AKALI DAL SEEKS INTERVENTION OF NHRC TO FOIL DESIGNS OF CONGRESS TO SCUTTLE INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST ’84 GENOCIDE ACCUSED
Chandigarh, November 4

The Shiromani Akali Dal today sought the intervention of National Human Rights Commission and asked it to recommend to the government to ask CBI to file the charge sheet against Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and others accused of history’s worst ever carnage. A delegation of the party, led by the SAD president and the Punjab deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, which met the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission at New Delhi, this afternoon also urged the Commission to ask the Union Government to speed up the trial of criminal cases against the accused in compliance of the recommendations of the Nanavati Commission. The Congress-led UPA Government, said a resolution presented by the delegation to the Commission, was trying to scuttle the trial on flimsy grounds.

The high powered SAD delegation comprised all Members of Parliament of Punjab and Haryana and Members of Core Committee of the Party. It called upon the Commission to initiate action against Mr. Jagdish Tytler in cases registered in 2005.

Punjab Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains later told newsmen that the SAD President emphasized the gross human rights violations committed by the Congress led UPA Government. “The most shocking part is that the government and CBI are hand in glove in perpetrating this mockery of justice on the country. The deliberate delay by CBI in filing charge sheets against Sajjan Kumar in four cases that were registered in 2005, on the basis of the recommendations of Nanavati Commission,” said the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, who described the 1984 massacre of the Sikhs as an outrage against humanity and a slur on the fair name the country.

Mr. Badal expressed surprise that the CBI had sought permission of the Government to prosecute Sajjan Kumar even while the law was categorical that in cases of murder under Section 302 of IPC, no government sanction was required. Sajjan Kumar faces the gravest charges of committing mass murders. “The CBI’s action is seeking government permission is a deliberate tactic to delay the delivery of justice and to put hurdles in the path of a speedy and fair trial. This is part of a wider conspiracy of the Congress led government to further delay and scuttle the execution of justice,” said a visibly moved Mr. Badal.

Stressing the gravity of crime, Mr. Badal reminded that these cases related to the murder of 2733 Sikhs (official figure) in Delhi, but hardly anyone had been punished. He said that this was primarily due to the reason that the police was interested in shielding the guilty and they had spoiled all the cases. He expressed concern over the fact that even the prosecuting agency had not been pursuing the cases properly.

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said that the SAD was forced to knock on the doors of the Commission as now the government was sitting over these matters and not taking any decision. “We strongly urge and solicit you to direct the Government and the CBI to immediately file charge sheets in these four cases against Sajjan Kumar and others accused”, he added.

Mr. Badal referred in particular to cases registered by the CBI in Police Stations Delhi Cantt., Sultanpuri and Mangolpuri vide RC No. 24(5) / 2005. He said that it was a deliberate and gross travesty of justice that the CBI has been sitting over these cases for over three years and was deliberately refusing to file the charge sheets.

The Akali Dal President said that the Sikh widows and other victims had come forward and given their statements putting their lives to risk, notwithstanding the pressure and threats extended by the goons and accomplices of Sajjan Kumar. He pointed out that eleven witnesses had recorded their statements under Section 164 Cr.P.C. identifying Sajjan Kumar as the prime accused in mid 2008 before Metropolitan Magistrate, Karkardooma and two before Magistrate at Amritsar. “It is incredible that in a country that swears by the rule of law, the CBI had been flouting the judicial orders with complete impunity and the government was watching also this not just as a mute witness but an active co-conspirator,” said Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Mr. Badal said that keeping all these facts pointing towards deliberate efforts of Union Government to scuttle the trial of Congress leaders, it becomes the duty of the commission to intervene in the matter and ensure that actions were taken against the guilty in accordance with law.

Demanding the intervention of Commission in the case against Jagdish Tytler where CBI had filled closure report to ensure that the law was upheld and case was properly investigated and accused Jagdish Tytler was prosecuted.
Giving the details of the case, He said that this case was registered in 2005 on the recommendations of Nanawati Commission against Jagdish Tytler in which the CBI had conducted a faulty investigation and filed the closure report. He said that presently case was pending in the court. of Rakesh Pandit ACMM under the name of State v/s Paniwala and Jagdish Tytler.

