Connecting over 25 millions NRIs worldwide
Most trusted Name in the NRI media
NRI PEOPLE- OUR NETWORK
 
PPCC--CONTINUE

UPDATED

Capt Amarinder asks Badal to perform or leave

FATEHGARH SAHIB, December 26:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today warned against the anarchy and lawlessness in Punjab and asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to perform or leave.
Addressing the Shaheedi Jor Mela Conference here today, Capt Amarinder pointed out, the law and order situation in Punjab was worse as the Akalis had become a law unto themselves. He asked, the Chief Minister to tame the revenue minister Bikram Majithia as his people had let a reign of terror on the policemen.
He pointed out, only yesterday a close associate of Majithia beat up a senior police officer and broke his leg. Earlier, in Amritsar an Akali leader shot dead an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police who tried to object to their eve teasing of his daughter. He said, as they killed the assistant sub inspector they shouted slogans “Bikram Majithia Zindabad”.
The former Chief Minister warned the Chief Minister against inaction and surrender to his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. He pointed out, during the ruckus in the Punjab assembly when Bikram Majithia abused a Congress legislator and Chief Minister Mr Badal tried to intervene Sukhbir stopped him and asked him to sit down.
Capt Amarinder said, this government had failed on all fronts. He said, with the situation like this nobody was prepared to come to Punjab and unemployment was growing. He said, youth were feeling frustrated and the treasury was empty. He said, governments are supposed to perform while this government had given up on performance.
Questioning the claims of the Akali Dal about being pro-panth, he asked as what the party had done for the panth. He pointed out, it was former Chief Minister Giani Zail Singh who had constructed the Guru Gobind Singh Marg, while another Congress Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar has made Muktsar a district. He said, during his tenure as Chief Minister he had set up four gates in memory of the associates of the Tenth Master and a memorial for Muktas at Muktsar. He said, the Akalis had only exploited the religious sentiments of people for selfish interests.
Among others present on the occasion included former Chief Minister Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, MP SS Libra, MLAs Gurkirat Kotli, Kuljeet Nagra, Randeep Nabha, Darshan Brar, Tej Parkash, Harinder Bhambri and others.


Bikram Majithia is Aurangzeb in making: Capt Amarinder

CHANDIGARH, December 19: Condemning the suspension of Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh from the assembly today, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today expressed displeasure with the Speaker’s decision saying it was biased as it was actually the Youth Akali Dal president and Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia who was to be blamed for using unparliamentary language against Rana Gurjeet and Om Prakash Soni.
Reacting to the suspension of Rana Gurjeet, Capt Amarinder lashed out at Majithia for using unparliamentary language in the house. He said, it was unfortunate that the Speaker, Charanjit Singh Atwal, who despite having such a long experience, including 5 years in the parliament as Deputy Speaker, did not act in an impartial manner.
The PCC President said, the entire Congress party stood behind Rana Gurjeet and the party had decided to boycott the rest of the session in protest against his expulsion and solidarity with him.
Blaming Majithia for the ruckus in the house, the PCC President warned, he (Majithia) was an Aurangzeb in the making with all the attributes of despot and dictator like arrogance, ambition and ruthlessness.
Cautioning the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against the overriding ambition of Majithia, Capt Amarinder warned him, “I wish you a long life to stay around for a long time, but the day you are not around, I am sure, Bikram will take no time in usurping Sukhbir’s position like Aurangzeb did to his own brothers and father”.
He pointed out, Bikram was already onto it as he was grooming the criminal elements through Youth Akali Dal and his Bikram Sena to firm up his grip over the party, besides providing patronage to proclaimed offenders from across Punjab and outside.

Capt Amarinder expresses grief over Satguru’s demise

CHANDIGARH, December 13: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today expressed profound grief over the sad demise of Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji who passed away today after a prolonged illness.
In a condolence message to the bereaved family and the Namdhari Durbar, Capt Amarinder said, Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji’s demise is a great loss to the humanity. He said, the Satguru was the guiding force not for the Namdhari durbar only, but the whole of mankind.
Expressing his heartfelt condolences, he said, the Congress party joins the family and the Namdhari Durbar in this hour of grief. He said, this is an irreparable loss and the vacuum created will never be fulfilled.
Capt Amarinder said, Satguru will however continue to guide the lives of millions and millions of people through his teachings and the ideals he set and strengthened.

Capt Amarinder questions DyCM’s complaints office at police headquarters

CHANDIGARH, December 12:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today questioned the rationale and intent of the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in setting up a grievances office at the state police headquarters.
“It either reflects the DyCM’s lack of confidence in himself or his own Director General of Police”, he remarked, while at the same time asking who will allow a common man access to the fortified police headquarters in Chandigarh. The grievance cell should be in each police station, he observed.

Reacting to the development, Capt Amarinder said, it was surprising and unprecedented that the Deputy Chief Minister who is also the Home Minister of the state felt the need of setting up his grievance redressal office at the police headquarters next to the office of the Director General of Police.
The former Chief Minister maintained that this was quite against the established protocol that the Deputy Chief Minister had to go to the police headquarters for setting up the grievance redressal office.
“It raises questions whether the will of the DyCM is prevailing in the police or not”, he observed, while adding, otherwise why would a Home Minister need to himself go the police headquarters and not summon the DGP to his office.
He said, it was quite unprecedented development in the history of the state that a Deputy Chief Minister who is also the Home Minister had to set up his “Centre for Public Complaints” in DGP’s office.
Capt Amarinder said, setting up of this centre or launching a web portal or toll free number was not going to solve the problem of law and order in the state as long as the Akali Jathedars do not rule the police stations.
“It is a strange coincidence that while the Akali goons and members of the Bikram Sena are sitting in the police stations, the DyCM will start sitting at the police headquarters the same way in the name of his complaints centre”, he remarked while having a dig at Sukhbir.

------

Punjab fit case for 'President’s Rule’, law and order has collapsed and there is no will to control Akalis-backed 'goonda elements’: Capt Amarinder

Amritsar, December 11, 2012

Former Chief Minister and Punjab Pradesh Committee (PPCC) President Captain Amarinder Singh today said Punjab was on the decline economically and now socially too as law and order situation is worsening to its lowest ebb, making it a fit case to come under President’s Rule.

He said Akali Jathedars are running the police stations and department has kneel down to ‘goonda elements’ of the ruling party, making the life of common man miserable in the state.

Capt Amarinder made this scathing attack while interacting with the media persons soon after he met the family members of ASI Ravinder Pal Singh who was killed by Akali leader Ranjit Singh Rana in broad day light while protecting his young daughter’s honour from `Akali goondas’.

He warned that the goondas being harboured by Akalis, especially Revenue and Information Minister Bikram Singh Majithia will one day fire-back at Akalis themselves.

“Akalis will face the music one day.  If they think they are using the goondas to create terror it will fire back and they will not have the way to run then’’, said Capt Amarinder.

He also addressed a huge gathering of Congressmen and supporters at city Rialto Chowk where the party organized dharna in protest against the deteriorating law and order in the state.

Capt Amarinder said they would organize state-wide dharnas to protest the high-handedness of the Akalis and declining law and order. “There is no rule of law and President Rule should be imposed’’, he stated.

“One after the other incident of crime against innocents and women are taking place in Punjab. First it was Faridkot, then Muktsar, Gurdaspur and today Mohalli. The irony is that Chief  Minister of the state Prakash Singh Badal says he is not aware of these incidents and he seems sleeping when he says law and order is in control. Whom he is be-fooling? asked Capt Amarinder. “What kind of CM is he?'', he adedd.

He said the worst was the Amritsar ASI’s killing as the goondas have become so shameless that once their fire ammunitions finished they went home brought another gun and shot the injured ASI who was fighting for life and waiting for the ambulance to reach hospital.

He assured the ASI family that the Congress party will stand by them like rock in their hour of crises and will not allow the culprits to scot free. He also demanded that the case against the perpetrators of the murder be taken up through the fast track courts and the family is given justice.

“The police station is stone’s throw away where ASI was fighting for life for 20 minutes and more no police reached to help him. What kind of policing is this? Is this the way to run the state’s administration? We do not want such rulers and Badals should understand that they are busy minting money while the state is being thrust into the lawlessness. We will protest throughout the state and hold dharnas. We will not sit silent to atrocities of the Akali’s backed goonda elements’’, said he.

He said Majithia was resorting to create his own `Bikram Saina’ to create terror and Badal is not taking notice of it. Bikram is Maha Guru of the Goondsas. Badals may have some limitations but we do not have and we will expose all the misdeeds of the Akalis and Majithia,” said he.

Accompanied by Congress Legislature Party Leader Mr.Sunil Jakhar and senior party leaders including Mr Arvind Khanna, Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Rana Gurjit Singh, Om Parkash Singh Soni, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Captain hit hard at the police department.

He said if they cannot protect their own officers from the goonds what would they do for the common man who is living in utter fear in the state.

During dharna also he said people come to him everyday complaining about the atrocities of the Akalis and he would fight people’s battle. “We will fix this government’s responsibility in upcoming assembly session meeting for the winter session on December 18 also and they
will have to answer where they are taking the state to’’, he said.

---

First time Congress elects leaders of opposition for Municipal Corporations

CHANDIGARH, December 10:

For the first time the Congress in Punjab elected its leaders for four municipal corporations of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala through election.
The decision to elect the leaders in the municipal corporations was taken by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder to ensure that only those candidates who enjoyed the confidence of the party councillors were elected.
The elections were held through secret ballot at the Punjab Congress Bhawan here in presence of senior party leaders and the respective observers for the particular Municipal Corporations.
The decision was widely hailed by the party rank and file, particularly the elected councillors who said, this had ruled out the possibility of favouritism.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AMRITSAR-2012

1.     Leader of Opposition                                -           S. Rajkanwal Pritpal Singh (Ward No. 10.)
2.     Sr. Deputy Leader  of Opposition          -           S. Sarabjit Singh Latti (Ward No. 57)
3.     Deputy Leader of Opposition                 -           Smt. Naresh Kumar (Ward No. 48)

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION LUDHIANA-2012

1.     Leader of Opposition                                -           Sh. Hemraj Aggarwal (Ward No. 27)
2.     Sr. Deputy Leader  of Opposition          -           Sh. Rakesh Prashar (Ward No. 36)
3.     Deputy Leader of Opposition                 -           Smt. Sushma Mehta (Ward No. 35)

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION JALANDHAR-2012

1.     Leader of Opposition                                -           Sh. Jagdish Raj Raja (Ward No. 37)
2.     Sr. Deputy Leader  of Opposition          -           Smt. Surinder Kaur (Ward No. 58)
3.     Deputy Leader of Opposition                 -           Sh. Des Raj Jassal (Ward No. 1)

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION PATIALA-2012

1.     Leader of Opposition                                -           Sh. Sanjeev Sharma Bittu (Ward No. 28)
2.     Sr. Deputy Leader  of Opposition          -           Sh. Rajinder Pal Singh Kohli (Ward No. 32)
3.     Deputy Leader of Opposition                 -           Smt. Leela Rani (Ward No. 30)

