Khaira leads protest dharna

Nadala Village (Kapurthala), September 22, 2012: Hundreds of Congress workers led by former Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira staged a protest dharna at Nadala village in Kapurthala district today.

Khaira while addressing the gathering severely criticised the SAD-BJP government for its anti people policies, rampant corruption and false propaganda on the issue of FDI in retail by the SAD.

Congress activists were also protesting conversion of Gram Panchayat Nadala into a Nagar Panchayat against the wishes of the people.

The protesters were carrying play cards to register their protest.

Khaira said it was unfortunate that the Ministers who are supposed to be custodians of public exchequer had begun to ‘loot’ it directly.

He singled out Gulzar Singh Ranike and Bikram Majithia for sharp criticism on the issue of alleged corruption. He demanded that the government must order a CBI inquiry and that the Vigilance probe was a mere eyewash.

On the issue of FDI in retail, Khaira condemned the double standards of the Badal duo. While Sukhbir Badal supported the FDI in retail his father CM was opposing it. The fact is that the farmers, consumers and common people will benefit greatly from FDI, the only likely looser is the middleman. Farmers will get fair prices for their crops, vegetables, fruits, milk products etc. directly from the FDI investors.

Khaira urged Badal to reconsider his irrational support to the NDA on the issue.

Protesters decided to strengthen their struggle against the anti people decision of imposing a Nagar Panchayat in Nadala.

Sarpanch Parveen Kumari cautioned people that they will be burdened by home tax, property tax, increase in registration fees, if Nadala is converted into a Nagar Panchayat. The villagers will loose the benefit of 5 percent relaxation in fees to students of rural areas and so will government employees loose their 6 percent allowance, in case Nadala was made a Nagar Panchayat.

Khaira warned that if the government went ahead with its decision, they would move the High Court of Punjab and Haryana over the matter.