SADBHAVNA RALLIES: Facing public ire, SAD leaders scramble for show of strength

SADBHAVNA RALLIES

Facing public ire, SAD leaders scramble for show of strength

Notwithstanding Friday’s attack on Maluka and threats of disruption, SAD is firm on going ahead with its programme

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 20

Even as SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has announced to hold the “biggest” political rally in the state — Sadbhavna Rally — in Bathinda on November 23, party leaders are facing public wrath in villages.

SAD leaders visiting villages to mobilise people for this first major political event of the party after sacrilege incidents in the state are being shown black flags by public. For instance, black flags were shown yesterday to Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy Dhillon’ at Buttar Shrin village here. Dimpy is SAD’s Gidderbaha constituency in charge and an aide of Sukhbir.

Earlier, black flags were shown to Rural Development Minister Sikander Singh Maluka at Kothaguru village in Bathinda on November 17, where he had gone to mobilise masses for the rally.

Some Congress activists were arrested yesterday at Nawanshahr when they tried to show black flags to Sukhbir there. Notably, Sukhbir had gone to the Doaba region to hold a party workers’ meeting regarding Sadbhavna Rally in Jalandhar on December 4.

On November 17, when he visited Sarawan village in Faridkot district, some people were arrested before they could show him black flags. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mantar Brar, who is Kotkapura MLA, too has been once shown black flags by some protesters in his home district Faridkot.

Four cabinet ministers of SAD — Sikander Singh Maluka, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Surjit Singh Rakhra and Daljit Singh Cheema — faced the ire of Sikhs during the state-level function to observe the death anniversary of Sant Fateh Singh at Badiala village in Bathinda district on October 30.

Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder witnessed farmers’ anger at a Kisan Mela in Bathinda.

Now, workers from 5 districts to attend rally 

Though initially Sukhbir had announced that party workers from three districts — Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot — would attend the rally on November 23, now workers from Muktsar and Fazilka districts too are being told to come in large numbers to make it a successful event. SAD leaders, including Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’, Parambans Singh ‘Bunty Romana’ and Satinderjit Singh ‘Manta’, held meetings with party workers in these two districts

1,000 vehicles in Sukhbir’s cavalcade 

It is learnt that Sukhbir will come to the rally venue with a cavalcade of nearly 1,000 cars, jeeps and motorcycles. These vehicles will accompany him from his residence at Badal village in Muktsar district

YAD, SOI activists to be on guard 

Keeping in view the protests against SAD leaders, not just the police but activists of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) and Student’s Organisation of India (SOI), too, have been told to keep an eye over suspicious elements in the rally

SAD arranging special T-shirts for workers 

The SAD is arranging special T-shirts with the party logo for the event. Besides, youth activists would be wearing a ribbon of the party colour on their forehead and turbans

Courtesy: The Tribune

Unrest: CM ‘shying away’ from Sangat Darshan

No meet in 3 months

• The last Sangat Darshan was held in Lambi on August 18 and 19
• Badal has now said after the SAD’s first “Sadbhavna” rally in Bathinda on November 23, he would resume his public meetings

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 19

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has always given top priority to his Sangat Darshan programmes, terming it the best way to redress public grievances. But in the wake of the ongoing crisis in the state, not a single such programme was held in the last three months.

The last Sangat Darshan was held in Lambi on August 18 and 19. Badal has now said after the SAD’s first “Sadbhawna” rally in Bathinda on November 23, he would resume his public meetings.

Sources say he is most likely to begin with his home turf Lambi, an area considered safe for Akalis than any other part of the state. At many places, SAD leaders have already faced the wrath of Sikh activists.

A source in the Chief Minister’s office said the sangat darshan programme would be finalised in two days.

Ever since the crisis hit the state, Badal has not even visited his native village, Badal, or his Lambi Assembly segment.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Liquor shops sealed, but sale on; Owners use service doors to hoodwink authorities

Liquor shops sealed, but sale on

Owners use service doors to hoodwink authorities

Liquor being sold to customers through the window of a sealed shop at Doda village on the Muktsar-Bathinda highway in Muktsar district on Thursday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 19

Although 27 liquor vends located on national highways in the district have been sealed, vend owners reportedly continue to sell liquor. On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Excise and Taxation Department sealed the liquor vends. But vend owners are reportedly opposing the move.

