CM LAUDS DR. PATAR’S RARE HONOUR ON NATIONAL LITERARY FORA

Chandigarh, March 24:

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the noted Punjabi Poet Dr. Surjit Patar, the recipient of the coveted ‘Sarswati Samman -2009,’ the highest Indian literary award for his famous book ‘Lafzaan de Dargah’.

In a congratulating message, the Chief Minister described Dr. Patar as an iconic figure in the literary world of Punjabi Poetry and language who made an immense contribution towards the promotion and development of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. Mr. Badal said that Dr.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira,
MLA Bholath.

22.03.10
Sh. Mukul Mudgal,
Hon’ble Chief Justice,
High Court of Punjab and Haryana,
Chandigarh, U.T.

Subject:- F.I.R No. 15, Dated 24.06.2003 of Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Mohali, against S. Parkash Singh Badal CM, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal Dy. CM and others u/s 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120(B) of the IPC read with 13(2), of the Prevention of corruption Act 1988.

Sir,

If we have to find a classic case of the powerful and influential circumventing the law to their advantage by misusing their official authority, it could be none other but the above mentioned case pending trial against the Badal family.

The other day english daily ‘Hindustan Times’ carried a front page story with a sarcastic heading ‘Badal case up for neat burial’? (clippings attached alongwith)  Witnesses hostile 131 down, only 6 to go: top VB, PWD officers among those resiled: probe incharge re-employed.

The trial of this case has raised many questions in the minds of the ordinary citizens, whether is there any law at all to nail powerful politicians? are there two sets of laws, one for the ordinary or poor and the other for powerful people such as the Badal’s ? Is this trial not a mockery of our judicial system? Will senior officers resiling from their statements be tried for perjury? Can the investigating officers who built the case be re-employed to give the case a neat burial? There is a whole lot of debate going on in social circles.

Watching the unfolding of events in the trial myself, I being the elected representative of the people have decided to bring this travesty of justice to your notice. As per reports key prosecution witnesses who have resiled include IG S. Chattopadhya, retired IG Gurdinderpal Singh, SSP Surinderpal Singh who is the investigating officiers (IO) and several officials of the rank of SSP and SP, besides senior PWD engineers who had assessed the Badal’s assets during the investigation. Even the office of Advocate General has indulged in facilitating the collapse of this case by changing the persecution team with instructions to weaken the case.

It was also saddening to note that the Hon’ble Supreme Court refused to transfer the above case to another state to ensure justice, if this is not a fit case for transfer out of state, which case could be a better one, the continues trend of witnesses turning hostile has only confirmed the fears of those demanding transfer of this case.  

Sir, with due respect, I urge your august office to intervene in the matter and put this trial under your special scanner, so that justice could be ensured which would go a long way to enhance the credibility of our judicial system. All those officiers who have resiled howsoever senior they may be must be summoned and tried for perjury   to clear the mist, that either they have succumbed to pressure now or they built a false case against the Badal’s under political pressure then. Even the conduct of the office of Advocate General in pressurizing the team of prosecution needs to be investigated. This is a fit case for retrial out of the state of Punjab.

To sum up sir, if we do not nip this on going trend of witnesses resiling under pressure in the bud, I am sure the confidence   of an ordinary citizen is bound to be shaken and not many in this system would dare to fight against powerful people like the Badal’s.

I am sure being the custodian of judiciary you would take due cognizance of my letter. Sukhpal Singh Khaira

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CM CONDOLES SAD DEMISE OF DR. AMRIK SINGH

CHANDIGARH MARCH 23:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of former Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala and an eminent educationist Dr. Amrik Singh who passed away at New Delhi after a brief illness. 

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister recalled the outstanding services of Dr.  Amrik Singh in the field of higher education and said that his scholarly role for the enrichment of Punjabi and English literature would be ever remembered by one and all. Describing Dr. Amrik Singh as a multi- faceted personality and a fine human being, Mr. Badal said that in the death of Dr. Amrik Singh a void had been created in the literary world which was difficult to be filled.

SHAHEED-E-AZAM BHAGAT SINGH, RAJGURU AND SUKHDEV REMEMBERED ON THEIR 79TH MARTYRDOM ANNIVERSARY

PUNJAB TO INSTALL RO SYSTEM IN 2500 VILLAGES
  HUSSAINIWALA (FEROZEPUR) MARCH 23:

Paying rich tributes to Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their 79th martyrdom anniversary here at Shaheedi Samark, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that the state government would install RO system in 2500 villages, by the end of next year to provide potable water.

Addressing a mammoth gathering, Mr. Badal cited an example of our freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the Independence movement in which thousands of freedom fighters from Punjab sacrificed their lives at the altar of their motherland.   He said that Indian History was replete with the saga of numerous sacrifices made by the unsung heroes from times immemorial during the national freedom struggle but we had a short lived memory and seldom remember our freedom fighters who had made unprecedented sacrifices for achieving independence.   "It is our pious duty to nurture the feeling of nationalism amongst our youth through the commemoration of such occasions in a befitting manner by paying homage to the great martyrs and patriots who made selfless sacrifices and made India free from the foreign yoke", said Mr. Badal.

The Deputy Chief Minister bemoaned that even after 60 years of freedom, center government had not been able to provide the basic civic amenities to a common man what to talk of tall claims like high growth rate in terms of infrastructure, power and civil aviation.  He said that our freedom fighters and patriots laid down their lives for the betterment of our countrymen.  "It is a sad plight that the aspirations of our freedom fighters had not yet been cherished because they dreamt of an Independent India free from the maladies of illiteracy, unemployment and starvation", said Mr.Badal. 

He however, said that martyrs were not merely restricted to any region, religion and faith rather they belonged to one and all irrespective of caste, color and creed.   "Our government is committed to perpetuate the legacy of freedom fighters and national heroes by organizing such state level functions to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst our younger generation", said Mr.Badal. 

Mr. Badal said that our government since its inception had taken several initiatives for the overall development of the state and the welfare of people. He said that SAD being a party of a common man attached with the people at a grass root level and committed to serve them in the right earnest. He said that our government had taken various measures to ensure overall development and progress in the areas of power, industry, agriculture, education, infrastructure and health care.

He reiterated that with our concerted efforts Punjab would soon emerge as a front-runner state in the country as our government had made concerted efforts to make Punjab as a self reliant in the power generation . Work on the Three Thermal Plants Tawlandi Sabo,Goindwal Sahib and Rajpura had already been started and tendering process for the Fourth one at Gidderbaha was under  way. Presently the total demand of the power in the state was 9786 MW against the total installed capacity 6841 MW with the short fall of 2379 MW, which would be soon overcome.

Referring to the development of Ferozepur Mr. Badal said, projects to the tune of 1000 crore has already been started which includes Judicial Complex, Rai Sikh Bhawan, Hussainiwala Border visitors gallery, roads, sewerage, New Jail complex and Railway over bridges etc.. Work would soon be started to construct the new administrative complex at Ferozepur, he added.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister garlanded the statues of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru ,Sukhdev, B.K. Dutt and Punjab Mata. He also paid rich tributes to the martyrs of 1965 and 1971 in Indo-Pak war. He also honoured the relatives of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on the occasion. He also announced a grant of Rupees 50 Lac for beautification and development of Shahedi Samarak at Hussainiwala.

Prominent among others who present on the occasion included S. Janmeja Singh Sekhon Irrigation Minister Punjab, S. Sher Singh Ghubaya M.P.,S. Sukhpal Singh Chief Parliamentary Secretary Punjab,S. Gurtej Singh Ghudiayana MLA Balluana, Shri Surjit Kumar Jiyani MLA Fazilka.