Govt machinery at work to ‘arrange’ crowd for SAD rally

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, November 27

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal is allegedly using official machinery for tomorrow’s ‘Sadbhavna’ rally in Moga to pull crowds.

Most of the private schools in Moga city will remain closed on Saturday. The DTO has summoned buses from schools and other educational institutes to ferry people for the rally.

“My school will remain closed as officials of the local administration have summoned all our buses for ferrying people for the rally,” said a local school owner.

A majority of the private buses in the district will remain off road. Hundreds of buses have been called by the local DTO and the district administrations of the nearby districts to ferry people for the rally. At least 100 buses have been dispatched to various places that will be at the disposal of Akali leaders.

A street vendor selling fruits on the main square of the city said the SHO of City-I police station had instructed them to shut down their businesses and participate in the rally. “Police officials have assured us that they will compensate for their loss in business by giving them Rs 150 each if they participate in the rally,” said a street vendor.

Most of the shopkeepers on the GT Road said they will keep their business shut because the local police had instructed them not park any vehicle in front of their buildings/shops. “Obviously, it is an indication to keep our shops shut as neither we nor our customers will be allowed to park their vehicles,” said a shopkeeper.

The local administration has also “summoned all sweepers and other employees of the municipal corporation” on verbal orders at the venue of the rally to maintain cleanliness. Such verbal orders have also been issued to many other departments for bringing their employees to the rally.

The main stage and other two stages have been constructed under the supervision of the Public Works Department while the water tanks are being arranged by the market committee.

Similarly, duties have also been assigned to other departments for managing the power supply, refreshment for senior Akali leaders, other VVIPs, senior bureaucrats and mediapersons. The langar for the gathering will be sent by two gurdwaras/deras of the district while tea will be served by a local caterer.

At least 20 executive magistrates, also summoned from nearby districts, have been assigned the duties to handle traffic and other emergency situations. There will be 10 executive magistrates on the venue of the rally.

The DPROs of Moga and its nearby districts, besides senior officials of the department from Chandigarh, have also been pressed into service to take care of mediapersons.

Unwell, Moga MLA may miss rally

Moga (SAD) MLA Joginder Pal Jain was admitted to the Vedanta Hospital in Gurgaon earlier this week following a serious heart problem. As such, he may miss the 'Sadbhavna' rally in Moga on Saturday. MLA's son Akshit Jain, who is the Mayor of the Moga Municipal Corporation, said his father had been uncomfortable for the past few days and had gone to the Vedanta Hospital for a medical check-up. He did not confirm whether his father would attend the rally.