Sans doping test, World Cup Kabbadi a farce, unfair play and a politically motivated event to enhance the image of the Badal duo.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA
            As we are aware, the organizers of World Cup Kabbadi i.e. Sports Department and Punjab Amateur Kabbadi Association (PAKA), have failed to convince National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) to conduct anti doping random sampling of participants. As a result, anti doping tests are not likely to be conducted till the knock out stage or the semifinals. In other words, it would mean that players could be using drugs to emhance their performances in the ongoing matches. Inability of the organizers to conduct drug free Kabbadi have totally belied the tall claims made by Sh. Sukhbir Badal, the Chairman of the World Cup Kabbadi. Today’s statement of Sh. Maluka Minister that the dope test report of 25 out of 27 players of the Indian team has been received, is a clear admittance to the fact that no dope test has been conducted of the remaining 16 Kabaddi teams. Instead of promoting Kabbadi, the govt. and organizers may end up promoting drugs in the game.
            Congress also condemns the forced extortion of monetary support made by industrialists, real estate barons and other corporate houses to make World Cup Kabbadi a success. As we all know, Sh. Sukhbir Badal misusing his official authority has been forcing businessmen of the state to pool in money for Kabbadi Cup, which is nothing but arm twisting methods.
            Another startling fact that came to light through the Right to Information Act 2005 by Sh. Paramjit Singh of Ropar is, that there are no Kabbadi coaches in half the districts of Punjab. If there are no coaches in the districts, how can Kabbadi be promoted in the countryside or what is the follow up to World Cup, since two years? Similarly, it was disclosed that the govt. ended up paying Rs 5.50 cr to actors like Shahrukh Khan and the event management company to conduct cultural programme in the previous World Cup Kabbadi, which is a futile and non productive expenditure.
            Therefore, congress is of the firm opinion that the World Cup Kabbadi is nothing but purely a political gimmick organized by Sh. Sukhbir Badal to promote his and his party’s political prospects. It is demanded that the cup be halted, anti doping tests be got conducted, so as to ensure a drug free sporting event in the state. In case Sh. Sukhbir Badal fails to do so, it would be presumed that he is less interested in the promotion of Kabbadi as a game but more interested in promoting drugs in Punjab.
----

Amritsar ASI killing; Capt Amarinder warns against jungle raj in Punjab

CHANDIGARH, December 6:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today condemned the brutal killing of an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police while trying to prevent two Akali goons from harassing his daughter at Amritsar on Wednesday. He blamed the Akali minister Bikram Majithia for patronising the goons and criminals who had the audacity to kill an ASI who objected to the eve teasing of his daughter.
Warning the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against pushing Punjab towards lawlessness and jungle raj, he asked him, “better tame Bikram Majithia who has constituted a brand of criminals and is rewarding them with party posts”. He said, these people had no fear of law and they had become a law unto themselves.
He said, the ASI could have been saved had the Akali goon and his associates not attacked him again while he was being taken to the hospital. “So much so the accused even fired at the police party that went to arrest him”, he pointed out, while asking Mr Badal as under whose patronage this all was going on?
The PCC President warned, Mr Badal turning blind eye to all that is happening around is going to prove dangerous for Punjab. “Mr Badal is not so nave not to understand that Majithia has created a criminal brigand to intimidate opponents which has no fear of law”, he remarked.
The former Chief Minister pointed out, only a couple of months ago another Akali leader Nishan Singh abducted a girl in Faridkot after forcibly taking her away from her home and beating up and injuring her parents while the police tried to shield him continuously. And now another Akali leader had straightway shot dead a police officer, he pointed while asserting that the situation was going out of control.
“Capt Amarinder said, merely suspending the police officials is not going to improve law you better tame your goons in Akali Dal and disband the Bikram Brigade”, he advised Mr Badal while asking if a policeman cannot be safe in today’s Punjab what should be the plight of the common man.

Congress outrightly rejects and trashes the politically motivated, frivolous and farcical investigation conducted into the Border Area Development Programme(BADP) fund scam by the VB.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA

Nov. 26, 2012
            As reported, the Vigilance Bureau has completed its investigation into the BADP fund scam and has held Sh. Sarabdyal Singh PA to Ex Minister Sh. Ranike guilty and the main accused in the scam. After submitting its report to the High Court, the Vigilance Bureau is likely to file the challan before the appropriate court at Amritsar shortly.
            As per the investigations, Sh. Sarabdyal Singh PA and eight others embezzled funds to the tune of Rs 3.19 cr of discretionary grants from 2007-12 by opening fake bank accounts, similarly Rs 1.24 cr was sanctioned to non existing clubs and that another Rs 26.10 lac were embezzled in the Shagun scheme in Attari constituency in the said period.
            Even if we rely on the so called investigations of the VB, there is much more than meets the eye, is it possible that the PA carried out his fraudulent methodology of embezzlement and the Minister knew nothing about what was going on?  No PA has the audacity to embezzle govt. funds without the knowledge of the Minister concerned, no sane person can buy this argument of a highly politicized Vigilance Bureau. The fact is that the entire investigation conducted by the VB smacks of a biased approach, wherein the PA has been made a scape goat, while Sh. Ranike has been blatantly shielded, protected and given a clean chit. Although, the VB was able to identify disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 2.5 cr amassed by the PA Sarabdyal Singh but no such effort was made to inquire upon the ill-gotten wealth of the Minister.
            Infact, the govt. has for long been shielding all its high ups including Sh. Ranike, Sh. Langah, Sh. Valtoha and others involved in corruption scandals, the protectors of law in Punjab have now become protectors of law breakers.
            Congress debunks, trashes and outrightly rejects the fabricated, farcical and politically motivated report of the VB and demands that the investigation of the BADP fund scam, the shagun scam and the Discretionary grant scam be handed over to the CBI, so that actual culprits including Sh. Ranike are brought to justice.
------

I support Sh. Ravi Inder Singh’s contention for a direct election to the post of President SGPC.

SUKHPAL SINGH KHAIRA
Ex-MLA, Punjab


Instead of opposing the move of the Delhi govt. to amend the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Act 1971, which proposes direct elections to the office of President, Sh. Badal should urge the Ministry of Home Affairs, G.O.I. to amend the SGPC Act to usher in direct election to the office of President. Sh. Badal is opposing direct election in Delhi on two counts, one that he senses imminent defeat and secondly that he wants a rubber stamp in Delhi too like Sh. Makkar.c
As we are aware, vibrant democracies such as U.S.A. have direct election to the  office of President, even mayor’s and President’s  of Municipal Committee’s in many parts of India are elected directly, At the grass roof level democracy in India, Sarpanches are also elected directly in our country. Releasing its folly and bad experience of instability, the SAD-BJP govt. has again reversed its decision and decided to elect Sarpanches directly in Punjab as well.
Needless to mention direct form of election eradicates horse trading, switching of loyalties at the drop of the hat and govt. pressure compared to indirect form of any election. Punjab is classic example of large number of complaints and even litigation that erupted after indirect election was introduced to the post of Sarpanches in the present tenure.
In so far the election to the office of SGPC President is concerned, it is an open secret that the Badal duo send a sealed envelope each November to Amritsar and have their protégé elected as President. The general house of the SGPC is a mute spectator, helpless and redundant in the said prestigious election. The President of the SGPC is imposed by the Badal family rather than elected by members.
By electing their dummy or frontman as SGPC President the Badals have done a great disservice to the community. There are reports of gross politicization of the SGPC, corruption is rampant in the body and Sikhs are largely dissatisfied by the performance of the highest religious body. Even the appointment and selection of Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib is being done at the whims and fancies of the Badal clan.
Therefore, it is demanded that not only the President of DSGMC should be elected directly but the SGPC must move a resolution for an amendment to elect its President directly for transparency accountability and its independent working.

Punjab Congress hails Kasab hanging

CHANDIGARH, November 21: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today welcomed the hanging of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab, saying justice had finally been done in the case.
The party maintained that his execution has conveyed the right message that India cannot and will not tolerate any act of terror even if it takes some time to follow the process of law.
Reacting to the execution, the Punjab Congress general secretary attached to the PCC President, Arvind Khanna said, every law abiding citizen of the country feels relieved over the justice done in the case.
Saluting the legal and judicial system of the country, Khanna pointed out, despite the live video footing of Kasab’s acts of terror and killing people, due process of law was followed right from the trial court up to the President of India to ensure that he was allowed to exercise all legal options for his defence.
The Congress general secretary while hailing the execution said, it was a long awaited decision since people across the country were feeling outraged over the audacity of the attackers.

Punjab Congress launches membership drive with great fanfare

CHANDIGARH:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today launched the membership drive with great fanfare. The occasion coincided with the 95th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi. Besides making new members, the membership of old members will also be renewed.
The leaders also paid floral tributes to the portrait of Ms Gandhi at the PCC.
The membership drive was launched by the senior party leaders who included the party general secretary and incharge for Punjab Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh, the Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar, PCC general secretary Arvind Khanna and others. Besides, the PCC office bearers, the district presidents and MLA were also present.
Capt Amarinder filled the first membership form. He was followed by the CLP leader Mr Jakhar in presence of Mr Charak. The membership drive will continue till 2015. The drive will include enlisting members from the booth level to the state level.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Charak said, a foolproof mechanism has been evolved to ensure that the membership drive remains credible. He said, after the completion of the membership drive identity cards will be issued to the members.
Addressing the meeting Capt Amarinder said, the membership had special significance for Punjab for two reasons. One that the ruling Akali Dal had unleashed a reign of terror on the Congress workers forcing them to leave the party and join the Akali Dal and second it was important from the point of view of the General Elections scheduled for 2014.
The PCC President maintained that the membership drive will restore the confidence of the workers at the grass-roots level. He urged the office bearers, district presidents, MLAs and ex-MLAs and other prominent workers present on the occasion to ensure that they reach out to all the workers to boost their morale.
He said, the membership drive will have a positive impact during the run up to the parliamentary elections as it will help in mobilising the cadres. He expressed confidence that the party will enrol maximum number of members and break all previous records.

