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Bajwa meets Governor, demands President’s Rule in Punjab under article 356

PPCC President says, break down of law and order reached at flash point

 Chandigarh, January 9-

 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today demanded to impose President’s rule in Punjab under article 356 of Indian Constitution following total failure of Government of state police machinery and involvement of senior ministers and police officers of SAD-BJP government in the multi crore drug racket.

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa along with other senior party leaders S. Charanjit Singh Channi, S. Kewal Singh Dhillon Vice Presidents PPCC, S. Fateh jung Singh Bajwa, Smt. Aruna Chaudhary, Sh. Jasbir Singh Gill Dimpa, Smt. Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, Sh. Rampal Dhaipie General Secretaries PPCC, S. Balbir Singh Sidhu President DCC Mohali, S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa   President DCC Gurdaspur, S. Sukhpal Singh Khaira Spokesperson PPCC and S. Gurpartap Singh Mann Secretary PPCC today called upon the Honb’le Governor of Punjab Mr. Shiv Raj Patil and submitted a memorandum giving details of exposures made by a dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdish Bhola who named a senior minister (Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia), running the drug racket.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Honb’le Governor listened to plea made by PPCC and assured that he would consider the points stated in the memorandum.

 The memorandum read, “This is to bring to your kind attention that the already deteriorating and collapsed Rule of Law   has reached a flash point. With regard to total failure of the Govt. of Punjab and the State Police machinery, we seek your kind intervention in this matter”.

 Mr. Bajwa wrote that to be specific, very recently Jagdish Singh Bhola got arrested in relation to a drug racket and made shocking revelations about the involvement of senior ministers and police officials of the Punjab Government in the multi-crore international drug racket. It is imperative to point out the drug addiction and trafficking in the State of Punjab has assumed an unimaginable proportion that is plaguing the youth of Punjab and continues unabated with impunity.

 PPCC President informed the Governor that the accused had made specific statement to the effect that senior Punjab Police officials & Senior Ministers of State Government are involved in drug trafficking and there exists a nexus between State Police, Ministers & the drug peddlers. There is a complete breakdown of the state machinery as the care takers of the State are themselves involved in perpetrating such heinous crimes.  It is clear the State Police will not conduct the investigation in a transparent & clear manner.

 He elaborated that the State Police will carry out investigation in a completely biased manner due to involvement of its own department & state ministers; rather they are the judge of their own case as Police Department is sub-ordinate to the State Government.

 Mr. Bajwa said in the memorandum, “Drug trafficking as a crime has national and international ramifications that would be best investigated by a central premier agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) The case at hand, involves persons spread across several states and it also prima facie appears that international elements are involved in this racket that has the potential of jeopardizing the national security of our country. I would like to emphasize that drug trafficking is having a catastrophic effect on the citizens of our country and the youth of Punjab in particular”. 

 Mr. Bajwa requested the Governor that in order to ensure that the lamp of prosperity and growth continues to illuminate the future generations of our country, we all must join hands to tackle this epidemic of drug trafficking and ensure that stringent punishment is meted out to such tall persons who are involved in this racket irrespective of their affiliation, position or influence. As aforementioned, the Rule of Law has collapsed and the police have become a tool in the hands of their political bosses and there is total Jungle Raj. 

 He further stated that to save the State and the coming generation it has become impetrative imposition of President Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution of India. “I will reiterate that this case requires urgent attention in view of the national and international ramifications of the crime” Mr. Bajwa pleaded to the Honb’le Governor.

 -

Punjab Congress calls for 'Punjab Bandh' on Jan 16, to gherao CM's residence on Jan 20

Bajwa demands immediate dismissal and arrest of Majithia

Questions BJP's silence over Majithia's involvement in drug racket

 

Chandigarh, January 8-

 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa today gave a call for 'Punjab Bandh' on January 16 to force the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to dismiss his Revenue minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia and order CBI inquiry to probe Rs.6000 crore synthetic drug racket and role of Mr. Majithia and two other cabinet ministers.

 Mr. Bajwa while addressing a press conference here said the Congress workers would also gherao the residence of Chief Minister at Chandigarh on January 20 besides holding dharnas and protests all over the state. The Congress leaders would start indefinite hunger strike from January 21 in Mohali till the time a criminal case is not registered against Mr. Majithia and he is dropped from cabinet.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party would not allow the Chief Minister to hush up the issue of Mr. Majithia's involvement in the drug racket after strong evidence against him. He said that drug lord Jagdish Bhola who had made confessions in public and also revealed the name of Mr. Majithia during police interrogation. Bhola is main accused and he has directly named the minister and also stated that three other ministers are involved in the drug trafficking.

 Mr. Bajwa said that all state and national highways and rail traffic would be blocked on January 16. The PPCC leaders would meet the President of India on January 10 to apprise them of involvement of SAD ministers in the drug racket. He said that this was not simply a drug racket; it has implications of national security since chain of drug traffickers is linked to drug mafia in foreign countries. "The conduct of Mr. Majithia and other guilty ministers amount to sedition", he stated.

 He said that Congress party had time and again raised hue and cry that drug mafia was being patronized by Mr. Majithia. He said that since Mr. Majithia's sister Harsimrat Kaur MP from Bathinda is married to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Badal family is desperately trying to save Mr. Majithia.

 Mr. Bajwa questioned the silence of BJP an alliance partner with Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) on the issue of Mr. Majithia's direct involvement in the drug case. He said that BJP leaders were hand in glove with SAD leaders and they have become puppets in the hand of Badal family. He said that BJP had failed to play its role of responsible partner on every issue including imposing of heavy taxes on urban people.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party would meet the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab on January 9 and submit a memorandum in this regard. All the frontal organizations of Congress i.e. Mahila Congress, Youth Akali Dal and National Students Union would also hold protest dharnas. He said that national level Congress leaders would also participate in the Dharna. He said that protest would continue all over the state to force Chief Minister to order CBI inquiry.

 Mr. Bajwa also demanded to probe the involvement of Punjab Police officers in the racket. He said that Congress would make aggressive use of social media to expose the deadly nexus of SAD-Police and criminals.

Others who present were S. Kuljit Singh Nagra, Secretary, AICC, S. Charanjit Singh Channi, S. Charandeep Singh Kamboj Vice Presidents, S. Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa, S. Rajanbir Singh, Sh. Rampal Dhaipi General Secretaries, S. Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, MLA, S. Balbir Singh Sidhu President Distt. Congress Committee, Sh. Jaiveer Singh Shergill Spokesman PPCC,  Sh. R.R. Bhardwaj, Chairman RTI Cell, Sh. Inderpal Singh Dhanna Executive Member & S. Gurpartap Singh Mann.

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PPCC Office Bearers demand arrest of Majithia, CBI probe into drug racket

Bajwa announced mass movement against SAD-BJP government on power tariff and high taxes

Nagra warns dissidents, arm twisting tactics will not be tolerated, asks for unity

House thanked Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Sh. Rahul Gandhi for due representation to all sections in PPCC

 Chandigarh, January 6-

 The office bearers of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today demanded immediate arrest of revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia for his alleged involvement in drug racket and sought a probe by CBI into whole drug racket in which whole Badal family is involved.

 The office bearers of PPCC also passed resolution to thank AICC President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary and in charge of Punjab Mr. Shakeel Ahmed and Secretary Mr. Harish Chaudhary for giving representation to all sections of society and particularly the youth in the PPCC executive body and district units.

 On the call given by PPCC president Mr. Partap Singh, the office bearers of newly constituted PPCC passed a resolution seeking criminal proceedings against Majithia who has been named by drug lord Jagdish Bhola as one of the three cabinet ministers involved in drug racket worth Rs. 6000 crores. He said that Jagdish Bhola was a link between SAD ministers and international drug mafia. He asked the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal what stops him from ordering CBI inquiry into whole drug racket.

 PPCC president said that they would on January 7 file a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek CBI probe into drug racket in Punjab to expose the three ministers in SAD-BJP government who have nexus with drug smugglers.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party would soon launch a mass movement against the SAD-BJP government on burning issues of public importance. Listing the issues, he said that Congress would fight for lowering the power tariff by 33 percent for all type of consumers and 20 percent cut in tariff for small scale industry in the state. He demanded to give 250 units of electricity free of cost to Scheduled castes and economically weaker sections irrespective of their caste and class. He said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was claiming that Punjab has surplus power then what is the harm in giving some concessions to the power consumers. He also demanded 12 hour power supply to agriculture sector whereas at present farmers are getting only 4 hours supply on alternative days.

 Mr. Bajwa said that SAD-BJP alliance had in its manifesto promised to given Rs.1000 unemployment allowance to educated youth till they get jobs. There are 55 lakh unemployed in Punjab but no new jobs are being offered to them. He said that ruling alliance had promised to double old age and handicapped person’s pension from Rs.250 to 500 per month but it remained unfulfilled. He demanded to give person at par with Haryana where Rs.1000 per month is given every month.

 He also demanded base rate of property tax at par with Haryana. He announced that if Congress comes to power in Punjab they would withdraw the property tax. He demanded a cut of one percent in VAT to bring it at par with other states.

 Mr. Bajwa asked PPCC office bearers and district presidents to gherao the houses of SAD, BJP ministers and MLAs to force the SAD-BJP government to accept the demands. He said that he would continue the mass contact progamme and will lead the people in agitation against corrupt Badal government. He said that duties would be assigned to Vice Presidents and General Secretaries to make the mass movement successful. He also asked the party leaders to apprise people of Right to Information, Right to Education, Right to Work and Right to Food given by UPA government.