For instance, a liquor vend at Doda village on Muktsar-Bathinda highway was sealed in the morning, but its owner was reportedly selling liquor in the afternoon. One of the liquor vend employees reportedly broke a windowpane to enter the building and then opened the service door for others.

Department officials were unaware about this development. GS Sandhu, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC), Muktsar, said, “I am sending a team to assess the ground reality. If someone has opened the liquor vend again, we will take action against him. We sealed 27 liquor vends in the district for flouting norms.”

The high court on Monday gave the state government two days to remove all liquor vends from national highways. On October 19, the petitioner, NGO ArriveSafe, presented to the court photographs of 32 liquor vends operating on national highways against high court orders. In 2014, the high court passed an order that no liquor vend should be accessible or visible from the national highways or service lanes.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Paddy lifting: Better facilities in Badals’ home district

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 17

Even as a large number of farmers are angry with the state government over various issues, it is laying special emphasis on the ruling Badals’ home district Muktsar in this paddy procurement season.

For example, as many as five IAS officers from the state headquarters, a PCS officer posted as officer on special duty (OSD) to Deputy CM and both OSDs to CM have visited grain markets of the district in about one-and-a-half months to review the situation.

C Roul, Secretary, Education Department, who is nodal officer for the procurement season, visited the district twice on September 26 and October 11. Manish Kumar, OSD to Deputy CM, visited the district on October 12.

Thereafter, KJS Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to CM, visited the district on October 26 and 27. Shivdular Singh Dhillon came here to inspect the situation on October 31. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to CM, along with Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, MD, Milkfed, visited the district on November 16 and 17.

Both OSDs to CM Gurcharan Singh and Balkaran Singh, too, are touring villages in the Lambi assembly segment to monitor the procurement process.

Sources said a senior officer, who recently visited the district, even faced the wrath of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for not taking the visit seriously and “returning immediately after getting some photographs clicked”.

Farmers from other districts flock to Muktsar

With the better arrangements, faster lifting of paddy crop in Muktsar district, farmers from neighbouring districts, too, have been selling their produce here in the district. A farmer from Kundal village in Fazilka district said he sold off his crop at Karam Patti village in Lambi assembly segment in Muktsar district. “The procurement facilities are much better in Muktsar district in comparison to other districts and so, I made my mind to sell my produce here,” he said.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar man accuses Akal Takht Jathedar’s son of land grab

Muktsar man accuses Jathedar’s son of land grab

Highlights matter at November 10 Sarbat Khalsa, gets support on social media

Tarsem Singh at his residence in Muktsar on Friday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 13

A 65-year-old baptised Sikh, Tarsem Singh from Muktsar, has alleged that his three-marla prime commercial land on the Kotkapura road here has been under illegal occupation by Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh’s son and a local Akali councillor since 2000.

Tarsem Singh was even present at Sarbat Khalsa held at Chabba village in Amritsar on November 10 to highlight his grievance. He had carried a placard reading: “Jathedar ton meri jagah chhudao (get my land freed from Jathedar)”.

The man got space on social media. Since then, he is getting calls from Sikhs settled in various parts of country and abroad as well.

Tarsem Singh said he had given his 8-marla land on lease to Giani Gurbachan Singh’s son Manjinder Singh Bittu and councillor Gurmeet Singh Jeeta for five years in May 2000 to open an automobile workshop.

“They forcibly took possession of the entire 16-marla plot. When I tried to construct a wall for partitioning land and separate two plots of 8-marla each, they thrashed me. I met then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who had directed the police to look into the matter, but nothing happened. Later during Capt Amarinder Singh’s tenure, I met him too. I also lodged a complaint to the then SSP, but to no avail. Even local MLA Karan Kaur Brar once wrote a letter to the Chief Minister on the matter,” alleged Tarsem Singh.

Tarsem said he was getting huge support from Sikh activists. “I want my land back, which is now worth nearly Rs40 lakh. I have everything in black and white to substantiate my claim. They (Manjinder and Gurmeet) have somehow managed to get the land registration done in their name, but it is illegal as the address shown on it does not match with the land under their possession,” he alleged.

Manjinder Singh claimed: “The land dispute was resolved amicably. I have no connection with that land. The land taken on lease was given back to Tarsem Singh. He is trying to tarnish our image.”

