STATE OF AFFAIRS: DELHI
The much-hyped "Wall of Truth" memorial envisaged by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DGSMC) for the 1984 riot victims in the Capital is ready and awaits inauguration by Shiromani Akali Dal patron and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The memorial was one of the promises made during the last elections. The significance of its timing is not lost as elections to the DGSMC and Punjab Assembly are due early next year.
Claiming credit for having met its promise, the DGSMC and the SAD hope to benefit electorally not just in the Delhi and Punjab but also in Uttar Pradesh where SAD hopes to make its presence felt.
The Punjab Assembly elections are likely to be held in January-February next. The DSGMC election is due in January but may be delayed with the the process for registration of new voters moving at a slow pace.
In Uttar Pradesh, SAD's Kuldip Singh Bhogal has been seeking compensation for the 1984 riot victims in Kanpur. He led a demonstration in Delhi recently, accusing the Samajwadi Party of not providing adequate compensation to them. The SAD-led DSGMC too staged protests at the AICC headquarters and the ITO crossing, demanding justice for the victims and punishment to the accused "roaming freely on Delhi roads even after 32 years of the riots."
The Rs 2.5-crore memorial was raised at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib after the DSGMC failed to get land in Delhi. The stone was laid down by the Punjab CM Badal in 2013.
The night shelters are run by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). Bipin Gupta, board member, said there were 247 night shelters spread across 11 districts of Delhi. But clinics were being opened near the four shelter homes, each of which catered to 1,000 people.
He said the board would provide blankets, quilts, soap and soup to the occupants. Already, it had made arrangements for 10,000 – 12,000 blankets. The shelters are being managed by NGOs. Of the total shelters, one is exclusively for the disabled. It is located at Asaf Ali Road near Police Bhawan. Seven are for children and 20 for women. Thirteen are family night shelters.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) MN Tiwari said: “Rituraj was arrested last night after he violated Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of four or more persons) of the Criminal Procedure Code imposed in the ghat area, a heritage property, in view of Chhath Puja.”
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Rituraj said: “I was trying to build a ghat for Chhath Puja at Nithari Talaab, near the expressway, along the riverbank in my constituency yesterday. The police wanted me to leave the ghat. Even the local people objected to the police action. The ghat was funded by the Delhi Government.”
The Punjab Government today denied permission for organising the second ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda on November 10.
In a related development, it intensified crackdown against the organisers by taking 190 persons in preventive custody, while detaining hundreds of others.
Those arrested include Dhian Singh Mand, who was appointed acting “Jathedar” of Akal Takht at the last ‘Sarbat Khalsa’; he was arrested from Ferozepur.
Gopal Singh Sidhu, SAD (Amritsar) general secretary and spokesperson, claimed 1,561 persons had been detained or arrested since midnight. “Almost all office-bearers of our party, apart from other supporting groups, have been put in jail,” he said.
Hardeep Singh Dhillon, DGP (Law and Order), said the number of preventive arrests was 190 till today evening. “The arrests were made to thwart any attempt of breach of peace, as the government has not given permission to organise Sarbat Khalsa.”
A government spokesperson said, “Last year, they (‘Sarbat Khalsa’ organisers) were given permission. But what was the fall out? They indulged in seditious activities. The government has denied permission this time because of the past year’s experience.”
Another reason for denying permission, he said, was that the SAD (Amritsar) claimed to the organiser of the event. “How can a political party organise the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’? It is the Sikh Sangat that calls the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’.”
Mann gives police the slip
Bathinda: Several prominent Sikh leaders, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and main organiser of the event Gurdip Singh Bathinda, managed to give police the slip; they have gone into hiding. They have reportedly shifted their base to Haryana and moved the HC, seeking permission for organising the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’. Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal has shifted base to Haryana.
The much-hyped opening of the Jang-e-Azadi memorial at Kartarpur today was marred by protests by the family members of around 400 freedom fighters.
They rued that they were invited to the function with a promise of fulfilment of their demands, but no such announcement was made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
As soon as the CM’s speech got over and the function came to an end, the freedom fighters’ relatives raised anti-Badal slogans. They said none of their demands, including pension scheme for the wards of the freedom fighters in line with the neighbouring states, bus passes and waiving toll tax, was fulfilled despite repeated requests.