 Mr. Bajwa requested the center government to take over PIMS at Jalandhar which is being run by Surjit Singh Rakhra a minister in Badal cabinet. He said that mismanagement had spoiled the career of students of MBBS. He said that giving PIMS control to Rakhra was a conspiracy to grab property worth Rs.2000 crores.

 Mr. Kuljit Singh Nagra Secretary AICC warned the dissidents who are harming the interests of party. He said that Congress high command would not tolerate arm twisting tactics. He said that Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa had full backing of party high command. He said that Congress had to fight against SAD-BJP alliance and all leaders shall support Bajwa to fulfill his responsibility. He advised Congress leaders to be loyal to post of PPCC President and not to Mr. Bajwa. He extended full support to Bajwa and said that party leaders would obey all decisions taken by him.

 All Vice presidents, General Secretaries, secretaries and district congress presidents were present in the meeting.

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SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab suffering from mistrust: Bajwa

Sukhbir trying to hijack BJP agenda, BJP lost urban base

 

Chandigarh, January 3-

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today said that SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab was heading for break up and both the parties have lost trust in each other.

 In a statement issued here Mr. Bajwa said that opportunist character of both the parties had came to fore after SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister was seen hunting for the BJP’s agenda and making attempts to sneak into the bastion of SAD. He said that SAD and BJP had common interests of communal politics and forwarding their business interest.

 He said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was desperate after sensing poor performance of his party in the coming Lok Sabha polls. He said that while BJP is dependent on support of urban voters in the state, Mr. Sukhbir Badal had been poaching for traders and other urban sections to deprive BJP of its strength. He pointed out that Mr. Badal had hijacked the agenda of BJP’s meeting with traders and instead held a meeting with the business community leaders at Jalandhar.

 Mr. Bajwa said that BJP had lost its base in among the traders since it failed to safeguard their interests. He said that BJP didn’t resist the imposition of heavy taxes mainly the property tax on urban people. The heavy penalty was imposed on illegal residential colonies and no attention was paid to civil amenities in the cities. He said that direct and indirect taxes worth Rs.8000 crore were imposed in a year. He said that urban voters had returned to the fold of Congress party which is reason of desperation for Mr. Sukhbir Badal.

 Mr. Bajwa said that it was not first time that SAD embarrassed BJP but Congress is mainly concerned about the welfare of urban people. He said that in the tug of war between SAD and BJP to win over urban voters, the common citizens were suffering. He said that SAD-BJP alliance had betrayed the people of state. He said that poor infrastructure in the cities speaks volume of performance of this government; He said that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had given tactic support to the activities of SAD against BJP.

 Mr. Bajwa assured traders of the state that Congress would watch their interests when returned to power. He said that Lok Sabha election would give an opportunity to people to express their anger against SAD-BJP government.

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Punjab Congress looks ahead for winning Lok Sabha elections in 2014: Bajwa

Says, Party cadre mobilized, many battles won in 2013

Chandigarh, December 30-

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today while wishing happy New Year to people of Punjab said that party gained its lost political ground in 2013 and he has high hopes on performance of Congress party in the Lok Sabha elections in the year 2014.

 In a statement issued here Mr. Bajwa expressed his gratitude to the party high command, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC  & Sh. Rahul Gandhi Vice President, AICC for giving him the responsibility of Punjab Congress and thanked the Congress leaders and workers in the state for extending him cooperation in holding phase 1 and phase 2 of mass contact programme. He said that when he took over in March 2013 the party workers were frustrated due to two successive defeats of party in assembly elections of 2007 and 2012. “The things have changed drastically in about 9 months and party workers were mobilized to launch an offensive against the ruling SAD-BJP alliance”, he added.

 Mr. Bajwa said that in 2013 Congress had contested elections of village Panchayats, block samiti and Zila Parishad and gave a tough fight to SAD-BJP alliance particularly when the whole election process was hijacked by ruling combine. The violence by SAD-BJP goons had claimed lives of seven Congress leaders and dozens were injured. False cases were registered against Congress men and forced to withdraw their nominations. He said that Congress had won few seats in Panchayat elections but it proved a turning point in political scenario in Punjab.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party took the initiative of exposing corrupt ministers in the cabinet of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and highlighted the bungling in the development grants sent by center. He said that book scam in the education department with the connivance of concerned Minister had brought to book the corrupt practices of this government. He said that Congress party had exposed the Chief Minister on the issue of ‘Sangat Darshan programme’ which is an apparatus for multi-layer corruption in the government.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party had confronted SAD-BJP government on almost all issues where public interest was violated. He said that Congress had raised the issue of law and order and stood by the families of victims including three ASI’s of Punjab police. He said that activities of mining mafia were exposed by Congress leaders. He said that party had exposed SAD-BJP on fake promises made with every section of society. The Congress took up the issue of property tax and heavy charges imposed on regularization of illegal colonies. The SAD-BJP government was forced to go on back foot and in both cases the common people get the relief.

 He said that party had opposed heavy taxing of raw material for industry, revision in power tariff and bus fares. “Even we took strong stand against imposing wealth tax on agriculture land and made the Union Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambram to withdraw the proposal and the minister acknowledged my efforts on the floor of house”, he stated.

 PPCC President said that economic crisis in Punjab was man made and SAD-BJP government was fully responsible for it. He said that Punjab had slipped to 12th place in economic performance. The economic and unemployment issues was taken up by Congress vigorously but unfortunately present government is not serious in solving these basic problems. He said that what ever jobs in Punjab were created were funded by center government under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan. However mismanagement of funds had played havoc with health and education departments.  

 He said that the Congress party was raising its voice to expose the names of political leaders including three cabinet ministers in SAD-BJP government involved in synthetic drug racket. He said that

 The Congress party has been doing its duty of watchdog being responsible opposition. It is only in the coming Lok Sabha elections that people of state would get an opportunity to show their anger against anti-people policies of SAD-BJP government.

 Mr. Bajwa said that with the constitution of PPCC the party stands united to face the challenge of Lok Sabha elections. He said that he had already started third phase of his mass contact programme which will cover all 117 assembly constituencies. He said that Congress party expected to win all the seats of Lok Sabha. He said that after taking lessons from Panchayat elections, the Congress would put forward stiff resistance to any attempt by SAD-BJP alliance to rig the polls.

 Mr. Bajwa said that people of state were fed up by SAD-BJP government and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal who is by proxy running the state was taking cosmetic measures to divert the attention of people from real issues. He said that NRI Sammelan and recently held Progressive Punjab Investment Summit were only political gimmicks and nothing useful is expected from such futile exercises.

He said that Congress party wish to see a happy and prosperous Punjab and may be year 2014 revive hopes of the people of state.

 ---

Punjab Congress commemorates 129th  Foundation Day of Indian National Congress


Chandigarh, December 28-

 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today commemorated the 129th foundation Day of Indian National Congress and paid tributes to founders of Congress party. PPCC president Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa congratulated the party men for their dedication towards the Congress party.

 PPCC Secretary S. Gurpartap Singh Mann and Sh. Rajinder Rasrania Chief Organizer Punjab Congress Sewa Dal unfurled the Party flag, While speaking on this occasion, he recalled the sacrifices made by Congress party in the nation building. He said that Congress party was flag bearer of freedom struggle of India.

 The national leaders of party like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh had given an able leadership to the nation. He said that AICC President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi had given new direction to the party to meet the global challenges.

 Others who addressed the function included Mr. Rajanbir Singh PPCC General Secretary, Sh. Ram Pal Dhaipai General Secretary PPCC, Sh. Gurinder Singh Balli Secretary PPCC, Sh. Rajpal Singh Executive Member PPCC, Sh. Lakha Ram Dawesar Chairman Bazigar Cell, Sh. Rawinder Rosi and Sh. Nirmal Rampal Office Secretary PPCC.

- Punjab Depot holders, Karyana association meet Bajwa,

Lodge protest against SAD-BJP Govt

Chandigarh, December 30-

 The Punjab depot holders led by their President Bikar Singh today met PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa and sought his intervention in getting their demands accepted by Center Government. They lodged their protest against callous attitude of SAD-BJP government.

 The representatives of Depot holders body said that there were 26,00 Depot holders in the state who were on strike for the last 45 days but SAD-BJP government was not addressing their grievances. They said that they were not given any salary or commission by Center or the State Government. They said that they had met the Food and Supply minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon who has failed to give any assurance to the, They also said that state authorities were shifting the responsibility on Center Government where as they have been working on behalf of state government to implement Atta-Dal scheme.

 The Depot holders further said that they were paying the loal carriage expenses from their pocket and facing it hard to survive under the given circumstances. They requested Mr. Bajwa to take up with center government their demands. Mr. Bajwa assured them to do the needful.

 Meanwhile, the Punjab Karyana Retailers Association members led by President Omkar Goyal and Senior General Secretary Krishan Singla also met the PPCC President and apprised him of their problems. They demanded that the retailers who are selling food items should not be kept out of licencing under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, withdraw condition of renewing Licence and registration every year, set up laboratories at block level to test quality of food and district health officer be made responsible for adulteration in food.

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Bajwa thanks Sonia, Rahul for accepting his recommendations for PPCC body

 Chandigarh,December 27-

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee(PPCC) today expresed gratitude to AICC President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary in charge Mr. Shakeel Ahmed and Secretary incharge Mr. Harish Chaudhary for accepting his recommendations for the PPCC Executive Committee.

