CHIEF MINISTER OFFICE PUNJAB GOVERNORS OF PUNJAB & HARYANA GREETS BADAL ON HIS 83RD BIRTHDAY
CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 8: The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal was today greeted by Governor of Punjab, General (Retd.) Dr. SF Rodrigues and the Governor of Haryana, Mr. Jagan Nath Pahadia, on his 83rd birthday and sent in bouquets with greetings. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the senior party leaders of SAD-BJP, Cabinet Colleagues, Members of Legislative Assembly, senior bureaucrats, top brass of Punjab police, freedom fighters, former MLAs, staff and people from different walks of life belonging to all faiths and above all common men also thronged at his official residence with flowers and sweets to wish him long life. The NSG commandos also presented bouquets to the Chief Minister to greet him. On the occasion, Mr. Badal cut a cake and thanked the people of the State for the love and affection showered by them on his birthday, which inculcated new spirit and energy in him to work for the State, especially for the welfare and development of down-trodden, more vigorously. He appealed to the people to continue their support in all his future endeavours’ so that he could work more hard to make the life of common man better, socially and economically more secure. The Chief Minister assured the people that the State was poised to gain new heights in all the major sectors in the coming years.
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BY S. KEWAL SINGH DHILLON, MLA BARNALA
The Turban which symbolizes Sikhs worldwide, the Turban which is the pride of the nation which our Hon’Ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh wears with pride and dignity, was shamefully disrespected today by the representatives of the SAD-BJP party.
Today’s proceedings at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha were very disgraceful and a matter of shame for the SAD-BJP government as the biggest symbol of the Sikhs was disrespected by the SAD MLAs as they removed the turban of S. Kewal Singh Dhillon, Sr. Vice President of Punjab Congress and Barnala MLA.
S. Kewal Singh Dhillon when raising his voice in the Vidhan Sabha against the atrocities taking place in the state and the current dismal law & order, economic, and fiscal situation under the regime of the current SAD-BJP government; was attacked by the SAD representatives and his turban was forcefully taken off during the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha.
Today’s incident clearly depicts the goondaism and victimization that is taking place by the SAD-BJP MLAs in the state, and now has been brought to the State Highest office of the Vidhan Sabha.
S. Kewal Singh Dhillon said that his party, the Congress always strives towards protecting the rights of the common man in a peaceful way and will continue to do so in the future. He assured the people of Punjab to get them justice against the atrocities under the current regime. The so called panthak party SAD, which claims to be the savior of the Sikh community today engaged itself in disgraceful behavior of removing turbans.
He further added he alongwith his party MLAs would be meeting the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab at 5 pm tomorrow and would also write to the Speaker to take strict action against the offenders and demand an apology from the Chief Minister not to himself but the entire sikh community for such a shameful act.
Moreover he would personally meet and brief the incident and the current state of affairs of Punjab to Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
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PEACE AND AMITY AT ALL COSTS: SUKHBIR
Functions that endanger peace, communal harmony not to be allowed'
Suo Motto statement in Vidhan SabhaChandigarh December 8 – The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today declared in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that the government would not allow the holding of any function which was likely to jeopardize the hard –earned peace and communal harmony in the state. "The government has not allowed nor would allow anyone to disturb peace in Punjab," he said.
Making a suo motto statement on the floor of the House on the recent incidents in Ludhiana, Mr. Badal declared that peace and amity in the state would be maintained at all costs. He appealed to all political parties, organizations and individuals to "co-operate with the government in this noble task."
Making a detailed statement on the events surrounding the function held by Divya Jyoti Jagran Sangthan in Ludhiana on December 5, Mr. Badal said that the tension arose when some organizations declared their intent to stop this function.
"The administration did not bar these organizations from organizing their protest in a peaceful and democratic manner. But conditions of a grave and widespread violence arose when some uncontrolled and armed persons took advantage of the situation and started marching towards the site of the proposed function. The administration used patience and persuasion to stop these persons, and refrained from use of heavy force to the extent possible . "
But, said Mr. Badal, "these persons forced their way past the first and the second police blockades and attacked the third and the last barrier towards the function site. The police first used tear gas and cane charge. When this did not work, the police resorted to firing in the air. But these armed persons then started attacking the police in which an SSP also received some injuries and two DSPs, one inspector, three Assistant Sub Inspectors were also seriously injured. The refusal of these armed persons to halt their advance created the danger of "serious widespread violence". Police was forced to open fire to avert a major tragedy. One person died in the firing while 11 others were injured. "
Mr. Badal said that he had been deeply pained over the incident. He announced a grant of Rs. five (5) lakhs and a government job to one member of the bereaved family. All the injured were also being given free treatment at government expense.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the situation was now fully under control. Regarding the incident involving migrant laborers in Ludhiana, Mr. Badal said the situation arose after one migrant, who had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint, felt ignored. The police were already busy with some other pre-occupation and it took some time for them to attend to the complainant. At this the complainant gathered some other migrants and they started attacking pubic property and vehicles, stopping traffic. Curfew was imposed at night to bring the situation under control.
