Punjab CPM lashes out at Badal on Sacha Sauda issue

Chandigarh, July 23 (UNI) The Punjab CPM has condemned the Punjab government for failing in its ''constitional duty'' to protect the life and property of members of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect in the state.

A resolution passed at the state committee meeting of the CPM expressed concern over the simmering Dera-Sikh dispute. The meeting strongly condemned the failure of Badal government in protecting the Dera followers who are being harassed and denied the right of worship.

The CPM also decided to campaign for maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state.

The two day meeting which ended yesterday was presided over by the party's State Secretary Balwant Singh. CPM Politbureau member, r s Pillai also attended the meeting.

Briefing mediapersons here today, Mr Singh said that the party has chalked out a fortnight-long campaign of mass contact in all districts of Punjab from August 16 to August 30, in pursuance to the call of the party's Central Committee. As part of this programme, the 'jathas' of the party will march in villages and rouse public opinion on the vital demands and problems of various sections of the people.

On August 30, the ultimate day of the campaign, day long picketing will be held in front of central government offices, including TV centres and other important offices in Punjab, he added. The demands and issues to be highlighted during the campaign would include price rise and the agrarian crisis and peasants problems. The campaign would also highlight the growing unemployment and exploitation of the labour class.

Mr Singh said that Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal will also be exposed among the people for not fulfilling the promises of supplying wheat at Rs 4 per kg and daal (pulses) at Rs 20 per kg to the poor people. Pressure shall also be built on the state government during the campaign next month for revision of minimum wage of industrial workers, which is over due, he added.

The state committee has also finalised the time table for its organisational conferences in context to the run up to its 19th party Congress. The branch conferences wil begin from first week of September and state conference wil be held on December 30-31 and January 1, next year at Chandigarh.

UNI