The protest came as an embarrassment for the government as well as the local administration. None of the SAD-BJP leaders came to pacify the protesters who had come from all across the state.
Harinder Singh Khalsa, president, Association of Freedom Fighters, said: “There is no point in spending hundreds of crores of rupees on memorials in the name of freedom fighters when the government has completely ignored the genuine demands of their families.”
Vijay Rani from Phagwara, daughter of freedom fighter Prem Nath, said: “We had not come here just to accept shawls from Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. We were invited and insulted by the government.”
Ravinder Kapoor from Ludhiana, son of Khairati Lal, said: “Despite bus passes issued to us by the government, we are being charged penal bus fare by the Punjab Roadways.”
Separate arrangement was made for the lunch of freedom fighters’ families, but they refused to take food. The police even tried to stop them from leaving the venue without having lunch, but they refused to budge and were finally allowed to leave.
After inaugurating the memorial, the Chief Minister honoured noted film director Shyam Benegal and architect of the project Raj Rewal.
Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said the Punjabis suffered maximum losses during the freedom movement as compared to people from other states.
Hoardings and banners dot villages in the district, giving out details of funds spent and development projects undertaken in nine years of Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) rule.
Interestingly, there is no mention of the BJP, SAD’s alliance partner, in the hoardings.
Glorying Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal, the hoardings put up in every village mention new beneficiaries of welfare schemes.
The details include the number of old-age, widow and handicap pensioners, beneficiaries of atta-dal and Shagun schemes, Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries of free power connections, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) beneficiaries and beneficiaries of free toilets.
Some of the schemes are Centre-sponsored, but this is not mentioned.
The installation of hoardings is part of a three-tier campaign to glorify the SAD in view of the Assembly elections.
Last month, the state government had distributed booklets, mentioning its achievements in nine years. The Election Commission (EC) had questioned the move; so the state government started preparing constituency-wise booklets.
District Development Panchayat Officer (DDPO) Arun Sharma said, “The hoardings provide information about welfare schemes and development works in every village.”
In a complaint to the Election Commission, PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh alleged that the possibility of holding a free and fair election in the state was becoming dim by the day in view of the government’s failure to abide by the EC directives.
“Despite your explicit instructions to check the police-criminal nexus and to put an immediate stop to the misuse of official machinery to promote vested political interests, the Badal government continues to indulge in anti-people activities, negating all possibility of holding a fair and free election in the state,” said the complaint.
In his complaint, Amarinder lamented that the “reign of terror let lose by criminals and mafia working in direct nexus with the Akali Dal continues unabated”, with new incidents being uncovered every day.
The complaint also expressed serious concern over the alleged misuse of official machinery by the Badal government to promote its political interests and in this context, mentioned the launch of 100 mobile vans for the government’s health awareness campaign.
Former PPCC youth wing chief Vikramjit Singh Chaudhury has urged Capt Amarinder Singh to incorporate certain points in the proposed party’s manifesto which will have a direct bearing on the lives of citizens, particularly those living in the lower strata of society.
The document, envisaging the plans and policies of the Congress party, is being prepared by former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhatal and Manpreet Singh Badal. It is scheduled to be made public this month.
In a letter addressed to the Punjab Congress president, Chaudhury, who is also the son of sitting Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhury, Vikramjit, has said that he had extensively toured a part of the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency before coming up with his suggestions.
He said among other things, he wants the party to prepare a policy wherein toilets would be constructed in villages and a proper sewerage system be put in place for both rural and urban areas. “There is also a need to construct dispensaries in every village to ensure that proper health care facilities are extended to residents. There is a paucity of health care centres in rural areas and the party should make up for the same,” he said.
He said people in villages were being exploited by illegal doctors, also known as quacks. To stop this exploitation properly equipped health care facilities should be made available to people in villages. Only then the scourge of quackery would be nipped in the bud.
He said old-age pension to all senior citizens, Atta-Dal Scheme and other social security benefits should be continued.
Chaudhury said efforts should be made to restart the Indira Awaas Yojna (IAY) Scheme through which villagers could get grants to construct houses.
