The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

PPP members raise solgans against Jagbir Brar
It was painful to quit the party I have founded, says Brar
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 20
Former MLA Jagbir Brar seemed unsettled when he returned home at Model Town late last evening. Two days after he had quit the PPP as its founder member, his former party colleagues have called him a ‘traitor’ and a ‘turncoat’.

Jagbir Brar with his wife Ravneet Brar and sons Angadbir and Jaibir at his residence in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Tribune Photos: Sarabjit Singh

The PPP’s candidate from Shahkot Dr Navjot Dahiya along with party supporters held a protest outside the party office in Mota Singh Nagar market. They raised slogans against Jagbir Brar for quitting the party. Likewise, there was also a protest in market area of Jalandhar cantonment.

“It was very painful for me to leave the party I have founded after sacrificing my MLA seat. I was the only sitting MLA to side Manpreet Badal while all the rest gave up midway. But my sacrifice was perhaps forgotten by him,” said Brar.

“I was feeling uncomfortable for the past two months over the poor organisational set up in the party. There have been no proper meetings. No youth wing could be formed,” he said.

“What really pains me is that Manpreet did not even feel like calling me for any discussion even as he knew that I was showing disinterest and was not active for the past few weeks. I did not even attend the PPP meetings at Maur and Tarn Taran. Still there was no response from his side.

That is when I decided to quit. I and Kushaldeep Dhillon approached Capt Amarinder on this and he agreed to take us in his fold,” he said. He said when he joined the PPP he did not even bother about his lifelong pension that he would have got if he had completed four years in the Assembly.

“When Varinder Bajwa quit I had even been asked to cut short my trip and go back for damage control,” he said. He claimed that he mobilized his supporters towards the PPP but Manpreet has himself miserably failed to hold back his partymen.

Asked about any assurances given to him by the Congress regarding allotment of ticket from Jalandhar Cantonment, he said, “Nothing as yet. If the high command asks me to fight I am ready for it. Even if they want me to support any candidate, I am prepared to do so.” He, however, counts his prospects on the goodwill he had managed as BDPO, the Akali and PPP leader.

On being asked if any Congressmen contacting him, he said, “The PCC grievances committee member Manoj Arora called me up. There was a call from MP Mahinder Singh Kaypee also. Congress councillor Rajinder Beri visited me.” There were several visitors as well, including some representatives from resident welfare organisations and market associations.

Ravneet Brar, his wife, said she stood by her husband in whatever decision he takes. She refused to comment further.

Badal assures to look into EGS teachers’ demands
Archit Watts/TNS

Gidderbaha, December 20
A day after two Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) teachers slit their vein to intensify their protest against the State Government demanding regular jobs, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured them to look positively into their demands.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with a delegation of the agitating teachers, who have been fighting for their demands for the past 22 days, during a public function at a Bathinda village.

"Though, Badal has assured us that all issues will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting, yet our protest will continue until we get notification issued from him. In the past too, all meetings with the CM remained futile," said Pritpal Singh, President of the agitating EGS Teachers' Union.

He said, "If our demands are not accepted, we will further intensify the agitation even after imposition of the elections code of conduct in the State."

Activists of the union have been demonstrating at Husnar Chowk here since November 29, demanding immediate notification regarding regular government jobs for the activists who have cleared the ETT course.

Meanwhile, the fast-unto-death of six EGS teachers, including four women, who are camping atop an overhead water tank at Husnar village near Gidderbaha, entered the fourth day today, as the local administration has failed to mollify them.

The EGS teachers have been trying their best to put pressure on the State Government to accept their demands.

In the past, they had blocked the highway, begged alms from public, made attempts to commit suicide by jumping from an overhead water tank and jumping into a canal and also slit their vein.

It may be mentioned here that the EGS teachers protest hogged the limelight, when a Sarpanch of the ruling Akali Dal slapped one of their female activists Varinder Kaur in public.

NHRC records Varinder Kaur’s statements

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today recorded the statements of Varinder Kaur today in Delhi.

