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CM firm on anti-graft move Samarai Jandiala (Jalandhar), December 20 Meanwhile, asserting that no power could stop him from eliminating corruption ‘from the top’, the Chief Minister announced that the Punjab farmers would get round-the-clock power after June 30 and that the name of historic “Kali Bein” river would be changed as “Holy Bein”. Having a dig at the Badals, Capt Amarinder Singh, who was seemingly confident during a “Vikas Rally” organised by a Punjab Minister, Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, at his native village today, said he had got the Badals’ message from the jail that they wanted good bathrooms and mineral water, which was provided to them within no time. “ the Badals had demanded diet coke which was also provided to them. But they should have realised that they were no political prisoners and were out on a bail of Rs 80 lakh. Now they are clamouring. You ask a simple question to yourself. How a man like Mr Badal, having inherited just 83 acres of land, became owner of property worth Rs 4000 crore ?” said Capt Amarinder Singh. Admitting that Punjab lagged behind in the field of sports, Capt Amarinder Singh announced a grant of 25 lakh for the village stadium and Rs 10 lakh each for development of both Samarai and Jandlala villages. He said as the “Kali Bein” river was attached with the life of Guru Nanak, its name would be changed in government records to “Holy Bein”. The PPCC chief, Mr H.S. Hanspal, said since the Punjab government had inherited a loan of about Rs 55,000 crore, putting economy back on the rails was not a small job, particularly, when the state had to shell out a whopping Rs 10 crore as interest of the loan per day. He said it was the view of the Congress high command that the present team (led by Capt Amarinder Singh) would be given full opportunity. Others who spoke included Punjab Ministers Mr Avtaar Henry, Mr Amarjit Samra, Mr Balbir Singh, MP, and Ms Santosh Chaudhary, MP. Meanwhile, rumour mills kept working overtime as ministers and MLAs, who are considered to be loyal to the Punjab Agriculture Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, were not seen at the rally. Though a large number of ministers and MLAs were present, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Mr Gurvinder Singh Atwal, both ministers, Mr Kanwaljit Lalli, Parliamentary Secretary, and Ms Gurkanwal Kaur, MLA, were conspicuous by their absence. Though the invitation card issued by District Congress Committee (Rural) chief Baba Rajinder Singh Johal, counted Ramesh Chander Dogra and Jagmohan Singh Kang among special guests, both ministers were also not seen in the rally. The absence of such a large number of prominent Congress leaders of the Doaba region from the rally also stirred speculations that at one point Mr Kaypee had submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister. Mr Kaypee was not available for comments.  |
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Dissidents reject CM’s hand for friendship, meet at dinner Chandigarh, December 20 The dissidents, who returned here today after camping in Delhi for about 10 days, met late this evening in the Chandigarh Club at a dinner hosted by the Technical Education Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh
Kaypee. Neither the Chief Minister nor anyone else from his camp was invited. About 30 MLAs from the dissident camp were present at the dinner. Mr Raghunath Sahay Puri and Mr Rakesh Pandey had taken the permission to skip the dinner because of their preoccupation elsewhere, according to Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Asked about the occasion to host the dinner, Mr Kaypee said he had returned from the UK a few days ago. “I wanted to share my experiences during the visit to the UK with my party colleagues. Hence, I hosted the dinner”, he said. Asked whether there was any one at the dinner from the Amarinder’s camp, Mr Kaypee said he had invited only a select group of friends and party colleagues. The Chief Minister had yesterday appealed to all his party colleagues to join the process of reconciliation. Mr Kaypee said he was in Mrs Bhattal’s camp and there should be no confusion to anyone in this connection. Asked about his presence in a tea-party hosted by the Chief Minister here on December 18, he said he had attended the party out of respect for the Chief Minister. Asked about the removal of Mr Bharat Inder Singh Chahal and Mr Sanjit Sinha from the Chief Minister’s office, Mrs Bhattal said “ it was not our demand”. Continuing, she said “ our only demand was a change in the leadership of the Congress Legislature Party ( CLP) and we have conveyed it to the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi”. The demand to remove Mr Chahal and Mr Sinha from the CMO was, perhaps, made by Mr Partap Singh Bajwa and his associates, but even they seemed to be dissatisfied as they again today raised the issue to shift Mr Sinha even from the Department of Home. Asked that the Chief Minister had publically stated that he was prepared to change his style of functioning to the wishes of his party colleagues and make other reforms, Mrs Bhattal said it would be good for him in future if he did so. Asked why she and her other camp followers did not attend the
dinner and the tea party hosted by the Chief Minister on December 17 and 18, respectively, Mrs Bhattal said the Chief Minister did not invite me and my other colleagues. “ I and my associates had definitely attended both the parties, if the Chief Minister had invited us”, she added. Mrs Bhattal said all those who were camping with her in Delhi would start attending their offices from Monday. They would be performing their official duties, she asserted. Asked that the Chief Minister had made it mandatory for all ministers to be in their officer, She said that when Mr Beant Singh was Chief Minister, all ministers used to be in the Punjab Civil Secretariat at least for four days. But then the Chief Minister himself used to be in his office before noon almost every working day. She said the ministers would themselves attend the offices, if the Chief Minister set an example for them. |
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Chahal not to rejoin in same capacity The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, virtually ruled out the possibility of rejoining of his Media Adviser, Mr B.I.S. Chahal, in the same capacity after his three-month leave ends. Talking to The Tribune, he categorically stated, “He would not come back as Media Adviser. Moreover, he is on leave. Let him come back and we will see.” On the absence of MLAs and ministers, considered to be loyal to Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, he retorted, “Did you expect them?” |
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