 Mr. Bajwa said that every section of society had got representation in the PPCC executive and party workers at grass root level have been adjusted. He said that with the new list of office bearers, the party would get a boost and face the political challenges with enthusiasm. He called upon all party workers to get ready for the Lok Sabha elections.

 Mr. Bajwa said that he was satisfied with the formation of PPCC Executive Committee which has been formed after due deliberations. 

 

Pls. find attached file

 

Congress takes RTI route to expose Badal on Sangat Darshan programme

Bajwa says, Sangat Darshan’ is code name of ‘organized corruption’ apparatus 

(Scanned copy of RTI Application attached alongwith)

Chandigarh, November 20, 2013

Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today blasts Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and said that information sought under RTI Act from the Chief Minister’s office has vindicated the Congress party claim that Sangat Darshan programme is a farce and an attempt to befool common people.

Mr. Bajwa in a statement said that he was astonished to know that Chief Minister’s office has no record of Sangat Darshan Programme. He said that in fact it was only a political gimmick to befool the people of Punjab, the grants Chief Minister has been distributing for development purposes are part of grants given by center government or drawn from the plan expenditure of state. He said that during Congress party governments, the job of distributing same grants was being done by the officials of the level of Panchayat secretary and at the maximum Block Development Officers.

He said that when Mr. Badal distributed development funds over Rs.600 crores during Sangat Darshan during years 1997 to 2002, the CAG had raised serious objections and described it wastage of funds. Instead of taking any lessons, Mr. Badal revived the programme in 2007 after returning to power. Had Sangat Darshan programme be so successful, why his party lost the 2002 assembly elections, he added.

Mr. Bajwa said that what Mr. Badal was doing through Sangat Darshan programmes was an  insult of the people of Punjab who are made to beg from him which they otherwise deserve as a right. He said that Mr. Badal was wasting public funds by distributing the grants in parts meant for development projects in villages and urban areas. He said that if a village needs Rs.10 lakhs for brick lining of streets, Mr. Badal would give a cheque of Rs. Two lakhs and give a promise of sending balance grant in near future. This is one of the major reasons that villages in Punjab lacked development. The funds in parts could not be utilized for the purpose it is given, he stated.

PPCC President said that his office had sought information under the RTI Act on three counts, first what are the sources through which Sangat Darshan programme is financed, second what is criteria of state government for distribution of grants, third how the state government assure the proper utilization of funds given in the Sangat Darshan programme and if any complaints were received by the Chief Minister’s office regarding misuse of funds. The RTI was filed by Mr. R.R.Bharadwaj former IAS officer now Chairman of RTI cell of PPCC.

Mr. Bajwa said that the Chief Minister’s office had stated. “The Sangat Darshan Programmes were held in different constituencies and were organized by the concerned Deputy Commissioners. As such no information in this regard is available in the office of Chief Minister”. The CM office also said that they had not received any complaint regarding misuse of grants distributed by the Chief Minister.

The CM’s office has quoted from RTI Act, “Only such information is required to be supplied under the Act which already exists and is held by the public authority or held under the control of the public authority, it is not required under the Act to create information or to interpret information or to solve the problem raised by the applicant, or to furnish to hypothetical questions”.

Mr. Bajwa said that how it could be possible that the CM’s office has no information about the flagship programme of Mr. Badal who claims it was programme specially devised by him. He said that CM’s office had conceded that there was no such programme in the name of ‘Sangat Darshan’ existing at the Government level. He said that Deputy Commissioners were supposed to distribute these grants through block development offices. Mr. Badal was not only interfering in the normal process of distribution of development funds to the genuine beneficiaries, he is also wasting the time of the district administration to achieve political mileage out of a routine exercise.

He said, “I feel sorry to say that not even a penny can be given to village Panchayats without the consent of ‘Halka incharge’ of SAD who are operating as agents (Dalals) between the village heads and the Minister in charge of the particular district. This is a well organized network and I will not hesitate to describe Sangat Darshan a code name for organized corruption apparatus”.

Mr. Bajwa claimed that Punjab would have seen better development, had Mr. Badal allowed the civil administration to plan and execute development works. He said that during previous Congress governments, the district authorities and the village Panchayats had full freedom to chalk out development projects.  

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Punjab Congress celebrates Birth Anniversary of Mrs. Indira Gandhi 

Chandigarh, November 19-  

Punjab Congress today commemorated the Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister and Congress President Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi at a function held in Congress Bhawan here. 

The Congress leaders and workers garlanded the portrait of Mrs. Gandhi and distributed sweets. The Congress leaders remembered the contribution of Mrs. Gandhi for the national building and the sacrifice made by her for the National integration. 

Tarlochan Singh Soondh MLA & Vice President PPCC while paying tributes to former Prime Minister said that Mrs.Gandhi was a strong personality and emerged as woman power in the world. She changed the fortune of country and started war against poverty. 

Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa General Secretary PPCC on this occasion said that the journey of India towards becoming world power began with the strong postures against enemy countries adopted by Mrs. Gandhi. A new era of woman empowerment was started by her. He said that Mrs. Gandhi had strengthened Public sector and started number of welfare schemes for the down trodden and poor people. He said that Congress was tracking the foot steps of Mrs. Gandhi. 

Others who paid tributes to Mrs. Gandhi included Mr. Rajpal Singh and Mr. Ram Pal Dhaipi Ex General Secretaries PPCC, Lakha Ram Dawesar Lalka Chairman Bazigar Cell, Smt. Romila Bansal, Mr.Jang Bahadur Singh Genaral Secretary SC cell of PPCC, S. Gurwinder Singh Bali and Mr.Gurpartap Singh Mann. 

 --

Badal trying to tilt the facts in Synthetic drug racket for face saving

Seeks resignation of Sukhbir, Majithia 

Jalandhar, November 18, 2013

The Congress party today said that the drug lords arrested by Patiala police had tactical support of SAD-BJP government and in particular Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia were directly involved to an extent of shielding and facilitating the activities of drug mafia in Punjab.

In a joint statement issued here S. Tarlochan Singh Soondh MLA & Vice President PPCC, S. Amarjit Singh Samra Ex MLA, S. Jagbir Singh Brar Ex MLA, S. Kanwaljit Singh Lalli President DCC Jalandhar Rural, S. Joginder Singh Mann Ex Minister said that while media was flooded with the news reports of drug mafia and the people of state were stunned to see the huge cache of synthetic drugs and arrest of senior SAD leader by Police, Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has closed both his eyes and ears. The Congress leaders asked Mr. Badal to show grace and accept the fault of his party. The Chief Minister is trying to tilt the facts in drug racket for a face saving, they added.

The Congress leaders said that it was more shocking that the drug smugglers were supplying drugs to Jagdish Bhola, kingpin of the racket, in vehicles with red beacon escorted by Punjab Police personnel. They said that the arrest of Maninder Singh Aulakh a senior leader of Youth Akali Dal tells the tale of whole drug racket. They said that Aulakh was protégé of Mr. Majithia who was dealing with him on daily basis. Aulakh was so close to Majithia that he had staked claim for the party ticket in last assembly elections.

The Congress leaders said that the conduct of Sukhbir Badal and Majithia had brought shame to glorious image of Punjab. They said that Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister when took over the reigns of state in 2007 and again in 2012 had announced to tackle the problem of drugs with firm hand while in real the drug menace increased manifold and took a shape of mafia. They said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal had already played havoc with the economy of Punjab, ruined the industry and trade, damaged the education and health system with his interference but he has made a greater sin by spoiling the lives of youth. The Punjab would be known as place of drug addicts in future, if the SAD leaders were allowed to continue their nefarious activities.

They said that Malwa region was worst affected by the drug menance and habit changing drugs were easily available on chemist shops. They said that youth of Punjab was passing through a face of frustration due to rising unemployment and in such circumstances they are falling prey to drugs.

The Congress leaders demanded from Chief Minister to hand over the synthetic drug case to CBI and ask both Mr. Sukhbir Badal and Majithia to put in their papers till the time they are proved innocent. They said that people of Punjab had seen enough of Badal’s lust for money and power. They said that drugs and money power had become trade marks of Badal family to influence voters during elections. They have not realized the quantum of damage they have already done to Punjab.

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Sukhbir, Majithia has no place to hide their face after being caught on wrong foot: Congress

Demands arrest of SAD MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and his MLA son for supporting drug smugglers 

Moga, November 18, 2013

 Punjab Congress leaders today said that Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and his brother-in-law and Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia had no place to hide their faces after being caught on wrong foot in the synthetic drug racket exposed by Patiala police.

 In a statement issued here S. Joginder Singh Pangrain MLA, S. Darshan Singh Brar Ex MLA, S. Khushaldeep Singh Dhillon Ex MLA, Dr. Malti Thapar President Punjab Mahila Congress and Smt. Jagdarshan Kaur President DCC Moga said that both Mr. Sukhbir Badal and Mr. Majithia were responsible for spreading drug menace in Punjab. The SAD leaders have been making the youth of Punjab drug addicts for their vested interests. It was a heinous crime against the humanity and particularly the people of Punjab. Mr. Sukhbir Badal and Mr. Majithia had only one priority in life to make money at any cost even if it cost people their lives.

