Punjabi Suba was 2nd Partition: Capt

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

Terming the Punjabi Suba’s creation as the second Partition for Punjabis after 1947, PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh today accused the Akalis of truncating the state to fulfil their sectarian agenda.

On the golden jubilee celebrations, Amarinder asked what was the point of celebrating an occasion which had laid the foundation for the continuous decline of the state.

He said Punjab not only lost out on land tracts spanning 80 lakh acres but also had to give up precious resources such as water, hydroelectric power, forests and tourism to Himachal Pradesh, while large and well-planned industrial belts went to Haryana.

“While Haryana prospered through industrial growth, particularly in Faridabad, Gurugram and Panipat, Punjab was left struggling with a legacy of festering disputes, including the demand for Chandigarh as its exclusive capital and a commitment to provide Haryana with “our precious water,” said Amarinder.

He added that the Akalis were sharing the dais with leaders of the BJP, the new face of the erstwhile Jan Sangh that had opposed the formation of the Punjabi Suba.

Channi flays celebrations

Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi questioned the rationale behind the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “second partition” of Punjab, saying it had left the state “poorer”. He called upon Badal to explain to people as to why his party had launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha in 1982 that “pushed” the state in more than a decade-long period of turmoil in which about 30,000 people were killed. He said if the re-organisation of Punjab was a cause for celebration, he should apologise to the people of the state.

Another let-down: Jakhar

Abohar: Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said BJP president Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had again disappointed Punjabis, who were expecting a bonanza on the occasion of Punjabi Suba’s celebrations. He said both tried their best to paint a rosy picture of the state that was considered a topper in drugs and suicides by debt-ridden farmers.

Cong alleges doublespeak by CM on SYL

Chandigarh, November 1

The Punjab Congress today alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was resorting to hypocritical doublespeak on the SYL issue with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections.

PPCC leaders Ravneet Bittu, Sukh Sarkaria, Kuljit Nagra and Randeep Nabha referred to the document released some time ago by PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh to show that Badal had been “instrumental” in acquiring land for the canal, thus weakening the state’s position in the prolonged dispute. — TNS

Congressmen protest ‘false’ case at SAD leader’s behest

Tarn Taran, November 1

Congressmen, led by Harminder Singh Gill, general secretary, PPCC, began an indefinite dharna in front of the police station at Patti, 25 km from here.

They were protesting against the registration of a “false” case of attempt to murder against some party men.

Gill, while addressing the party workers, alleged that the Patti police have registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder), 427, 148, 149 IPC, 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act against party men at the behest of the SAD leader.

The accused in the case have been identified as Dalbir Singh Shekhon, president of the city unit of the party, his brother Gurbir Singh Shekhon, their three sons and other members of the family. Gill said that their protest would continue till the case was withdrawn. — OC

Farmers dump paddy outside Gidderbaha SDM’s office

Demand ‘resumption’ of procurement

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 1

Farmers, led by Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh ‘Raja Warring’, dumped paddy crop outside the office of SDM, Gidderbaha, today.

The protesters were demanding ‘resumption’ of procurement of paddy, alleging that the FCI had stopped the purchase a few days ago. “I have been contacting DC Muktsar and SDM Gidderbaha daily about the problems being faced by farmers in ‘mandis’. The FCI has stopped procurement in some ‘mandis’. But the DC and SDM are only making empty promises. So, we started a protest outside the SDM office today. It will continue until procurement resumes in mandis,” said Warring.

Meanwhile, Anand Sagar Sharma, SDM, Gidderbaha, met the protesters and tried to pacify them, saying the issue would be resolved soon. But the farmers continued to protest. The farmers also raised anti-government slogans.

Anand Sagar Sharma told The Tribune, “The FCI’s storage has become full. So there is some problem in one or two ‘mandis’. Today, we have shifted the Peori focal point to Pungrain from the FCI. Besides, the FCI is sending 80,000 bags of paddy tomorrow to some other station on a special train. It will create enough space. There is no problem with any other agency.”

Meanwhile, a meeting was held between the SDM and Congress MLA at the SDM’s office in which he assured that the procurement would resume tomorrow. The SDM left for his residence late in the evening but the protesters stayed put outside his office till the filing of this report.