----

Congress seeks a public apology from the Union Minister of State Sh. Balram Nayak, for allowing a convict criminal Bibi Jagir Kaur to honour him besides sharing dias with her, during a public function yesterday at Bholath. (Photos attached alongwith)

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA
            Sh. Balram Nayak MOS for Social Justice GOI visited Bholath yesterday to participate in a public function. The organizers of the function had also invited Bibi Jagir Kaur, who has been convicted to five years of rigorous imprisonment recently by a special court of the CBI for abduction, kidnapping and forceful abortion of a feotus.
            Bibi Jagir Kaur not only shared the dias with the Union Minister but also honoured him with a plaque in the presence of hundreds of people. The said participation and honouring of the Minister by a convict has sent a very negative signal to the society in general and youth in particular. By allowing a convict to garland him and accept honours from a criminal, the Union Minister has done gross disservice to morality in politics. Persons such as Sh. Balram Nayak holding responsible public offices are expected to lead by example and are not to stoop to such low levels of politicking.
            This blatant and brazen wrongful act of the Minister amounts to promoting criminality in politics. In other words it means that we should not hesitate to indulge in criminal acts while being in politics. It is also highly immoral for Bibi Jagir Kaur to garland and honour a Union Congress Minister, while her party leaves no stone unturned in severely criticizing the UPA govt. daily.
            Therefore, the congress party upholding high moral values and principles strongly condemns the immoral, unethical and cowardly act of the Union Minister and demands immediate public apology. In case the minister fails to tender a public apology, he would be ‘Gheraod’ and greeted with black flags next time he visits Punjab.

----

Congress condemns the arrest of Sh Kuljit Singh Nagra MLA Fatehgarh Sahib at the behest of Chief Minister Punjab.
                As we are aware, an important meeting regarding the Rajpura Thermal Plant acquisition was summoned by the CM today at his residence in Chandigarh. Instead of involving the local elected representatives and Congress MLA Sh. Nagra, the CM illegitimately and bypassing official functioning invited Sh. Prem Singh Chandumajra to participate in the said meeting that included Deputy Commissioner’s of Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala, farmers, other senior officers and representatives of L&T company.
            The congress MLA in order to protest this gross unconstitutional move decided to hold a peaceful ‘Dharna’ outside the residence of the CM at Chandigarh. Acting on the instructions of the CM the Chandigarh Police arrested the MLA after taking him to Sector 3 Police Station.
            The entire episode is nothing but the murder of democracy, breakdown of the constitution and muzzling the voice of elected representatives by none less than the CM.
            Therefore, the congress condemns this wrongful, illegitimate and unconstitutional move of Sh. Badal and seeks the immediate release of Sh. Nagra MLA. The congress also urges the CM to tender a public apology for this dictatorial and high handed move.
1.     Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Ex-MLA
2.     Randip Singh Nabha, MLA
3.     Navtej Singh Cheema, MLA
4.     Gurkirat Singh Kotli, MLA
5.     Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MLA
6.     Ripjit Singh Brar, Ex-MLA
7.     Jit Mohinder Singh Sidhu, MLA
8.     Suriderpal Singh Sibia, Ex-MLA

------

Congress questions Mittal’s stand on Chief Parliamentary Secretaries

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress today questioned the stand of the Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal on the status of the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries. It also condemned him for telling the police not to take any notice of the CPS Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s directions about malpractices in the health department.
In a statement issued here today PCC vice president Rana KP asked as how could Mittal question the status of the CPS saying him he should better explain as for what purpose they have been appointed. He pointed out, appointment of the CPS is a government decision and Mittal as a member of the cabinet holds collective responsibility. “Either he has been wrong at the time of assenting to CPS posts or his wrong now by denying them the respect, dignity and authority”, Rana remarked.
The Congress leader also condemned Mittal for asking police not to take any cognizance of the complaints by Ms Sidhu. He wondered, “how can Mittal say that?”  The police are supposed to take cognizance of any and all the wrong doings and illegal activities. “What to speak of a CPS or an MLA, they are supposed to listen to the common man?” he pointed out, while maintaining that the health minister had crossed all the limits of propriety that come with a ministerial portfolio.

Mittal does not deserve to be in cabinet: Rana KP

CHANDIGARH, November 15:

Punjab Congress vice president and former MLA Rana KP today demanded the dismissal of the Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal for his blatant support to the unscrupulous elements in his department. Rana said, the way Mittal had behaved rendered him absolutely unfit for the job.
In a statement issued here today, the Punjab Congress vice president pointed out, Mittal in a shameless manner had defended the wrong doers and unscrupulous doctors who had been caught red handed doing private practice by his own Chief Parliamentary Secretary.
The Congress leader wondered as what was Mittal’s motive in defending such doctors who were despite being in the government service were doing private practice. Moreover, Rana remarked, they had been caught red handed.
He asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to clarify the stand on the issue as whether he supported Mittal on the issue or the Chief Parliamentary Secretary. He pointed out, there was a clear war going on within the government and the Chief Minister cannot afford to keep quiet. “Best course for the Chief Minister is to sack the minister who has on record defended the corrupt and unscrupulous elements for the reasons best known to him”, he observed, while adding, letting him (Mittal) off will mean being supportive of him. 

----

Mere 25% achievement of Rs 14000 crore annual plan target in the last seven months belies the tall claim of so called all around development by the SAD-BJP govt.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA

 Chandigarh, November 5 :

            In absolute contravention to the tall claims of all around development being made by the Badal duo, the SAD-BJP govt. has been able to achieve merely 25 % of the Rs 14000 cr annual plan target set for 2012-13. Even if the govt. speeds up the pace in the next five months, it can by no means achieve 50 % of the annual plan target for the current year.
            Similarly, the govt. has utterly failed to bring down the revenue deficit from Rs 5584 cr to Rs 3123 cr this year as promised, since it had touched Rs 1347 cr in the first four months of the year, while it was Rs 1111 cr in the corresponding period last year.
            The govt. has barely managed to meet its committed expenditures including salaries, pensions and electricity subsidy to farmers, it is finding difficult even to contribute the state’s share to avail funds from the central schemes. The much touted social welfare schemes of the govt. are running in default, particularly the shagun scheme, the Atta-Dal scheme etc.
            The meager 25 % achievement of the annual plan target in other words means that key development programmes have been severely hit. What to talk of major development works, the SAD-BJP govt. has failed to release Rs 50 cr for rural toilets in order to make Punjab defecation free. So is the case of our priority agriculture sector where in the govt. has failed to achieve even 10 % of its plan target. So far no money has been released for around 17 schemes that have been amalgamated under the macro management of agriculture. Similarly, Rs 22 cr has not been released for soil conservation alone under which drip irrigation and underground water facilities were to be created, particularly in ‘Kandi’ area.
            Our primary sectors of govt. education and health care are in shambles and privatization of these have rendered them out of reach for the poor people of Punjab. Unemployment and drugs have further added to the woes of Punjab with lacs of youth in wilderness. Law and order have completely broken down with Jathedar’s ruling the roost in the Police Stations and Tehsils of the state.
            Therefore, the congress urges the Badal duo to stop befooling, misleading and hoodwinking the people with their false and frivolous propaganda about development. The so called development plank of the govt. appears only to be on paper through state sponsored advertisements in print and electronic media. The need of the hour is to cut down on wasteful expenditure of buying helicopters, SUV jeeps for the Ministers, heliport for self luxury and giving funds to elitist institutions like Sanawar in HP. Congress advises the govt. to actually cater to the needs of the people rather than mere lip service.

 

I urge the CM to observe Punjabi Suba Day i.e. 1st November in a befitting manner, by declaring it a public holiday and honouring yesteryear leaders like Jathedar Darshan Singh Pheruman, who sacrificed their lives for the formation of Punjab.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Oct 31, 2012
Ex-MLA
            It is saddening to note that while Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are celebrating the formation of their states with great fervor and gusto, Punjab has totally forgotten First November- the Punjabi Suba Day. Neither has the SAD-BJP govt. declared a public holiday nor is the glorification of those who sacrificed their lives for the state and the Punjabi language. Or the contrary, Sh. Badal has chosen to visit Rewari in Haryana, to attend a public meeting organized by Sh. Chautala INLD supremo.
            Needless to mention, this day 46 years back brought into focus the relentless struggles of the Punjabi’s in general and Sikhs in particular, to carve a Punjabi speaking state, in which language and culture of Punjab would flourish. Unfortunately, promotion of Punjabi is merely being given lip service by the present govt. Despite the resolution to implement Punjabi as the official language of the state not much has been actually done in practical. All private schools and colleges, particularly the English medium have banished Punjabi from their campuses. The Punjabi language department of Punjabi University Patiala is languishing. Universities of Punjab are functioning on the lines of Central Universities, utterly lacking in Punjabi character.
            More galling was the total non-recognition of those who fought and suffered for the cause of Punjabi Suba. Although, Jathedar Darshan Singh Pheruman shamed the pretenders with his supreme sacrifice, yet his death anniversary goes unnoticed on 27th October each year. There is not a mention of this great leader in any form by the present govt., leave aside creation of memorial for his sacrifice. So is the fate of tall, honest, dedicated leaders like Master Tara Singh, Sardar Hukam Singh and Giani Kartar Singh ji. Pitiable condition of Giani Kartar Singh Memorial Govt. College Tanda speaks volumes of the gross disregard of a leader who had handpicked Sh. Badal as a future leader.
            By pushing to oblivion the role of our great ancestors, who were founders of the  Punjabi Suba and not according due respect to Punjabi language, Sh. Badal may be keeping BJP, his partner in good humour but is doing great disservice to the state and Punjabi language.
            Therefore, I demand that 1st November be declared a public holiday to commemorate formation of Punjab as has been a tradition in the past. I also urge the CM to announce a befitting memorial for the brave son of Punjab Jathedar Darshan Singh Pheruman.
--------------

Glowing tributes paid to Ms Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary

CHANDIGARH:

Glowing tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi on her twenty-eighth death anniversary here today. The main function was organised at the Congress Bhawan which was presided over by senior leader and the Punjab Congress vice president Mr Laal Singh.
Among others present on the occasion included Dr. Malti Thapar President Punjab Mahila Congress, Surinder Gupta President DCC Faridkot,  Rajinder Kaur Member AICC, Rajni Mehta Member PCC, Krishna Mittu Ex Vice President PPCC, Sharma, Lakha Ram Dawesar, Promila and others.
The leaders paid floral tributes on Ms Gandhi’s portrait. Speaking on the occasion Mr Laal Singh recalled her great sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the country. He said, India can never forget the great sacrifice she laid down for safeguarding the unity of the country.

Capt Amarinder warns gherao of mandis over procurement issues

CHANDIGARH, October 31: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the Akali-BJP government in the state for its failure in lifting the paddy on time.
Capt Amarinder warned, if the farmers issues were not addressed on time, the Congress will gherao the mandis across Punjab.
He said, so much so the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who claims himself to be the guardian of the farmers’ interests has failed the farmers of his own district and constituency.
In a statement issued here today, the PCC President said that the farmers had not only to wait for days together to get their paddy lifted, but they also had to grease the palms of the corrupt officials patronized by the corrupt Akali jathedars.
The PCC President disclosed that the farmers had to pay something between Rs 50 to Rs 100 per quintal for their produce to the corrupt officials and Akali jathedars who seem to have now taken over the mandis.
He pointed out, so much so the farmers from Muktsar district including those from the Chief Minister’s native village, Badal, had to stage protest for timely payment of their produce. He said, both the farmers and the arthiyas (the commission agents) were feeling cheated, intimidated and exploited at the hands of the officials and jathedars.
Capt Amarinder warned the government that in case the government did not streamline the procurement and ensured timely and proper payment to farmers the Congress will launch a statewide stir to gherao the mandis.