 The Congress leaders demanded immediate arrest of senior SAD leader Mr. Rattan Singh Ajnala MP from Khadoor Sahib and his son Mr. Amarpal Singh Bonny MLA from Ajnala who were providing shelter and support to Maninder Singh Aulakh Youth Akali Dal leader, the key player in the synthetic drug racket run by international smuggler Jagdish Bhola. They said that Ajnala family was close confident of Badals and Aulakh is protégé of Mr. Majithia. The interrogation of Rattan Singh Ajnala and his son would expose the hidden characters of this racket, they added.

 The Congress leaders said that the huge recovery of synthetic drugs made by the police was mind boggling and show how deep the roots of drug mafia were. They said that Congress party had raised the issue of drug mafia running in Punjab with the blessings of Mr. Sukhbir Badal and Mr. Majithia. They both are the culprits of people. They said that SAD leaders were trying to downplay the drug racket by maintaining silence. he people of Punjab would not forgive them.

 The Congress leaders demanded to hand over the investigation of drug racket to CBI so that drug traffickers operating from other countries can also be brought to book. They feared that Punjab Police officers might succumb to political pressures due to involvement of party high ups in the drug racket.

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 Punjab Congress demand to probe SAD leader’s cross border links with drug mafia and terrorists

Raises questions over Maninder Aulakh’s visit to Pakistan in 2004

Condemns BJP for its silence over Akali leaders involvement in drug racket 

Chandigarh, November 18-

The Punjab Congress has demanded to probe links of SAD leader Maninder Singh Aulakh, arrested in Jagdish Bhola drug racket, with the Pakistan based drug smugglers and terrorist groups and raised questions over visit of Aulakh to Pakistan as a cricket fan in 2004.

In a joint statement issued here Congress leaders S. Kuljit Singh Nagra MLA & Secretary AICC, S. Randeep Singh Nabha MLA, S. Gurkirat Singh Kotli MLA, S. Balbir Singh Sidhu MLA said that they had serious suspicion that Aulakh who had confessed to his involvement in the multi-million drug racket had links with Pakistan based drug mafia and terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. They said that Punjab was worst effected by cross border terrorism and smuggling of drugs and involvement of SAD leaders in the whole murky business can be rule out in the light of facts coming to light.

The Congress leaders said that the involvement of NRIs mostly members of Kabaddi clubs in Canada and European countries who also participated in World Kabaddi tournament organized by Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Badal every year was matter of serious concern. They also demanded to probe if these NRIs had visited Pakistan during the last seven years after SAD-BJP government came to power.

They said that this issue was linked with the national security and they would soon bring in the notice of Union Home Minister. They ridiculed the statements of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal that drugs were being supplied to Punjab and his party was not responsible for misdeeds of any individual party leader. They said that now it was proved beyond doubt that drugs were being manufactured in Punjab and being smuggled to other countries under police protection provided to accused SAD leader. They said that SAD leadership was fully responsible for the conduct of its senior member who enjoyed patronize of SAD President and Youth Akal Dal President and Revenue minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia.

The Congress leaders said that it was not first incident that Youth Akali Dal and SAD leaders were found involved in criminal activities. They said that an ASI Mr. Ravinderpal Singh was killed in Amritsar by Youth Akali Dal leader when the Police official tried to protect modesty of his daughter. Mr. Manjinder Singh Benipal Tehsildar posted at Ludhiana was beaten up in full public view by SAD leaders close to both Sukhbir Badal and Majithia and an S.P. rank officer was thrashed in hotel by Majithia’s close confident Sunny Johar. There were number of such incidents including suicide committed by 18 year old rape victim in village Badshahpur near Patran in Patiala district when SAD leaders forced police not to register FIR against the politically connected accused.

The Congress leaders condemned BJP alliance partner of SAD for not speaking out on involvement of Akali leader in drug racket and his cross border activities. They said that BJP had the habit of blaming center government for blaming cross border terrorism but now they are not ready to utter even a single word. They said that it would have been better BJP demanded to probe the cross border links of arrested SAD leader.

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Arrest of senior SAD leader in synthetic drug racket is only tip of iceberg: Bajwa

Say, Majithia regulates drug cartel with the blessings of Sukhbir Badal,

-Demands CBI probe, intervention of Narcotics Control Bureau

 Chandigarh, November 15, 2013

 Punjab Congress today said that the arrest of Maninder Singh Bittu who holds a position in Shiromani Youth Akali Dal, was former Sarpanch of Vairokae Village and an aspirant of SAD ticket, in the Jagdish Bhola drug racket was only tip of the iceberg. The drug mafia in Punjab was flourishing with the blessings of SAD leadership with revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia at the helm of affairs.

 In a hard hitting statement Mr. Bajwa said that drug cartel couldn’t survive or flourish without the support of ruling SAD-BJP alliance. He pointed out accusing finger at Deputy Chief Minister and President of SAD Mr. Sukjhbir Singh Badal who is heading the department of Home in Punjab. Bittu rose to occupy post in SAD from the ranks of Youth Akali Dal headed by Majithia.

 He said that it was intriguing and highly suspicious that Punjab Government had provided security cover to Maninder Singh Bittu who used car with red beacon to supply drugs to Bhola. He said the drug smugglers were operating without any fear of law and even police is unable to take action against them. He said that an ASI Gurdev Singh was shot dead by drug peddlers near Phagwara on April 2 last when he tried to check their vehicle.

 Mr. Bajwa said that the revelations made by Jagdish Bhola international smuggler of synthetic drugs had exposed the deadly nexus between international drug lords and the Punjab’s ruling party. He said that the involvement of Azad Kabaddi Club of Vancouver in Canada in the drug smuggling through Kabaddi players had brought the conduct of Mr. Sukhbir Badal under shadow since he was dealing directly with the Kabaddi clubs abroad to organize Kabaddi World Cup every year. He said that the Kabaddi tournament was also linked to human trafficking of which the Canada government had taken notice and cancelled VISA of more than 90 Kabaddi players during last year.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress Party was raising the issue of drugs in Punjab time and again but the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Mr. Sukhbir Badal in an attempt to divert the attention of people started blaming Border Security Force (BSF) and the Union Government for not stopping smuggling of drugs from Pakistan. He said that Mr. Badal and his son had no face to show now when real facts came to light. He said that synthetic drugs were indeed being manufactured in Punjab itself. He said that earlier Raja Kandhola another international drug smuggler was arrested by Delhi Police who was running his drug manufacturing facility in a farm house near Doraha in Ludhiana district for the last many years.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Badal family was like a parasite which is sucking the people’s wealth and health leaving them helpless and hapless to face the consequences. He said that it was shameful that Mr. Sukhbir Badal rejoices record increase in excise duty from liquor. He said that inspite of orders by Punjab and Haryana High Court, the SAD-BJP government was not ready to shut down liquor vends on the national highways. The state Excise department had refused to close down liquor vends in the villages where Panchayats have passed resolutions not to open vends.

 Elaborating the interstate or international networking of the groups of Raja Kandola and Jagdish Bhola, Mr. Bajwa feared that Punjab Police may not able to coordinate such wide spread operation of these drugs lords. Moreover sudden rise in the underworld of drugs cannot be without the connivance of a sizeable section of Punjab Police who would surely try to sabotage the investigation. Bajwa stressed the need to conduct an impartial and deep probe in to the entire operation  of the drugs mafia who’s activities in Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharastra and several other states have already come to notice. He demanded probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to unearth the entire operational machinery of the drugs trade so that it could be brought to a logical conclusion. He said that though Punjab Police has done a commendable job, he still fears the accused would go scot free due to political pressure on police.  He said that Punjab Police had also limited powers to deal the drug peddlers living in other countries.

 He said that former DGP Jails Mr. Shashi Kant had stated it several times that senior SAD leaders were involved in the drug trade in Punjab. He said that Congress party had also demanded CBI inquiry into the allegations made by Mr. Shashi Kant and brought to book political leaders irrespective of their party affiliation.

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SAD-BJP government failed to protect rights of OBC people, central grants lapsed: Bajwa

Assures to take up case for removal of condition of income for OBC certificate

Chandigarh, November 14, 2013

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today said that SAD-BJP government in Punjab had failed to protect the rights of people falling under the OBC category and the most of grants send by UPA government for the welfare of OBC had remained unused or used for some other purposes.

 While addressing a meeting of OBC cell of PPCC here at Congress Bhawan Mr. Bajwa said that he would take up all the demands raised by leaders of OBC cell with the concerned ministry in the center. He said that he would take up the case for removal of condition of income for issuing OBC certificate. Dr. Gurinder Pal Singh Billa Chairman of OBC cell presented a charter of demands to  Mr. Bajwa.

 Bajwa said that benefits given by center for the SC and OBC were not passed on by the Punjab government led by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. He said that He said that  the scheme for shagun to SC, Christian, backward classes and other economically weaker sections families the allocation in the last two years was  Rs 214. 27 crore. Out of this amount Rs.144. 83 crore were released and Rs 136.79 were disbursed. As many as 78866 applications under the scheme are pending with state government.

 Mr. Bajwa said that the Parliament,  after observing that children from weaker sections were denied the right to education all over the country, had passed the Children’s' free and Compulsory Right to Education Act in 2009. The Punjab government issued a notification in this regard in November 2010.  But even three years after this notification the government has failed to get this Act  implemented. According to the Act 12.5 percent of seats are to be reserved for weaker sections, 5.0 pc for SCs, 5.0 for OBCs, 1.25 pc for widows of freedom fighters and 1.25 pc for children of handicapped parents.

