Farmers gherao AAP MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra in Patiala village over tractor-trailers going missing from Shambhu protest site on Punjab-Haryana border
1
2
Patiala: Tensions flared in Patiala district on Tuesday as angry farmers gheraoed AAP MLA
Chetan Singh Jouramajra
during his visit to villages in Samana constituency.
The confrontation stemmed from the farmers' outrage over their tractor-trolleys and belongings allegedly being stolen when police evicted them from the Shambu protest site in March.
The farmers, most of them associated with BKU (Ekta Azad), cornered Jouramajra in Bhedpur village and questioned his silence over the detention of farmers from his own constituency. "You tell me what developmental work you want me to do in my constituency. I didn't go to Shambu and don't know about it," Jouramajra told the agitated crowd.
He, however, directed local officials to investigate the matter and recover the stolen tractors at the earliest.
In a move to pacify the crowd, the MLA also promised to personally compensate one of the affected farmers from Bhedpur village by purchasing a new tractor for him. But the farmers were unconvinced, questioning why tractor-trolleys, refrigerators, and other valuable belongings to them vanished after the police crackdown.
Jaswant Singh, a functionary of BKU (Ekta Azad), said the gherao was in response to AAP govt's handling of the March 19 police action at Shambu and Khanauri interstate borders.
"Our tractors, trolleys, and personal belongings were looted after police evicted us. Many elderly farmers were left abandoned at night. The govt must answer for this," he said.
Farmers had been camping at Shambu and Khanauri since Feb 13, 2024, as part of their 'Delhi Chalo 2.0' protest spearheaded by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), demanding a legal guarantee to
minimum support price
(MSP) on all crops. However, the protestors were removed by state govt on March 19.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
BJP is playing the blame game: AAP leader Satyendra Jain after ACB summons
New Delhi [India] June 6 (ANI): AAP leader and former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain arrived at the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) office on Friday in response to a summons issued over allegations of corruption in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools. Earlier, Jain lashed out at the BJP government in Delhi, accusing them of 'playing the blame game' after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) summoned him. Jain claimed that the BJP government has failed to do anything in the past 3-4 months and alleged that the BJP has hiked school fees and summoned AAP leaders like himself and Manish Sisodia, who improved the school infrastructure in Delhi. Jain also stated that the anti-corruption bureau found no evidence against him. While speaking to ANI, Jain said, 'Ever since the BJP has formed the government in Delhi, for the last 3-4 months, they have not done anything... School fees have been hiked and those who improved school infrastructure in Delhi, Manish Sisodia and I, are being summoned. They want to divert people's attention. They need to work on cleaning Delhi and work on improving the infrastructure... They are just playing the blame game... They have not found any evidence against me, but still cannot let me be...' Earlier, it was reported that a complaint was received alleging a Rs 2,000 crore scam involving former Delhi Ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who are accused of inflating costs for constructing semi-permanent classrooms, Deputy Commissioner of Police-Anti Corruption Branch Shweta Singh Chauhan told ANI. The cost per unit is estimated at Rs 24 lakh, significantly higher than the market rate at the time. According to Chauhan, the probe has revealed massive cost escalations and violations of procurement rules, with 34 contractors linked to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Chauhan said, 'We received a complaint against Manish Sisodia, former Deputy CM, and Satyendar Jain, former PWD Minister... the scam is of over Rs 2,000 crore. The classrooms were semi-permanent structures, and the cost estimate was around Rs 24,00,000 per classroom, which was far more than the prevalent market rate back then.' 'There was a considerable cost escalation by the time projects were completed. The allegations are that the prevalent market rate by then was Rs five lakhs to complete a classroom structure,' she added. The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) registered a case against Sisodia and Jain over allegations of a Rs 2,000 crore scam linked to the construction of classrooms and school buildings at exorbitant rates. The complaint was filed by BJP Delhi spokesperson Harish Khurana, BJP MLA Kapil Mishra, and Neelkanth Bakshi of the BJP's Media Relations Department. The complaint alleged irregularities in the construction of approximately 12,748 classrooms at a reported expenditure of Rs 2,892 crore. The cost per classroom, as per the awarded tenders, stood at around Rs 24.86 lakh, even though similar structures could be built in Delhi for approximately Rs five lakh, they claimed. It has also been alleged that the project was handed over to 34 contractors, most of whom were allegedly affiliated with the AAP. According to ACB chief Madhur Verma, during verification, it was found that