M A I N   N E W S

CM warns communal elements
No BJP leader present at martyrs’ function
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Hussainiwala, (Ferozepore), March 23
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said peace in the state would be maintained at all costs and anti-national forces dealt with firmly.

Mr Badal, who arrived about four hours behind schedule to pay tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru at their ‘samadhi’ on the banks of the Sutlej here, said some anti-social and anti-national elements were trying to create a law and order problem in Punjab. He warned them that they would not be allowed to carry out their nefarious designs.

Terming the recent incidents of sacrilege in Punjab as “unfortunate”, Mr Badal said those behind these would have to eat a humble pie.


Union Minister M.Kannapan garlands the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh while Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal awaits his turn at the Shaheedi Divas of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Singh at Hussainiwala in Ferozepore district on Friday. — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

He said Punjab was a secular state where all religions were equally respected. “Punjabi ekta” was the motto of the Punjab Government, he stressed.

Mr Badal categorically stated that he would not touch any political issue on the occasion. He announced the Punjab Government had set up the Urban Development Fund (UDF) to provide basic amenities in cities and towns. In the first instalment, Rs 50 lakh would be given to Ferozepore city.

He announced that Rs 1 crore would be given for executing various works relating to beautification of Hussainiwala Samarak.

At today’s function, the entire state leadership of the BJP was absent. Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, President, BJP, Punjab, who hails from this district, was presiding a meeting of the party state executive at Muktsar.

Mr Zora Singh Mann, MP,Ferozepore, and Mr Surjeet Jayani, Minister of Forest, whose names were printed on the invitation cards distributed among the public on the occasion, were also absent.

Mr Vikoo, general secretary, MDMK and member of Parliament, who came from Tamil Nadu, while addressing the gathering said that Punjab’s youth had sacrificed their lives for protecting the frontiers of the country. He said he would take a handful of the soil of the land where the three martyrs had been cremated after being hanged to death by the British.

Later, Mr Badal while addressing the media persons said an enquiry should be held into the tehelka.com expose and all those found guilty punished as per the law.

Mr Badal laid the foundation stone of a gate being built near Zero Line at a cost of Rs 32 lakh. Mr Badal, Mr Vikoo and Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon laid a wreath at the ‘samadhi’ of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.