CHANDIGARH: Even before the fragile compromise arranged by the Congress high command between Punjab “Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar ‘and Punjab Congress Party chief Varinder Kataria could be cemented, the Brar Government received another Setback here last week with two senior party leaders issuing ultimatums 10 launch agitation on separate issues. ‘The “unity Lunch” to be hosted by the ‘Chief Minister for the state party chief here fast week had to be canceled in wit of the state mourning but the state headquarters remained abuzz. With political activity.
‘Kataria tent his Support to the issues: raised by All India Youth Congress president, Maninderjit Singh Bitta and a dissident party leader, Surinder Kapoor, whose son was recently tortured by the Bathinda police, and said that the sentiments of party leaders and workers would be re Speeted.
Bitta, who was highly agitated over the denial of accommodation to slain Chief Minister Beant Singh’s widow, Jaswant Kaur, and the subsequent suspension of a government employee who had provided a room for her at the Nabha House, New Delhi, said that the Youth Congress would launch an agitation if the Suspension was not revoked within & week. He said that the employees had provided her a room at his behest. He contested the claim made by the Minister of State for Public Health, Jasjit Singh Randhawa, that the employee was suspended in some previous case and asserted that the government has suspended three employees for allocating a room to Jaswant Kaur.
Bitta said that a convention of Youth Congress workers here last week has served an “ultimatum” on the state government to withdraw action against the employees within a week ‘or be prepared to face consequences. He said that he would make it an all India issue and said it was unfortunate that the so called Beant Singh loyalists in the ministry had not raised their ‘voice against his humiliation. A visibly angry Bitta asserted that it was a matter of principles and he shall take Up the issue at whatever cost he may have (6 pay for the action.
Meanwhile, former minister and dissident leader, Kapoor last week threatened to sit on an indefinite hunger strike if no action was taken against guilty police officials within a couple of days He also met the Punjab Governor here last week to apprise him of the police highhandedness against his son.
Later a deputation of Congress Leaders Avtar Singh Brar, Bal Mukund Sharma and Santokh Singh Chowdhury, accompanied Kapoor to the Chief Minister. They demanded an inquiry by an independent agency into the incident. The Chief Minister assured them that he would not indulge the victimization.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1996
