M A I N   N E W S

Pandemonium at CM’s function
Kisan sabha leaders detained, let off
From Varinder Walia and Gurbax Puri
Tribune News Service

NAUSHEHRA PANNUAN (Amritsar), Jan 22 — The police had a tough time when activists of the ‘Punjab Kisan Sabha’ started raising slogans against the state government during the speech of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, here today.

Despite the pandemonium, Mr Badal continued with his speech. He alleged that activists of Punjab Kisan Sabha wanted to disrupt the function at the behest of the Congress which had ruined the state when it was in power.

The activists of the sabha were also thrashed by the police in the presence of the Chief Minister. The agitating farmer leader, including Kanwaljit Singh Pannu, Pargat Singh Jamarai, Baldev Singh Bhail, Satnam Singh and Rattan Singh Randhawa, were rounded up. They were later let off after the function.

The farmers were alleging that commission agents and officials of various procurement agencies had been ‘deducting’ huge money from their payments.

Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Cooperation Minister, told Mr Badal that the local police was responsible for the pandemonium. He claimed that he had given a list of the activists to the police and it had done nothing to check their entry into the pandal.

The kisan activists also tried to gherao Sarhali police station in protest against the police action.

It may be mentioned here that Mr Brahmpura had been criticising the local police at public functions. Many a time, he has described the police as inefficient.

The inauguration of Markfed’s first modern rice processing complex turned out to be a ’pre-election rally. During his speech, Mr Badal held Congress responsible for Operation Bluestar and Delhi riots. Mr Brahmpura, Cooperation Minister and senior vice president of the SAD, also blamed the Congress for police excesses on Sikh youths during its regime. He said Sikh institutions were also attacked.

Though Mr Badal ruled out the possibility of holding a mid-term poll yet the gist of the speeches delivered by him and his colleagues showed that the SAD was preparing itself for the forthcoming assembly elections. Mr Badal also held a ‘sangat darshan’ in Naushehra Pannuar to redress the grievances of people.

Mr Badal said the Shahpur Kandi project costing Rs 1300 crore, had been approved by the Centre. The project would be a boon for farmers of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. He said the Upper Bari Doab Canal project would also be revived and irrigation water would be made available to the farmers.