Admn takes control of Civil Lines Club

Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, October 16

The district administration on Wednesday took control of the Civil Lines Club (CLC) and Guru Nanak Hall and Library amid infighting among their office-bearers.

The administration has also imposed Section 145 in Civil Lines Club in view of Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal event to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devi at CLC ground scheduled to be held on October 20.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed with water cannon at the club and in the entire Civil Lines area.

An order passed by the District Magistrate stated that “the Civil Lines Club is situated on the land which belongs to the provincial government. Initially a building, ostensibly of The Guru Nanak Hall and Library was constructed on this land. Later on, a civil lines club was set up as a sports wing of the parent body i.e The Guru Nanak Hall and Library. The Public Works Department, which is the custodian of the land, has not claimed over it. There is nothing to indicate that any approval or sanction was ever sought or given by the PWD B&R Department that holds the land for the construction of these buildings”.

Moreover, it is further stated that “another worrying development is that the CID wing of the Punjab Police has received inputs indicating that a religious colour is being sought to give to this conflict. All indications are that there is a conflict between the two groups in running the club”.

The District Magistrate also formed a committee headed by Bathinda SDM to look after the club and library. Bathinda Tehsildar and XEN, PWD (B&R) Department, are part of the panel.

The order further added that all bank accounts of the library and the club would be seized and will be operated by the SDM and Tehsildar jointly to meet day-to-day expenses.

Even office-bearers are also directed to hand over all records, including assets and liabilities, to the tehsildar.

The order is stated that “this is a temporary measure adopted in the interest of all members of library and the club and also that of society at large and shall remain operative till such time as the matter pertaining to the current situation is not resolved by the order of any competent authority”.

Addressing a press conference, Baljit Singh Daduwal condemned the move.

He said on the directions of Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, the district administration has imposed Section 145 to stop them from celebrating 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

CLC president Rajan Garg said, “A few parent body members in the name of Guru Nanak Dev ji are trying to create a religious clash, which will not be tolerated by the club.”