HARSIMRAT PUTS CONGRESS LED UPA ON BACK FOOT ON ITS DELIBERATE INACTION ON 84 RIOT CASES CHARGESHEET
New Delhi/Chandigarh December 2: The Shiromani Akali Dal MP from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today successfully forced the government of India to give as assurance to the parliament that the issue would taken up by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for expeditious permission to the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) to file fresh charge-sheet against those indicted by Nanawati Commission for their role in the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre.
The assurance came when Leader of the House and Prime Minister’s senior most colleague in the cabinet Mr. Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha that he would convey the sentiments of the House in this regard directly to the Prime Minister for expeditious action.
In an inspired and moving espousal of the cause of thousands of innocent and hapless victims of the country’s worst ever carnage since independence, Ms. Badal called upon the nation to force the government to punish the guilty and provide liberal relief to the affected families.
So forceful was her articulation of the cause that the entire Opposition led by its Leader Mr. Lal Krshan Advani joined the young MP from Punjab’s Malwa belt in demanding that the government set an example in this regard. The treasury benches were rendered speechless in the face of Ms. Badal’s forceful rendering of the demand for justice “ even as a quarter of century has already passed, leaving everyone to wonder at what speed the wheels of justice moved in this country under Congress governments.”
The MP appeared visibly angered by the single sentence written response of Minister of State of Home Affairs Mr. Mullappally Ramachandran to her un-starred question. The reply merely reiterated the Government’s India’s oft repeated alibi, which said, 'The request of CBI is under consideration of government of National Capital Territory of Delhi', Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur was quick to point out that filing of a charge-sheet that normally took three months had been lying in limbo even four years after the CBI had been forced to register a case. “No such p[ermission in the first place as murder was a cognizable offence and did not require governmental intervention for the law enforcing agencies to take action.”
She wondered how much longer would the country have to wait for justice. “Is 25 years not long enough?
Seeking the intervention of Speaker Lok Sabha, Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur pointed out that when ex-Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was killed in October 1984, her alleged assassins were booked within 24 hours, charge sheeted within two months and hanged within 4 years. Similarly Raiv Gandhi’s assassin Nalini had already spent 18 years in jail. “More than 7000 innocents Sikhs were butchered in broad daylight but their assassins were still roaming free,” said She, seeking clear answer from the government as to why it was deliberately standing in the way of justice.
Citing the long story of deliberate inaction by the Congress led Union Government, Mrs. Badal pointed out that after constitution of 10 Commissions and Committees the Nanawati Commission in August 2005 submitted its report recommending registration of cases against Sajjan Kumar and others. On its recommendations, 4 cases were registered against Sajjan Kumar by CBI in 2005 but even after 4 years, the CBI has still not filed chargesheet against them. She said that as Sajjan Kumar who is accused in many murderes and has been identified by 11 eyewitnesses was being given immunity by deliberately adding section 153A IPC for which permission of the government was required to file chargesheet. She said that as compared to murder cases, offence under 153A was quite minor and how could government give further immunity to Sajjan Kumar under the garb of 153A.
Recalling the sacrifices of Sikhs that despite of comprising less than 2% population of the Country has made huge sacrifices in the services of Nation, Mrs. Badal pointed out that out of 2125 Indians killed by the British, 73% were Sikhs and out of 2646 people sent to Kala Pani, 80% were Sikhs. She proudly recalled that out of 121 Indians hanged by the British in the freedom struggle, 78% were Sikhs. She regretted that a community that helped to build independent India by shedding its blood and sacrificing its sons to free the Country from the clutches of British could never had imagined that after 37 years they would be targeted by their own people just because they wore turbans and sported long hair. Expressing anguish of Sikh community, Mrs. Badal said that a community that protected the Nation was targeted and no one came to help them and rescue them.
It may be added that earlier Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab as an Member Parliament had raised this issue strongly in Parliament four years ago. He recently had sought the intervention of National Human Rights Commission for recommending to government to issue directions to CBI for filing chargesheet expeditiously. Recently on the 25th anniversary of this saddest event, and to remember those all known and unknown massacred in 1984 riots, the Shiromani Akali Dal and SGPC had appealed to the people of all religions to participate in a collective prayer on November 8 in their nearest respective religious places for justice and giving peace to the souls of those 7000 innocent victims.
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CM MULLS FOR MECHANIZED FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY FROM ISRAEL FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER
CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 2:
As a sequel to the Chief Minister’s tour to Israel, the leading international players in cutting edge water filtration technology, AMIAD and TAHAL Groups made their presentations to the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at his residence late last evening. Both the internationally acclaimed companies suggested ways and means to tackle the problem of water salinity, environmental and water pollution which was likely to visit Punjab in the near future as a follow up to the joint developmental thrust proposed between Israel and Punjab during Mr. Badal’s recent visit to Tel Aviv in Israel.
