LUDHIANA: Arjun Singh, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, on April 25 could not speak at a seminar on the Punjab tangle as the venue was “captured” by Congress workers belonging to the ruling faction,

Around 1 p.m., Congress workers led by Darshan Singh Brar, MLA, and Gurmit Singh, political secretary to the Chief Minister, arrived on the scene, “captured” the stage and occupied chairs in the hall, the hall has a seating capacity of about 300. The other leaders present included Surinder Dawra, president, District Congress Committee (Urban), Ludhiana, Pawan Kumar Dewan, secretary, Punjab Youth Congress, Krishan Kumar Bawa, president, District Youth Congress, and Parminder Mehta, senior vice president, District Youth Congress,

The Congress workers started raising anti Jagmeet Singh Brar and pro Beant Singh slogans.

As the organizers led by Gurbir Singh came to the venue, they found that the hall had already been occupied. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, President, Bharati Kisan Union, who was to read out a paper, came along with some workers to participate in the seminar. They went into the hall and came back. Lakhowal and Gurmit Singh ex changed hot words.

There was chaos in the hall. The public address system was disrupted by the slogan shouting workers. The police officials present at the venue did not interfere.

Around 3 p.m. the Deputy Commissioner, S.S.Channy, and the SSP, S.Chate came to the venue. He Gurbir Singh lodged a protest with the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP.

He told them that they were organizing a nonpolitical function and was the duty of the district administration to get the hall vacated and maintain law and order.

Darshan Singh Brar, who were appointed chairman of the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation for days ago, and Gurmit Singh to newsmen that Beant Singh has brought peace to Punjab after great labor and they would not allow antisocial elements to disturb the peace. The two leaders told the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP that they would welcome Arjun Singh who was their senior leader, but would not allow any antisocial elements to speak.

The Deputy Commissioner and the SSP reported to Arjun Singh around 3:45 p.m. that the hall had been cleared and the organizers could hold the seminar. But Gurbir Singh and Lakhowal said the speakers had gone back.

The SSP told Gurbir Singh “you identify your men and we will ensure their entry into the hall.”

Arjun Singh asked Gurbir Singh to go and see the situation and report to him. He said he would like to leave before 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Congress workers again occupied the hall after breaking open the bolted doors, They again shouted slogans.

Arjun Singh later left for Chandigarh on his way to Delhi and the seminar could not be held.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 30, 1993