M A I N   N E W S

Rein in bureaucracy, Dullo tells CM
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Leadership tips?: The outgoing president of the Punjab Congress, Mr H.S. Hanspal (right), whispers in the ear of the party chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, at Punjab Congress Bhavan, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Chandigarh, July 20
On the very first day of assuming charge as president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo set the agenda for the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, here today.

In his inaugural address delivered in the presence of a huge gathering of Congress workers and leaders at Punjab Congress Bhavan, Mr Dullo urged the Chief Minister to rein in the bureaucracy as it has stopped giving due respect to party workers and leaders. “ There were times when officers used to get up from their chairs on seeing a Congress worker in khadi entering their offices, but this has become a thing of the past. But the time has come to restore that honour to Congress workers in government offices”, he added.

Responding to this, Capt Amarinder Singh said he would hold a meeting of all deputy commissioners and district police chiefs next week. “ All these officers will be told to attend to Congress workers and leaders who come to them for any community work”, he said, admitting that he had also got information that officers at various levels did not pay due attention to issues raised by party workers.

The message from the party high command, which was represented at the function by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, in charge of party affairs in Punjab, and Mrs Ambika Soni, to all senior leaders of the Punjab Congress was that they should sink their differences and prepare for the next Assembly elections as a united force. Mr Mukherjee told the Congress leaders that the party lost heavily in the last Lok Sabha elections in the state because of intense factionalism.

The entire focus of Mr Dullo’s speech was on party workers, who turned up in big numbers. In fact, most of the Congress leaders were themselves surprised to see such a gathering at Congress Bhavan and outside. They saw in it a revival of the fortunes of the party in the state. Most of City Beautiful was virtually choked by vehicles carrying Congress workers to the bhavan. While the gathering of party workers warmed the hearts of their leaders, it sent a loud message to the SAD leader, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, that to stage a comeback in the next Assembly elections would be a hard task for him if Congressmen remained as active and enthusiastic as they were today.

There was virtually a mad race among top Congress leaders to impress Mr Dullo and Mr Mukherjee. Impressed by the turnout at the function, Mrs Soni said she would convey to Mrs Sonia Gandhi that her choice of Mr Dullo had got an overwhelming response from the party’s rank and file.

Mr Dullo said that workers were the backbone of the party which could not think of being in power without their support. Assuring the Chief Minister of “full cooperation” Mr Dullo said he would tour the entire state to get feedback from party workers and implement the party manifesto that was prepared under the guidance of Mrs Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh at the time of the last Assembly elections.

He said he would try his best to live up to the expectations of Mrs Gandhi, who had given him the responsibility of presidentship. Mr Dullo did not forget to remember his mentor and benefactor, the late Beant Singh. “ That great soul, who restored peace and democracy in the state, must be happy today to see a worker become the president “, he added.

At today’s function, the Beant Singh group, which had been keeping a low profile, for the past year, was in the limelight. Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, a close lieutenant of the late Beant Singh handled the proceedings on the stage. Almost all members of the Beant Singh family, including Mr Gurkirat Singh and Mr Tej Parkash Singh, were present.

However, Mr Dullo did not identify himself with any particular group.

Among those who assured all cooperation to Mr Dullo at the function were Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr H.S. Hanspal, outgoing president of the PPCC, Dr Kewal Krishan, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and all senior Ministers, including Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang and Mr Avtar Henry. Mrs Preneet Kaur, Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, Mr Ashwani Kumar, Mr Parminder Singh Pinki and Mr Rajinder Saini were among those present.

After seeing off Defence Minister Mukherjee at the airport, Mr Dullo along with some ministers reached the samadhi of Bean Singh in Sector 42 here to pay tributes. He was accompanied by members of the Beant Singh family.

After seeing off Defence Minister Mukherjee at the airport, Mr Dullo along with some ministers reached the samadhi of Bean Singh in Sector 42 here to pay tributes. He was accompanied by members of the Beant Singh family.