No money, old-age pension delayed

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

The Punjab Department of Social Security has been struggling to pay the old-age pension to more than two-thirds of around 17 lakh beneficiaries in the state for the past two months.

Sources said the department was yet to disburse pension for September in most of the districts as the cash-strapped government had delayed the release of the monthly budget, which is in the range of Rs 85-90 crore.

The department managed to give pension for August to beneficiaries registered only in 10 districts, as the government had released around Rs 44 crore.

“The pension for September has been disbursed in a few districts, using the budget released for the previous month. In around 12 districts, beneficiaries received it last for July,” said a senior officer. Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu, Director of the department, declined to comment on the issue.

Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani said the Finance Department released the pending amount for disbursal today.

The government pays Rs 500 per month as the old-age pension to women aged 60 years or above and men aged 65 or above, provided the monthly income of the beneficiary is not more than Rs 1,000 per month. Till last year, the state was paying Rs 250 per month to the eligible ones.

About Chandigarh’s birth and the Punjab tangle

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

The fateful day of November 1, 1966, dawned and proved to be a red-letter day in the history of Punjab, which was already a remnant of the Partition of India in 1947.

On November 1, 1966, Haryana was carved out of Punjab and hundreds of Punjabi-speaking villages were transferred to Haryana. Besides, Punjab districts of Shimla and Kangra were merged with Himachal Pradesh on topographical grounds. Simultaneously, the capital was sanctioned away from Punjab and the whole of Chandigarh region with its 22 surrounding villages were promulgated into a separate unit called the Union Territory of Chandigarh under the Central Rule.

Thus, in a factual way, Punjab province was trifurcated overnight and the new order came into force with effect from November 1, 1966.

Events that followed

Punjab people were naturally very much aggrieved at the exclusion of Chandigarh from the state. Justice Gurdev Singh Dutt, one of the three members sof the Punjab Boundary Commission, had put in a strong dissenting note logically advocating that Chandigarh ought to go to Punjab. An intensive perusal of that note attached to the Boundary Commission's verdict is a must-read even now.

A perusal demonstration, the like of which was never witnessed before, was organised by the late Sant Fateh Singh who was even bent upon immolating himself to get Chandigarh restored to Punjab until the then Speaker Hukam Singh brought then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's solemn word that Chandigarh would be given over to Punjab. Again, Punjab people cannot forget the supreme sacrifice made by Sardar Pheruman by fasting unto death for conscience sake that Chandigarh should have been retained in Punjab.

Unkept promises

Thanks to Punjab's continued pressure and persistent demand, Indira Gandhi gave her promised award in 1971-72 that Chandigarh would be given to Punjab in lieu of Fazilka-Abohar while Hindi-speaking area in Punjab to be given simultaneously to Haryana.
Even on the eve of Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi, in her broadcast to the nation on the night of June 2, 1984, appealed for the withdrawal of the Sikh agitation, re-assuring that she had already given Chandigarh to Punjab. The military operation on the Akal Takht in Amritsar gave rise to new problems and challenges and altered the entire situation and scenario not only in Punjab but all over the country.
The successor Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, with the help of the then Punjab Governor Arjun Singh, tried to settle the Punjab tangle. He struck an historic agreement called the Punjab Accord on July 24, 1985, with the popular Sikh leader Sant Harchand Singh Longowal.
Article 7.1 of the Accord
“The Capital Project Area of Chandigarh will go to Punjab. Some adjoining areas, which were previously part of Hindi or Punjabi regions, were included in the Union Territory. With the Capital region going to Punjab, the areas, which were added to the Union Territory from the Punjabi region of the erstwhile state of Punjab, will be transferred to Punjab and those from the Hindi region to Haryana. The entire Sukhna Lake will thus go to Punjab.”
In pursuance of this clause in the Punjab Accord, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi declared that Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab on January 26, 1986, but he backed out at the eleventh hour and all necessary preparations for the merger came to a naught. Presumably, Rajiv Gandhi felt excessively threatened and cowed down by the Haryana demonstration before the Parliament House led by Chaudhary Devi Lal.

