2 mahapanchayats to observe ‘black Diwali’

Tribune News Service
Rewari, October 16

Two mahapanchayats held simultaneously in Manethi and Bawal towns in the district on Tuesday decided to continue their ongoing agitations by observing ‘black Diwali’ if their demands were not met.

The Manethi mahapanchyat also announced to launch a relay fast from November 1 if the state government fails to take any firm step to execute the CM’s announcement regarding setting up of AIIMS in Manethi village.

“We will not end our agitation till the announcement on AIIMS is executed. The region needs such modern healthcare centres, but the BJP government is turning a blind eye to it despite the announcement made by the CM over three years ago,” said Sheotaj Singh, convener, Sangharsh Samiti for AIIMS, which is spearheading the agitation.

He said the mahapanchayat attended by residents of Rewari, Mahendragarh and Gurugram districts also passed a resolution that 10 persons would fast daily from November 1 if the government fails to meet the demand.

“We will not celebrate Diwali this time to register our protest against the indifferent attitude of the BJP government towards the development of Ahirwal,” said Sheotaj.

Meanwhile, the Bawal mahapanchayat gave one week’s time to the police for tracing Shivani, a minor girl who went missing from Mohanpur village here on June 27. The villagers have been demanding recovery of the girl and staging an indefinite dharna outside the residence of Banwari Lal, Public Health Engineering Minister, in Bawal town since October 3. They said they would observe ‘black Diwali’ if no action was taken.

In the mahapanchayat that lasted around six hours, villagers decried the police for its “failure” to locate the minor even after three and half months. Rahul Sharma, Rewari SP, also reached the mahapanchayat and informed the villagers that the state Crime Bureau was investigating the case and had found some vital leads.

“We have given seven days to the police after the SP assured the us of some positive results in the case soon. The ongoing dharna will continue and the next meeting will be convened after a week if the police fail to give any positive result,” said Ram Kishan Mehlawat, a protester.

Ashok Tanwar, HPCC chief; and Capt Ajay Yadav, Shakuntla Bhagwadia and Jaswant Singh, former ministers, attended both the mahapanchayats.