the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), in its meetings during the financial year 2015-16, had decided the project should be completed by June 2016 within the sanctioned cost, without any scope for future cost escalations. However, despite those directives, not a single project was completed within the stipulated timeframe, and significant cost deviations were observed. The enquiry revealed that a report by the Chief Technical Examiner (CTE) of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in this matter was issued on February 17, 2020, with the approval of the competent authority, but was allegedly withheld for nearly three years . The CVC report highlighted serious violations of several provisions under the CPWD Works Manual (2014), the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, and CVC guidelines. It also alleged that various decisions made after awarding tenders were not in line with prescribed rules, resulting in a substantial financial loss. The report further noted that the cost of constructing the semi-permanent structures (SPS) ended up being nearly equal to that of permanent structures. The actual construction cost of SPS classrooms stood at Rs 2,292 per sq ft, which closely matched the Rs 2,044-Rs 2,416 per sq ft cost of pucca model schools. Due to the adoption of richer specifications, no financial advantage was achieved by opting for SPS construction over permanent structures, the report observed. The enquiry also revealed that tenders were floated for Rs 860.63 crore, but the contract values later increased by 17 per cent to 90 per cent due to revised specifications. This led to an escalation of Rs 326.25 crore, of which Rs 205.45 crore was attributed to richer specifications, comprising 23.87 per cent of the awarded value. No fresh tenders were floated for these changes, violating CVC guidelines. Additionally, in five schools, work worth Rs 42.5 crore was allegedly carried out without proper tendering by using existing on these findings, the ACB initiated a proposal to seek prior approval under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the former Education and PWD ministers. The competent authority has approved the ACB's FIR has now been registered, and a full-fledged investigation is underway to uncover the entire conspiracy and determine the involvement of the former ministers, as well as any complicit officials or contractors, known or unknown. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Satyendar Jain appears before ACB for questioning in classroom case
Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Friday appeared before the Anti-Corruption Branch for questioning in connection with an alleged graft case in the construction of classrooms in government schools. Jain was summoned by the Delhi government's ACB for questioning. Before leaving for the ACB office, Jain had asserted that the previous AAP government in the national capital worked towards improving the city's education, while the current BJP government was only doing politics. Speaking to PTI Videos ahead of his questioning, Jain said the BJP was trying to divert attention from key issues. "First, tell me, where did the word scam come from? They (BJP) do not want to work and are aiding private schools in increasing fees," Jain said. "Manish Sisodia (former education minister) did excellent work in schools. He has been summoned. I have been summoned. These are all tactics to divert attention. "They (BJP) used to say that dogs are roaming in the streets, but we will clean the roads. Now they should get these things done, but they are only indulging in politics," he charged. The ACB summoned AAP leaders Sisodia and Jain over alleged graft in the construction of classrooms in government schools. While Jain was asked to appear on Friday, Sisodia has been summoned on June 9. The summons come after an FIR was registered by the ACB on April 30 based on allegations of financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of over 12,000 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in Delhi government schools.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Education department scores low when it comes to Mana Ooru works
NIZAMABAD : With schools set to reopen in the coming days, the education department has yet to decide on completing ongoing government-initiated works under the Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme. According to officials, out of 1,156 high schools and primary schools, 407 have been selected for implementation of 11 components of the programme. Former Nizamabad urban MLA Bigala Gupta adopted two schools and completed the works in Makloor mandal. Currently, work in 316 schools remains partially complete, while only 45 have seen all proposed works finished. Around 40 schools need over `60 lakh each to complete the work, but no progress has been made so far. Completed works account for a total of `9 crore. Contractors have been submitting representations, which have been forwarded to higher authorities, but no decisions have been taken yet. Last year, the Congress government launched the Amma Adarsha Patashala (AAP) initiative, targeting upgrades in 760 schools, including improvements to drinking water facilities, electricity supply, toilets, and other repairs. So far, 80% of the work has been completed, while 20% remains. The estimated cost of these works is `42.15 crore, of which `21.97 crore has already been disbursed.
