Jalandhar, June 11
To make inroads into dera Sacha Sauda strongholds, Sadhu Samaj on Monday constituted a special body which would preach Sikhism (Gurmat Parchar) and hold Khalsa marches to win back followers.

Shabad Guru Parcharak Sant Samaj (SGPSS) was formed in a meeting held under the leadership of Baba Ram Singh faction of Damdami Taksal in Amritsar.

The representatives of Damdami Taksal stated here that Baba Ram Singh was elected unanimously the chief of SGPSS. He would nominate other office-bearers.

“Dera Sacha Saudha, Dera Radha Soami, Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan and other such types of organisations have been formed to weaken Sikhs. We would never tolerate these activities,” said Baba Ram Singh.

Gurmat Prachar will motivate Sikhs to come back to us, he said, adding that the first such programme would be held in Mansa on Tuesday.

Replying to a question, he said,” His Taksal was real. Baba Harnam Singh faction is supported by government agencies. I was appointed chief of Damdami Taksal by then president Baba Thakur Singh.” Her added that ‘all the gurdwaras of Taksal were handed-over to him and he has Baba Thakur Singh’s will in this regard.’ But we don’t want to make this an issue so we are constructing our own gurdwara at Sangrawan Kalan in Gurdaspur district,” he said.

Regarding gurdwara Baba Shaheeda row he said a meeting would be soon held to discuss the issue. 

Kapurthala, June 11
A day after a lathi charge on unemployed BEd qualified youths, the district police has booked them on the charges of violating section 144, CrPC, and attacking policemen.

Reacting on the FIR against the protesting BEd youths, state president of the BEd Unemployed Front Punjab Sukhdarshan Singh, told The Triune that the Parkash Singh Badal government was working on the lines of the previous Amarinder Singh government by making an attempt to suppress their movement of getting government jobs but they would not stop the agitation.

Sukhdarshan Singh questioned why a case of violating section 144, CrPC, was registered only against them whereas several other organisations, including those of Sikhs, had openly violated the same. Further, the BEd youths had not attacked the police but at least five of them were injured in the cane charge, he added.

The front president said instead of fulfilling its promise of providing 45,000 jobs out of a total of one lakh unemployed BEd youths, the Badal government now wanted them to put behind bars for demonstrating in favour of their demand of getting employment.

It may be recalled that five unemployed BEd youths were injured when the police cane charged them in an attempt to stop them from holding a protest outside the house of Punjab education minister Upinderjeet Kaur here on Sunday afternoon.

Hundreds of BEd youths across Punjab gathered on Sunday under the banner of the front in Kapurthala to stage a dharna outside the education minister’s house located on Sultanpur Lodhi road in favour of their demand of providing jobs.

Nawanshahr, June 11
Reiterating the commitment of the SAD-BJP government to simplify the tax structure for traders’ convenience, Jagdish Sawhney, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, department of excise and taxation, has appealed to the business community not to indulge in tax evasion.

Talking to media persons here on Monday, Sawhney said: “The tendency to evade taxes, in connivance with department officials, hampers development work.”

The SAD-BJP government had already fulfilled its pre-poll promise of reducing VAT from 2 to .25 per cent for the benefit of small traders. The shopkeepers should pay their tax honestly, he said, adding that the government would strike a proper balance in development of urban and rural areas.

Answering a query regarding BJP’s demand of deputy Chief Minister’s post, Sawhney said there was absolutely no acrimony between the alliance partners over the issue.

The decision of the high command would be final and acceptable to all, he added.