But, provoked by anti-migrant rumours, a crowd of migrants resorted to violent protests the next day again, setting vehicles, including one belonging to the army, on fire. To save the situation from taking a more serious turn, curfew was imposed. Forty two ( 42 ) persons have been arrested in this connection.
The government has transferred the in-charge of the police Chowki, who had allegedly failed to register a complaint by the migrant labour on the night of 3rd and 4th.. An inquiry has also been ordered against him.
The situation was now under control, said the Deputy Chief Minister.
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BADAL DESCRIBES VIDHAN SABHA DEVELOPMENTS MOST PAINFUL AND DISGRACE TO DEMOCRACY
Chandigarh December 9 – The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has described the developments in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today as "most painful and a disgrace to democracy in the country" and said that he could not understand what the Congress really wanted to achieve through this resort to anti-democratic method.
Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the Vidhan Saba after the proceedings in the House had been brought to a premature end following "a violent disruption" by the Congress legislators, Mr. Badal said that he still could not why the Congress chose to disrupt a statement on the very issue which they wanted to raise in the House. “I can not see why the Congress legislators could not bear to listen to the official statement on the situation before starting their criticism. Instead of taking part in a serious and meaningful analysis of the situation, the Congress strangely chose to launch a physical assault on the treasury benches, especially against him and the Deputy Chief Minister. Is this the most civilized way to getting your point of view heard?" wondered the Chief Minister.
Mr. Badal said that there was enough space and time for the Opposition to put in their point of view but "either they were ill prepared for a meaningful deliberation on the subject or they just wanted to evade the issue and grab media attention by using the rumpus as a short-cut," said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Opposition to return to the civilized path of deliberating on the issues facing the state. He said contrary to the Congress charge of the treasury benches running away from the issue of peace in Punjab, the government took the lead in the matter when the Deputy Chief Minister making a suo motto statement even without waiting for the Opposition to raise demand to the effect. "If this did not satisfy the Congress demand, I honestly do not know what will” said the CM.
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SUKHBIR SURPRISED AT THE CONDUCT OF SENIOR
LEGISLATORS IN VIDHAN SABHA
Chandigarh December 8 – The SAD President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said here that as a first timer in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he had been taken by surprise by the conduct of senior legislators like Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhathal in the House today.
In a statement here, Mr. Badal said that the developments were all the more surprising as “I had chosen to make a suo motto statement on the incidents in Ludhiana, the issue which the Congress says it wanted to discuss.” Then why this ruckus?
The Deputy CM said that the media saw the Congress legislators first leaving their seats to charge the “well" of the House and then marching threateningly towards the speaker's chair. "When the martials in the House stopped them from charging the speaker, the Congress legislators led by Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhathal turned their violent intent on me and the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. It was only after they had given enough evidence of their intentions that the legislators belonging to the treasury benches came out to form a defensive row in front of the Chief Minister. If the Congress was convinced of the strength of their cause, they should availed themselves of the opportunity of a serious and in-depth deliberation over the issue. But for this, they had to allow me to complete the statement. This they were not willing to do. It seems the Congress had not done their home work on the issue it chose to raise and therefore thought it best to stall the proceedings through noisy demonstration and threatening postures."
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PUNJAB13 APPOINTMENTS MADE ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS IN PWD (B& R) DEPARTMENT
Chandigarh December 08 : Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD (B&R) Minister Punjab today handed over the appointment letters to 13 candidates appointed on compassionate grounds in the public works department Punjab. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that these appointments have been made as per the rules and the regulations of the Punjab Government. He appealed to the newly appointed employees to work with dedication, devotion and sincerity.Mr. J.S.Shahi Chief Engineer PWD (B&R), Mr. Gurbir Singh, Registrar PWD (B&R) S. Sukhwinder Singh, Supdt. PWD (B&R) and relatives of the newly appointees were also present on the occasion. No/PR/2009/945Parvinder Kaur
