AMRITSAR: AllIndia Youth Congress(I) leader Maninderjit Singh Bitta has been provided National Security Guards cover. He is the second Punjab leader after Chief Minister Beant Singh to be under the NSG protection.

Bitta has been attacked by militants thrice and was seriously in a car bomb explosion in Amritsar last year.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, here on Aug.29, Bitta said that “blidani jathas” (sacrifice squads) will be raised in all parts of the country to meet the challenge of communal forces and to“ wagea war” against militancy. Addressing a press conference here, on Sunday, Bitta said the jathas would be sent to afflicted states to awaken the people and to mobilize them against terrorism. He said a jatha would be sent to tour the state of Jammuand Kashmir soon.

Three squads were first formed when Bitta was president of the State unit of a Youth Congress I

He said these squads would now be formed in every state.

He said that the Youth Congress was planning to launch a campaign to counter the forces which preached against separation of religion from politics.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 3, 1993