Punjab CM Charanjit Channi caps monthly cable rate at Rs 100

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 22

Putting up a united face, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu shared stage at a party workers’ meeting here today. This was Sidhu’s first official visit to Ludhiana after assuming charge.

Regular jobs in 10 days for safai sewaks

• Channi said services of all MC ‘safai sewaks’ will be regularised, contract system scrapped in 10 days
• Channi and Sidhu also met autorickshaw drivers, where the CM said all pending challans would be waived
• He gave job letters to the next of kin of five farmers who died during farmers’ agitation

To eliminate the cartelisation of cable network from across the state, Channi announced fixing of the monthly rate of cable TV connection at Rs 100. Addressing the workers in the Atam Nagar constituency, the CM said people were being unnecessarily harassed by the “cable mafia” by levying hefty charges.

Targeting the Akalis, he said transport and cable businesses were owned by the Badal family and that people needn’t pay more than Rs 100 per month now. Strict action would be taken against those not adhering to the new rates, said Channi. He also announced that all illegal bus permits would be revoked and allotted to the unemployed youth.

Channi further said in the next 10 days, the services of all “safai sewaks” working in the municipal councils and corporations would be regularised and there would be no condition of 10-year service rule, besides scrapping the contract system for recruitment. Earlier, the two leaders met autorickshaw drivers, where the CM said all pending challans would be waived. He also handed over appointment letters of government jobs to the next of kin of five farmers who died during the farmers’ agitation. On his part, Sidhu lauded the CM for his “pro-poor and landmark decisions” within a short span. He said the Congress-led Punjab Government would soon evolve a mechanism to make Punjab debt-free by launching effective policies, adding debt-free Punjab would be a better place for the future generations.

He said the party workers would be given better representation in all boards, corporations and other bodies in recognition of their hard work and commitment.

“For the development of Punjab, we will have to end the mafia raj,” said Sidhu. Addressing the CM as “Channi Bai”, Sidhu said they would form policies together as Punjab was on the verge of a civil revolution with mass unemployment.