Harassment meted out at state govt’s behest: Bains brothers

Friday, 01/05/2015

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LUDHIANA: After being released, Independent MLAs- Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains- and their supporters have alleged harassment in the jails. They alleged that the jail staff harassed them following the orders of the state government.

While addressing a press conference at a city hotel on Sat Paul Mittal Road on Thursday, they showed gratitude towards their supporters for ‘Satyagrah’ that they had kicked off against sand mafia in Punjab. The Bains brothers have also announced to continue agitation against the sand mafia and will distribute sand to the needy people in 13 districts of Punjab. Bains brothers said they will announce their further action later on.

Both of them were arrested on April 17 for starting a “satyagrah” against the sand mafia.

Bains brothers said the cases of attempt to murder, loot and sand mining that were registered against them clearly indicate that raising voice against sand mafia affects the business of Badal family. To suppress their voice, the state government has implicated them in forged cases, they claimed

Bains brothers further alleged that power supply of their barrack was cut deliberately, while power supply to other barracks was on. The quality of food provided to them was poor in quality and they were not provided water supply for bathing for 13 days.

Talking about the further action plan, Bains brothers said they don’t fear going to jails and will continue ‘satyagraha’ against the sand mafia. After ‘satyagraha’ against sand mafia, they will start protest against the transport and cable mafia in the state.

“The Badal family owns majority of buses in the state and by using unlawful tactics, they have been causing losses to the state coffers. As many as 10 buses are running on one permit and the small transporters are forced to bend under the Badal family,” they said. Bains brothers also demanded CBI probe into the “transport business of Badal family.”

Reacting strongly on the issue of death of a minor girl who jumped off a moving bus of Orbit Bus in Moga on Wednesday, Bains brothers demanded dismissal of Union minister Harsimrat Badal from the Union cabinet.

It may be recalled that Independent MLAs Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains were arrested on April 17 for launching a “satyagraha” (agitation) against the sand mafia in Chuharwal village, 17 km from Ludhiana.

While Simarjit was arrested from Chuharwal, located on the banks of the Sutlej, his elder brother Balwinder was taken into custody from outside Hotel Nagpal Regency in Ludhiana. The Bains brothers had announced the satyagraha by their Team Insaaf from April 20, but they started it three days in advance.