Mr. Badal demanded that Commission should recommend to the Union Government to take a decision on these four cases for grant of sanction at the earliest; and to pursue with the CBI to file the charge sheets in these cases at the earliest. The Commission was also requested to take up with the High Court for starting a day to day trial in these cases. Mr. Badal also sought intervention of Commission in these cases even after the charge sheet was filed and to appoint its own lawyer to assist the Public Prosecutor. Mr. Badal also demanded that the commission should also intervene in other cases pending in the trial court and in appeal, and appoint lawyers in those cases which were pending in various courts relating to Anti-Sikh riots.

The delegation led by Sukhbir Singh Badal also included Jathedar Avtar Singh, President SGPC, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Secretary General, Mr. Gurdev Singh Badal, Senior Vice President, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundar, General Secretary, Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Secretary & Spokesman of Party, Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala, Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Mr. Harcharan Bains, Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Mr Sher Singh Ghubaya, Mr Naresh Gujral, Mr Varinder Singh Bajwa, Mr Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha, all Member Parliaments of the Party Mr. Tarlochan Singh MP Rajya Sabha from Haryana.

116.79 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
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Chandigarh, November 04, 2009

Government agencies and private millers procured more than 116.79 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening as compared to 120.64 lakh tones upto November 3,2008.

Out of total procurement of 1167996 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 11458203 tonnes of paddy (98.1%) till date whereas private traders procured 221766 tonnes (1.9%) of paddy. Till November 03, PUNGRAIN had procured 3355997 tonnes (29.3%) whereas MARKFED procured 2361587 tonnes (20.6%). PUNSUP procured 2665599 tonnes (23.3%), PSWC procured 1408799 tonnes (12.3%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 1105676 tonnes (9.6 %) of paddy whereas the Central Government agency FCI had procured 560545 tonnes (4.9%).

The spokesman added that District Ludhiana with 1251506 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Patiala with 1235050 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and District Sangrur 1178729 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The State Government has set up 1600 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.

THAPAR ASSUMED CHARGE AS CHAIRMAN PSIDC

CHANDIGARH NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Mr. Onkar Singh Thapar today assumed the charge of the office of the Chairman Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC).

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Thapar was accompanied by Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal, Culture & Tourism Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabria and Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce Mr.SS Channy.

President SAD of Delhi unit Mr. Avtar Singh 'Hit' besides thousands of supporters and well wishers of Mr. Thapar were also present on the occasion.

Education & Justice Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur took a strong exception to the news reports in a section of press regarding the statement of Punjab Congress legislature party leader Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal for non-allocation funds for construction of judicial complexes in the districts by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal.
Dr. Upinderjit Kaur described these reports as totally baseless, politically motivated, factually incorrect and highly misleading and said; “I have all regards and respect for the opposition but at the same time the public must know the truth”. She said that Mrs. Bhattal was ill-informed about the exact position of the allocation of funds and advised her to seek correct information before issuing such baseless statements aimed at tarnishing the image of the government.
Giving details, the Minister said that the SAD-BJP government had released Rs.111 crore for the construction of judicial complexes in the state during its tenure of two-and-a-half years, whereas the previous Congress government merely spent Rs.60.44 crore on this count during its entire term of five years. She also pointed out that the SAD-BJP government had prepared a comprehensive plan for the execution of 28 such works for the construction and up-gradation of judicial complexes in the state at an estimated cost of Rs.269.39 crore. Dr. Kaur asserted that there was no shortage of funds for the completion of these complexes in the state. She reiterated that the SAD-BJP government was committed to ensure speedy justice to the people by providing congenial atmosphere to the Judiciary by upgrading and constructing new judicial complexes in the state.

SUKHBIR APPEALS FOR COLLECTIVE PRAYER ON NOVEMBER 8 TO SEEK JUSTICE TO ’84 VICTIMS

Chandigarh, November 4
Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to all countrymen and all right minded people of the world to assemble at their respective nearest religious places on November 8, 2009 to pray for speedy justice to the families of victims of 1984 Sikh carnage and also for peace to the departed souls of the victims.
In a statement issued here today, Mr. Badal said that it was matter of great concern that even after struggle of 25 years these families have not got justice. He appealed to the people having faith in different religions to standby the families of victims of 1984 Sikh Carnage. He hoped that collective prayer of all people from all over the world would expedite the justice delivery system and provide solace to the families of victims besides peace to the departed souls.
According to press release issued by party spokesman and Secretary Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema party has requested all religious organizations and political parties to collectively pray on November 8 (Sunday) at their religious places.