BEOPAR Mandal constituted in 1939 still working successfully- OP Soni

Amritsar, August 4, 2013: In an effort to bring out the reality of the worsening situation of Punjab and seeking the support of the suffering masses, Vice President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and in- charge of Majha Zone OP Soni today organised a meeting which turned into a rally outside his residence in Amritsar.
The meeting was not only attended by Congressmen but by the commoners also who have now started to realise the folly they committed by providing mandate to those who have already been exploiting them.
Soni said that the idea behind the meeting was to enlighten the masses about the “exploitation” being done by the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab.
He said that the people need to be educated and informed about the haphazard increase in taxes and implementation of self styled fees by the state government to squeeze out the remaining life in the veins of the poor.
Soni explained that government’s policies are only in favour of their own ministers and nobody is even thinking about the development of the state. The industry is the backbone of any region and it plays the most important role into the development of the region. Industries in Punjab are already on the verge of closures and more taxes and complications for trade will create panic in the state. He said that the traders are frustrated by the horror created by e-TRIP system being implemented by the state government and most of the industrialists are going to move their units and trade into others states which are welcoming investments with huge subsidies and facilities. He said that Amritsar being the border state has different needs in every sphere. The freight is already the highest here as it is located on the extreme north of the trading zone. Reminding about the times of 1939, Soni said that when Britishers implemented sales tax on Indian traders, late Bihari Lala Chanana moved the traders into an agitation and strike which lasted for two months and neither military nor police could stop them. As a result, Punjab Pradesh Vyapar Mandal was constituted which was successful till date in the redressal of all the issues faced by the traders. But now the ruling leaders and a few traders are calling this mandal as ineffective.
Soni demanded that this matter must be investigated by the central investigative agencies so that anti-industry and anti-social elements could be brought in lime light.
Soni further said that not only industrialists; the commoners are also being haunted by the new property taxes and property approval fees. Even 30 year old establishments and colonies are declared unapproved by the SAD-BJP alliance creating confusion into the lives of those who have spent the earnings of their lives on the houses. Shri Soni said that BJP who has been party to every policy framed by SAD is now hiding from representing the urbanites. He said another bolt from the blue after E-TRIP and property tax/fees is 33% hike by Punjab government in the fees of various medical courses in private colleges.
Soni further said that students from Punjab have already been preferring other states for education and now the medical aspirants who used to come into Punjab will also prefer other states.
He said that each and every policy by SAD-BJP is focused to en-route the revenue either into the pockets of SAD men and BJP men or losing it to other states.
Pointing towards the law and order situation of Punjab and especially the Majha Zone Soni said that situation is growing tense day by day. The so called rumours of “Kala Kacha” gangs are now becoming reality. Commenting on the last night’s happening at village Bal Kalan on Fathegarh Churian road, Soni said that as per the villagers guarding their village at night, vehicles are transporting the gangsters to the villages to carry out terrorist activities. He said that the night guards captured the vehicle and found out pointed weapons into it.
Soni demanded that this happening is pointing towards a very complex state of affairs and it should be investigated by CBI and bring out the true culprits behind such crimes.
Announcing the further programme, he said that a huge rally would be organised on August 11at Chowk Kt. Bhai Sant Singh at 6 PM which lies into his own constituency (Amritsar Central). The rally would be addressed by the president of PPCC Partap Singh Bajwa and other senior leaders of Congress and would be attended by Congressmen, industrialists and the suffering masses.
During the meeting, Surjit Singh Kohli brother of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Vikas Soni, Gurjit Aujla, Karamjit Singh Rintu, Sunil Datti, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sukhdev Singh Shehbazpuri, Rajkanwalpreet Singh Lucky, Mamta Dutta and many others attended the meeting and appealed the participants to join hands and make not only the make the forthcoming rally a success but also pave the way for Congress’ success in coming elections.