Jalandhar, October 25
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today challenged the BJP to part ways with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on the issue of price hike or else the people would see through their game plan.

She, accompanied by senior party colleagues, was here to participate in a “shobha yatra” taken out in the city on the eve of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Valmiki.

“The BJP owes it to its supporters to be unambiguous and should desist from grandstanding on this vital issue. The urban voters need to know if the party is just issuing statements to the media or is it ready to go to any length for the their 
welfare.

“I think it’s a political ploy by the BJP to placate its vote bank. If the party seriously feels that the urban people will be burdened with the hike, then it must demand and get subsidy from the government,” she pointed out.

Bhattal said the SAD-BJP government was in a mess and had not been able to provide able governance. It was completely at sea, she added.

Taking a jibe at the Badal family, she said how could the government function where the Chief Minister and his finance minister did not agree on crucial issue of fiscal deficits. This was for the first time in the history of Punjab that a finance minister had bluntly expressed his desperation against the policies of his government, she added.

“Complete lack of coordination between the cabinet ministers and the Chief Minister has also affected the ongoing developmental works. It is the government’s job to see how to generate revenue by means of taxes to undertake various welfare schemes or give subsidies in various sectors. Crying hoarse in the media will not do,” she said.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said it was wrong to dub the political vendetta unleashed by the SAD-BJP government against the Congressmen as a mere political stunt. “We have formed a 13-member committee to study all those cases registered against the Congressmen out of sheer vendetta,” she said. She said she would soon announce some important changes in the basic structure of the PPCC.

Earlier, Bhattal also addressed a gathering of non-resident Indians (NRIs) of the Indian Overseas Congress (UK). She said she would take up the various problems faced by the NRIs with the Punjab government.

Local Congress leaders presented a purse containing Rs 11 lakh as party fund to her on her maiden visit after assuming the charge of the PPCC president. 

Jalandhar, October 25
The line of action pursued by the Left on the nuclear deal is against the long-term interests of the country. Chairman of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes Buta Singh stated this while talking to mediapersons here today.

Speaking before attending a shobha yatra on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Maharshi Valmiki, he alleged that the Communists were playing into the hands of China which was not in the national interest.

“Our energy needs are growing and nuclear power is the cheapest and easiest way of meeting the shortfall. Even Communist-ruled states like Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura have been clamouring for the deal,” he pointed out. “Only the central leadership of the Left was obstinate on such a vital issue,” he alleged.

Commenting on the working of the commission, he said they wanted to study the loopholes and shortcomings in the implementation of various laws framed for the benefit of the Scheduled Castes. “We toured Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka recently in this context and will soon be visiting Punjab,” he added.

Hoshiarpur, October 25
In continuation of campaign launched by the District Legal Services Authority for making people aware of the rights of women, children, workers and mentally disabled children, an awareness camp was held at Asha Kiran Special School for mentally disabled children at Jahan Khelan, near here, today.

The district and sessions judge-cum-chairman of the District Legal Services Authority S.K. Goel explained the rights of mentally challenged persons and stressed upon the need for their uplift.

They had right to get free legal aid, right to maintenance, right of protection according to the constitution and Mental Health Act, 1987, said Goel.

Asha Deep Welfare Society (ADWS) president Harish Aery spoke on the problems faced by the parents of mentally ill children.

Former president of the ADWS Kuldip Singh briefed on the activities of the society and appealed the philanthropists to extend all possible help for Asha Kiran Special School for mentally challenged children.

Additional district and sessions judges Jaspal Singh and Sunil Kumar Arora, civil judge (senior division) Manju Rana were also present. — OC