Mohinder Kaur Josh,68

SAD

BY THE WAY She’s known to be arrogant; son runs the show

HOW SHE PERFORMED

Her tenure remained full of controversies with charges of sheltering sand mafia. On the development front, the performance of the MLA has remained under questions, with many areas in the constituency lagging in basic civic infrastructure. She did focus on the elderly and widows by starting various schemes for them. She claims that, in the 286 villages under her constituency, youth and sports clubs were set up to divert attention of the youth away from the drugs. Power supply has improved in the region with the upgradation of four supply sub-stations. The MLA claimed that the first sub-station of solar power was also set up in her constituency.

Sunder Sham Arora,

CONG

BY THE WAY A coloniser and hospital owner, very religious

HOW HE PERFORMED

Although Arora defeated former BJP minister Tikshan Sud in the elections, Sud continued to rule the roost owing to his affiliation with the ruling party. All development grants were routed through Sud. Yet, Arora managed to deliver either from his own pocket or through the MPLAD funds of Congress’ Rajya Sabha member Ambika Soni. He claims to have spent around `2 crore of MPLAD grant on parks, dharamshalas, road repair, cremation grounds and solar lights. As district Congress president, he consolidated his position but at the same time also faced opposition from within. On account of his philanthropy and clean image, he enjoys goodwill of the public.

Sohan Singh Thandal,59

SAD

BY THE WAY Loves to dress up, known for turban colours

HOW HE PERFORMED

He is flayed for not bringing any major project and ignoring the roads; but he claims to have spent `100 crore on development in the current year alone. Initiating seven new water supply schemes, two lift irrigation schemes, renovation of the Maili dam, upgrade of the Harta Badla and Chabbewal hospitals, renovation of Phuglana hospital building, and upgrade of six schools and five power grids are his major achievements. He claims to provide `50 lakh every year for sports promotion and infrastructure. But he failed to provide building for Mehtiana police station and adequate staff for upgraded health institutions. He claims to have got sanction and funds for construction of a building for Chabbewal police station.

Sangat Singh Gilzian,63

CONG

BY THE WAY His brother is the New York host to Cong leaders

HOW HE PERFORMED

It was due to sheer goodwill among the public that he won two consecutive elections when other Congress leaders in the district struggled. Despite being in the opposition, he managed to install his own men as civic body chiefs for three terms. He never misses a public gathering. He claims credit for at least seven major roads and a bridge worth `18 crore. At the same time, he candidly admits he could not undertake any development in the current tenure for lack of support from the Centre and the state governments. He pressed the state government to build a stadium with the money it got from the National Highways Authority of India for 2.5 acres that former minister Kartar Singh donated; but the efforts failed.

Supporters sit on dharna outside police station

ALLEGE POLITICAL VENDETTA, SAY SEKHON IS BEING FALSELY IMPLICATED IN ATTEMPT TO MURDER CASE

PATTI: Condemning the registration of a case against the local party leader and his kin, hundreds of Congress members led by state secretary Harminder Singh Gill on Tuesday launched an indefinite dharna outside the city police station here.Dalbir Singh Sekhon, who is the president of the party’s local unit, was booked along with his son, brother and other kin for attempt to murder (Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code) on the complaint of one Ram Parkash of Mohalla Barada on Monday.

Ram accused Sekhon and his kin of opening fire and injuring him on being asked not make mischief while bursting crackers on Diwali night.

Carrying placards, Congress workers shouted slogans against the police authorities and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders. They alleged the party leader was falsely implicated as part of political vendetta.

“To suppress the voice of the opposition, Akali leaders are playing dirty tricks. This is daylight ‘gundagardi’ (hooliganism) by the ruling party leaders,” said Gill, while alleging the case had been registered on the directions of an influential Akali minister based in Patti.

Youth Congress leader Harpreet Singh Sandhu said the protest would continue till the police cancel the case. Other party leaders protesting outside the police station are Jagtar Singh Burj, Hardip Singh Patti, Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, Navreet Singh Jalewal, Wazir Singh Paras and Sadhu Singh.