CM inaccessible at ‘durbar’
From Chander Parkash and Harjinder Sidhu
Tribune News Service

CHAKFATEHSINGHWALA (Bathinda), Dec 24 — A section of complainants and aggrieved persons, including activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta), activists of the Democratic Teachers Front and members of the Unemployed ETT Teachers Union and the Lok Morcha were not allowed to proceed towards this village (to which the wife of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal belongs) where the Chief Minister held an “open durbar” today under unprecedented security arrangements.

Police personnel present in strength at every road leading to the village frisked suspected persons and turned away members of various unions. Policemen in mufti kept a watch on the gathering at the venue. Buses on the Bathinda-Barnala road were also searched by the police.

At the “open durbar only” those whose names figured in the list prepared by the organisers which included those of Mr Inderjit Singh Sidhu, brother-in-law, and Mrs Shawinder Kaur Sindhu, sister-in-law, of Mr Badal and Mr Balbir Singh, MLA of Nathana — were allowed to approach the Chief Minister with their complaints. No other individual was allowed near Mr Badal.

Interestingly, the two ministers belonging to this district, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg and Mr Sikander Singh Maluke, and another MLA, Mr Makhan Singh were conspicuous by their absence.

Ms Pushap Lata, secretary, Lok Morcha, Punjab, Bathinda unit, in a press note alleged that the district president of the Lok Morcha, Mr Jagmel Singh, was placed under house arrest as he had backed the agitating ETT students and teachers.

The Public Relations Department failed to arrange a press conference but Mr Badal talked to a section of media persons before the function started.

On why he had not taken action against a state minister whose name figured in the report prepared by the intelligence wing regarding a Rs 1.5 crore scam in the Irrigation Department, Mr Badal refused to comment.

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Surinder Kaur, the Chief Minister conceded all demands raised by his sister-in-law, Mrs Shawinder Kaur, which included upgradation of the primary school, setting up of a milk chilling centre, widening of the Bhucho-Kotfatha road, upgradation of high school in the neighbouring Chakramsinghwala village to the plus two level and Rs 10 lakh grant for the village.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Badal, announced the Punjab Government had given a ‘free hand’ to the Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to weed out corruption. He said now onward, the performance of DCs and SSPs, would be judged by their success in eradicating the menace.

He pointed out that certain Akali leaders in connivance with the Congress were trying to harm the Shiromani Akali Dal. He claimed there was no danger to his government from such elements.