DABWALI: A condolence meeting attended by the Prime Minister Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, here last week to mourn the death of over 400 people, who died in a fire last week, was disturbed by slogan shouting_ local people demanding setting up a medical college in the memory of those killed.
Trouble began soon after the Prime: Minister finished his speech and the Haryana Chief Minister Mr, Bhajan Lal, asked the people to observe a two minutes’ silence in the memory Apia of the dead.
Trite locals, who were expecting an announcement by the Prime Minister for setting up a medical college, grew restive and began shouting slogans in favor of their demand. They also demanded the arrest and removal of the Sirsa Deputy Commissioner, Mr. M.P. Bidlan, who was the chief guest at the school function when the tragedy occurred and had allegedly fled away from the site.
The Prime Minister and his entourage left the venue shortly after observing two minutes’ silence, while Mr, Bhajan Lal attempted to placate the people by stating that the assurance given by the Prime Minister to examine the possibility of setting up a medical college was “as good as done,”
‘The slogan shouting continued even after they had left the venue. Tension mounted when some of the policemen on duty asked the people to stop shouting and remarked that they were “drunk.” Senior officers present on the spot brought the situation under control. ‘The Prime Minister, who had earlier visited the site of the incident, had said in his speech that he favored the demand for a medical college, but added that certain technicalities were involved, including approval by the Medical Council of India, for setting up of any medical college. He further said that an announcement for setting up such a college cannot be made on the spot and assured that he would discuss the issue at the Center. He also invited Mr. Bhajan Lal 0 Delhi for a meeting to “find a way” to meet the demand. ‘While assuring every possible medical aid available in the country for the injured, the Prime Minister said that the Central Government would arrange for the treatment, He said that he agreed for setting up a memorial and an indoor sports stadium in the ‘memory of those killed in the devastating fire, Expressing his grief at the umpire evented tragedy, Mr. Rao said that he had notice a tragedy of such magnitude during his life spanning over 75 years. He said there had been fire incidents in enclosed buildings, in clouding cinema halls, but the tragedy involving school children was UN par alleged in its scale.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 3, 1996
