Congress to submit report on violence to Patil

LUDHIANA: Realizing that the recent violence that shook Ludhiana could prove to be a vital issue, the Congress party seems to be in no mood to bury it. On Tuesday, after highlighting the subject again, the leaders decided to submit a fresh memorandum to the new Punjab governor, Shivraj Patil.
Though the function was organized to pay homage to former Punjab minister Joginder Pal Pandey, who was killed by terrorist a few years back, the party used the occasion to train its guns on SAD-BJP alliance in the state.
Addressing the gathering, key speakers including Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee, former Punjab CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former minister Harnaam Dass Johar, former MLA Gurbinder Singh Atwal, former DGP D R Bhatti and others criticized the state government for its failure to tackle violence, adding the clashes had adversely affected business.
They also alleged that the state government tried to pass off the violence the result of Congress candidate?s election from the city. Remembering party stalwarts like former CM Beant Singh, former ministers Darshan Singh Kaypee and Joginder Pal Pandey, who were killed by terrorists, they asserted that it was due to the “martyrdom” of these leaders that Punjab was freed from the clutches of terrorism, adding that the Akalis had always spoiled the atmosphere in the state.
Talking to TOI, Bhattal asserted that violence had erupted in the city due to breakdown of state machinery and inefficiency of district administration. She added they would soon meet the new governor and submit the report of a probe conducted into the unrest by the party’s fact-finding committee.
Divide, again
Intra-party factionalism raised its head when supporters of Rajinder Bhattal flocked the function organized in memory of the former minister. Rakesh Pandey was considered a Bhattal loyalist. Leaders belonging to the group of Capt Amarinder Singh were conspicuously absent
Tributes pour in for first MLA
Various political social and religious leaders paid rich tributes to the renowned freedom fighter and first MLA of Ludhiana, Dewan Jagdish Chander, in a function organized on Tuesday.
Prominent personalities like minister (Jails) Hira Singh Gabria on behalf of Punjab government, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Mohinder Singh Kaypee, former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, MP Manish Tiwari, chief parliamentary secretary Harish Rai Dhanda, MLA Tej Parkash Singh, former minister Harnaam Dass Johar, former MLA Surinder Dawar were present at the event.
Calling Chander a great freedom fighter, who took active part in the struggle right from 16 years of age, they said he was imprisoned many times. After Independence, he was elected first MLA and served the people of Punjab as chief parliamentary secretary. He was associated with many social organizations and headed a large number of educational and health institutions, they added.