Bajwa blames SAD-BJP government for suicide by jobless lineman

Sunday, 14/07/2013

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/bajwa-blames-sad-bjp-government-for-suicide-by-jobless-lineman/82715

KAPURTHALA/JALANDHAR: Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee(PPCC) today expressed grief and serious concern over suicide by an unemployed lineman Sarabjit Singh at Tarn Taran and blamed the SAD-BJP government for not addressing the problems of unemployed youth who are protesting for long to get jobs.

While addressing a meeting of workers here Bajwa said that this was the second incident in last one month when an unemployed youth had ended his life in helplessness. He said that earlier Jaswinder Singh a veterinary pharmacist in Bathinda the home constituency of MP Mrs.Harsimrat Kaur Badal had committed suicide under similar circumstances. He said that jobless linemen were protesting for last many months and also held 35 day long hunger strike. He said that Sarabjit Singh was among the jobless linemen who met Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at Chandigarh last week. Badal didn’t pay any heed to the demand of linemen, he added.

Bajwa said that there were plenty of incidents of self-immolation and suicides by unemployed youth and many times they were seen protesting on water tanks but SAD-BJP government has no concern about their plight. He said that non-governance, corruption and vested interests of Badal family were responsible for suicides by unemployed youth and also the farmers in state.

PPCC President said that SAD had in its election manifesto promised to pay unemployment allowance of Rs.1000 per person and the youth supported them in the hope of getting allowance and jobs. He said that educated youth felt cheated in the hands of SAD-BJP government. He demanded a compensation of Rs.10 lakh to each of unemployed youth who committed suicide and suitable jobs for their kin. He said that during last government Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal and Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal had promised to give jobs to unemployed linemen but now backed out from their promise. He feared that if immediate solution to problem of unemployment was not found, it will trigger a spate of suicides.

Bajwa said that Congress has started campaign to mobilize unemployed youth and Congress MLAs would enroll at least 1000 unemployed youth with the employment exchanges by the end of August. He said that Congress party would approach the court against false promise made by SAD-BJP government with the youth.

Bajwa also condemned the state government move to charge hefty fees for regularization of unauthorized colonies. He stated that SAD-BJP leaders were hand in glove with land mafia to sell plots in illegal colonies and innocent people were trapped in connivance with political bosses. He said that SAD-BJP government shall rather facilitate the people in regularizing their colonies at minimal rates and take legal action against the promoters. He said that state government had failed to prepare master plans of cities and towns causing mushroom growth of illegal colonies.

Others who were present included Navtej Singh Cheema MLA Sultanpur Lodhi, Ch.Jagjit Singh, Avtar Henry, Sukhpal Singh Khaira party spokesman, Rajanbir Singh, Surinder Mahey and Mr.Kanwaljit Singh Lalli.