Making a forceful presentation, the Mr. Sudhir Mehta, Managing Director of the AMIAD Filtration Systems underscored the need on efficient and cost effective treatment of water for domestic as well as agriculture purposes. He suggested various processes for the treatment of effluents from Industries through an effective use of technology regarding membrane filtration system to make water fit for human consumption, apart from irrigation. Mr. Mehta also emphasized the need for installation of mechanized filtration system of size 10 micron instead of putting of high cost system of conventional sand filtration which required more space as compared to the proposed mechanized system by him which was also cost effective. Similarly, Mr. Badal sought usage of technology for online monitoring of parameters before the discharge of treated water for irrigation and other purposes. The matter was deliberated in detail and the Chief Engineer Water Supply & Sanitation was directed to get the villages inspected from the experts of AMIAD where the conventional system had been installed and the feasibility of the appropriate system to be installed there may be assessed.
In another presentation made by Mr. Avi Flor Managing Director Asia Operations of TAHAL Group and Country Manager, India Operations Mr. Ashhu Garg stressed on the need to prepare Water Source Management Master Plan for the entire state keeping in view the long term perspective for atleast next 20 to 25 years. They also suggested remedial measures to tackle the menace of water logging, salinity and brackishness and seepage caused by the canals in the Malwa belt. Mr. Flor urged the Chief Minister to hand out the project of checking water seepage from the canals to the company as it had a proven technology to provide a permanent solution to this problem.
Mr. Badal asked the Irrigation department to work out a plan on water source management so that the services of TAHAL group could be utilized. The Chief Minister also directed the Principal Secretary Local Government to undertake the services of TAHAL group for the installation of solid waste management projects in the urban areas. Mr. Badal also asked the AIMAD group to suggest ways and means for treatment of effluents of industrial wastes and domestic sewage through the application of state-of-the-art mechanized filtration technology.
It may be recalled that the Reverse Osmosis (RO) system was already being put in operation in several parts of the state where salinity and brackish water posed a serious threat to health especially in the rural areas of Malwa belt.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Food & Supplies Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board Mr. Rajat Aggarwal, Member Secretary Pollution Control Board Mr. Babu Ram, MD Water Supply & Sewerage Board Mr. Satpal Angrula and Chief Engineer Water Supply & Sewerage Mr. Sita Ram Aggarwal.
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CM WRITES SHINDE TO ALLOW CONTINUATION OF PSEB
AS STATE TRANSMISSION UTILITY AND A LICENSEE
BEYOND DECEMBER 15
CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 2:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Power Minister Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde and sought his personal intervention to allow the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to continue as a State Transmission Utility and a Licensee for another six months till June 15, 2010 though the government would try to complete the process much before the onset of paddy season of 2010.
In a letter to the Union Power Minister, Mr. Badal mentioned that the State government has initiated the process of consultations with the stakeholders and preparation of roadmap of restructuring of the State Electricity Board.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the consultations were inconclusive as yet though he had taken a number of meetings with the stakeholders and also with his senior colleagues to evolve consensus in the matter. He said that he was sure that the steps initiated by the State Government in this regard would be successful soon. “Nevertheless, we need some more time to conclude the process and achieve a meaningful restructuring of the Board,” wrote Mr. Badal.
It may be recalled that earlier the Government of India had agreed to the request of Punjab Government for continuation of PSEB as State Transmission Utility and a Licensee up to December 15, 2009.
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FOUR NEW POLYTECHNICS FOR PUNJAB
Chandigarh December 02:
The Government of India (GoI) has given in principal approval to open four Polytechnics in the remote areas of the state at a cost of nearly Rs. 50 crore.
Disclosing this here today Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Punjab Ch. Swarna Ram said that four new Polytechnics would shortly be commissioned at Ranwa (Fatehgarh Sahib), Badbar ( Barnala) , Begowal (Kapurthala) and Behram ( Nawanshehar). He said that Rs. 12.30 crore per Polytechnics would be provided by the GoI. Out of Rs. 8.00 crore would be spent on civil works and Rs. 4.30 crore would be spent on equipment machinery, furniture, transport and learning recourse material. The first installment of Rs. 2 crore per districts has already been released.
Minister said this will go a long way in providing succor to the students of the said areas who will able to take advantage of these facilities closer home which would indirectly entail lesser expenses overall besides savings some precious time also.
The Minister laid stress on the provision of hardware courses in electronic and electrical disciplines which are likely to generate better employment opportunities for the aspirants. Admission to these polytechnics will be held simultaneously with the other polytechnics of the state as per the existent criteria and guidelines.
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PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA SESSION FROM DECEMBER 7
Chandigarh December 02:
13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha Session has been summoned by the Governor to meet for its Eighth Session on Monday, the 7 2009 at 2:00 PM in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Hall, Vidhan Bhavan, Chandigarh.
This was disclosed here today by S. Nirmal Singh Kalhon, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
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GENERAL RODRIGUES CONDOLES DEMISE OF
MR. S.K. SINGH, GOVERNOR OF RAJASTHAN
CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 2: The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, General (Retd.) Dr. S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. S.K. Singh, Governor of Rajasthan.
Describing Mr. Singh as a successful diplomat, an able Administrator and a gentleman to the core, General Rodrigues said that his significant contribution in different facets of national life will always be remembered. He conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give them strength to bear this loss.
