Centre stage and in eye of the storm

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar/Malout, August 16

Just like Republic Day, Congress leaders took centre stage on the Independence Day functions organised at Muktsar and Malout towns.

The programmes were virtually ‘hijacked’ by some leaders, who don’t even hold constitutional posts.

The Congress, in its poll manifesto, had announced to shun the VIP culture after coming to power.

However, the party leaders honoured some people on behalf of the district administration and that too along with the Deputy Commissioner and SSP.

For instance, Manjeet Kaur Bhatti, wife of Deputy Speaker and Malout MLA Ajaib Singh Bhatti, honoured some people in the presence of Deputy Commissioner MK Aravind Kumar and SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi.

Similarly, her son Amanpreet Singh Bhatti honoured some people in the presence of Malout SDM Gopal Singh at the sub-divisional function in Malout town.

Further, District Congress Committee chief Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, PPCC general secretary Jagjit Singh ‘Honey Fattanwala’ and Gursant Singh Brar too remained present on the stage while officials of the district administration were honouring people who contributed to society.

During the Republic Day function too, the administration had failed to control the Congress leaders, who had at that time shared the podium with the DC and SDMs authorised to unfurl the National Flag at the district headquarters and sub-divisional towns. They also distributed prizes on the occasion.

Deputy Commissioner MK Aravind Kumar said, “The Deputy Speaker, due to some health issue, could not stand for a long time and thus asked his wife to honour people on his behalf.”

During the Republic Day function, the then Deputy Commissioner, Sumeet Jarangal, had admitted that it was a wrong practice leaders who didn’t even hold any constitutional post get prominence during such functions.

During the Independence Day function last year in Ferozepur, an inspector was suspended and show-cause notices were served on two DSPs after several Congress leaders, including Ferozepur (Rural) MLA Satkar Kaur, DCC president Chamkaur Singh Dhindsa, former minister Inderjit Singh Zira and Harinder Singh Khosa had boarded the parade vehicle along with Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. It had courted a major controversy.