M A I N   N E W S

One bridge, 2 inaugurations
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19
The Rs 34.82-cr bridge on the Beas river at Naushera Pattan on the Gurdaspur-Mukerian road will have two inaugurations — one by the Union Minister of State for Surface Transport and National Highways, Mr Sripad Naik, tomorrow (August 20) and the second by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, a day later (August 21).

Both Central and Punjab Governments are blaming each other for the “embarrassing situation” created over the inauguration of the bridge. The government proposes to levy toll tax on the users of the bridge.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, shot off a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, this afternoon blaming the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Vinod Khanna, for the “embarrassing situation” that the two inaugurations may create.

While the Chief Minister said that Mr Vinod Khanna has been allowed to hold a rally at the bridge tomorrow, the Punjab BJP and supporters of Mr Vinod Khanna accused the state government of setting up “nakas” in the area, besides insisting that the venue for the rally be shifted 3 km from the bridge.

“The government has put up barriers and deployed the police in strength to dissuade people from participating in the rally. There is tension in the area,” remarked a confidant of Mr Vinod Khanna.

The Punjab Chief Minister claimed that of the total project cost of Rs 34.82 cr was met through a loan of Rs 22.14 cr from NABARD and the rest was invested by the state government.

“Mr Vinod Khanna, MP from Gurdaspur, decided to hold a rally and inaugurate the bridge on August 20. You will appreciate that a state government project was usually dedicated to the people of the state by the Chief Minister or the ministers duly elected by the people,” Capt Amarinder Singh said in his letter.

On the other hand, Mr Vinod Khanna, claiming credit for getting this 2-km-long bridge completed in 18 months to meet the longstanding demand of the electors of his parliamentary constituency, has accused the Punjab Government of going back on its commitment of inviting the Prime Minister to inaugurate the bridge.

“In the Punjab Government, the left hand does not know what the right is doing. While the Chief Minister has written a letter to the Prime Minister blaming Mr Khanna for the embarrassing situation, the Chief Secretary of the state has in fax message sent to us this afternoon confirmed the minister’s programme by extending all courtesies required under the protocol,” says Mr A.K. Chopra, a member of the personal staff of Mr Khanna. Mr Khanna was busy in Parliament.

“The Chief Secretary’s message says that Mr Khanna should be treated as a state guest, should be received and seen off, besides being extended usual courtesies and facilities,” said Mr Chopra, holding that “a copy of the programme released by the political wing of the Punjab Government also confirms Mr Khanna’s holding of a rally at the Naushera Pattan bridge on August 20 from 2 p.m. How come this is an embarrassment to the Punjab Government.”

“On the other hand, it is discourteous on the part of the Punjab Government not to extend even an invitation to Mr Khanna for the inaugural ceremony it plans to hold on August 21. They have involved his predecessor, Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, whom Mr Khanna defeated in the last two consecutive elections,” he said.