 

Capt Amarinder takes objection to Ms Bhattal’s statement

CHANDIGARH, October 28: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh has taken serious objection to the statement of the former Chief Minister Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in Jallandhar on Sunday questioning various party decisions of which she was very part and parcel.

In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder said, Ms Bhattal should avoid making such statements in public or in media. He said, if she has really any opinion about the functioning of the party, she should better give it to the party high command particularly the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi.
The PCC President maintained that the party high command has strictly asked all the leaders not to air their personal opinions about the party functioning in public and a senior leader like Ms Bhattal should better follow the party discipline and the guidelines lest it leads to confusion in the party rank and file.
Capt Amarinder said, Ms Bhattal has been party to everything, whether it was the election campaign of the distribution of tickets. He said, it was surprising as how could she say it was the wrong distribution of tickets when she was part and parcel of the ticket distribution process and the campaigning in the state.

----

- Congress demands a CBI probe into gross misuse and embezzlement of Social Infrastructure Funds (SIF) to the tune of Rs. 40 crores, for political ends on the directions of Chief Minister. (Details of funds allocated to district Mukatsar attached).

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA, Oct 21, 2012


            As stated above, the Chief Minister in order to reap political dividend in the run up to assembly elections has grossly misused the SIF funds to favour Akali workers, which need to be investigated urgently. As per reports, Rs 45 crores was allocated under the SIF to help Economically Weaker Section (EWS) to construct or repair their houses. Of this 45 crores a lion’s share of Rs 40 crore was pumped into Mukatsar, the home district of the CM, merely to influence poor voters and favour Akalis. The remaining Rs 5 crores was distributed in five districts of SAS Nagar, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur and Patiala, where as not a penny was given to the other 17 districts of Punjab.
            According to information received under RTI, while 19000 families of Mukatsar district benefitted from the SIF grant, whereas only 1216 families were given SIF grant in the above mentioned five districts, while the rest of Punjab drew a blank.
            Keeping in view the discriminatory and unfair distribution of SIF grant, it is now abundantly clear that the said money was diverted to Mukatsar district to influence voters toward the end of 2011.
            It is also intriguing to note how one can construct a new house with Rs 35000 or repair his old house with a meager sum of Rs 15000. The fact of the matter is that the entire sum of Rs 40 crore has been siphoned off by workers of the Akali Dal, since the beneficiaries of the said grant all belong to the ruling party and nothing has been spent on ground.
            That as per rules, the Deputy Commissioner’s are supposed to provide utilization certificates to the state headquarters but in this case not a single utilization certificate has been given by any Deputy Commissioner even after passage of one year. This clearly indicates that the entire grant of SIF has been pocketed by Akali workers and an  on the spot inquiry would expose gross irregularities.  
Therefore, the congress demands a thorough probe by a central agency like the CBI to investigate the misutilization and embezzlement of SIF grant for political gains by none less than the Chief Minister himself.

Capt Amarinder leads Congress dharna against Faridkot abduction

FARIDKOT:Oct 21, 2012

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today led the party’s dharna against the abduction of a teenage girl from her house on September 24. He was joined by the parents of the abducted girl and other party leaders including the Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar and several other MLAs and ex-MLAs. Former Chief Minister and senior party leader Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also joined the dharna.
The Congress leaders sat at the dharna for about an hour in front of the Kotwali Police Station here.
However, in a strange coincidence as Capt Amarinder was about to speak at the dharna, the news was flashed across that the abducted girl had been recovered and the main accused Nishan Singh arrested.
Those who attended the dharna included the Punjab Congress general secretary and Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Ms Guriqbal Kaur, Ms Karan Kaur Brar, Raja Warring, Tarlochan Sund, Bharat Bushan Ashu, Joginder Singh Panjgraian, Gurpreet Kangar, Jagbir Brar, Makhan Singh, Kikki Dhillon and others.
Lashing out at the criminal negligence and silence of the state government about the case, the PCC president asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who is also heading the home portfolio as was this an example of the good governance that a helpless girl was abducted from her home while her parents were brutally manhandled.
While expressing relief over the news of the recovery of the girl, he hoped that she joined their parents soon. “We can well imagine the anxiety and trauma the parents have undergone for almost about a month now when they did not have any news about their daughter”, he said, while wishing the family welfare and promising full support.
Criticising the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal for accusing the Congress of politicizing the issue, the Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar asked him, what did he expect Congress to do when the government had forgotten the governance. He maintained that had it not been the pressure built up by the Congress the government would not have moved into action and the abducted girl would still have been in the captivity of her tormentors.

Capt Amarinder lashes out at Chautala’s baseless allegations against Rahul Gandhi

CHANDIGARH, October 17:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at and ridiculed the allegations leveled against the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi by the former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. He remarked, “Chautala has stooped too low to level baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against Mr Gandhi apparently at the behest of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the eve of his (Mr Gandhi’s) visit to Jallandhar”.
Dismissing Chautala’s allegations against Mr Gandhi, Capt Amarinder said, the former Haryana Chief Minister, who is himself an epitome of corruption and whose corruption is legendry, has no moral authority to accuse Mr Gandhi for what he has not done. “It is a classic case of pot calling the kettle black”, he remarked, while referring to the corruption scandals Chautala is himself involved in.
Holding the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal equally responsible in the plot to defame Mr Gandhi on the eve of his visit to Jallandhar, Capt Amarinder observed that they (Mr Badal and Mr Chautala) are the birds of the same feather better known for corruption and amassing wealth than anything else.
The PCC president asked, had Chautala the moral courage he should not have gone to hold a press conference at as far off a place as Jallandhar where not many people know about his actual credentials. Had he held this press conference at Chandigarh or Delhi, Chautala would have found it difficult to defend himself rather than accusing someone else.
“What was the point in holding the press conference in Jallandhar when the issue related to Haryana?” he asked, while remarking just because Chautala did not want to face embarrassing counter questions he ran away to Jallandhar instead of addressing the press conference at some place in Haryana Chandigarh or Delhi.
Capt Amarinder reminded that it is the same Mr Chautala who was caught red handed smuggling watches from abroad at the Delhi airport way back in seventies while his father Devi Lal was the Chief Minister of Haryana. He said, it is the same Chautala who is himself mired neck deep in corruption scandals running into hundreds of crores. “He should better look at himself than pointing a finger at others’, he advised Chautala.

--------

Rahul Gandhi visiting Punjab again on Oct 19

CHANDIGARH, October 17: Congress general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi will once again be visiting Punjab on October 19. This time he will be visiting Jallandhar where he is scheduled to meet all the councilors of various Nagar Councils, corporators of various municipal corporations and the members of the Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis.

Disclosing this here today, a Punjab Congress spokesperson said, Rahul during his previous visit had promised to visit Punjab again to elicit the views of all sections of the party for improving it in Punjab. The purpose of meeting all the elected councilors and others is to have a feel of the grassroots situation in Punjab as these representatives have a feel of the ground situation for their day to day interface with the common man.

The councilors and others from across Punjab have been asked to reach Jallandhar on October 19. The passes are being issued by the Punjab Congress.

In his first leg he went to Amritsar and Chandigarh. The councilors and others had not been able to meet him during his first visit.

Capt Amarinder defends Rahul Gandhi; lashes out at Sukhbir for running away from real problem

CHANDIGARH, October 12:

Defending Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement on the issue of drug menace in Punjab, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for running away from the real issue of drug addiction and unemployment in Punjab. “This is characteristic of Akalis to go into the denial mode and run away from the real problem”, he remarked.

Reacting to Sukhbir Badal’s criticism of the Congress general secretary referring to the menace of drug addiction in Punjab, Capt Amarinder said, the Punjab government should instead take serious note of the issue and not go into the denial mode.
Justifying the statement made by Mr Gandhi, the PCC President pointed out, it was the Akali government of Punjab which in the year 2009 submitted to the High Court that the youth in Punjab were afflicted by the problem of drug addiction.
“Rahul Ji has only restated the facts Punjab government has submitted under oath to the Hon’ble High Court”, he pointed out, while remarking Sukhbir was either ignorant of the ground realities and the facts and figures accepted by his own government or was deliberately hiding the facts.

The former Chief Minister regretted that instead of appreciating the concern of the Congress general secretary, the Punjab government has yet again gone into the denial mode. He also referred to the rejection of Punjab youth during the military recruitment as quite a number of them are found medically unfit.

Capt Amarinder said, even a United Nations Development Fund survey had found that about 70 per cent of Punjab youth had tried one type of drug or the other at some point of time. “If Congress general secretary stated the same thing why are you feeling so much pained about it?” he asked Sukhbir while advising him that instead of going into the denial mode he should better find solution to the problem.

-------

Attn: - Fresh corrected statement again
20.10.12

Subject: - Heliport issue- Congress stringently condemns the lavish, extravagant, non productive expenditure being incurred by the Badal duo for self luxury at the cost of tax payers money.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA

Ripjit Singh Brar
Ex-MLA


                The reported proposal to build a Heliport near Badal village is nothing but a non productive, extravagant expenditure for self luxury by the CM, at the cost of an already dilapidated public exchequer. The said Heliport with night landing and multi helicopter landing facilities would cost Punjab nothing less than Rs 100 crores, in an area of 30 acres. Tax payers money cannot be dissipated for personal whims and fancies.
            Punjab is already under a colossal debt of Rs 80,000 crores, unable to pay salaries and pensions to its employees, unable to honour its welfare shagun and old age pension schemes. Is it wise to construct a Heliport merely for the comfort and luxury of the CM and the Dy. CM?
            Earlier these same feudals squandered more than Rs 25 crores for a low priority Rail over Bridge (ROB) at V. Badal, at the cost of high priority ones required at various rail crossings where scores of people have been killed in accidents such as Moga and Tarn Taran.
Only yesterday a scam involving Rs 40 crore pumped into Mukatsar the home district of the CM came to light. Of the Rs 45 crores under the Social Infrastructure Fund(SIF) to help economically weakers sections construct or repair their houses, Rs 40 crores was diverted only for Mukatsar district for political gains prior to the assembly elections. Only a mere Rs 5 crores was distributed to five districts, while not a penny was given to the remaining 16 districts.
            In so far the issue of Heliport is concerned, there is already a Helipad existing at V. Kaljharani in Bathinda district only five kms from V. Badal, is it then appropriate to squander another Rs 100 crores for the comfort of only one family?  The way luxuries are being created at V. Badal and priority being given to Mukatsar district, it appears as if the CM considers his home district as the entire state and his native V. Badal as the capital of his model state.
            Therefore, keeping in view the critical and precarious financial condition of Punjab, it is demanded that the govt. scrap the proposal to build a Heliport near V. Badal, as the congress sees no public interest in the project other than providing luxury to the Badal family.

