M A I N   N E W S

CM faces the heat
Tribune News Service

Lambi, December 17
The ruling party’s first electoral rally today witnessed security lapses, boycott by a senior party leader, Mr Jagmeet Brar, and protest by jobless ETT teachers.

Though the dais had a majority of Cabinet Ministers and senior party leaders, Mr Brar was conspicuous by his absence. At the Press conference, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said the party did not send invitations to any of its party leaders or workers and it was their duty to attend the party rally.

On the other hand, Mr Brar attributed his non-participation to his “humiliation” on stage during last year’s Maghi conference at Muktsar. He said though he had sent his supporters to the rally, he did not want to share the stage with the Chief Minister. He said he had fought against the Badals consistently for 35 years and he was a loyal soldier of the party.

Security lapses also came to the fore at the rally, as ETT teachers managed to sneak into the enclosure meant for the Press conference. Villagers also entered the premises with their pleas resulting in a total chaos at the Press conference. A young girl also gained access to the enclosure from the back and reached right behind the Chief Minister. Though there was no one deployed at the back, cops pushed her out of the venue and later brought her in to narrate her grievances.

Mediapersons faced problem in covering the event, as they could neither see the dais from the press gallery nor hear anything due to a faulty sound system. During the rally also, a section of the crowd was on its feet trying to raise some demand before the Chief Minister and they were pacified by policemen and Youth Congress workers.