Rakhra Confronts Villagers’ Wrath; Leaves Meeting

After confronting criticism in the city of Patiala for creating obstacles in establishing of a solid waste management facility, rural development minister Surjit Singh Rakhra on May 16 had confronted the heat for his “non-presentation” from occupants at Trein village in Samana community.

Rakhra had to get out of the public conference.

As Rakhra commenced talking to the people favoring the SAD applicant for block samiti seat from Main region, occupants at Trein village in Samana community begun lifting slogans against the minister and questioned that what has he done in the past 6-year ruling of the SAD.

The village residents, straightforwardly, told him not to anticipate votes for SAD and asked him to run off, it is learnt.

According to village residents, not a single money has been expended on the village expansion in the last more than 5 years of the SAD ruling.

“The streets are in a pathetic condition and even after a little rain we cannot walk in the village. The minister had promised us to link the sewerage to a drain passing at one side of the village. Nothing has happened. You have no right to ask for votes,” villager Shinder Kaur told the minister started addressing the gathering.

A village youth, Ranjeet Singh Jeeta, while holding Rakhra’s hands asked him to take a round of the village and see if any development has been done in last five years.

“First you come with me to have a look at the village and then ask your conscience if you deserve our votes or not. Tell me one reason why you need our votes,” Jeeta questioned the minister.

Rakhra’s frequent answers failed to please the villagers and he had to run off the gathering at around 7 pm.

Afterward, the village residents held a gathering and declared to boycott the SAD in the zila parishad and block samiti polls planned for May 19.

Sources added that the villagers were also protested against the contention of Balwinder Kaur from the block samiti seat. “Balwinder’s husband is village sarpanch and he has failed to bring any development to the village in the past,” alleged the villagers.

The villagers also declared that they would not permit any senior SAD head to campaign in the village.