-----

Hon’ble Chief Justice Sh. A.K. Sikri and Justice Sh. R.K. Jain comprising the first double bench issue notice of motion to Govt. of Punjab for 1st November 2012, on my petition seeking withdrawal of Rs. 1 crore grant given to Lawerence School Sanawar HP on 4th October 2012 by Sh. Sukhbir Badal Dy. CM Punjab.

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 10:

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA

As stated above, the Hon’ble first DB headed by CJ Sh. A.K. Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab through its Chief Secretary for 1st November 2012, on my petition seeking withdrawal of the wrongful grant given to Sanawar Public School by Dy. CM Punjab.
            As we are aware Sh. Sukhbir Badal Dy. CM had handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 crore to the Lawerence Sschool of Sanawar on 04.10.2012 as Chief Guest. The said Rs 1 crore was given out of Punjab Nirman Funds PM 10 scheme of the annual plan of 2012-13.
            Taking up the petition today the court observed that such funds cannot be given out of Punjab and for that the notice was issued to the following :-
1.      Chief Secretary,
2.      Principal Secretary Planning,
3.      Principal Secretary Finance.
Sh. Ashok Aggarwal Advocate General Punjab who was present on the occasion assured the court that the said cheque of Rs. 1 crore would not be used by the Sanawar School till the disposal of the petition.
For further information you can contact Advocate Sh. H.C. Arora on 98140-13764.

--------------

Congress leaders ask Bikram Majithia to introspect as he has only Congress blood in his veins

  CHANDIGARH: October 9

Senior Congress leaders from Majha today criticised the revenue minister Bikram Majithia for his criticism of the Congress and the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s observations about the Operation Bluestar memorial. They also ridiculed his criticism of the Congress saying Bikram has as much Congress blood flowing in his veins as any other Congressman or a Congress leader and has got benefitted much more from the Congress than anybody else.

Reacting to Majithia’s statement about Operation Bluestar memorial claiming it to be a memorial to peace and his allegations against Congress that it had betrayed Punjab and the Sikhs, senior party leaders remarked, “either Bikram was trying to be a hypocrite or was ignorant of his own family history”.

In a joint statement senior Congress leaders from Majha, including Sukhjinder Randhawa, Lali Majithia, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Harpartap Ajnala and Sukh Sarkaria reminded Majithia that his grandfather Surjit Singh Majithia was a Congress leader and a parliamentarian and had served as the Deputy Minister for Defence in the ministry of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

“Does he mean to say that his own grandfather had betrayed the Sikhs and Punjab as he was a minister in the Congress government?” the Congress leaders asked.

Referring to his claims about the “peace memorial” inside the precincts of the Harmandir Sahib, the Congress leaders said, again Bikram had no locus standi as his great grandfather Sundar Singh Majithia had been forcibly removed from the SGPC after protest from the Sikh Sangat for the reasons best known to the family.

The Majha leaders advised Majithia to look within and introspect before pointing a finger at others, particularly the Congress as his family has benefitted from the party. “Bikram should know that his current standing today is because of his family’s association with the Congress”, they pointed out, while asking him not to be so ungrateful. “If you are in Akali Dal today just perchance, it does not mean that you forget your Congress roots”, they reminded Majithia.

Rahul Gandhi to arrive in Amritsar on Wednesday

CHANDIGARH, October 8, 2012

Congress general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi will be arriving at Amritsar on Wednesday at 10 am. After landing at Raja Sansi Airport at Amritsar he will straightway drive to the venue of his first meeting on the Airport Road itself. He will be received by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh and other senior party leaders from Punjab.
During the first session he will be addressing the office bearers of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, the PCC members, the members of the executive body, the District Congress Committee presidents, the block presidents, the MPs, the MLAs, ex-MLAs and ex-MPs and all those who contested the 2009 parliamentary and 2012 assembly elections, and the heads of the four frontal organizations including the Punjab Mahilla Congress, the NSUI, the Punjab Youth Congress.
This will be followed in the afternoon by his address to a convention being organised by the Punjab Youth Congress on the Attari no border. The convention will be attended by the executive members of the PYC and all the elected office bearers of the PYC.
Next day Mr Gandhi will meet the former PCC and district presidents at the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee office.
Later in the day he will address a students’ rally being organised by the Punjab unit of the National Students’ Union of India in the Panjab University.

Congress condemns the utterly false, misleading and mischievous statement made by Sh. Sukhbir Badal Dy. CM today at Sanawar Public School HP, regarding the controversial Rs. 1 crore grant to his old school...................Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Ex-MLA

            Congress castigates the blatantly wrong statement of Sh. Sukhbir Badal made today at Sanawar Public School HP, saying that the Rs. 1 crore grant was not of the Punjab Nirman funds. I have presented documented proof of finance department wide their letter no. 3/45/09-FE 6/641 dated 01/10/12 in my press conference yesterday at Chandigarh. It is saddening to note that people at the level of Dy. CM indulge in hoodwinking the people very conveniently, which amounts to white lies. I challenge Sh. Sukhbir Badal to factually prove my allegations wrong or he should tender a public apology for misleading the electorate of Punjab for squandering tax payer’s money.
            Our opposition to the said grant of Rs. 1 crore is based on merits that the 18397 govt. schools of Punjab are in a pitiable condition. The children in the said govt. schools have to squat on the floor to study, there are no toilets, no safe drinking water, neither teachers in the govt. schools of Punjab. Had Sh. Sukhbir Badal given this said grant to the primary schools of the state, we could have improved the condition of atleast more than two dozen schools. I reiterate that if Sh. Sukhbir Badal has such a deep concern for the Sanawar Public School, why doesn’t  he donate from his profit making Oberoi, Trident hotels of Gurgaon or his many other profitable business ventures.
            I once again demand that the said Rs. 1 crore grant be given to elitist Sanawar Public School should be withdrawn immediately or I would be left with no option but to move the High Court of Punjab & Haryana.

Capt Amarinder asks workers to pull up socks for decisive fight
 
HOSHIARPUR, October 2:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today asked the party workers to gear and pull up their socks for the decisive fight ahead in the parliamentary elections. He said, the Akalis were already getting nervous and were now arm-twisting the Congress workers to join the Akali Dal.
Addressing a well attended public meeting organised by the local MLA and District Congress Committee president Sunder Shyam Arora here today, Capt Amarinder alleged that the Akalis, particularly the Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia had let lose a reign of terror on the Congress workers and they were still holding the forte.
The PCC President said, he had already toured several parts of the state where the Congress workers had been victimised. He said, barring a few, all the Congress workers had shown great courage to confront the vindictive regime. However, he added, this was not going to last long as people will soon call their bluff.
Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, he pointed out, a girl had been kidnapped from Faridkote a week ago and the government had not done anything. The people have been forced to protest and go for shut down even then the police have not taken any action since the accused was being shielded by some Akali leaders.
Having a dig at the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Badal for their divergent views on the Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector, he said, it was sheer opportunism on their part to survive in the government that has made them to oppose the FDI in retail. Otherwise, he remarked, they know it too well that the retail FDI is in the interest of the farmers and people of Punjab.
Capt Amarinder reminded the BJP leaders who are now opposing the FDI in retail that Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government had in 2002 supported the FDI move and now they were opposing it only as they feared that the Congress will get credit for the same.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included PCC vice president Chaudhary Jagjeet, MLAs Sunder Shyam Arora, Sangat Singh Giljian, Love Kumar Goldy, Major Amardeep, Sonu Dhesi, Jagdeep Sidhu and others.
----

Capt Amarinder condemns attack on Gen Brar, blames Badal for creating situation

HOSHIARPUR, October 2:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today condemned the murderous attack on Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh Brar in London on Sunday.

Maintaining that his position on Operation Bluestar is too well known to everybody in or outside Punjab which he does not need to repeat, Capt Amarinder said, the attack on Gen Brar is highly condemnable and those guilty of it must be brought to book.

In an informal conversation with reporters here today, he blamed the Chief Minister Parkash for creating such a situation, by establishing memorials like on to Operation Bluestar, which do not allow the old wounds to heal.

Capt Amarinder pointed out, from the reports coming out from London the people who attacked Gen Brar were young and might not have even been born at the time of Operation Bluestar. They must have got provoked and inflamed by the provocative acts of Mr Badal by way of setting up a memorial to the Operation Bluestar.

However, the PCC President pointed out, it is actually people like Badal who have been trying to perpetrate the memories by setting up the memorial to the Operation Bluestar as these will only reopen the old wounds people have long forgotten.

Blaming Mr Badal for such incidents, he said, all his life he (Mr Badal) has indulged in just one thing to provoke people and inflame passions while hiding himself in government rest houses in the name of getting arrested.

----------

By centralizing 26 of the 55 govt. departments / portfolios with his clan, Sh. Badal has forfeited the right to demand federal structure and more powers for the states.

SUKHPAL SINGH KHAIRA
Ex-MLA, Punjab, Oct. 02, 2012

Contrary to his oft repeated demand for a decentralized power structure in the country, Sh. Badal has completely done the reverse in Punjab. As we are aware, Sh. Badal has centralized all power with his family by keeping 26 of the 55 govt. departments / portfolios with his near and dear ones. Of the 45 portfolios held by SAD, 23 are held by the Badal family and the remaining 10  by the BJP.
Such huge concentration of Ministries with the Badal family not only makes mockery of collective responsibility but also disrespects the mandate of the people.
Similar is the case of elected institutions at the grass root democracy beginning from gram panchayats, block Samiti’s, Zila Parishad’s, Municipal Committee’s to the Vidhan Sabha are all virtually toothless and defunct under the present regime. They are more as less governed by official administrators than the elected representatives.
Sh. Badal has utterly failed to implement the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments made in the Panchayati Raj Act in Punjab.
According to the said amendments, vast powers are supported to be given to the grass root level elected bodies mentioned earlier. Most of govt. departments were supposed to be brought under these elected bodies as per the amendments but unfortunately nothing has happened on the ground.
Contrary to his ideology of decentralization of powers, the CM continues to impose his will right down to the gram panchayat level.
Holding ‘Sangat–Darshan’ is a perfect example of complete centralization of powers, where the CM bypasses all elected bodies such as block Samiti’s  and Zila Parishad’s to dole out grants to the panchayats himself. By doing so he also renders the administrative set up from the BDPO to Deputy Commissioners redundant.
According to a federal structure, all important elected positions of power including those of CM, Mayors, Zila Parishad and block Samiti Chairpersons and Sarpanches are supposed to be directly elected.
Though we cannot elect the CM directly according to our constitution, what prevents Sh. Badal for allowing direct elections to the above said elected offices. At present all are elected by indirect election, giving way to horse trading, political manipulation and centralization of power at the top.
Sh. Badal has centralized so much powers with himself that he is preventing even MLA’s from discharging their duties. He has appointed ‘Halqa’ incharges in place of duly elected MLA’s of the opposition and gets all development work done through these defeated people.
Sh. Badal has given no powers to the district administrations of Punjab to take any independent vital decisions. All DC’s and SSP’s have to seek prior approval of the CM for day to day functioning.
Perfect example of a centralized power set up sponsored by the CM is the burnt train, still on the tracks at Rama Mandi Railway Station of Jalandhar. Mobsters and rioters ran amock post killing of Sant Ramanand Dass in Vienna and burnt down public and private property but the administration looked on as mute spectators, waiting for orders from the CM.
Therefore, if the CM is seriously and genuinely interested in a federal structure, let him do an equitable and fair distribution of govt. Ministries. Congress also urges him to implement the 73rd and 74th amendments in letter and spirit and present Punjab as a Model decentralized state. In case he fails to do so, he should stop indulging in political hypocracy and double talk over the issue of more powers to states.

