M A I N   N E W S

On Fateh Diwas, Badal gives prisoners a break
n Tercentenary of Banda Bahadur’s martyrdom to be observed in 2016
n Chaos on roads as 300 buses used to bring villagers to venue
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, May 14
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced a remission in sentences of prisoners to commemorate the tercentenary of Banda Bahadur’s Sirhind-Fateh Diwas.

Paying tributes to the saint-soldier at a state-level function at Mata Gujri College here, Badal said that a one-year sentence remission would apply to prisoners serving terms of 10 to 20 years. Similarly, prisoners sentenced for seven to ten years would serve nine months less in prison while those serving five to seven year terms have been handed a six-month remission. Prisoners serving three to five year sentences would now serve three months less in jail whereas a one-month remission in sentence has been granted to prisoners serving less than three years in jail.

Unable to resist lending a political hue to the celebrations, the CM lashed out at the Congress and it should shun nefarious designs that vitiate the state’s peaceful atmosphere. Badal termed as “sin” the shouting on slogans by “irresponsible anti-social elements” and said they had “belittled the significance of today’s auspicious occasion and shown disrespect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib”, which was an unpardonable act. The CM also released commemorative coins and a postal envelope issued by the Punjab circle of Post and Telegraph Department to mark the tercentenary. Earlier, Badal laid the foundation stone of a museum that would depict the life and philosophy of Banda Bahadur. BJP national president Nitin Gadkari called upon people to follow the teachings of Banda Bahadur and described him as “a great saint-solider who demonstrated the real spirit of secularism”.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar announced that the 300th anniversary of martyrdom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his brave soldiers would be commemorated in 2016. Langar was served at several places adjoining Mata Gujri College and Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib on the occasion. Followers of Baba Pehova Wale and others also distributed pizzas and fruit juices.

Meanwhile, it was a tough Friday for people living in villages of Fatehgarh Sahib and adjoining areas. With all private buses having been pressed to ferry people to the function venue, chaos reigned supreme. Private transporters said nearly 300 buses had been used to ensure maximum people reach the function venue.

“I was supposed to visit my ailing nephew in a Chandigarh hospital but had to cancel my visit as the 8 a.m. daily bus shuttle did not arrive,” said Smiriti Devi of Chunni village on the Sirhind-Landran road. She was only among the many who jostled for a ride to their destinations. The lucky few who did manage a ride failed to get seats as all buses were packed to capacity. Private bus owners complained that they had lost business. “The government should bear the cost of ferrying passengers,” said the owner of a private bus, who transported around 65 passengers from Handesa village near Dera Bassi.

Mann arrested SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann, his son and some supporters were arrested while moving towards the function venue. Heated arguments were exchanged with the police. Mann’s son Imaan Singh and partymen were still in the police station till the time of filing of this report.