 Mr. Shamsher Singh Dullo former PPCC President said that SCs and OBCs were backbone of the Congress party and they must get due representation in the party. He said that in the present scenario of economic reforms the poor sections of society were the major sufferers. He said that Congress was only party which can give justice to the weaker sections of society.

 Mr. Ravneet Singh Bittu MP from Anandpur Sahib, Sh. Tarlochan Singh Vice President PPCC, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu MLA Mohali, Sh. Vikram Singh Bajwa, Mrs. Malti Thapar President Punjab Mahila Congress, S. Gurinder Pal Singh Bill Chairman OBC Department PPCC and S. Amarjit Singh Saini also spoke on the occasion.

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Punjab Congress observe 125th birth anniversary of Pt. Nehru

Chandigarh, November 14-

 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today celebrated 125th anniversary of first Prime Minsiter of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. 

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President PPCC and other leaders garlanded the portrait of Pt. Nehru in the Congress Bhwawan here. Mr. Bajwa on this occasion distributed books and sweets to the school children and remembered the special love of Pt. Nehru for the children. He said that birth day of Pt. Nehru was celebrated as Children Day to pay tribute to the first Prime Minister of India.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Pt. Nehru had laid the foundation of secular India and he is the architect of modern India. He said that Bhakra Dam was the biggest gift of Pt. Nehru to India especially to Punjab which emerged leader of green revolution in India. He said that first Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Partap Singh Kairon had special regard in the mind of Pt. Nehru who gave many projects to Punjab including Agricultue University at Ludhiana.

 S. Ravneet Singh Bittu M.P. Anandpur Sahib, Mr. Shamsher Singh Dullo Former President PPCC, Sh. Tarlochan Singh Vice President PPCC, S. Rajpal Singh Ex-General Secretary PPCC and S. Gurinder Pal Singh Billa, Chairman OBC Deptt. were among others who paid tributes to Pt. Nehru.

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Punjab Congress reminds Majithia of multi crore land deal in Bathinda, now under HC scanner

Claims, the beneficiaries are close confidents of Majithia 

Chandigarh, November 13, 2013

Punjab Congress has asked revenue minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia to look back at his own conspicuous role in a multi crore land deal at village Mandi Khurd in district Bathinda in which an undue benefit of Rs. 5.62 crore approximately was given from the state exchequer to four politically influential families close to him.

The Congress leaders Mr. Gurpreet Singh Kangar Vice President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee(PPCC), Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu MLA Mohali and Mr. Harminder Singh Jassi former MLA from Bathinda said that the matter was probed by the CBI on the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court and the entire deal is now under the High Court scanner. The High Court bench comprising Honb’le Chief Justice A.K.Sikri and Honb’le Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain while admitting the petition had stated that CBI report had prima facie established the charges of bungling in the land deal. The report was presented before the High Court bench on January 29, 2013.

The High Court bench had in its order stated, “According to said report the inquiry into the matter has established that land of village Mandi Khurd was selected for acquisition only with an intention of benefit such land owners who had purchased the land just two days before the proposal was sent to Municipal Commissioner Bathinda recommending acquisition of this particular land.

The CBI had also made a prayer before the HC bench to to issue direction to it for registration of a regular case under sections 420 and 120 B IPC and section 13(1)(d) read with section 13(2) of the prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against 15 persons named therein.  

The issue was intensively reported by the media in the media and a report published in Punjabi Tribune and other newspapers on August 31, 2011 had mentioned the name of Mr.Bikram Singh Majithia who allegedly facilitated the land deal to benefit his favorites. The newspaper clipping is part of the Public Interest Litigation No. CWP 21960/2011 filed in the High Court by Jarnail Singh and others,  all residents of village Mandi Khurd. The land was acquired for setting up Municipal land fill facility.

The Congress leaders said that the Municipal Corporation Bathinda had acquired 36.81 acres of land at Mandi Khurd for solid waste management whereas a chunk of 36 acres of land owned by the MC Bathinda was available at on Bathinda-Mansa road.  A chunk of 95 acres of barren land was available at village Gehri Bhagi 12 kms from Bathinda. The beneficiaries of land deal had purchased the said land on February 18, 2010 and February 23, 2010 and a letter with recommendation for approval of installing of landfill facility at this land at Mandi Khurd was sent to Government of Punjab on February 25, 2010 only three days after the land deal. The said land was purchased for Rs. 1,58,41000 and the Government had paid Rs.8,66,65,800 for the same land which included Rs.1,76, 67,000 as displacement allowance. A survey of this land was conducted on February 10, 2010, just seven days before the beneficiaries purchased the land.

A report obtained from Tehsildar Rampura Phool under RTI Act has mentioned the names of beneficiaries and registered deeds.  Incidentally, Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Mr. Ravi Bhagat had on February 25, 2010 wrote to Government of Punjab that it was not possible to set up above mentioned facility on 36 acres of land available on Bathinda-Mansa road, 12 kms from Bathinda  as 40 acres of land is required for the project. However in the same letter he recommended acquisition of 35 acres of land at Mandi Khurd, 30 kms from Bathinda. This land was even less than 36 acres available with the MC. The Deputy Commissioner has taken the plea that residents of village Gehri Bhagi had requested not to set up facility at their village since they are suffering from cancer.

The Congress leaders said that the MC authorities had conducted survey of three sites of 41.5 acres located near village Shergarh which is 18  kms from Bathinda, site of 38 acres near Jassi Baghwali which is 26 kms from Bathinda and this site of 36 acres at Mandi Khurd which is 30 kms away from Bathinda.

The Congress leaders said that name of Mr. Majithia had figured in the said deal and reported by media. The reports in the media were not denied byrevenue minister. They said that it was a clear case of evasion of stamp duty, loss to government exchequer, cheating and conspiracy to benefit certain politically influential families. They said that SAD-BJP government had not taken any cognizance of the land deal in question which forced the petitioners to move to High Court.

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Punjab Congress to observe 125th Birth Anniversary of Pt Nehru

Bajwa also to address state level meeting of OBC cell on November 14

  Chandigarh, November 12-

 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) would observe 125th birth anniversary of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on November 14 in Congress Bhawan here.

 In a statement issued here PPCC spokesperson said that PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa would distribute gifts to children on Pt. Nehru’s birth anniversary which is observed as Children Day’ all over the country. The Congress leaders at a function would garland the portrait of Pt. Nehru.

 On same day Mr. Bajwa would preside over state level meeting of OBC cell of the Congress party and discuss the problems faced by members of different communities falling under OBC.

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Majithia plays SAD honcho to organize gangs of criminals for political use: Congress

Asks Badal to curb activities of Majithia in larger interest of Punjab

 

Amritsar, November 11, 2013

Punjab Congress today said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was organizing criminal gangs to use against political opponents and revenue minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia is playing Akali Dal’s honcho to mobilize criminals in the state.

In a statement issued here today S. Sukhdev Singh Shebajpuri, S. Gurchet Singh Bhullar, S. Sardool Singh, S. Parminder Singh Sandhu all Former Ministers and S. Sawinder Singh Kathunangal Ex MLA said that Mr. Majithia had tested his apparatus of crime technology in the last Panchayati Raj elections which witnessed killing of atleast seven of Congress workers and leaders and attacks on candidates who opposed the SAD candidates. They said that involvement of Youth Akali Dal, headed by Majithia, in the killing of Assistant Sub Inspector of Police at Amritsar while saving the modesty of his daughter was glaring evidence of shelter given to criminals by him.

The Congress leaders said that the Youth Akal Dal leaders and close confidents of Mr. Majithia were involved in beating up of Major (Retd) Gurjinder Singh Benipal Tehsildar of Ludhiana in full public view and Mr. S.S.Mand Superintendent of Police (AIG) posted in Ludhiana. They said that the officers were working under constant threat from the criminal elements enjoying the political patronize.

They said that there were several incidents of brow beating and issuing threat to his political opponents by Mr. Majithia. They said that number of false cases were registered against Mr. Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia and his family members who had contested the last assembly election Mr. Majithia from Majitha assembly constituency.

The Congress leaders said that activities of Mr. Majithia were serious threat to peace and democracy in Punjab. They said that Majithia was even instrumental in defeat of senior SAD leaders of Majha. The development in Amritsar city came to stand still due to the political rivalry of Mr. Majithia with BJP MP Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu.

They said that Mr. Majithia was organsing his illegal business of sand mining with the help of ‘Gunda’ elements. They said that the people of Punjab were peace loving and had seen enough violence during days of militancy. They said that Mr. Majithia’s attempt to use criminal elements for vested interests might create serious law and order problem in the state. They asked the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to curb the activities of Mr. Majithia in the larger interest of Punjab.

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Bajwa wonders at arithmetic of Badals, they get richer, Punjab more poorer
Says, Sukhbir Badal has the art of spinning money out of people’s misery

Chandigarh, November 10, 2013

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee(PPCC) today expressed surprise over arithmetic of money making evolved by Badal family which is making them richer and Punjab getting poorer day by day. 

In a statement issued here Mr. Bajwa asked Mr. Sukhbir Badal to share his secret of multiplying money with the people of Punjab who are turning pauper.  He said that why it was so that transport business of Badal family was flourishing while public transports like Punjab Roadways and PEPSU Roard Transport Corporation were running into huge losses. He said that the Orbit Hotels and leisure park in Gurgaon owned by Badals was working like money minting machine while the hotel and tourism industry in Punjab was reeling under heavy losses.

