MARTYRDOM OF BHAGAT SINGH, SUKHDEV, RAJGURU Deepkamal Kaur Khatkar Kalan, March 23 The two parallel rallies organised by government and the SAD-BJP on the occasion of martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh were marked by a complete contrast. While the Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Sidhu ensured that it remained a completely solemn event, the rally of SAD was marked with loads of allegations, political statements and mud-slinging. Former SAD minister Bikram Majithia even went to the extent of saying that he chose not to enter Khatkar Kalan till Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu left the pious place. He even went to the extent of saying that being a Sikh, he was bowing before Sonia Gandhi, who was from the family blamed for Operation Bluestar. At the Congress event, none of the leaders made any political statement. The government had invited the family members of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, including Abhey Singh Sandhu, Harjiwanpal Singh Gill, Jagjiwanpal Singh Gill, Kiranjit Sandhu, Manjeet Kaur, Anshuka and Anushpriya. Family members of Shaheed Sukhdev, including Ashok Thapar, Karan Thapar, Sandeep Thapar, Tribhuvan Thapar, Subhash Thapar and Vinod Thapar were also present. There, however, were two protests at the Congress event – one by the kin of some freedom fighters that too while the CM’s speech was on. They alleged that they had not been honoured. The second one was by Punjab Students’ Union. Its members entered from the rear side of the pandal showing black flags as minister Navjot Sidhu was giving his speech. The members were detained by the police. A deputation of the Shikhiya Bachao Manch, Punjab, comprising, Jaswinder Singh Sidhu and other members met Principal Secretary to Punjab CM, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh here. Briefing him about their demands, the Teachers’ Union leaders said the clause of transferring teachers having completed seven years stay at a particular school in the new transfer policy, should immediately be withdrawn, the services of contractual employees should be regularised on their present pay scales, to withdraw the condition of requirement of atleast 60 students for deputing head teacher at primary schools to regularise the services of 5178 teachers and to release budget for paying salaries of the primary school teachers. The Principal Secretary gave a patient hearing to the grievances of the teachers and assured them to discuss these with CM Capt Amaninder Singh and the Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary at the earliest. JALANDHAR: Several Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day events were held in Jalandhar too. A blood donation camp was held at Congress Bhawan where youth volunteers donated 87 units to mark the 87th martyrdom day. Hundreds of volunteers led by Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, General Secretary Punjab Congress, administered oath along with Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh through video conferencing, to fight against drugs at a function organised at community centre Phillaur. CM Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh had decided to observe this day as ‘Youth Empowerment Day’. A state-wide programme to administer oath to Drug Abuse Prevention Officers (DAPOs) was launched by him today at Khatkar Kalan. Varinder Pal Bajwa, SDM Phillaur, explained the government policy.

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