The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, September 25, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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CM meets Barnala in vain
From Our Correspondent

BARNALA, Sept 24 — The meeting of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Sports Minister, and Mr Tota Singh, Punjab Education Minister, with Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, at the latter’s residence here today proved unsuccessful.

The three SAD leaders’ visit was aimed at pacifying angry supporters of Mr Barnala and to ensure their support to the SAD nominee, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, son of Union Sports Minister, in the ensuing Sunam Assembly byelection, scheduled for September, 29.

The closed-door meeting lasted 35 minutes. It began at 4.45 p.m.

Talking to mediapersons, Mrs Surjit Kaur Barnala said the talks had remained inconclusive. She said the supporters of her husband would meet again and the final decision was expected by tomorrow.

Mr Gurinderpal Singh Dhanaula, Vice-President, Shiromani Akali Dal (youth wing), said even if Mr Barnala decided to toe the party directive, his supporters would continue to work for the defeat of Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

Mr Barnala remained tightlipped.

Yesterday, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra had visited Mr Barnala to seek his help in favour of Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra. Mr Amandeep Arora, son of Mrs Parmeshwari Devi, Congress nominee for Sunam, too, visited Mr Barnala here today.

SAD men ‘beat’ jobless teachers
From Tribune Reporters

SUNAM, Sept 24 — An unspecified number of members of the Unemployed Teachers’ Front, Punjab, were injured when they were allegedly “attacked and beaten up ” by supporters of the SAD candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, in front of his election office here today.

According to sources, this incident occurred when the teachers were protesting against the Badal government after placing an effigy of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in front of the SAD election office. They also raised slogans against the government which reportedly provoked the SAD workers who lost their patience and allegedly clashed with the teachers.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, President of the Unemployed Elementary Teachers Union, Punjab, said one or two shots were also fired in the air by an SAD worker. SAD workers also allegedly beat up unemployed teachers, including women, with dandas which were in the hands of the teachers with hoisted black flags.

The president of the front has lodged a complaint with the police through the Sunam Tehsildar, Mr Iqbal Singh Sandhu, in this regard.