Mr. Bajwa said that Badal family had ventured into almost all trades and monopolized the business to leave no room for small entrepreneurs. They have captured real estate, liquor, cable, transport, hospitality, sand mining and let loose terror on common people who try to venture into these businesses. He said that names of most of family members of Badal family had figured in the report of Justice Kuldip Singh tribunal which gives name of influential people who owned land in the periphery of Chandigarh. 

Mr. Bajwa said that in a calculated way Mr. Sukhbir Badal was trying to shut down government schools and hospitals on vague pleas such as closing schools where strength of students is less than 20 and turn out of Out Door Patients in hospitals were less than 100 per day. He said that real design was to hand over education and health sector to private sector. He said that he had no reservation in saying that Badals was to see people illiterate and sick. This is their political agenda not to develop human resources and generate an army of unemployed, frustrated youth to lure them and use them for their benefit.

Mr. Bajwa said that he didn’t see any future for Punjab if SAD-BJP regime continued in Punjab. He said that BJP had leaders had sold their conscience to Badal family for petty gains. He said that SAD-BJP government had failed to provide basic amenities and corruption free and responsive government as they had promised in their election manifesto. The way Badals were ruling the Punjab they appeared to have been preparing the state to become their colony. He said that Sangat Darshan programme was also aimed at bypassing the administrative channels and give benefits only to the political favorites. He said that it was wake up time for people and save the glory of Punjab.

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Punjab Congress chief determined to carry on the  fight to finish against Badals

 Chandigarh, November 9:

 Reiterating that he was open to  inquiry by any agency into his transparent transactions as he had never committed any offence, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr.  Partap Singh Bajwa,  accused the Chief Minister, Mr.  Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been under attack over the years even from within the Akali Dal for their overt and covert deals,  of being synonymous with corruption and  resorting to double standards in public life. At the same time, he expressed his resolve to carry on his fight to the logical conclusion against their corrupt and vindictive regime.

 In a statement issued here today, Mr. Bajwa said the Deputy Chief Minister demanding his resignation was like the devil quoting scriptures as he himself along with his father and other associates  had been facing trial in a corruption  case in a Mohali court when he took over this office. The prosecution proceedings had been on even when Mr. Badal was sworn in as the Chief Minister way back in 2007 in the same case.

 He reminded  Badals that they had been acquitted in the multi-crore corruption case as the witnesses, including the investigating officers, had turned hostile under pressure after  the Akali Dal came into power. Mr. Bajwa quoted court’s observation in support of his argument which had recorded, “It is crystal clear that due to misconduct on part of some persons, the trial has been reduced to a farce... The case of prosecution has crumbled due to malfeasance on part of the vigilance bureau officers, SSP  Surinder Pal and  DIG BK Uppal”. He pointed out it was not without reason that the Badal government had given extension to Mr. Surinderpal Singh after his retirement. Both these officers now face perjury in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

 Referring to the tainted image of Mr. Badal over the years, Mr. Bajwa also recalled the charge sheet released by the then Akali Dal President Mr. Jagdev Singh Talwandi and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra against Mr. Badal seeking his resignation from the office of the chief minister  for “resorting to blatant corruption and nepotism”. He said this indictment of Chief Minister Mr. Badal way back in 1979 by his own party president and the SGPC chief was more serious than any judicial indictment. He said he would not like to go into other charges of even political dishonesty  leveled by the two senior Akali leaders against their own party chief minister at that time.

 Mr. Bajwa said the big plot allotted by the Haryana government to Badals in Gurgaon where they  later constructed a five star hotel after coming into power had been resumed by the state government at one stage. “Would Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal clarify to the people as to why was this plot resumed”, he asked, adding  they had no money to pay even installments. He said how come that the Badals  either renovated their Chandigarh residence or come up with new hotels or new fort like houses only after coming into power? He said it was ironic that while the state’s economy had decelerated, Badals had prospered and that too only when in power. He said the Badals had forced transporters out of business by taking over their routes forcibly and now enjoy virtual monopoly in private transport business and have taken over liquor trade and sand mining.  Every Punjabi would like to learn from them this mantra of becoming rich overnight, he added.

 The PPCC chief said he would take the political fight against the Badals to the logical conclusion and the Congress would give a crushing defeat to the Akali Dal BJP combine in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and that would be the people’s answer to their loot and politics of vendetta and repression.

 He said Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal must realize that under the present political dispensation in the country, no one party had remained in power permanently. The Deputy Chief Minister had only one ambition and that was to become the richest Sikh in the world by any means. In the process, he had been blinded by the political power which was being misused only to further his personal ambitions. Mr. Bajwa asserted Mr. Sukhbir Badal would  be made answerable for all his acts of omission and commission after he  and his party went out of power saying the people would not tolerate this repressive regime for long.

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Rahul, Thomas assured on allowing relaxation in specifications for Paddy procurement: Bajwa

 Chandigarh, October 29, 2013

 Mr. Rahul Gandhi Vice President AICC and Union Food Minister Prof. K.V.Thomas have assured a delegation of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) that a decision would soon be take on allowing relaxation in specifications for procurement of Paddy in Punjab.

 The delegation comprised Mr. Shakeel Ahmed General Secretary AICC in charge of Punjab, Mr. Harish Chaudhary Secretary AICC, Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President PPCC, S. Kuljit Singh Nagra, MLA & Secretary AICC and MPs Mr. Sukhdev Singh Libra, Vijay Inder Singla and Mr. Ravneet Singh Bittu and submitted a Memorandum signed by S. Partap Singh Bajwa, President PPCC and Sh. Sunil Kumar Jakhar, CLP Leader regarding relaxation in procurement norms of paddy and rice.

 Mr. Bajwa explained the hardships faced by farmers in selling their crop.  Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Thomas assured that center government would soon take a decision on it.

 Mr. Bajwa in a memorandum submitted to Mr. Rahul Gandhi demanded to relax the specifications of moisture and damaged/discoloured grain of Paddy from existing 4 percent and 17 percent to 8 percent and 20 percent respectively. He said that similarly the specifications for rice may be relaxed from existing 3 percent and 14 percent to 6 percent and 18 percent. Mr. Bajwa said that due to bad weather the Paddy was discolored and moisture levels are even up to 20 percent.

 Mr. Bajwa further said that farmers were facing hardship in selling their crop due to non-cooperation by state government agencies. He said that farmers were not getting MSP and they are paid Rs.1000 against Rs.1345 per quintal. He said that last year Punjab contributed about 128 Lakh MT in the central pool and target for this year is 130 lakh tonnes while till date only 50 percent of it is procured. Last year till this date 80 percent of procurement was secured, he added.

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Shakeel Ahmed discusses issues to be taken up in Punjab Vidhan Sabha session

Says, he asked PPCC President to shift venue of meeting to Delhi 

New Delhi/ Chandigarh. October 26-

A meeting of senior Punjab Congress leaders and MLAs was held here today under the Chairmanship of Dr. Shakeel Ahmed AICC General Secretary, In charge of Punjab and Mr. Harish Chaudhary AICC Secretary.

Dr. Shakeel Ahmed started the meeting by expressing his regret for calling Punjab MLAs at such a short notice to Delhi due to his pre-engagements in Delhi assembly elections and busy schedule of Mr. Harish Chaudhary in Rajasthan elections. Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that he had directed the PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa to call meeting of senior MLAs to discuss issues to be taken up in Punjab Vidhan Sabha and to decide venue and date of convention to be held on Food Security Bill.Dr. Ahmed said that he was not able to attend the meeting at Chandigarh due to paucity of time and he asked Mr. Bajwa to shift the venue of meeting from Chandigarh to Delhi.

The meeting decided to meet UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and AICC Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi to apprise them of delay in Paddy procurement and non-payment of Minimum Support Price to the farmers beside problem of discoloring of the grains.

The meeting was attended by PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa, CLP leader Mr. Sunil Jakhar, former Chief Minister Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr. Lal Singh, Mr. O.P.Soni, Mr. Tarlochan Singh Soond, Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi, Mr. Ashwani Sekhri, Mr. Jagmohan Singh Kang, Mr. Brahm Mohindra, Mr. Kuljit Singh Nagra, Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Mr. Amrik Singh Dhillon, Mr. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Mr. Rakesh Pandey.

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Bajwa calls bluff of Sukhbir Badal, dared him to face the facts,  talk real

Says, more than broadband in schools, hospitals Punjab need teachers and basic health services 

Chandigarh, October 24-

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today called the bluff of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and dared him to present before industrial houses, the real picture of Punjab, the mess created by SAD-BJP government in last seven years.

 Mr. Bajwa was commenting on the current visit of Mr. Sukhbir Badal to Mumbai where he had met some leading Industrial houses and on his own announced big investment by Reliance Group headed by Mukesh Ambani, TATA Group, Mahindra and Mahindra Group, Hinduja Group, Godrej and ADLABS, while none of them have made any commitment nor issued any statement to authenticate the claims made by deputy chief minister. Sukhbir Singh Badal is dream weaver who is building castles in the air merely to mislead the people of Punjab for upcoming Parliament Elections.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party was not against investment in Punjab but the way Mr. Sukhbir Badal is trying to mislead the Industrial houses, he was doing more damage than benefit to Punjab. He said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal needs to set his house in order before approaching investors. He said that he had earlier gone to Banglaore to lure IT industry but returned empty handed. He said that how can SAD-BJP government invite Investment in Industry without any industrial policy in place.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was playing to the gallery and befooling people of Punjab by holding meetings with big industrialists. He only wishes to fulfill his political motives otherwise had no interest in development of Punjab. He said that Badals were bleeding the people of Punjab with heavy tax structure, the law and order is poorest of all times, corruption is at peak, existing industry is fleeing from Punjab, the power rates are highest in the country.

