Rebel Akali leader Bolaria detained during Sukhbir’s Amritsar visit

Monday, 15/08/2016

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AMRITSAR: Police on Sunday detained rebel Akali MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria, who was leading a protest against the upcoming solid waste management project in Amritsar. Deputy chief minister was in the city to inaugurate the project besides the new municipal corporation building at Ranjit Avenue.

Instead of visiting the plant site at Bhagtanwala, where residents were holding the protest, Sukhbir inaugurate the project by flagging off garbage collection vehicles at the new MC building. Meanwhile, police detained Bolaria, who represents Amritsar (south) assembly segment, and Congress leaders Maninder Pal Singh Palasaur and Harjinder Singh Thekedar among others as a preventive measure.

Bolaria, who had raised a banner of revolt against the party in protest against the plant in his constituency, said: “I fail to understand why the deputy chief minister is so adamant to set up the solid waste plant here. This (Bhagtanwala) is a thickly populated area. People have already been facing health hazards because of the existing dump.”

MISMANAGEMENT UPSETS SUKHBIR, LEAVES VENUE IN A HUFF

Upset over mismanagement and overcrowding during the inauguration of the Amritsar municipal corporation building, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal left the venue in a huff, without addressing the gathering.

Sukhbir, who reached the venue one-and-half-hour late, was surrounded by too many people, including party workers. This made the deputy CM uneasy as he was pushed inadvertently. He was annoyed over the arrangements by the district administration and the police and was heard complaining about the lack of barricading.

After jostling to the area in the next building where his public address was scheduled, Sukhbir was infuriated to see chairs empty, and he left the place.

When contacted, deputy commissioner Varun Roojam said the deputy CM left due to shortage of time.

Revenue minister Bikram Majithia, local bodies minister Anil Joshi, mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and deputy commissioner Varun Roojam were also present in the function

MALIK’S NAME MISSING

Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader Shwait Malik shot a written complaint to the Punjab chief secretary alleging that his name was not inscribed in the inauguration plaque of the MC building, not he found mention in advertisements or hoardings. This is a breach of protocol. I have asked the chief secretary to take departmental action against erring officials,” he said.