----

Congress condemns squandering of public exchequer money for personal whims, fancies and luxuries by the CM.--- Punjab is under a colossal debt of over Rs. 80,000 crores,

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA Bholath
      People’s money is being squandered and wasted for personal whims and luxuries by the Chief Minister alleges the congress party. As we are aware, Punjab is under a colossal debt of over Rs. 80,000 crores, unable to pay salaries, pensions and unable to honour its social welfare schemes of old age pension, shagun scheme and its ‘Atta-Dal’
scheme for the poor and needy.

      Yet the Chief Minister is indulging in wasting money for non productive self expenditure. The latest example of this plunder of public exchequer is hiring of a top US law firm Kirkland and Ellis LLP based in New York, to defend an individual Sh. Badal in a federal law suit in a Wisconsin district court. The Punjab govt. will pay an initial amount of 10,000 US Dollars (Approx. Rs 5 lacs) to this firm to defend Sh. Badal in the said suit.

      Prior to this wasteful expenditure, a three member team headed by Advocate General Sh. Ashok Aggarwal visited USA in the last week of august to hire this firm. Lacs of rupees must have been incurred as expenses by this high profile team to visit America, which would further burden the exchequer. Sh. Badal is facing the said law suit in his individual capacity for his anti- Sikh actions or prosecution of Sikhs in Punjab as alleged by the petitioners, then why should the people of Punjab pay for this, questions the congress? Can Sh. Badal not afford to pay from his own pocket to defend himself?
      Similarly, earlier the govt. spent more than Rs. 7 crores for the treatment of late Bibi Surinder Kaur Badal for her cancer in USA, before her sad demise. How many cancer patients of Punjab are provided this sort of luxury by the Punjab govt.? Ordinary cnacer patients travel by the cancer train from Bathinda to Bikaner to fight the disease.

      It appears the govt. is least concerned about the tax payers money if one notices the mode of luxurious travels of the CM and the Dy. CM. Only recently the govt. went ahead purchasing a helicopter worth Rs. 45 crores besides the large fleet of swanky SUV Montero jeeps that are at the disposal of CM and his son. Punjab is barely a 250 square Km state, one can travel each end within three hours by road, then why spend Rs. 45 crores on a helicopter, more so when the state is in financial crisis?

      Congress urges the govt. to frame a concrete policy for spending public exchequer money on the CM, Ministers or other VIP’s. The hard earned tax payers money is not for the personal luxuries of politicians, it is for the development of the state. Therefore, the congress demands scrapping of the said Rs 5 lacs fees to the US law firm and the CM must pay from his own pocket urges the congress party.

Capt Amarinder condemns Faridkote kidnapping; asks police to arrest culprits

CHANDIGARH, 28:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the police and the Faridkote administration for remaining quiet in tracing a teenager abducted from outside her house on Monday.
In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder while expressing solidarity with the parents and other family members of the victim maintained that it was sad and tragic that the parents of the abducted girl had to undergo such a trauma while police and administration were sleeping.
Supporting the protest and the bandh called by the local residents against the abduction and police support to them, he said, the people had no other way to press for their anger. He said, it was shameful on part of the state administration to turn a blind eye towards such a serious issue.
The PCC President asked the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as how could he turn a blind eye to the kidnapping of a girl while being just a few kilometers away in his native village holding a free medical camp. He regretted the insensitivity of the people, administration and the powers that be about it.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress general secretary and former Faridkote MLA Kikki Dhillon has also condemned the kidnapping and demanded immediate action to trace the girl. He criticized the police for not taking action at the behest of some local Akali politicians.

PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY OF PUNJAB SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO SUFFER DUE TO POLITICS

WE OWE IT TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LOOK BEYOND POLITICS AND DO SOMETHING FOR OUR MOTHERLAND AND THE NEXT GENERATIONS

PUNJAB CONGRESS SLAMS AKALI DAL FOR ANTI-FARMER STANCE ON FDI IN RETAIL SECTOR

FDI HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BRINGING ABOUT A SECOND GREEN REVOLUTION IN PUNJAB: KEWAL SINGH DHILLON

--------------------------------------- 
S. Kewal Singh Dhillon
MLA - Barnala, & Vice-President - PPCC (Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee)

CHANDIGARH  27th September 2012: Punjab Congress has slammed the Akali-BJP government for opposing the Foreign Direct investment in the retail sector in Punjab.

In a statement issued here today, S. Kewal Singh Dhillon, MLA Barnala & Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee said that permitting 51% FDI in the retail sector was one of the big bang reforms initiated by the UPA-II government headed by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and had the full backing of the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi and the entire Congress party. FDI in retail sector has the potential of changing the face of the Indian retail sector especially the state of Punjab. It has the potential of bringing about a second GREEN REVOLUTION in our state. It will not only benefit the consumers but also the farmers because their produce could now be purchased directly by the retail stores, thus enhancing their profit margins. Thus, the profit would now be directly available to the farmers as well as consumers.

S. Kewal Dhillon said that the retail stores would also be setting up facilities for back-end operations including cold chains and scientific storages which would eliminate tremendous wastage which was now taking place in foodgrains, especially in fruits and vegetables. He reinforced the viewpoint of PPCC President, Capt. Amarinder Singh and added that with 65% of our workforce engaged in some form of Agriculture, Punjab would be the biggest gainer.

The Congress leader said it was, therefore, surprising that the Akali Dal which was fond of projecting itself as the champion of farmers and professing to safeguard their interests was now opposing this progressive measure, apparently under the political pressure of its coalition partner BJP. Punjab food production has been stagnating for the past many years and farmers’ income too is not rising, with the result that the debt burden on them is increasing, forcing many of them to commit suicides. Under these circumstances, the question Akali Dal should ask itself is whether Punjab can afford to miss this reforms bus in order to keep its coalition partner in good humour and retain power in the state.

He emphasized that this opportunity is a God sent blessing for the state of Punjab to bring about a much needed revival in the state’s debt ridden economy and bring about a second Green Revolution. Further with the vast unemployment among the youth in the state, Foreign Investment would bring in multiple job opportunities in the state too. He said we owe it to our future generations to look beyond Politics and do something for our motherland so that we could make Punjab a better place for the next generation.  

S. Kewal Dhillon said that the Akali Dal should not work under the undue influence and pressure of the BJP and for once think beyond mere Politics and how to hold on to Power in the state. He said this is an issue that concerns every farmer of Punjab and even if the Akali Dal has to part ways with the BJP on this issue of FDI in retail sector, then they should not hesitate to do so in the interest of Punjab, Punjab Farmers and Consumers. The ruling party needs to take decisions looking at the larger interest of the State’s economy, farmers, consumers rather than personal agenda and Politics

-----

Rahul Gandhi to visit Amritsar, Jallandhar Patiala on October 10,11

CHANDIGARH: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Punjab on October 10 and 11. He will be visiting three cities of Amritsar, Jallandhar and Patiala during his two day tour of the state.

Announcing this today, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh said that during his visit to the three cities he will be interacting with a cross section of people including the party workers, the office bearers right from the block to the state level, the MPs, MLAs and all those who contested and lost the last assembly and parliamentary elections in 2009 and 2012 respectively.
The PCC President has also constituted one state level committee headed by him and three separate committees for Amritsar, Jallandhar and Patiala visit of the Congress general secretary.
The programme has been chalked out in such a way that he will be able to meet all the office bearers. At Amritsar he will be meeting the block and district presidents. At Jallandhar he is scheduled to meet all the members of the local bodies including the municipal corporations, municipal committees and Zila Parishads, while at Patiala he will be meeting the party MPs, MLAs and those who contested the elections in 2009 (to the parliament) and 2012 (to the assembly).
Following is the list of the members of the state level committee and those of the organizing committees for Amritsar, Jallandhar and Patiala.
State Level Committee for Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to Punjab
( 10th & 11 Oct. 2012)


Sr. No.

Members

1.      

Capt. Amarinder Singh, President PPCC

2.      

Sh. Sunil Kumar Jakhar, CLP Leader

3.      

S. Lal Singh, MLA

4.      

S. Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, MLA

5.      

Sh. Arvind Khanna, MLA

6.      

Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, MLA

7.      

Sh. Ashwani Sekhri, MLA

8.      

S. Kewal Singh Dhillon, MLA

9.      

S. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, MLA

10.                         

S. Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, MLA

11.                         

Ch. Jagjit Singh, Vice President, PPCC

12.                         

Rana Kanwarpal Singh, Gen. Secy. PPCC

13.                         

S. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Gen. Secy. PPCC

14.                         

S. Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa, Gen. Secy. PPCC

15.                         

Ch. Santokh Singh, Ex-Minister

16.                         

S. Kamaljit Singh Dhillon, Treasurer PPCC

Committee for Amritsar Interaction Session


Sr. No.

Members

 

1.      

S. Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, MLA

Chairman

2.      

Sh. Om Prakash Soni, MLA

Co-ordinator

3.      

S. Harpartap Singh Ajnala, President, DCC Asr. (R)

Organiser

4.      

Sh. Jugal Kishore Sharma, President, DCC Asr. (U)

Member

5.      

Smt. Aruna Chaudhary, MLA

Member

 

Committee for Jalandhar Interaction Session


Sr. No.

Members

 

1.      

Ch. Jagjit Singh, Vice President, PPCC

Chairman

2.      

Rana Gurjit Singh, MLA

Organiser

3.      

Sh. Vikramjit Singh Bajwa, Gen. Secy. PPCC

Member

4.      

Sh. Arun Walia, President, DCC Jalandhar (U)

Member

5.      

S.Kanwaljit Singh Lally, Act. President, DCC Jal. (R)

Member

 

Committee for Patiala Interaction Session


Sr. No.