Talking over the phone, Varinder said, "Mamta Sharma, member of the NHRC, has assured me to take action against accused Sarpanch Balwinder Singh Toti, who slapped me a number of times at Daula village on December 4." She further said that the State Government would also be asked to explain within seven days as why hardly any action was taken in this regard.

DCC chief’s suspension revoked
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 20
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has revoked the suspension of Arun Walia, president, District Congress Committee, with immediate effect.

As per the instructions from PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh, he will work with the advice of the Advisory Committee. The note passed on also reads, “The Advisory Committee constituted to oversee overall affairs of the DCC Urban will continue to look after the organisational affairs of the DCC.” Arun had been suspended for trying to stop hotelier Gautam Kapoor from entering the DCC office during the visit of Congress observer Chandresh Kumari recently.

2 killed at unmanned rail crossing

Tarn Taran: Two people died at an unmanned railways crossing near Valtoha village, 45 km from here on Monday as a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) collided with a tractor-trolley. The deceased have been identified as Pishora Singh and Nishan Singh of Varnala village. The Railways Protection Force has lodged a report under Section 174 CrPC in this regards. According to sources, the deceased were going on their tractor-trolley when the DMU hit them. — OC

40-yr-old found dead

Tarn Taran: Parshotam Lal (40), a driver, was found dead near Palasour village by his relatives on Monday. The city police has registered a case under Sections 304A (capable homicide not mounting to murder) and 279 (rash driving) of the IPC. Police said Lal used to drive a three-wheeler and was a resident of Kale village, near Amritsar. Police said Lal came to Dalake village, 8 km from here, to drop some passengers. Some unidentified vehicle hit his three-wheeler when he was returning home. — OC

BJP rally to be held as per schedule, says Kalia
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 20
Former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia today said even if the ongoing Parliament session gets extended over the issue of Lokpal Bill, there would be no glitch in the conduct of the national-level office bearers meeting of the BJP in the city on December 23.

“If the Parliamentary session gets extended, a few important persons might not be able to attend the meeting. However, the meeting would be held as scheduled,” he said during a press conference here today.

“This is for the first time a national-level meeting was planned here since the formation of BJP, 31 years ago. BJP’s state-level rally will be held in Jalandhar after 20 years,” he said.

Regarding preparations for the rally, he said, “We are expecting a gathering of 1 lakh persons. So we have arranged for 20 acre of land on the Rama Mandi, Hoshiarpur road. There will be a 24x60 feet stage. Over 100 rooms in six hotels of the city have been booked for the national-level office bearers.”

He gave a list of those expected, which included national president of the party Nitin Gadkari, former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Punjab incharge of the party Shanta Kumar, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, national general secretary JP Nadda and national secretary Captain Abhimanyu.

Kalia said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would also be at the event. He said, “An invitation has also been extended to the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal”. He further added that Hema Malini and Rajesh Khanna would
be the star attraction during the rally.

Hospital inaugurated at Khadur Sahib

Tarn Taran, December 20
Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, inaugurated the building of sub-division level Civil Hospital at Khadur Sahib, 25 km from here, on Tuesday. The total cost has come up to Rs 7.55 crore.

The minister also distributed grants of Rs 4 crore to as many as 65 gram panchayats, belonging to Tarn Taran, Khadur Sahib, Chohla Sahib and Naushehra Pannuan, for developmental works. While addressing the public gathering here, he highlighted different development schemes of the state government and condemned the Congress led Union government for its alleged indifferent attitude towards state. — OC

Police to launch special drive
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, December 20
City police will launch special drive for smooth flowing of vehicular traffic in the city, especially in Session Chowk, Clock Tower, Phagwara Chowk, Government College Chowk and Bus Stand Chowk.

Station House Officer Rupinder Singh said he would call a meeting of shopkeepers of the said areas and would request them to cooperate with the police. He would request them to remove illegal encroachments on roads to clear the path.

To check drug peddlers and addicts, special teams of police officials would be constituted that would control the menace.