Sukhbir finally visits firing victims’ kin

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, November 17

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today visited the families of those killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan last month.

A heavy police force had been deployed at Sarawan and Niamiwala villages since last evening. Despite that some protesters of Sarawan and adjoining villages managed to stage a protest in front of the house of deceased Gurjeet Singh.

The police had to face a lot of resistance in dispersing the villagers. They even asked Gurjeet’s grandfather to urge the protesters to give up.

At least an hour before Sukhbir’s visit to Sarawan, the police rounded up 11 protesters, including two women, and dispersed the crowd.

During his 15-minute stay at Gurjeet’s house, Sukhbir said a community hall would be built in the memory of the deceased and promised a government job to a member in the victim family. He also promised to allocate Rs2 crore for the development of the village, said Pritam Singh Matharoo, Gurjeet’s grandfather. “We demanded nothing for our family but for the village,” he said.

Sukhbir, accompanied by MLAs Deep Malhotra and Mantar Brar, then visited the house of deceased Bhagwan Krishan Singh at the adjoining Niamiwala village.

Here also, the Deputy CM told the deceased’s father Mohinder Singh that a community hall would be built at Niamiwala village and promised a government job to a family member.

“We will get clearance for the jobs in the next Cabinet meeting,” he said.

Cong men knew Sarbat Khalsa’s motive: SAD

Chandigarh: The SAD today said new revelations proved that Congress leaders had participated and supported the “so-called Sarbat Khalsa” despite knowing that it was a Khalistani stage.

SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said the statement by SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann that all leaders attending the Sarbat Khalsa knew that it was a Khalistani stage had exposed the lies of PPCC chief Partap Bajwa.

He said Bajwa had been claiming that Congress leaders Ramanjit Sikki and Inderjit Zira did not know the intentions of the organisers and that the resolutions had taken them by surprise.

The SAD leader said it was clear that the organisers of the November 10 gathering had discussed the resolutions with the Congress leaders.

Bajwa takes on Dy CM

Gurdaspur: PPCC president Partap Bajwa lashed out at Sukhbir, who visited the town on Tuesday, alleging he failed to fulfill his promises made to the farming community. He said the Deputy CM had promised to pay the sugarcane farmers their dues, but nothing had been done yet. He said the government had promised to provide a fiscal package to resuscitate private sugar mills.  Reacting to Bajwa’s charge, Sukhbir blamed the Congress for the present turmoil in the state. “Sarbat Khalsa was the brainchild of the Congress leadership while black flags are being shown to me at various places was also the handiwork of disgruntled Congressmen,” he alleged.

Patiala MP flays leaders

Patiala: Lashing out at the SAD-BJP combine and the SAD (Amritsar) for trying to give a religious colour to the anguish of farmers, youth, labourers and others factions of society, Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi On Tuesday said both these factions were trying to spread terrorism in the state. He said the turn of events that started with the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib till the holding of Sarbat Khalsa were unfortunate. Dr Gandhi also questioned the “dual stand” of the Congress over the issue.