M A I N   N E W S

Thakre warns of fiscal slavery
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

MUKTSAR, Jan 14 — The BJP President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, today warned the people that the country’s economic sovereignty was under threat from developed countries.

Addressing a gathering at the SAD-BJP conference organised here on the occasion of Maghi, Mr Thakre said certain developed countries were trying to ‘enslave’ India by using ‘economic power’.

He said it was time the people united to fight such forces and save the country. Policies followed by the Congress had placed the country under heavy debt, he said.

He said people would have to make sacrifices to protect the country from such economic powers which were trying to make India a colony. The second fight would be against forces trying to create divisions on caste, religion, region, language and class lines. He said terrorism in India had hampered its development to a large extent.

He appealed to the people to support Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as some elements were trying to topple his government. He said the BJP fully backed Mr Badal and the bond between the SAD and the BJP was “everlasting”.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, addressing the gathering, said the SAD-BJP combine had strengthened Hindu-Sikh unity and initiated an era of development in Punjab under the leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He alleged previous Congress governments during 45 years in power had divided the country on caste and religion basis and given a “stepmotherly” treatment to the state. He said people of Punjab would never forgive the Congress for its “anti-Punjabi” policies.

Making an oblique reference to the President, All-India Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mr Badal alleged that those “holding a parallel conference pitching separate tents were playing into the hands of the Congress and trying to weaken the Sikh Panth.”

Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, appealed to those Akalis who had parted way with Mr Badal to work for strengthening the panth by accepting the leadership of Mr Badal. He said they should realise their mistake like the 40 ‘muktas’ and return to the SAD fold.

Former Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who camped here, his home district for a week to make the conference a success, said the SAD-BJP conference had attracted a large gathering. He said people had come on their own to attend the conference.

Mrs Sushma Swaraj said the bond between the SAD and the BJP was not only political but a “permanent association of hearts”. Speaking in Punjabi, she said Mr Badal had established Hindu-Sikh unity in the country which had been affected due to “certain unfortunate developments” in Punjab and other parts of the country.

Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, said people should teach a lesson to those “handful of leaders harming their interests in pursuit of power.” He appealed to the Punjabis to support his party in the coming Assembly elections in Haryana. Immediately, Mr Badal announced that the Punjabis would support INLD candidates in the coming elections.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Union Minister Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, former Chief Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Mr Tota Singh, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar (all ministers) and Mr Manpreet Singh Badal also addressed the gathering.

A number of MLAs and members of the SGPC were present.

CM has ‘given up Punjabi cause’
Tribune News Service

MUKTSAR, Jan 14 — Cautioning the ruling Akali Dal against the “hidden agenda” of the BJP, the former SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra today alleged the party subscribing to the “Hindutva” ideology had affected Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Referring to the mention of “veerbhoomi” to the city widely known as “shaheedan di dharti” during the festival, Mr Tohra said this clearly indicated the influence of the BJP on its coalition partner in Punjab. Accusing Mr Badal of distancing himself from the Punjabi culture and the Punjabi cause under the BJP influence, he termed the parties as “two sides of one coin”.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Tohra charged the Punjab BJP minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, of creating confusion and fear among the Hindus on the Nanakshahi Calendar. Explaining the calendar would not disturb the schedule of Hindu festivals as being made out by Mr Tandon, he said. This has been necessitated only to give Sikhs a calendar of their own in the new millennium,

“Have we questioned the calendar subscribing to the Hindu ideology”, Mr Tohra asked. Making it clear the calendar was not tailored to divide Hindus and Sikhs, he said the Nanakshahi Calendar had a scientific basis to match the needs of the new era.

Asked why his party had failed to pull crowds at the Maghi festival, Mr Tohra alleged his supporters were stopped by the police. Referring to a large crowd at the site of the political conference of the Akali Dal, Mr Tohra termed it as “state-managed”

He pointed out the officials had permitted ruling party supporters to ply buses in the holy city that had been virtually sealed by the police. To a question whether Akali Dal MLAs owing allegiance to his party had sent feelers for “rehabilitation” to Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr Tohra quoted a couplet “Dil ko khush rakhne ko yeh khyal achha hai”.

Mr Tohra admitted that differences persisted between his party and the Akali Dal faction led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann. Later, in his address, Mr Tohra announced to lead an agitation after the byelection to get Punjab its due.

Badal family blamed for graft
From Gurpreet Singh
Tribune News Service

MUKTSAR, Jan 14 — The family of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today came under sharp criticism for corruption in high places at the political conference addressed here by the Congress. It was alleged that the official machinery was being used to block functions of Opposition parties.

Lok Sabha member from Faridkot Jagmeet Singh Brar in no uncertain words charged the Badal family with promoting family interests and amassing wealth through corrupt means. Quoting an intelligence report, Mr Brar said a number of Irrigation Department officials held in a multi-crore scam recently were helping the Badal family in raising election funds.

While important Congress leaders present at the function reiterated the views expressed by Mr Brar, they charged the district administration and the police with trying to stop their supporters from entering the city. Addressing a big gathering, both Mr Brar and former Punjab Chief Minister, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said despite attempts by the ruling Akali Dal to scuttle their show, the Congress workers had turned up in large numbers.

These leaders alleged the ruling party was helping its MLAs to ply buses carrying supporters.

Mr Brar charged the Badal government with rewarding two officers — Mr R.S. Mann and Mr Bikramjeet Singh — with plum posts, despite their involvement in corruption.

Accusing Mr Badal of resorting to nepotism, he asked why pictures of other Akali leaders were not being printed on party posters that carried the photograph of Sukhbir Singh Badal who had suffered a defeat in the Lok Sabha poll.

Referring to the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala at the Akali Dal function, Mr Brar sought to know what Punjab and neighbouring state governments were doing to resolve territorial issues.

Later, Mr Brar sought to know why the Badal government did not enquire into the circumstances leading to a boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 300 youths. Raising the issue of inflated electricity bills, Mr Brar and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Capt Amarinder Singh burnt copies of bills as a symbol of protest.

Interestingly, it was Mr Brar who dominated the show, with party workers seen leaving the venue when Capt Amarinder Singh began to address the gathering. Capt Amarinder Singh confined a major part of his speech to nepotism being encouraged by the Badal family. While Punjab Youth Congress President, Devinder Singh Babbu accused the Badal family of amassing wealth, Mrs Bhattal blamed the ruling Akali Dal for the current fiscal crisis in Punjab.

The Lok Sabha member from Ludhiana, Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, was also present. The party received a shot in the arm when a former Akali MLA, Mr Harbans Singh Jalal, joined the party at the function.

The Secretary of the CPI, Dr Joginder Dyal, asked Mr Parkash Singh Badal to make his stand clear on issues relating to transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab.