US Nagar panel an eyewash

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Kalyan Singh are members of the committee.

He alleged that in the process, the Akali Dal had bargained for a cabinet berth and possibly funds for development while betraying the people of Udham Singh Nagar whose cause they were supposed to be pleading.

He did not favour referendum in that area to know the choice of the people saying majority of the panchayats had already passed resolutions opposing the transfer to Uttaranchal.

He reiterated the stand of the Congress that a final decision would be taken when the Bill for the creation of the hill state is introduced in the Parliament.

He disclosed the visit of AICC chief Sonia Gandhi to Punjab had not been finalised so far. Earlier, October 10 was being mentioned as the possible date for her visit.

On Adampur Assembly bye-election, Amarinder Singh said he was for all the secular forces joining hands but made it clear the Congress could not agree to leaving the seat to any other party. This would have to be decided going by the performance during the last election.

The state Congress chief, who met Governor B. K. N. Chhibber in the morning, said he had made it known that his party could not cooperate with Lok Pal Harbans Singh Rai for his proximity to Badal. 8220;He would only give political judgments8221;, he said.

On the issue of celebrating 300th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa in April next, he did not see any wrong in the state government constructing memorial at Anandpur Sahib or the participation by the Congress. 8220;I am for it8221;, he said. At the same time, he felt the misuse of funds should be avoided.

Kapurthala: Punjab Youth Congress senior vice-president Sukhpal Singh Khaira today described the three-member committee set up by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to resolve the issue of Udham Singh Nagar as an eyewash and a pretext to postpone the contentious issue.

Talking to media persons here today, Sukhpal Singh said that the issue of Udham Singh Nagar had been sidelined to encash the Sikh votes in the Assembly elections to be held on November 25 in different states.