With memorial to riot victims, SAD eyes poll gain
Syed Ali Ahmed
Plan for night shelters
With winter setting in, the Delhi Government has decided to set up mohalla clinics near night shelters to provide health facilities to its occupants. To begin with, the clinics will be set up near four such shelters – Yamuna Pushta, Jama Masjid, Sarai Kale Khan and Shakur Basti. These will be run by specialists.
Miracle Box
It has become difficult to trace stolen cellphones. For, criminals in Delhi have developed a novel technique to erase the international mobile station equipment numbers with the help of a software, Miracle Box, procured from China.The criminals have changed the numbers of hundreds of cellphones, say the police. In a few cases, they have also changed the IOS operating system created and developed by Apple Inc.Another AAP MLA arrested
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 6
Apprehending breach of peace, the Delhi Police arrested Aam Aadmi Party’s Kirari legislator Rituraj Govind ahead of Chhath Puja late on Saturday. Govind is the 15th legislator of the Arvind Kejriwal government to be arrested so far.Sarbat Khalsa’ organisers detained
190 in preventive custody | Acting Akal Takht ‘Jathedar’ Mand arrested in Ferozepur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 6
The structure to support tents being dismantled at the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ venue near Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district on Sunday
Tents removed
The government removed tents and other structures at the 63-acre venue for the congregation. The ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ is scheduled at a private land near Talwandi Sabo.DSP suspended
- The police courted controversy while trying to arrest SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann near Barnala on Saturday night. Tapa Mandi DSP Raj Kapoor, who was allegedly drunk, tried to arrest Mann. The tables turned on him when Mann asked Kapoor to take him to hospital for his medical examination and that of the DSP. The video of the drama went viral on the social media. On Sunday, the DSP was suspended for dereliction of duty, said PS Umaranangal, IG (Patiala Zone).
Protest mars Jang-e-Azadi opening
Alleging insult, freedom fighters’ kin refuse to partake of meal
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Kartarpur, November 6
No mention of BJP in Akali hoardings
Banners put up on poles in every village of Ferozepur district, glorifying CM and his deputy
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Faridkot, November 6
Capt writes to EC, seeks imposition of poll code
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 6
The Punjab Congress today again urged the Election Commission to impose the model code of conduct “without further delay to curb the growing criminalisation and gross misuse of official machinery by the Badal government”.Screening panel meet tomorrow
- Chandigarh: The Congress has called a meeting of the screening committee, constituted for the Assembly elections, in Delhi on November 8. The committee is expected to discuss the strategy to distribute tickets among various communities. Ahead of the committee meeting, senior party leaders Capt Amarinder Singh, Ambika Soni and Asha Kumari held a discussion on the choice of candidates. TNS
PPCC ex-youth wing chief for sanitation, housing in manifesto
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 5
Impose poll code without delay: Capt to EC
CHANDIGARH: Welcoming the initiatives of the Election Commission (EC) to ensure free and fair polls in the state, the Punjab Congress on Sunday again urged the commission to impose model code of conduct without any delay to curb the growing criminalisation.
In a complaint to the EC, state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said the possibility of holding a free and fair election in the state was becoming more and more remote in view of the government’s failure to abide by the commission directives.
“Despite your explicit instructions to check the police-criminal nexus and to put an immediate stop to the misuse of official machinery to promote vested political interests, the Badal government continues to indulge in anti-people activities, negating all possibility of holding a fair and free election in the state,” said the former chief minister in the complaint.The complaint referred to the arrest of a BJP leader from Mansa in an illicit liquor case as well as the murder of an exserviceman in Moga following an argument over illicit liquor sale. The Punjab Congress chief also highlighted the increasing “atrocities” against the Dalits to underline the importance of urgent EC intervention.
CM opens ‘Jang-e-Azadi’ memorial, freedom fighters’ kin stage protest
Demand free bus pass, 2% reservation in government jobs and waiver in toll tax
JALANDHAR: The inauguration of much-hyped Jang-e-Azadi memorial at Kartarpur gave some embarrassing moments for the government when the kin of freedom fighters started raising anti-Badal slogans minutes after they were honoured by the chief minister. Family members of more than 400 freedom fighters had been invited for the event.The protesters said the government was wasting money on memorials whereas nothing was being done for their welfare. “Badals had been scoring points by presenting shawls at such functions. They have not fulfilled our demands. On November 2, we met the CM in Chandigarh and put before him our demands, including free bus-pass for wards, 2% quota in government jobs and toll tax waiver. The CM assured that he will make an announcement in this regard at this function. But he did not do that,” said HS Khalsa, state president of freedom fighters and successors’ organisation.