Gurmeet Singh said: “Nearly 2.25-marla land belongs to me now. We had opened a workshop taking land on lease from Tarsem Singh about 15 years ago. We spent Rs3.14 lakh on construction, which he had agreed pay, but he did not. Later, we both reached to a compromise, in which he decided to pay the amount and we give him the possession of the land.”

He added: “The land, which is now owned by me, was not in his name. Its owners sold off the land to me and I have all relevant documents.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Malwa remains on the edge, residents observe ‘black’ Diwali

Sikh activists take out a protest march, hold black flags and appeal to people to observe ‘black’ Diwali at Gurusar village in Muktsar district on Wednesday. Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 12

The announcement by radical Sikh organisations to observe “black” Diwali had its effect in Malwa region. Activists carried out protest march in rural areas, holding black flags and urging people to “black” Diwali this year.

A huge protest was witnessed at Gurusar village, falling in Gidderbaha sub-division yesterday. A large number of residents took out a march in support of the radicals’ call.

The protesters said the recent incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib had hurt their religious sentiments and it was not appropriate for them to celebrate Diwali this year.

Festivities were missing in a major part of Muktsar district. Some people had even put up black flags atop their houses. There was complete darkness in some villages and not even a single lamp was found lit anywhere.

Even in urban areas, where on an average five of total 10 houses in every street were lit up during Diwali every year, just one or two houses were seen illuminated.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Akal Takht Jathedar’s aides support him on social media, begin drive

Tribune News Service
Muktsar, November 12

Rejecting the decisions taken by Sarbat Khalsa of changing the Takht Jathedars, aides of Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh’s sons and their personal staff have started a campaign on social media.

They are not just uploading information regarding the definition of Sarbat Khalsa and the authority to call it being with the Akal Takht, but also challenging the qualification of the newly ‘appointed’ jathedars.

Jaspal Singh, personal assistant of Gurbachan Singh’s son Manjinder Singh ‘Bittu’, has challenged the qualification of newly ‘appointed’ jathedars Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, Dhian Singh Mand and Baljit Singh Daduwal on his facebook account.

A friend of Bittu has uploaded on a site that the decision taken by the radicals had no legality. “Just anybody can’t appoint or remove the jathedars. There is a formal procedure which has to be followed,” he has posted.

Similarly, a number of such messages are being circulated through WhatsApp too.

On the other hand, another social media campaign in favour of Sarbat Khalsa and the decisions taken during it is also active.

Earlier in protest against sacrilege incidents, a number of activists had changed their profile pictures to black flags.

Besides, some groups and pages were formed, seeking justice for such incidents. A youth said: "It is a peaceful method to lodge protest. It doesn't even cause any kind of inconvenience to anyone. We are demanding strict action against the culprits.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

SAD leader held for Rs 5 lakh fraud

‘Promised job to victim’s son’

• A woman from Lalpura village in Gurdaspur district had lodged a complaint against him with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on October 1 during his public meeting at his residence
• She had alleged that SAD's Sahib Singh (pic), zila parishad member from Fatehpur Manian zone, had duped her of Rs 5 lakh on the pretext of assuring a job for her son and, that too, after using Sukhbir's name

Tribune News Service
Muktsar, November 12

A zila parishad member from Fatehpur Manian zone in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home turf Lambi was arrested today for a fraud of Rs 5 lakh.

A woman from Lalpura village in Gurdaspur district had lodged a complaint against him with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on October 1 during his public meeting at his residence. She had alleged that SAD’s Sahib Singh, zila parishad member from Fatehpur Manian zone, had duped her of Rs 5 lakh on the pretext of assuring a job for her son and, that too, after using Sukhbir’s name.

Sukhbir had marked a probe to the Muktsar SSP, but nothing took place even after a month. Thereafter, the accused SAD leader, Sahib Singh, gave five cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to the woman in an attempt to escape legal proceedings. However, the cheques bounced.

The woman again appeared before Sukhbir at his residence on November 9. A case was finally registered against Sahib Singh and who was arrested today.

The Tribune had reported the matter on October 2. Thereafter, another report was published on October 3 that the accused held two elected posts – zila parishad member from Fatehpur Manian zone and gram panchayat member from Khudian Gulab Singh village — which i illegal. Even State Election Commissioner SS Brar had termed it illegal, but no action has been taken against him to date.

