Farmers Movement Archive

Pargat Singh faces farmers’ wrath

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, October 2Pargat Singh encountered a gherao on the first day of his official programme, which got delayed by over three hours. The Education Department officials, including Secretary Krishan Kumar, DPI (Secondary) Sukhjitpal Singh, DPI (Elementary) Harinder Kaur, the DEOs and the Deputy DEOs, who had gathered at the DAC at 12 noon had to wait past 3 pm till farmers lifted their dharna from the Circuit House.Education Minister Pargat Singh gave appointment and appreciation letters to schoolteachers during a function held at the District Administrative Complex (DAC) on Saturday.Activists of the Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee and the Kirti Kisan Union gathered outside his place this morning as per an already announced programme to gherao ministers against the 10-day delay in paddy procurement. Finding that Pargat was not at his place, farmers tried to reach out to him.The administration pitched in and it was decided that a meeting of farmers and the minister would be arranged at the Circuit House. Santokh Singh Sandhu, member of the state committee of the Kirti Kisan Union, held talks with the minister, which ended around 2:45 pm. The farmers also raised the issue that the farmers who reached the mandis on October 1 and 2 were forced to sell their paddy for Rs 1,100 per quintal to private rice millers against the MSP of Rs 1,940 per quintal.Meanwhile, reaching the venue late, Pargat addressed the DEOs, Deputy DEOs, District Smart School Mentors and Assistant Co-ordinators. He honoured Smart School teams of different districts with appreciation letters on pattern with state awards for their contribution towards infrastructural as well as qualitative reforms in schools. The minister also handed over as many as 27 appointment letters on compassionate grounds. The Education Minister lauded the efforts of teachers for bringing in educational reforms in Punjab, ultimately achieving the prestigious top rank in Performance Grading Index. Pargat stressed the need of strengthening sports infrastructural facilities, converting remaining schools into smart schools, computerisation and grievances redressal system to ensure conducive environment for education. Earlier, Education Secretary Krishan Kumar, apprised him about various initiatives undertaken by the department.HighlightsPargat also went to Gymkhana Club where Hockey Punjab had invited the Olympians to honour themHe also inaugurated the government college at Shahkot, which has come up at Rs11 crore. The college would offer three professional courses, including BCA, BCom, & BASingh continued to attack former-CM Capt Amarinder Singh saying that the delay in paddy procurement by 10 days came just after he met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. He said Punjab CM Charanjit Channi met PM Narendra Modi and got the orders withdrawn for Punjab

The Tribune

2021-10-03