As the protestors were raising slogans against the CM and the deputy CM next to the stage, many guests, including Akali leaders, were seen leaving the venue with their faces hanging.
Jalandhar deputy commissioner KK Yadav tried to calm down the protesters, however, the protesters refused to budge and boycotted the special lunch arranged by the organisers. Some even threw away the shawls presented to them. The police then cordoned off the protesters for nearly 20 minutes and did not allow them to come out of the venue till all VIPs had left.
No need to declare CM candidate: AAP
ANANDPUR SAHIB: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich said onSunday that there was no need for the party to declare its chief ministerial (CM) candidate before the assembly elections in the state.
Talking to mediapersons at Anandpur Sahib, Waraich said newly elected members of the legislative assembly from the party would elect their leader after the elections, which are to take place in 2017. Replying to a query about delay in the announcement of party candidate from the Anandpur Sahib constituency, Waraich said the party’s search for a suitable candidate was on.
`10k-cr CCL lapses, paddy farmers not paid for 10 days
CHANDIGARH: Of `23,500 crores received by the Punjab government as cash credit limited (CCL) for paddy procurement, `10,000 crores lapsed on October 31. No farmer has been paid for the produce procured from him in the past 10 days.
Officials of food and civil supplies department told HT that first instalment of CCL had a validity of a month. “We have asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to send back the lapsed CCL and the second instalment of `4,500 crore for November,” a food department official said. Of 145-lakh tonne paddy procured by five agencies of Punjab, payment for 70,000-lakh tonne grain was pending since October 20. As on November 6, the state agencies owe farmers `13,500 crore and the paddy continues to arrive in mandis. This season the procurement is expected to tough an all-time high of 165lakh tonne. AAP TO PROTEST TODAY, SAD CALL IT FUTILE
In the wake of farmers awaiting payment for paddy procured by government agencies, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to stage protests in all the main mandis of the state on Monday.Punjab co-convener of the AAP Jarnail Singh said, “For 10 days farmers have not been paid. They are suffering for no fault of theirs. We have decided to raise the voice in support of the farmers.”
President of AAP’s kisan morcha Gurbinder Singh Kang said dharnas would take place at mandis in every district.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), meanwhile, claimed the AAP’s plan to stage protests would turn out to be a futile exercise.
SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said farmers were satisfied with the procurement process. Referring to the call given by AAP Punjab convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich for a statewise protest on Monday, Grewal asked him to file an affidavit with names of farmers who had been asked to pay `100 per quintal to procure their paddy produce as claimed by him.
“If you cannot do this, you better apologise to the government functionaries whom you are defaming to score political points against the state government,” he said.
SAD-BJP politicising 1984 riots, says Youth Congress leader
LUDHIANA: All India Youth Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday launched an attack on SAD-BJP combine alleging that these parties were politiciaing 1984 Sikh riots and were shying away in punishing the culprits involved in the riots.He challenged the state and central government to punish Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar and stated that both the governments could have provided proofs in the courts if they wanted.“If the SAD government was serious in punishing the accused in 1984 riots, they could have done it easily with the help of their ally, BJP that leads central government. It is the unwillingness of SAD government in not punishing the culprits of anti-Sikh riots and only playing politics with the issue,” said Warring.
Warring had come to Ludhiana to take part in a Youth Congress meeting arranged by district chief Rajiv Raja.
Talking about drugs menace in the state, Warring held state government as well as youth of the state responsible for it. “If the state government is 80 per cent responsible for the drug menace in Punjab, it is youth that is 20 per cent responsible. If the youth takes a stand against drugs, the menace could be wiped off within few days,” he said.
Alleging Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of making false promises, Warring claimed that the party would not be able to bag enough seats to make its government, “let alone 25 lakh jobs promised by AAP,” he said.
Warring claimed that only Congress party had worked for the welfare of farmers of Punjab and only the party could do away with the heavy debt on farmers.
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