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