‘Reprimanded’ by Akali minister, power corp JE lands in hospital
Gagandeep Singh
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 23
A 42-year-old Junior Engineer of the PSPCL from Mehatpur has gone into depression after being allegedly snubbed by Akali minister Ajit Singh Kohar in front of his colleagues and farmers of the region in a meeting held yesterday. The JE has been admitted to the Nakodar Civil Hospital.
The Transport Minister and Shahkot MLA, Kohar had called a meeting of the PSPCL employees of his area, including JEs, SDOs and Executive Engineer, at his native village regarding complaints of tubewell connections being provided to farmers.
During the meeting in which some farmers were also present, the minister allegedly scolded the JE from Mehatpur, Davinder Singh. As the meeting ended, the JE reportedly fainted.
Seeing his condition deteriorating, he was admitted to a private hospital in Mehatpur yesterday, from where he was shifted to the Civil Hospital today.
Around 35 JEs, 12 SDOs and three Executive Engineers were present in the meeting. The Council of Junior Engineers, Kapurthala, has condemned the incident.
The council has decided to give a memorandum to the PSPCL SE, Kapurthala, tomorrow. “If our pleas go unheard, we will launch an agitation,” said the members.
Dr Tarunvir of the Nakodar Civil Hospital said the patient was admitted as he went into deep depression.
Kohar said, “I never said anything bad to anyone. I have got to know that the JE has a medical history of epileptic seizures. He may have been admitted due to the same problem.”
Though the family members chose to stay mum clearly due to “political pressure”, they said Davinder Singh didn’t have any medical history. “We only want him to recuperate fast and don’t want to politicise the issue,” said a family member.
