Amid growing concerns over more than 100 persons from Punjab reportedly missing in Delhi-Haryana region since the Republic Day Tractor Rally, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday announced a helpline number 112 to report all such instances. At the same time, 70 lawyers were also appointed by the state Advocate-General on his directives to provide free legal aid to farmers facing cases in the national capital.
Assuring all possible help by the State Government in trace the missing persons, the Chief Minister said that his Cabinet colleagues had met the Union Home Minister on the issue and he would personally take up the cases of such missing persons or farmers with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Our hearts are with those fighting for their rights at the Delhi borders,” said the Chief Minister, appealing to the people of Punjab to immediately dial 112 to report any case of a person missing during the Tractor Rally, even if no cases had been filed with respect of such persons so far.
“We will do everything possible to locate those who are missing. We are trying to get details and will ensure that they return to their homes,” said the Chief Minister, during a virtual event, attended by Sarpanches of various villages, who expressed concern over the issue.Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar urged the Chief Minister to help out the farmers facing legal cases in the national capital, in response to which the latter said that he had already directed Advocate-General Atul Nanda to arrange for legal aid.
Nanda later disclosed that he had arranged for as many as 70 lawyers to extend all help to the farmers against whom cases had been filed by the Delhi Police in the wake of the Republic Day violence. It is learnt that the Delhi Police has arrested around 89 persons, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, and registered 38 FIRs in connection with the violence.
The Chief Minister’s directives and appeal followed Sunday’s statement by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, claiming that more than 100 persons were missing since the Tractor Parade Day violence in Delhi on Republic Day.
CONG LEADERS MET SHAH IN TWO SEPARATE DELEGATIONS
Punjab Congress leaders, including Cabinet Ministers and parliamentarians, on Monday met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek details of the persons missing since the Republic Day tractor parade in the national capital.
However, raising the same issue, the Congress leaders met the Union Home Minister in two separate delegations — Rajya Sabha MPs Shamsher Singh Dullo and Partap Singh Bajwa meyt Shah to submit this representation regarding the missing farmers from Punjab hours after a delegation comprising Punjab Ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tiwari, MLA Dr Raj Kumar met Shah to trace the whereabouts of persons, missing since January 26, in the national capital.
Randhawa and Sarkaria said that in order to fight the legal cases of persons arrested by the Delhi Police, the Punjab Government has formed a team of 40 advocates who has already started their work. “These advocates would meet the arrested persons and their families and fight legal battle to provide justice to these persons free of cost,” they said while appealing to the Central Government for lenient view towards the arrested persons.
“During the meeting, the Union Home Minister informed that the list of arrested persons has been uploaded on the Home Ministry’s website and if the State Government provides any other list of missing persons, the Central Government would leave no stone unturned to find the whereabouts of such persons,” said Randhawa adding that Shah’s response was positive on the sensitive issue.
On the deadlock between the Centre and Kisan Unions pertaining to the three farm laws, Randhawa said that the Union Home Minister informed that the Central Government was ready for talks and waiting for farmersRs response regarding the same.
SAD SET UP CONTROL ROOM WITH HELPLINE SET AT GURDWARA RAKABGANJ SAHIB
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday announced that the party had established a control room along with a helpline at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi, to provide assistance, including legal aid, to farmer families whose children were reported missing since January 26 or had been arrested and put behind bars unfairly.
He also asked Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to ensure that youth, who had participated in the Kisan March, were not picked up on trumped up charges by the Delhi Police from Punjab. “The control room would assist farmers from Punjab and the neighbouring States whose next of kin were yet to be located since the January 26 Kisan March as well as those who had been arrested under draconian sections and sent to jail. Around 50 youth are still reported missing,” he said.
Sukhbir also announced three helpline numbers on the occasion for the convenience of the affected families, saying that people can contact with Jagdeep Singh Kahlon (93105 10640) and Jaswinder Singh Jolly (98991 00001) who will be available at Gurdwara Rakabganj as well as his personal Secretary Hardeep Singh (98913 59904) who will be available at his official residence in Delhi.
SAD chief has also requested party’s district presidents and halqa sewadars to take feedback about the missing youth from their parents in Punjab so that the cases could be followed up vigorously. “Similarly, the party is collating details about the false cases registered against youth who had participated in the Kisan March from Punjab and neighbouring States. We are committed to following up each and every case,” he added.