Members

 

1

S. Lal Singh, MLA

Chairman

2

S. Harminder Singh Jassi, Gen. Secy. PPCC

Co-ordinator

3

S. Raninder Singh

Organiser

4

S. Hardyal Singh Kamboj, MLA & President, DCC Ptl. (R)

Member

5

Sh. Prem Kumar Puri, President, DCC Ptl. (U)

Member

------------------------------------------------------------------

 

----

Akalis, BJP faced with crisis of ideology: Punjab Congress

CHANDIGARH, September 20: Punjab Congress today criticised the ruling Akali-BJP alliance for forcing an unnecessary bandh on an unwilling people. “It only betrayed the crisis of ideology both the Akalis and BJP are confronted with”, Punjab Congress general secretary Arvind Khanna said, while reacting to today’s bandh in Punjab.
The Congress general secretary maintained that it was sheer political opportunism on part of both the Akalis as well as the BJP to oppose the foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail when everybody knew both the parties were themselves in favour of it. “Just because Congress led UPA government has initiated the move, they are opposing it now”, he observed.
Moreover, Khanna added, their opposition to the hike in diesel prices also betrays their double standards. “When they impose 12 per cent hike on electricity tariff and taxes on small houses in Punjab, it is OK with them and when the central government increases the prices of diesel which are determined by the international factors they call for a bandh”, he pointed out.
Asserting that the two parties were faced with the crisis of ideology, the Dhuri MLA said, they really did not know as what to do and how to react to the UPA policies which even they know were in the national and public interest. “It is a classic case of opposition for the sake of opposition”, he remarked.
Khanna wondered as what message the Punjab government intended to convey by opposing the FDI in retail when it was aiming at and claiming to be inviting investments in the state worth thousands of crores.

Amarinder lashes out at Majithia; warns him against reign of terror

AMRITSAR, September 11:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia for the reign of terror let lose by him in his area. He said, Majithia must know that nothing is permanent and much less the power and one day he will have to account for his sins.
Addressing an impressive public meeting organized by Lali Majithia here today, Amarinder regretted that Bikram despite belonging to a decent and respectable family had stooped to such levels where he had tried to muzzle the voice of his political opponents.
He pointed out, Bikram only betrayed his fear and phobia by forcing all the marriage palace owners in the area against renting their premises for the Congress function. “If he thinks he can muzzle the voice of the Congress workers that way he is miserably mistaken”, the PCC President warned while adding, one day the same people will hold him the dock and ask him to explain his sins.
“This is just a childish and immature act on part of Bikram”, he remarked, while adding that never in his political career had he seen such a childish behaviour by any politician howsoever powerful he may have been. He said, he had held public rallies even in the constituency of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal but never had he faced such resistance borne out of fear.
The PCC President reiterated that the way the situation was developing in the state there was no guarantee whether this government will last the full term. He recalled, even during 1977 the Akalis had formed the government but they could not survive even for full three years and there is no guarantee that this may not happen again.
Earlier talking to the reporters, Capt Amarinder said, he wanted to go to all the 117 assembly segments in the coming months to meet the workers. He said, the Congress was fully geared up for the parliamentary elections and the Akalis will be shocked into defeat.
To a question about possible political alliance in the state for the parliamentary elections, the PCC President said, since Congress was a national party the alliances are worked out at the national level only. He said, the state units are asked about their opinion and feedback which will be provided whenever asked.
However, he added, the current appeal he had made to the opposition political parties was only aimed at uniting them all against the punitive taxation imposed by the Akali BJP government in the state. He said, it was the need of the hour that all the opposition political parties should unite and come on a common platform.
Addressing the meeting Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar had a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal for asking Amarinder Singh to stage dharna in Delhi for grants. Jakhar said, he will stage the dharna if need be, but let Sukhbir and his government give the account of thousands of crores of money that came from centre and has either been misused and embezzled by people like Gulzar Singh Ranike.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included Fateh Jang Bajwa, Sukh Sarkaria, Harpartap Ajnala, Harminder Gill, Vikram Chaudhary, Jagdeep Sidhu, Major Amardeep, Jasbir Singh Dimpa and others. 

------

PM writes Badal on oak creek tragedy
GOI ASKS US ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE FULL AND PROMPT ENQUIRY INTO OAK CREEK TRAGEDY: PM TO BADAL
CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 11:

Responding to the issues raised by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to impress upon the US administration for taking effective steps to ensure the safety and security of Sikh community in the aftermath of the shocking tragedy at Oak Creek, Wisconsin in USA, on August 5, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has taken up the issue with the US President Mr. Barack Obama.  Mr. Badal had asked the Prime Minister to approach the US administration to ensure a full and prompt enquiry into the incident besides strengthening the security of places of worship in order to instill confidence in the Sikh community.    

            The Prime Minister on Monday apprised Mr. Badal that GoI had acted upon the issues raised in the Punjab Chief Minister’s letter.  Mr. Badal had requested the Prime Minister to attach highest priority in our diplomatic engagement abroad to safeguard the interests of the diverse Indian communities living around the world and we were actively engaged with the host governments regarding their safety and welfare.  Dr. Singh has now informed the Chief Minister that GoI is engaging the US administration on the issue. 
            The Prime Minister shared Mr. Badal’s anguish over the loss of six innocent lives and the injuries sustained by three others in this unfortunate incident.  “This senseless act of violence in a place of worship has no place in any society and has rightly drawn condemnation from India, the United States and around the world”, said Dr. Singh in his letter to the Chief Minister.  The Prime Minister also said that President Obama called him on August 8 to express his personal shock and sorrow and that of the American people, at this incident.  Mr. Obama also appreciated the role played by Sikh community to enrich the United States.  The US President said that the heartbreaking tragedy was contrary to everything that America stood for and that he was determined to make sure that such incidents did not happen again. 
            It may be recalled that Mr. Badal had written to the Prime Minister saying that effective and proactive response was required from the government of India on the two major issues.  The first of course was the immediate task of dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy. Then there was also an equally urgent need for taking up with the US administration the larger question of taking effective administrative and other steps to ensure the safety and security of members of the Sikh community in that country.  Mr. Badal had also pointed out that similar effort was also needed in some other countries which the Sikhs have made their second home, contributing in a significant and positive way to the progress and prosperity of the lands of their adoption.

====

UKHPAL SINGH KHAIRA
Ex-MLA

Congress urges you to dismiss Sh. Gulzar Singh Ranike Cabinet Minister for embezzlement of Border Area Development Programme (BADP) funds and the Minister’s discretionary funds. Congress also demands a CBI inquiry to fix responsibility on all those involved in the scam.

To,                                                                                          11.09.12
Sh. Shivraj Patil,
Hon’ble Governor,
Punjab.

Dear Sir,
It is astonishing and shameful that a Minister who is supposed to be custodian of public exchequer has very craftily misused not only his discretionary funds but has embezzled BADP funds running into crores.We had heard of corruption and scandals by politicians and officers but never heard of embezzlement of Govt. grants directly and that too by Minister himself.
As we are aware, central funds meant for border areas under the BADP were collected in shape of cheques from the local BDPO and credited into fake accounts with the money being siphoned off by frontmen of the Minister and it never reached any Gram Panchayat. More than Rs. 2.60 crores were collected from the BDPO since 2008 onwards and the cheques were encashed via fake accounts and fake identities at the behest of the Minister, from IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra. This well planned conspiracy has been going on for the past more than four years now. Similarly the Minister, his son and his PA have also embezzled Rs. 1.99 crores from the discretionary funds supposedly at the disposal of the Minister for development works.
Although, a case of embezzlement of funds was registered in May 2011 but no one was named and no concrete action has followed due to political pressure. Sh. Sarbdyal Singh the PA of the Minister who is one of the main accused in the scam has been able to scot free.
What is more intriguing is the fact that although not a single penny of the BADP funds ever reached any genuine beneficiary, the state govt. has been very conveniently been reporting to the central govt. that the funds have been correctly utilized.
Now that the scam of misappropriation of funds by the Minister himself has come to light, the Minister has no moral authority to continue in office.
The Congress is of the opinion that the scandal unearthed so far is only the tip of the iceberg and a thorough investigation is required in the matter. Sh. Gulzar Singh Ranike Minister being a politically powerful man and having close connections with the Chief Minister will not allow any fair investigation. Therefore, the Congress party demands a CBI inquiry into the scam and at the same time urges your august office to dismiss the Minister from the council of Minister without any further delay.

Capt Amarinder thanks workers for successful dharna

CHANDIGARH, September 8: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today thanked the party workers and leaders for the success of the dharna on Friday against the punitive taxes imposed by the government.

In a message to the party leaders and the District Congress Committee presidents on the holding of the dharna, he said, it was the joint and collective effort of all of them which ensured its success.

Capt Amarinder appealed the party leaders and workers to show the same unity and strength in the coming days so that the people's programmes are effectively carried out and the anti-people policies of the government are vigorously opposed.

Capt Amarinder calls for opposition unity without compromising ideology 

PHILAUR (JALLANDHAR), September 6:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today called for unity among various opposition parties to fight the anti-people policies of the state government without compromising on their basic ideologies.
Addressing a well attended public meeting organized by senior party leader and former minister Chaudhary Santokh Singh and Punjab Youth Congress president Vikram Chaudhary, Capt Amarinder said, all the opposition parties had agreed on one thing that this government was imposing punitive taxes on people only their approaches were different. He said, if the opposition will fight the anti-people policies of the government jointly it will certainly yield better results.
The PCC President reiterated that he was not calling for a political alliance at the moment but an understanding on a common minimum programme in the interest of the people of the state. He said, he was encouraged by the response of Manpreet Badal who was in full agreement but could not join our protest because the time period for his party to join was short.
Replying to a question about the government not lasting the full term, the former Chief Minister maintained that the situation was fast developing towards lawlessness and financial emergency. He pointed out, once things get out of control whether it was the economy or law and order the President’s rule is the obvious consequence.
However, at the same time he made it clear that the Congress will exhaust all the legal and democratic options like protests and bandhs to make this government have some sense and reverse the anti people decisions.
Capt Amarinder said, this government was working with deceit and had imposed the taxes through backdoor. Since they were afraid to debate the issue in the assembly they did not impose the taxes in the budget and brought these through backdoor which is unconstitutional.
Addressing the meeting the Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar said that this government was not only financially bankrupt but ideologically as well. He said,  it was trying to use all the foul means to oppose the Congress programmes. He said, people were so upset that they were coming out in great numbers to support the Congress protests.
Among others present on the occasion included Chaudhary Jagjit, Chaudhary Santokh, Guriqbal Kaur, Satnam Kainth, Kamaljeet Laly, Vikram Chaudhary and others.

Capt Amarinder appeals partymen to unite against govt’s anti-people policies

CHANDIGARH, September 4:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today appealed all the party men to unite to fight against the anti-people policies of the Akali-BJP government in the state.
In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder asked the party men to sink their differences for whatever reasons and come together and participate in the anti-government protests being staged across the state on September 7 at the district headquarters.
The PCC President maintained that there was an urge among the party workers to take the Akali-BJP government to the task for its anti-people policies like the backbreaking taxes that have shaken the common man. He said, everybody needed to be part of the protest to convey a strong message to the government as well as the party cadres that the party leadership was united.
He said, there was nothing wrong in having an opinion about various issues, including the leadership, and the party leaders can and should raise it at the appropriate forum like the party high command. Moreover, he clarified it is the prerogative of the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi to take a decision on the issue and everybody should respect her decision.

