PAYAL, LUDHIANA: The impression earlier in the day of a patch up between the Punjab Congress dissidents and the ministerialists at the Samadi of associated Chic Minister Beant Singh in Chandigarh tamed into discord as the Chief Minister, Mr. Harcharan Singh Brar, faced a hostile crowd and was hooted at the public meeting to celebrate the birth anniversary of his predecessor here.
All this happened in the presence the Union Ministers, Mr, Aslam Sher Khan and Mr. Ram Lal Rahi, and the ‘AIC leaders including Mr, Imran Kidwai, Major Ved Parkash and Mis. ‘Ambika Soni. ‘The presence of the newly appointed president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr, Virendra at aria, failed to have the sobering effect. It all seemed to be planned as the dissidents present on the stage also walked out as the trouble started. The speeches of the leaders pressing the need for unity and follow the shown by Beant Singh lost all meaning. The day was observed as Sankalap Divas with thousands of people taking a pledge administered by Mr. Kataria to sink petty differences and to unite to strengthen the party.
The trouble started immediately when Mr. Brar got up. He maintained his cool and finished his speech within five minutes; He announced that the Beant Singh Memorial at his Samadhi at Chandigarh would be constructed in 11 acres of land as the earlier area of three acres. He promised more funds for this purpose, He maintained that he was committed to follow the path shown by his predecessor.
Earlier in the morning, Mr. Kataria. led Mrs, Jaswant Kaur, widow of Beant Singh, his son Mr, Tej Parkash ‘Singh and the dissidents at the prayer meeting at the Samadhi at Chandigarh giving the impression that everything had been sorted out, The dissidents had been maintaining that they would not attend the prayer meeting and would go to Payal straightway.
Mr, Kataria tried to project himself as a neutral person saying he did not belong to any group and sought cooperation from all the sections in te party, He advised party men to revive the old Congress culture of sacrifice.
The All India youth congress president, Mc, Maninderjit Singh, it, who is also a Cabinet rank, minister in the Brar Cabinet, said no one should play politics with the family of Beant Singh. Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Minis~ {er for High Education, said that only ‘united party could face the Akalis in the forthcoming elections. Launching a frontal attack on the Akalis, she said they must apologize for betraying the people and the state.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1996
