Congress vice-presidents take charge

Thursday, 04/04/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130403/punjab.htm#6

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa today said his party would now, after having registering a “victory” by stalling the implementation of property tax, go after illegal mining in the state. The Punjab Government had recently formed a committee to review the manner in which the property tax was to the imposed.

Talking to The Tribune, Bajwa said he would personally start the fight against illegal mining this month itself. Claiming that illegal mining was being done past midnight with search lights in connivance with the police, he said he would personally lead “raids” against such activity.

The PPCC chief was here at the Congress Bhawan to participate in the installation ceremony of four recently appointed vice-presidents, including OP Soni (Majha region), Tarlochan Soondh (Doaba) and Gurpreet Kangar and Charanjit Channi (Malwa).

Bajwa said the maximum illegal mining was being conducted in Gurdaspur district, followed by Jalandhar as well as the entire Ghaggar catchment area. He said he would urge the Centre to order a CBI inquiry to determine who was behind the “mining mafia” in Punjab.

The PPCC chief said prominent Akalis who were indulging in sand mining, including Jalandhar leader Sarabjit Singh Makkar and Guruharsahai leader Vardev Mann, had been given 150 to 200 police commandos who were allegedly posted at the mining sites. He said he failed to understand why anyone indulging in legal activity needed so many police personnel.

Speaking at the installation ceremony of the four party vice-presidents, he said he would ensure free legal aid for all Congress workers “victimised” at the hands of the Akalis.

Punjab Legal Cell co-chairman and Supreme Court advocate Jaiveer Shergill has been entrusted with this responsibility.

Bajwa also announced that he would be present at the Congress Bhawan here twice a week and that all the four vice-presidents would be present at the Congress office on any given day.

Earlier, Soni, Soondh, Kangar and Channi as well as Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Bittu focussed on the need to take on the Akalis aggressively.

Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar alleged that there was “goonda raj” in the state as the criminals who had been used in elections were now seeking their pound of flesh.

Bajwa at combative best
PPCC president Partap Bajwa was at his combative best. Hitting out at CM Parkash Singh Badal, he said he knew well how to wrest power from the ruling party and that he would even take the help of "Chanakya neeti" of senior leader Laal Singh for the purpose.

Jeet Baisakhi conference convener
The party appointed legislator Jeet Mohinder Singh as convener and former minister Jagmohan Singh Kang as observer for the Baisakhi conference at Talwandi Sabo on April 13

Capt misses court hearing too
Former PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, who gave the installation function a miss despite his earlier claims that he would be present, did not turn up for his court hearing in the Amritsar Improvement Trust land scam case in a Mohali court on Tuesday. His counsel moved his exemption application, stating that the leader was busy in political meetings at New Delhi.