He allegedly has the patronage of an aide of the ruling Badals from the Lambi area.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Post sacrilege, CM, Harsimrat staying away from state

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 10

 

Under fire for various reasons, especially after the killing of two Sikh activists who were protesting the sacrilege incidents in Faridkot district last month, the ruling Badal family has adopted a fresh strategy to deal with the situation.

Now, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is spending maximum time in Chandigarh to run the government. He is keeping an eye on every minute political development.

His son and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal is moving around to re-connect with the masses, meet religious leaders. His wife Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is camping at Delhi to stay connected with the national BJP leadership and Union ministers. A perusal of the records of the past month suggests that the Chief Minister did not visit his stronghold — the Malwa region — even once. SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal came here five times. Harsimrat failed to make even a single appearance.

Though she attended the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit held on October 28 and 29 at Mohali, she did not come even once to this area or her native village falling in her Bathinda parliamentary constituency since the unrest started in the state. In the past, the Badals made frequent visits to Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa districts.

An aide of the Badals, on condition of anonymity, said, “The Deputy CM has been given the task to move around to boost the morale of party activists, seek suggestions from people from different walks of life to come out of this situation. He is even holding talks with religious leaders.

“On the other hand, the Chief Minster is spending maximum time in Chandigarh to keep a close tab on the prevailing situation and stay connected with all senior officers and leaders.

“The Badal daughter-in-law has been given the task of staying in Delhi and to keep meeting all senior national leaders of coalition partner BJP.”

He said that Sukhbir was in his native village on October 1, 8, 21, 22, 23 and November 2, 3, 8 and 9. “During this period, he not only visited the neighbouring districts, but also held meetings of party workers at his residence,” said the SAD leader, who is close to the ruling family.

Meanwhile, top sources in the SAD said that though the Chief Minister had earlier planned to hold sangat darshan in his Lambi Assembly segment last month, he — due to the prevailing situation — changed his mind and deferred it indefinitely.

Similarly, Harsimrat last visited Mann village, located next to Badal village, adopted by her under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), on September 4.

Remote control?

A perusal of the record of the past month suggests that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal did not visit his stronghold — the Malwa region. Harsimrat Badal also failed to make even a single appearance.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Unrest in state hits sale of crackers, fancy lights

The wholesale market of crackers at Burlton Park wears a deserted look in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 8

Due to the prevailing unrest in the state, firecracker sellers and traders of fancy lights are suffering huge losses ahead of Diwali.

Further, due to the appeal by Jathedars of Takht Hazoor Sahib and Takht Patna Sahib to Sikhs to not light up their houses and abstain from bursting crackers on Diwali as a mark of resentment over sacrilege incidents, there is comparatively very less activity in markets this year.

Those who had bought crackers months in advance are now clearing their stock in loss. A firecracker dealer said the crackers were selling cheaper here in the Malwa region in comparison to prices in Delhi.

Satish Kumar, a local firecracker dealer, said, “Every year I used to earn good money from the sale of crackers before Diwali, but this time the sale is almost nil. Now, I am clearing the stock in losses in neighbouring towns because it is a risky job to store crackers for a long period. The law and order situation has hit our business badly.”

He said the sale of crackers during Dasehra was also very less.

There are hardly any buyers for decorative lights in markets. “Diwali is around the corner, but the sale of fancy lights is yet to begin,” said Gurmeet Singh, who deals in decorative lights.

Various Sikh organisations have already announced to observe a ‘black Diwali’ this year due to the desecration incidents of Guru Granth Sahib and the killing of two Sikh protesters in police firing.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Sukhbir ‘retracts’ from his comment on Haryana govt

Says he meant no governance for 10 years, not 11

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 2

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today retracted from his statement yesterday where he said there was no government control in Haryana for the past 11 years.

He said he actually wanted to say 10 years. “I was speaking against the successive Congress government in Haryana at an INLD rally yesterday. It was just a slip of tongue that I referred to 11 years rather than 10 years. No other meaning should be derived out of this statement.”

On criticism over playing cards at Badal village recently, Sukhbir said: “I am least bothered about such statements. One must always think positive.”

Rs 2.5 cr for Muktsar village

Sukhbir today visited Sakkanwali village in Muktsar Assembly segment where the panchayat developed a village pond into a beautiful lake. He also launched the boating facility in the lake.