 Mr. Bajwa ridiculed the statement of Mr. Sukhbir Badal that Mr. Ambani had agreed to give broadband connectivity to all schools and hospitals in Punjab. He said that SAD-BJP government as a policy closing the rural schools and shutting down rural and semi-urban hospitals to pave way for private players. He said that government schools sans IT infrastructure and computer teachers, health department lacks specialist doctors and paramedical staff.  “We demand to first provide basis education and health services to people then only talk about high end facilities”. he added.

 PPCC President said that it was foolish to allow any new university in Punjab looking at mushrooming of of private universities and colleges set up in Punjab. He said that primary and higher secondary education needs immediate attention where drop out rate is about 74 percent. He sought to give committed grants to existing public sector universities to enable them to maintain education standards.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was only depending on fake publicity and he had hired a team of media advisors to meet his political aspiration. He said that media factory of Mr. Badal was working overtime to create an illusion of development. He said that these gimmicks would not work long. The media on its part was exploding the lies of Mr. Sukhbir Badal. He said that Punjab was heading to nowhere, it has lost its leadership in agriculture and failed to go along IT and Industrial revolution. The SAD-BJP government has not notified any industrial policy and agriculture policy so far. Punjab was ranked at 18th place among 20 states in agriculture state. There is constant decline in manufacturing sector and rise in unemployment. The economy of Punjab was in shambles with debt touching Rs.1 lakh crores. He said that lopsided policies of SAD-BJP government were responsible for present state of affairs.

 Mr. Bajwa said that NRI’s who were invited to Punjab twice in last seven years for making investment didn’t return back when they saw the lawlessness in Punjab. He advised Mr. Sukhbir Badal to improve the law and order, basic infrastructure before making big announcements. He said that UPA Government at center had helped Punjab with liberal funds but embezzlement of funds by ministers had derailed the development. He said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had extended Delhi-Kolkatta Eastern Industrial corridor up to Amritsar and allotted three small airports.

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 Punjab Congress demands withdrawal of additional tax burden

 Chandigarh, October 17:

 The Punjab Congress today demanded immediate withdrawal of additional taxes and levies imposed on the people  to mop up about Rs. 4000 crore from this month and  a special audit of the unproductive expenditure being resorted to by the Parkash Singh Badal government in the state.

 Thse taxes which have become effective  with immediate effect include regularization fee for colonies,  additional cess on foodgrains, fee for the regularization of marriage palaces and processing fee on VAT dealers etic.

 In a statement issued here today, party spokesman Rajanbir Singh said this additional tax burden in general and on the foodhrains in particular would be inflationary. He said the Akali Dal and its alliance partner the Bharatiya Janata Party had been  targeting the UPA government for price rise while ignoring the fact that the alliance government in Punjab was adding to the misery of the people  by way of additional taxes which add to the cost of living and wasting the money thus moibilised on unproductive programmes like sangat darshan which had turned into Akali sangat darshan programmes. He said the public finances should be utilized for making investment which leads to capital formation and  thereby opening up of  more and more employment avenues to absorb the growing army of the unemployed in the sensitive state.

 He pointed out that already, the minimum slab of VAT  in neighbouring Haryana was 4.5 per cent on consumer items while it was 5.5 per cent in Punjab. Now the state government had hiked  taxes on cold drinks from 14.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent. Similarly, advance tax has been imposed on 30  items. The state had already imposed advanced entry tax.

 Party spokesman asked why the people should be made to pay for the mismanagement of economy and non-governance by this government. He said the people would have to pay many times more for getting services from the state government. The situation reflected poorly on the functioning of the Badal government and various sections of the people were up in arms against the government.

 He said the situation being created by the state government would be the biggest negative factor against more investment coming to the state from outside which was already suffering from capital flight.  He ridiculed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal  for announcing new industrial policy with much fanfare but having failed to notify the same even after months.

 He said it was the non-governance and mismanagement which had led to the closure of the existing industry in the state and the present tax hike would further prove to be a dampener.

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Bajwa felicitated people on Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakrid)

Chandigarh, October 15-

Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today greeted people of Punjab particularly the Muslim brethrens on the eve of Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakrid).

In a message here Mr. Bajwa said that Id-Ul-Zuha was an occasion to remind people the universal message of peace, brotherhood and mankind. He said that India was a country with different communities and religions. He said that all religions spread the message of communal harmony. He said that Punjab had kept the tradition of celebrating all festivals with fervor and gaiety. He congratulated Muslim community in Punjab for maintaining values of Islam.  

 

Bajwa calls bluff of Sukhbir Badal, dared him to face the facts,  talk real

Says, more than broadband in schools, hospitals Punjab need teachers and basic health services

Chandigarh, October 24, 2013

 Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today called the bluff of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and dared him to present before industrial houses, the real picture of Punjab, the mess created by SAD-BJP government in last seven years.

 Mr. Bajwa was commenting on the current visit of Mr. Sukhbir Badal to Mumbai where he had met some leading Industrial houses and on his own announced big investment by Reliance Group headed by Mukesh Ambani, TATA Group, Mahindra and Mahindra Group, Hinduja Group, Godrej and ADLABS, while none of them have made any commitment nor issued any statement to authenticate the claims made by deputy chief minister. Sukhbir Singh Badal is dream weaver who is building castles in the air merely to mislead the people of Punjab for upcoming Parliament Elections.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Congress party was not against investment in Punjab but the way Mr. Sukhbir Badal is trying to mislead the Industrial houses, he was doing more damage than benefit to Punjab. He said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal needs to set his house in order before approaching investors. He said that he had earlier gone to Banglaore to lure IT industry but returned empty handed. He said that how can SAD-BJP government invite Investment in Industry without any industrial policy in place.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was playing to the gallery and befooling people of Punjab by holding meetings with big industrialists. He only wishes to fulfill his political motives otherwise had no interest in development of Punjab. He said that Badals were bleeding the people of Punjab with heavy tax structure, the law and order is poorest of all times, corruption is at peak, existing industry is fleeing from Punjab, the power rates are highest in the country.

 Mr. Bajwa ridiculed the statement of Mr. Sukhbir Badal that Mr. Ambani had agreed to give broadband connectivity to all schools and hospitals in Punjab. He said that SAD-BJP government as a policy closing the rural schools and shutting down rural and semi-urban hospitals to pave way for private players. He said that government schools sans IT infrastructure and computer teachers, health department lacks specialist doctors and paramedical staff.  “We demand to first provide basis education and health services to people then only talk about high end facilities”. he added.

 PPCC President said that it was foolish to allow any new university in Punjab looking at mushrooming of of private universities and colleges set up in Punjab. He said that primary and higher secondary education needs immediate attention where drop out rate is about 74 percent. He sought to give committed grants to existing public sector universities to enable them to maintain education standards.

 Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was only depending on fake publicity and he had hired a team of media advisors to meet his political aspiration. He said that media factory of Mr. Badal was working overtime to create an illusion of development. He said that these gimmicks would not work long. The media on its part was exploding the lies of Mr. Sukhbir Badal. He said that Punjab was heading to nowhere, it has lost its leadership in agriculture and failed to go along IT and Industrial revolution. The SAD-BJP government has not notified any industrial policy and agriculture policy so far. Punjab was ranked at 18th place among 20 states in agriculture state. There is constant decline in manufacturing sector and rise in unemployment. The economy of Punjab was in shambles with debt touching Rs.1 lakh crores. He said that lopsided policies of SAD-BJP government were responsible for present state of affairs.

 Mr. Bajwa said that NRI’s who were invited to Punjab twice in last seven years for making investment didn’t return back when they saw the lawlessness in Punjab. He advised Mr. Sukhbir Badal to improve the law and order, basic infrastructure before making big announcements. He said that UPA Government at center had helped Punjab with liberal funds but embezzlement of funds by ministers had derailed the development. He said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had extended Delhi-Kolkatta Eastern Industrial corridor up to Amritsar and allotted three small airports.

-

Punjab Congress demands withdrawal of additional tax burden

 Chandigarh, October 17:

 The Punjab Congress today demanded immediate withdrawal of additional taxes and levies imposed on the people  to mop up about Rs. 4000 crore from this month and  a special audit of the unproductive expenditure being resorted to by the Parkash Singh Badal government in the state.

 These taxes which have become effective  with immediate effect include regularization fee for colonies,  additional cess on foodgrains, fee for the regularization of marriage palaces and processing fee on VAT dealers etic.

 In a statement issued here today, party spokesman Rajanbir Singh said this additional tax burden in general and on the foodhrains in particular would be inflationary. He said the Akali Dal and its alliance partner the Bharatiya Janata Party had been  targeting the UPA government for price rise while ignoring the fact that the alliance government in Punjab was adding to the misery of the people  by way of additional taxes which add to the cost of living and wasting the money thus moibilised on unproductive programmes like sangat darshan which had turned into Akali sangat darshan programmes. He said the public finances should be utilized for making investment which leads to capital formation and  thereby opening up of  more and more employment avenues to absorb the growing army of the unemployed in the sensitive state.

 He pointed out that already, the minimum slab of VAT  in neighbouring Haryana was 4.5 per cent on consumer items while it was 5.5 per cent in Punjab. Now the state government had hiked  taxes on cold drinks from 14.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent. Similarly, advance tax has been imposed on 30  items. The state had already imposed advanced entry tax.

