The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, March 24, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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Relief for farmers on anvil: CM
Thousands throng martyrs’ memorial
Tribune Reporters

Hussainiwala, March 23
The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has assured people of the border areas that the Union Government will release Rs 176 crore to compensate farmers for crop loss due to the laying of mines and other activities of the Army. Lashing out at the SAD, he said the government would release a white paper on Monday in the state Assembly on the mismanagement of the exchequer during the SAD-BJP rule.

He also ordered the district administration to withdraw criminal cases against people of this district under political pressure.

The Chief Minister was here to pay tributes to Saheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on Martyrdom Day and attend a conference organised by the Congress.

He said financial loss of the farmers due to the activities of the Army would be adequately compensated for. Girdawaris had been completed to assess the crop loss. “I met the Defence Minister to press for the release of Rs 176 crore as compensation. He assured me that the amount will soon be released”, he said.

The government would create an investor-friendly climate to attract investment and promote industrialisation, particularly in border districts, he said.

A committee had been set up under the chairmanship of agriculture scientist Sardar Singh Johal to formulate a plan for improving the economic status of marginal farmers. The committee had been asked to submit a report within three months.

He along with senior Congress leader Moti Lal Vora paid floral tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at their samadhi. Congress MLAs and other leaders of the district also paid tributes to the martyrs.

Capt Amarinder said Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, B.K. Dutt, Lala Lajpat Rai and others were great freedom fighters who would be remembered forever. He stressed on the need to provide knowledge to the coming generations about the freedom struggle.

Thousands of people from all sections of society thronged National Martyrs Memorial to pay tributes to the martyrs. A special train and few buses were arranged for the purpose.

Exhibitions were put up by various departments of the government to provide knowledge about the latest developments in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries etc.

Some organisations arranged separate functions a few kilometres away from the memorial.

Earlier, talking to mediapersons at Ferozepore at the residence of an MLA this morning, Capt Amarinder lashed out at the previous government for its “erroneous” policies. He said the Congress would oppose POTO. About the expansion of his Council of Ministers, he said there were no immediate plans. He favoured voting rights to sehajdharis in the SGPC elections.

He said the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Ajit Singh, and the Union Food Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, had given him an assurance that foodgrain stocks of wheat produced in the state would be purchased by government agencies. He said the government had sought a minimum support price of Rs 760 per quintal.

SANGRUR: Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev was observed at separate functions by the district unit of the All-India Federation of Democratic Youth (AIFDY) and the Rickshaw Chalak-Malik Union here on Saturday. The AIFDY function was presided over by Mr Jagjit Singh Layalpuri, CPM General Secretary, while Mr Arvind Khanna, MLA was the chief guest at the Rickshaw union’s function.

Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, Mr Layalpuri urged people to study the aims and principles adopted by Bhagat Singh.

Mr Kiranjit Singh Sekhon general secretary of the AIFDY, and Mr Hari Singh Tark, president of the Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab, also paid tributes.

Mr Arvind Khanna asked people to remain united to fulfil the dreams of the martyrs.

BATALA: A “shaheedi” sammelan was held here by the Citizens Forum. Mr Anoop Khullar, Vice-President, City Congress Committee, said we should remember the sacrifices made by the martyrs.