village, said, “We had demanded Rs 14-15 lakh for the paving of roads, construction of drains and cleaning of ponds. The Deputy CM had attended to scores of panchayats for just 10 minutes on the second day and left without giving us a proper hearing. But he had approved the amount for our village. We have been daily checking accounts but to no avail.”

Sarpanches from Pasla, Surja, Partapura and Gohawar villages also have a similar grudge. Former Punjab Youth Congress chief Vikramjit Chaudhary said, “The gullible villagers were simply been given lollipops by the Deputy CM the other day. When he is giving cheques elsewhere, nothing has come for Phillaur residents who have been made to run from pillar to post to get the amount for their works.”

SAD constituency in charge Baldev Khera said, “I have been in constant touch with my party high command. I will soon get the payment released for the villagers and will ensure that their works get started soon. The process is on. The entire amount of Rs 29 crore would be released in a week’s time. ”

Under scanner

Vikramjit Chaudhary rued that despite having no constitutional post, government officials were allowing Baldev Khera to perform all government-related tasks, including the distribution of cycles under the Mai Bhago scheme. He alleged that government officials were playing to the tune of the SAD ahead of the elections.

Left out

Cong-SAD clash: ADCP transferred

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15

Finally, ADCP 4 Jaswinder Singh of Ludhiana Commissionerate faced the music in the Congress-SAD controversy over “chitta” Ravan, as he was transferred by the Punjab police today. Though the Congress had demanded his suspension.

The Congress MP, Ravneet Bittu, along with senior Congress leaders have been staging a dharna outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh for the past two days. They have demanded suspension of ADCP 4 Jaswinder Singh and transfer of Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

Ishwarjot Singh Cheema, chairman of the economic and political planning cell of the PPCC, said the transfer of Jaswinder Singh was the result of the Congress protest outside the Badal’s residence in Chandigarh. “Now, the decision of the government to transfer the ADCP shows that it has buckled down under the pressure of the Congress,” he added.

It is believed the Congress may call off its dharna as Capt Amarinder Singh has announced to burn an effigy of “chitta” Ravana in Ludhiana on October 18.

Will continue with the atta-dal scheme: Capt

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15

“If the Congress comes into power, it will not only give free atta-dal to those living below the poverty line (BPL), tea and sugar will also be given free,” said Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh. He was in the city to attend a programme organised to mark Valmiki Jayanti. A shobha yatra was taken out on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, he said “People are speculating that if the Congress comes to power, it will discontinue the atta-dal scheme. I want to assure the people that it will not be discontinued and in addition to atta-dal, tea and sugar will also be given free.”

He further said the amount given under the Shagun scheme at the time of a girl marriage would be hiked to Rs 51,000. Presently, the government was giving Rs 15,000. He also announced that the contract system would be abolished.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Raj Kumar Verka, vice-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, said “The Modi government has launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan but has never thought about launching any scheme for the welfare of people who keep the surroundings clean.” “These people are working at a meager salary of Rs 4,000 per month and the government should regularise them,” he said.

Asha Kumari, secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, said “It is very sad that today Punjab, which was known for its ‘farmers’, is known for its ‘goondas’.”

Congress leaders extend support to party workers

Meanwhile, the Congress party’s siege of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s residence here got another boost todau as several senior party leaders visited the protesting Congress workers to express their solidarity.

Several Congress legislators and workers have been camping outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh since Thursday, demanding action against senior Ludhiana police officers and punishment for Akali workers guilty of the Dasehra eve attack on Congress workers over the Chitta Ravana issue.

Among the first to reach the dharna site and extend support to the party workers this morning was Ambika Soni, AICC general secretary and chairperson of the Punjab Congress Campaign Committee. Congress in-charge, Punjab Affairs, Asha Kumari; AICC secretary Harish Choudhary; and former Punjab CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also joined the protestors. They also announced that the dharna would continue till the Badal government takes action against the erring police officials.

Cong to welcome Modi with black flags

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15

Gearing up for Modi’s visit: Security officials sanitise the PAU ground ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Ludhiana on October 18, on Saturday. The PM will present national awards to micro, small and medium enterprises’representatives. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Gursimran Singh Mand, former vice chairman of the Congress Local Bodies Cell, Punjab, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be welcomed with black flags in the city on October 18.

Mand said it had been over two and a half years of Modi Government at the centre, but the common man had not got any respite.

The Prime Minister had also failed to give anything to the Punjab government. Mand said the government was against farmers and providing gains to big houses such as Ambanis. He said there were ‘no acche din’ for the public. He said slogans would be raised against Modi and he would be sent back to Delhi.