Post hooch tragedy, political activity heats up in Batala

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, August 2

The political class has started using the liquor tragedy to hog the limelight even as the deceased’s kin are trying hard to figure out how spurious liquor was allowed to flow so blatantly into the town.

Leaders accompanied by their supporters are making a beeline to Hathi gate here. By evening, media men are flooded with press notes, pictures and requests.

Yesterday, AAP MLAs Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Jai Krishan Singh Rouri made an appearance. Minutes later, former Batala MLA Ashwani Sekhri arrived. He was followed by BJP (Batala) president Rakesh Bhatia.

Sekhri claimed that a Cabinet minister hailing from the area was responsible for the tragedy.

Former SAD minister Gulzar Singh Ranike and former Gurdaspur MLA Gurbachan Singh Babbehali turned up today.

The streets where two women bootleggers — Triveni Chauhan and Darshana ‘Faujan’ – were active days ago, are now resounding with speeches and condolences.

MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was in neighbouring Taran Tarn today.

Inconsolable relatives, however, are not impressed. “Two days after the firecracker blasts last year, which killed 24 persons, a horde of leaders had made their way into the city. The blasts will be remembered for two things — negligence of the authorities and the unwarranted visits of leaders. Politicians only try to take advantage of our plight,” said Sheila, wailing mother of Bhupinder Kumar (24) whose life was consumed by a pint of spurious liquor.

“The town should not be converted into a politicians’ playground. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has taken things square on and suspended negligent officials,” said Qadian MLA Fateh Jung Bajwa.

Khaira seeks probe

• Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA, demanded a high-level probe by a sitting High Court judge in the spurious liquor tragedy.
• He met the victims’ families at Pandori Kalan village in Tarn Taran and Muchhal village in Amritsar on Sunday.
• He urged the CM to enhance the ex gratia grant toRs25 lakh to the families of the victims.