----

Punjab Congress condemns the communal attitude of Sh. Narinder Modi CM, towards the Sikh farmers of Kutch region whose agricultural lands are being taken away by his govt., despite legal protection from the Gujarat High Court.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Ex-MLA 


            Failing to learn any lesson from the blot of communalism that Sh. Narinder Modi CM Gujarat carries on him, he has now embarked upon yet another anti Sikh step by uprooting Sikh farmers from the Kutch region of Gujarat. As we are aware, the land of Sikh farmers of Kutch area has been taken back by the District Collector on the ground that they are from outside states and their agricultural accounts have also been frozen by the state govt., although these farmers have been living in Gujarat for the last five decades
            The congress terms this step as gross anti-minority and anti-Sikh. Sh. Modi who is a known communal leader has been severely indicted in various anti Muslim riots in Gujarat including the Godra massacre, the Best Bakery killings, the Sohrabudin fake encounter case and recently a close confidant of the CM, Smt. Kodnani has been awarded life imprisonment in the Narota Padia killings.
            India is a secular country with a mix of various religions and languages and its citizens should be allowed to settle anywhere in the country without such restrictions. What is more alarming is that the Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat had stayed the order of the District Collector Kutch but unfortunately instead of restoring the lands of the farmers, Sh. Modi challenged this order in Supreme Court. Now the fate of these Sikh farmers is in danger and they are running from pillar to post to get their lands and  existence back in Gujarat.
            Therefore, the congress urges Sh. Badal to immediately intervene in the matter and take up their case with Sh. Narinder Modi. In case the Gujarat CM fails to review his decision, I urge the Sikhs of Gujarat to vote against the communal govt. of Sh. Modi in the ensuing assembly elections and install a secular congress govt. in the state.

---

Punjab Congress resolves to force govt to withdraw punitive taxes

CHANDIGARH, September 3: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today resolved to force the Akali-BJP government in the state to withdraw the punitive taxes it has imposed on the people of the state. The party will hold massive dharnas on September 7 at all the district headquarters. The PCC President will attend the dharna at Ludhiana.
A meeting of the party office bearers, district presidents, MLAs and those who contested the last assembly election unsuccessfully was held at the Congress Bhawan today. It was presided over by the PCC President Capt Amarinder Singh and attended among others by the senior leaders including the Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar, vice presidents Laal Singh, Rana KP, Fateh Bajwa, Ashwani Sekhri, Chaduahry Jagjit, Aruna Chudhary,
Vikram Bajwa,  NSUI president Gobind Khatra and others.
23 district presidents, 29 MLAs and 30 defeated candidates also attended the meeting.
The meeting resolved to ensure maximum participation of people in the dharnas to protest against the anti people policies of the Punjab government.
Addressing the meeting Capt Amarinder said, the government had betrayed the trust of the people and let them down. He said, every section of the society was upset and unhappy and they wanted the Congress to provide lead to voice their protest and resentment against them.

-----

Capt Amarinder says no matter how much vendetta Badals resort to Congress stands firm

PATTI (TARN TARAN), September 2: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today said that no matter how much vendetta the Akalis resort to, the Congress workers were firm in their resolve to fight against all odds. He said, nothing was going to deter them from standing up against the government no matter to what extent the government unleashed its vendetta.

Addressing a largely attended public meeting organised by the Punjab Congress Secretary and local party candidate Harminder Gill, Capt Amarinder said, this government had lost all the faith and goodwill of the people and it had now started not only targeting its opponents but even discriminating against them by keeping them out of various welfare schemes.
Capt Amarinder accompanied by senior party leaders including Mr Laal Singh, Fateh Jang Bajwa, Rana Gurjit, Ramanjit Singh Sikki and others, reached here around 1 pm driving from Chandigarh. He was stopped by party workers and supporters on the way at Mullanpur Dakha, Moga, Makhu and Zira before reaching to a tumultuous welcome here. At Moga local MLA Joginder Pal Jain led hundreds of party workers to receive the PCC President.
Lashing out at the government for failing the expectations of the people, he said, it had resorted to punitive taxation stealthily by imposing the taxes outside the budget. He said, had the government imposed the taxes in the budget it would have been wiped out in the corporation elections.
The PCC President said, instead of imposing the taxes the government should have widened the tax base by encouraging investment which would not only have generated revenue but created jobs as well. Instead, he remarked, it preferred the short term measures to strangulate everyone even the small 50 yards plot holders.
He also questioned the government's logic in purchasing a helicopter for Rs 38 crores. "You are taxing people for your own luxuries and profligacies”, he remarked while pointing out how the government had appointed 22 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and advisors with cabinet rank and all benefits at the cost of the state exchequer.
He also referred to the appointment of 150 additional, assistant and deputy advocates general by the government, most of whom are the kith and kin of the Akali and BJP leaders. While government is spending about Rs one crores every month on them when it comes to pleading the cases the government has to hire lawyers from Delhi as most of these law officers are not competent enough.
Referring to the problem of drug addiction and law and order raised by Harminder Gill, Capt Amarinder said, it was the natural fallout of the economic problems. When economy gets weaker the issues related to law and order are bound to rise and there are going to be thefts and dacoities.
He remarked, there was also nothing unusual about the Akalis promoting the drug trade as several Akali leaders were known to be drug paddlers.
Prominent among those present today included Mr Laal Singh, Fatehjang Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet, Rmanjit Singh Sikki, Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Dharamveer Agnihotri, Harminder Gill, Gurjeet Aujla, Major Amardeep, Sonu Dhesi, Jugal Kishore Sharma and others.

---

Rebels' activities helping govt: Capt Amarinder

PATTI (TARN TARAN),September 2: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today said the rebels' activities were indeed helping the ruling Akali-BJP alliance government particularly at a time when Congress had launched an action programme against it (the government).

Replying to a question whether the rebels were doing it at the behest of the government, Capt Amarinder said, he really did not know at whose behest they were doing it, but their activities were certainly helping the government.

In answer to another question about the allegations that he was not accessible, he asked, "how come they realised after the elections only that I was inaccessible  and not during the last 14 years I have been at the forefront of the Punjab Congress holding various positions like that of the Chief Minister, PCC President and the Chairman of the Campaign Committee?"

Asked whether he planned or proposed any action against the rebels since they had breached the party discipline, the PCC President said, he did not favour any action against anyone and he treated everbody as his colleague and friend. However, he added, the high command was also seized of the matter as everything was being taken note of by the party high command.

Capt Amarinder asserted that the party was united and there was no change in the enthusiasm among the party workers. He pointed out the presence of thousands of workers at today's programme was enough indication that they were very much attached to the Congress.

About his appeal to other opposition parties to participate in the anti-government dharnas he clarified, it was related only to a particular issue of protesting against the anti-people policies of the government. He said, political alliance if any can be worked at and decided later and the final decision will be taken by the high command only.

----

Capt Amarinder appeals all opposition parties to unite against govt

CHANDIGARH, September 1:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today appealed to all the opposition parties in Punjab, including the People’s Party of Punjab, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bahujan Samaj Party to come together to fight against the anti-people policies of the Akali-BJP government. He also invited them to join the statewide dharnas being staged by the Congress at all the district headquarters on September 7.
Addressing a press conference at the Punjab Congress Bhawan here today, the PCC President said, there was a strong and genuine cause for all the like minded opposition political parties to come together and prevent this government from imposing punitive taxes on the people of the state. He pointed out, the spate of taxation had affected all the people across all social and economic spheres and people were angry and disappointed.
He expressed hope and confidence that the opposition parties and leaders will come together in the interest of the people. He maintained that as on now there was no political agenda in getting together the political parties and the only purpose was to save the people of Punjab from a regime that is highly insensitive towards the public interest.
Capt Amarinder maintained that the taxes imposed by the state government were illegal since any financial matter needs the approval of the state legislature. He pointed out, they circumvented the legislative process by way of showing a “tax-free” budget while imposing heavy taxes on the people subsequently. He said, this was a total fraud with the people.
The former Chief Minister said, this was purely a short term measure of the state government and it cannot help revive the economy. He said, he had reports that the government was planning to mop up about Rs 9000 crores in taxes and this was just a beginning. He said, the statewide protests with participation by all the political parties was aimed at preventing the government from imposing further taxes while withdrawing the ones it had imposed.
He stated that such taxation will rather damage the economy as the industry will become less competitive. The result will be the industry will move out and there will be more problems for the economy.
Asked whether PPP Chief Manpreet Badal was trying to join the Congress and keen to contest as party candidate from Bathinda, Capt Amarinder said, Manpreet had never met him hence he was not in a position to comment.
To another question about the leadership issue, Capt Amarinder reiterated that it was the discretion and prerogative of the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi. He said, he decision will be acceptable to him and till the time he was the PCC president he will continue to work vigorously for the party.
He refused to comment on the activities of some party leaders who had held a meeting at Chandigarh yesterday. Asked whether he will take any action or recommend any action against them since they had breached the party discipline he said, he was not keen to recommend any action against anybody.
Capt Amarinder was today accompanied by senior party leaders and MLAs who included Mr Laal Singh, Rana Sodhi, Rana Gurjeet, OP Soni, Chaudhary Jagjeet, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Mohd Sadique, Hardayal Kambhoj, Balbir Sidhu, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Amrik Dhillon, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Charanjit Singh Channi, Kikki Dhillon, Fateh Jang Bajwa, Ajit Singh Shant, Joginder Singh Panjgraian, Surinder Gupta, Satbir Singh, Jugal Sharma and others.

-----

Congress leaders seek CBI probe against Valtoha

AMRITSAR, August 29: Senior Congress leaders from Majha today demanded the Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the cases of corruption against Khmekaran MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha. They said, nobody had any faith in the vigilance bureau as it was running straightway under the directions of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Referring to the vigilance bureau’s U-turn in his case which paved way for his getting exonerated senior Congress leaders including Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Haminder Singh Gill and Sukhpal Bhullar said, they had no faith in the state vigilance bureeau as it had proved to be the hand-maid of the ruling Akali Dal.
They alleged that Valtoha’s corruption was beyond any doubt and still the vigilance bureau let him off just under the pressure of the ruling Akali Dal. Hence, they added, it was important to get the probe done by an indpendent and neutral agency. 

 

Just beginning of punitive tax regime: Capt Amarinder

CHANDIGARH, August 29: Criticising the spate of taxes imposed by the Akali-BJP government in the state yesterday, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt  Amarinder Singh today said, this was just the beginning of a punitive taxation regime that was going to be unleashed on the people of Punjab in the coming days.

Reacting to the increase in VAT, infrastructure cess, tax imposed on all the properties and other taxes, the PCC President said, this was quite expected as this government was already bankrupt and was now trying to rob people of the state by imposing taxes by deceit after presenting a “tax free” budget in the assembly.

Capt Amarinder reiterated that imposing punitive taxes was no solution to revive the state economy. He said, the government should rather boost the confidence of the investors who can invest and generate jobs and resources. He pointed out, imposing such taxes will only discourage the investors who will have second thoughts even if they ever thought of investing in Punjab.