The Fact News Service
Bathinda, August 6
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today held a massive dharna at Bhagta Bhaike to protest against the dissolution of the block as well as other blocks in the State, asserting that it would not only inconvenience people but also result in a reduction in the disbursal of central funds.
Addressing the massive dharna, senior leader and former minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said besides Bhagta Bhaike, the Bhikhi block had also been dissolved, besides the dissolution of two blocks of Pakhowal and Sudhar in Ludhiana, Moga -1 in Moga and Aur in Mohali.
Stating that the blocks had been abolished without taking the opinion of people’s representatives, Mr Sikandar Maluka demanded that two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chairmen from Bhagta Bhaike should resign immediately as they had failed to safeguard the interests of its residents.
He rejected the AAP claim that the Block Development Officer (BDO) would sit at Bhagta Bhaike for two days every week, stating “this is an eye wash.
The residents of the area want their block to be reinstated and the government should respect this sentiment”. The SAD leader said with an expansion in population, there was a demand to increase the number of blocks in the State.
He said instead of doing that, the AAP government was striking down blocks. He said residents of Bhagta Bhaike would now have to travel 40 kilometers to avail themselves of government services. He said reduction in blocks would also result in a proportionate decrease in the disbursal of central funds which would have an adverse effect on the common man.
Maluka also urged farmers to unite as one to oppose the land grabbing scheme of the AAP government.
He said the AAP government was perpetrating an Rs one lakh crore scam by aiming to sell off 65,000 acres of prime agricultural land to private builders of Delhi to collect money for its election campaigns in various States.
He said more than 815 acres was scheduled for acquisition in Bathinda and urged village panchayats to pass resolutions to thwart this land grab.
“Resolutions by village panchayats have been upheld in various courts while deciding on acquisition proceedings in the past and this is the best way to thwart AAP’s nefarious plans to loot the farmers of Punjab”.
He also announced that the party would be intensifying its agitation against the AAP government’s land pooling scheme in the coming days.