 Party spokesman asked why the people should be made to pay for the mismanagement of economy and non-governance by this government. He said the people would have to pay many times more for getting services from the state government. The situation reflected poorly on the functioning of the Badal government and various sections of the people were up in arms against the government.

 He said the situation being created by the state government would be the biggest negative factor against more investment coming to the state from outside which was already suffering from capital flight.  He ridiculed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal  for announcing new industrial policy with much fanfare but having failed to notify the same even after months.

 He said it was the non-governance and mismanagement which had led to the closure of the existing industry in the state and the present tax hike would further prove to be a dampener.

 -

Bajwa felicitated people on Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakrid)

Chandigarh, October 15-

Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today greeted people of Punjab particularly the Muslim brethrens on the eve of Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakrid).

In a message here Mr. Bajwa said that Id-Ul-Zuha was an occasion to remind people the universal message of peace, brotherhood and mankind. He said that India was a country with different communities and religions. He said that all religions spread the message of communal harmony. He said that Punjab had kept the tradition of celebrating all festivals with fervor and gaiety. He congratulated Muslim community in Punjab for maintaining values of Islam.  

 = 

Punjab Congress to oppose transfer of Panchayati land to private firm for solar energy: Bajwa

Says,SAD-BJP govt plans to bring amendment in Act in assembly session 

Chandigarh, October 14, 2013

Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee(PPCC) today said that Punjab Congress would strongly oppose a proposed amendment bill in the Panchayati Raj Act, likely to be tabled in the coming session of Vidhan Sabha to allow transfer of Panchayati land to a private firm for ‘solar energy’ generation.

In a statement issued here Mr. Bajwa said that this was another ploy of SAD-BJP government to grab village Panchayat lands and deprive them of only source of income. He said that Shamlat land was the only asset of village Panchayats which caters to their local needs. He said that SAD-BJP government had proposed to transfer five acres of land from each Panchayat to private company dealing with solar energy. The department of solar energy was held by revenue minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia who is infamous for many misadventures like illegal mining in state.

Mr. Bajwa appealed to village Panchayats to oppose any such move and pass resolutions against transfer of their land to private firm. He said that since there was no provision to hand over Shamlat land to private company, it is expected that an amendment would be moved in the Vidhan Sabha. He said that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had in 2007 cancelled an agreement signed with Reliance to build an Agro chain to boost crop diversification on the plea that Panchayati land couldn’t be transferred to private firm. 

Mr. Bajwa said that solar energy was still a costly alternative and not dependable for cluster use. He said that on one hand Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal was claiming that Punjab would become power surplus state by the end of this year then what was the need to opt for a costly option. He said that SAD-BJP government had hatched a conspiracy to grab the shamlat land across the state. He said that earlier the SAD-BJP government had invited private companies to set up ‘Adarsh Schools’ on Panchayati land and the experiment was a total failure. Most of the school managements had closed the schools and kept the land with them.

Mr. Bajwa also flayed the SAD-BJP government for levying Rs.60,000 taxes on fish farms which were adopted by farmers as an alternative source of income. He demanded to withdraw the tax and said that it would defeat the efforts by center government to encourage farmers for crop diversification.

Mr. Bajwa said that implementation of MANREGA in Punjab was negligible as 70 percents of Panchayats have failed to implement the scheme. He said that it UPA sachem to provide minimum  100 days employment to poor people had failed to take up due to political interference at lowest level. He said that Panchayats were not given autonomy. He said that development funds given in installments to villages were of no use. 

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Sukhbir’s defence of Modi reflect double standards: Punjab Congress 

Chandigarh, October 8:

The Punjab Congress today took strong exception to Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal’ s crude attempt at exonerating  BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of the  2002 riots in that state  in which 2,000 innocent Men, women and children were cold bloodedly murdered under his watch.

Party spokesman Rajanbir Singh said the whole world knew of the complicity of Modi’s Ministers and Police officers in engineering the riots and which has been amply proven in the courts with one such minister having been convicted and several police officers behind bars. He said the revelations by some senior police officers had brought Modi’s role also under scrutiny of the people and the judiciary. He said Sukhbir should explain why bodies of the Godhra victims were displayed in Ahmedabad as it was this action which proved to be the catalyst in the attack on the minority community as the administration looked away.

It may be mentioned that Sukhbir yesterday had rejected any parallels between the Gujarat riots and the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in Delhi and other places.  He had commented, “Yes, the Gujarat violence happened when he was the Chief Minister. But heading the government doesn’t mean that he was behind the riots”.

 Rajanbir said while the anti-Sikh riots, in the wake of a grave situation arising out of the killing of Prime Minister Smt. Indra Gandhi, was a sad chapter, the  Congress leadership had the courage to express deep regrets to the entire nation when Smt Sonia Gandhi took over the reins of the party in 1998. Even Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed his anguish and regrets in Parliament.  It was only the communal and fascist standpoint of Modi’s agenda of trying to polarize the majority community for electoral gains which had kept him and BJP away from extending apology for Gujarat riots, he added.

Rajanbir said Modi’s polarizing and divisive agenda for narrow political gains as exhibited in Gujarat had recently been on display in Uttar Pradesh in recent Muzzafarnagar communal riots engineered by his henchman, Amit Shah, where nearly 100 people were killed and 50,000 rendered homeless. This was the first taste of things to come in case Modi ever assumed the office of the prime minister of the country which might encourage fissiparous tendencies, he warned.

The spokesman said that it was only the Congress which safeguarded the interests of all sections and communities in the country and had been fighting relentlessly for upholding the democratic and secular principles against all challenges posed by communal outfits like RSS, VHP and BJP. This had been one of the biggest achievements of the Congress since independence, he added.

Rajanbir Singh, Spokesperson PPCC

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Sukhbir Badal’s interference in all departments hampers development of Punjab, says Bajwa

“He is jack of all trades and master of none” 

Jalalabad (Ferozepur): October 7-

Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today said that undue interference by Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Badal in the working of all departments has become an irritant for cabinet ministers and his style of working is main obstacle in the development of Punjab.

Addressing a meeting of party workers here under second phase of mass contact programme Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal lacked knowledge and experience but he was trying to prove himself expert of everything.  “He is jack of all trades but master of none”, Bajwa quipped.  He said that ministers of various departments were reduced to ‘dummies’ who are made to sign on dotted line. The chain of events has led to stalemate in the government where administrative secretaries have lost enthusiasm and initiative and only those files are cleared which are “desired” by Mr. Sukhbir Badal.

Mr. Shakeel Ahmed AICC General secretary and in charge of Punjab also addressed the meeting and asked the party workers to support Mr. Bajwa.

Mr. Bajwa further said that interference by Mr. Sukhbir Badal in the Industry department had caused irreparable loss to the state. No new investment is coming and existing industry had lost the hope of survival. Though portfolio of Industry department was with the BJP, Mr. Sukhbir Badal was taking all the decision right from transfers of officers to deciding Industrial policy of state. He said that it was ironical that BJP ministers had no guts to challenge the autocracy of Deputy Chief Minister.

He said that former Industry Minister Mr. Anil Joshi was a dummy minister. Now he has been shifted to local bodies department where the writ of Mr. Sukhbir Badeal prevails. He said that former local bodies minister Bhagat Chunni Lal was never consulted on policy decisions and distribution of grants to local bodies. Mr. Badal himself has been inaugurating all development projects in cities. He said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal had recently visited Turkey to study transport system and garbage collection system but didn’t take along local bodies minister.

Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal had now bypassed Food and Supply Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and himself became Chairman of the cabinet committee on Food Security Act. He said that during last cabinet meeting Mr. Kairon had also objected to Mr. Sukhbir Badal’s interference in the Information Technology Department, held by Mr. Kairon. He said that Mr. Kairon was never taken in confidence on IT policy and was not taken along to Bangalore where Mr. Badal held a presentation with IT tycoons.  Same is the situation with other departments, he added.

Mr. Bajwa said that Mr. Sukhbir Badal was holding two key portfolios of home and sports and he had proved a failure in both. The law and order was at worst with rising crime graph and Punjab had lost its leadership in sports. He said that Punjab was a agriculture state and Mr. Sukhbir Badal was least interested in promotion of Agriculture. There was no regular administrative secretary of Agriculture department for the last over two years. Mr. K.S.Pannu who was appointed secretary Agriculture two months back was shifted recently. These was also no agriculture policy of Punjab Government, he added.

He said that his interference in various departments was matter of concern and he was trying to curtail power of Chief Minister. He said that it was different matter that Chief Minister was not functional due to old age. He advised Mr. Badal to appoint another Deputy Chief Minister from BJP to share his responsibilities.

Mr. Sunil Jakhar leader of CLP said that SAD-BJP government had turned blind eye towards flood hit people of Malwa region, He said that Congress party had taken up with the center government to provide adequate compensation to farmers who had lost their crops in the floods.

Others who addressed the meeting included Mr. Gurpreet Singh Kangar Vice President PPCC, Ms Karan Kaur Brar. Mr. Amarinder Singh Raja warring, Ran Gurmiet Singh Sodhi, Mr. Hans Raj Josan, Mr. Parminder Singh Pinki, Mr. Mahinder Riunwa, Mr. Goldi Kamboj, Mr. Hira Sodhi and Prof. Gurwinder Singh Mamanke.

 

 

 

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