Condemning the showing of black flags to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh on Sunday blamed the Akali Dal for the incident. Saying that Team Anna had already distanced itself from the protest, he said: “It was simply the handiwork of the Akalis for seeking cheap publicity by showing black flags to the Prime Minister using the name of social activist Anna Hazare.”
He pointed out that some protesters, who were obviously Akali and BJP workers and had hidden themselves under the garb of devotees, had not only shown disrespect to a devout Sikh like Dr Singh but also violated the sacred sanctity of Darbar Sahib.
He said that the common Punjabi feels hurt and upset over this incident as it has not brought any good name to Punjab.
In New Delhi, the Congress termed as “unfortunate” the protest against the PM in Amritsar and said Team Anna should have shown black flags to BJP leaders who are responsible for not passing of the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said the Congress and its allies got the bill passed in the Lok Sabha where they have a majority and in the Rajya Sabha, it was hoping that the BJP, which was championing the cause of the Lokpal, would support it but the Opposition party did not do so.
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Sena gets nod to launch shiv vadapav
Bhagwan Parab
Mumbai, Jan. 1
Shiv Sena, the ruling party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has managed to get a green signal from the civic administration on launching Shiv Vadapav scheme, its ambitious project aimed at providing employment to jobless youths in the city. The snack will now be available in civic schools, hospitals, markets and offices in the city.
Civic standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said, “The Shiv Vadapav scheme was aimed at providing work to jobless youths. The civic administration has given a positive response to start it in the city.”
Several attempts of the Shiv Sena to implement the scheme in the city had failed. However, many stalls bearing the name Shiv Vadapav have been set up across the city, creating confusion about the status of scheme.
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Woman Doctor ends life in central Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan. 1: A female doctor allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence at Dadar in central Mumbai on Sunday, the police said.
The deceased identified as Sheetal Patil ended her life by hanging herself from the ceiling in the bed room of her fifth floor apartment at Vishal Villa, they said.
Patil’s husband is also a doctor, practising in Nanvati hospital, police said.
Preliminary probe revealed that the victim, who has a two-year-old son, often used to have arguments with her in-laws, they said.
“The motive for her extreme step is not yet clear,” said a police officer at Shivaji Park police station. — PTI