Impressed with the development works carried out by the panchayat, Sukhbir sanctioned Rs2.5 crore for the village. He said: “I will ask MLAs to visit this village and carry out similar development works in their areas. Even the sarpanch of my native village Badal will be sent here to study the project.”

Avoids talking on controversial matters

Sukhbir preferred to keep mum over controversial issues such as proposed “Sarbat Khalsa” by Sikh groups, desertion of Akali Dal by Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and ordering of CBI probe into the Bargari village sacrilege incident.

Calls Manpreet ‘younger brother’

Sukhbir showed love for his estranged cousin Manpreet Badal, terming him his “younger brother”. His comment even surprised those accompanying him. Sukhbir has never termed Manpreet as his brother since their relations turned sour in 2010. On Monday, when asked to comment on a memorandum handed over by Manpreet to the Governor, the Deputy CM said: “He (Manpreet) is my younger brother and I can’t comment further.” Sukhbir has earlier criticised the PPP chief on several occasions.

Tight security in place

Amid incidents of Akali Dal leaders facing public ire, tight security arrangements were made for the Deputy CM’s visit. Policemen in civvies were deployed in adjoining villages as well. —Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, at a village in Muktsar

Courtesy: The Tribune

All’s well in Badal: Sukhbir plays cards with villagers

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal plays cards with the elderly at Badal village in Muktsar on Friday.

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Badal (Muktsar), October 30

Trying to show that the state government has brought under control the situation that erupted after sacrilege incidents across the state, SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen playing cards with the elderly at “sath” (village common land) at his native village today. He looked confident and relaxed.

Though he did not understand the basics of the game and lost the bout, he offered Rs 1 lakh as gift from his side to the elderly, sources said. Those playing cards with him, however, refused his offer and demanded some liquor instead. This surprised everyone present there.

Sukhbir also visited two sweetmeat shops in the village and had some snacks there.

Later, he uploaded some photographs on his Facebook page, with comments: “Pind wich Dogra Sweets de pakore te naal hi babeyan di taash. Lokaan wich baih ke unhandi zindagi da swaad pta laggda hai. Pind wich wassda dil saada.” (Enjoyed pakoras at Dogra Sweets and played cards with the elderly. Life looks beautiful in people’s company. Our hearts beat for our villages).

Courtesy: The Tribune

Malout to give Dasehra revelry a miss this year

Scenario elsewhere: Workers make preparations for Dasehra at Daresi in Ludhiana. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 20

Amid the unrest in the state, the police have a daunting task ahead of ensuring peaceful Dasehra celebrations even as the festival will be a low-key affair this year in most parts of the state.

For instance, the Dasehra committee in Malout has cancelled the celebrations this year. Notably, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has always been the chief guest during the festival here in the past. Dinesh Garg ‘Tony’, president of the Dasehra committee, Malout, told The Tribune that due to the prevailing tension, the festival would not be celebrated this year in the town.

Meanwhile, with just two days left for Dasehra, the police are on their toes to bring back normalcy. They have been reportedly directed to deal with any kind of situation very diligently and to try not to use force. “Protesters have gone berserk and any untoward incident could further disturb the situation. So we have been told to use restraint, maintain law and order,” said a senior police officer.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Weddings, trade hit amid tension

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 18

The prevailing tension in the state has put those planning marriage functions during the ongoing Navratras in a quandary. Many such people are either thinking of postponing the function or taking very few people in “baraat”.

Karan Kumar, a local resident, had invited about 250 guests for the wedding of his brother at Kotkapura on October 15. However, due to the road blockade and tension, they solemnised the wedding with just 30 persons.

Further, the hopes of the traders, who was expecting a good business during the festival, too have been dashed with markets wearing a deserted look. “Earlier, due to the damage to crop, our business was hit and now, the prevailing unrest has increased the losses,” said a local businessman.

The situation could affect the investors’ summit on October 28 and 29 in Mohali, said some local industrialists, citing road blockades and protests. A local industrialist said that the state government should postpone the event or the summit would be a “flop show”. “What will we showcase to industrialists when people are so angry that they are sitting on roads? How will the state government claim that it is safe for industrialists to invest in Punjab?

“In such a situation, no serious investor will come to participate in the event. Only those industrialists will come who have taken some obligation from the state government,” said an industrialist. Sources said the protests might continue for a few more days.

Courtesy: The Tribune