Akalis appeal Akal Takht to summon MP Bajwa
Former ministers Bikram Majithia and Sewa Singh Sekhwan accuse Bajwa supporters of trying to stop ‘akhand paath’ at the gurdwara
AMRITSAR: Former Akali minister Bikram Majithia has alleged that the Gurdwara Chhota Ghalughara controversy erupted on behest of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Bajwa. Majithia, along with former state minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan appealed to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to summon Bajwa.
Majithia said, “Police and local administration have been working under pressure and supporting the guilty.” The situation is such that when a Sikh sangat wanted Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to reach the Gurdaspur gurdwara, police made elaborate arrangements to stop him, Majithia said.
Majithia alleged that the jathedar had gone to the gurdwara and asked to start ‘akhand path’ for repentance but on Monday some supporters of Bajwa had stopped the ‘akhand paath’.
Gurdaspur SSP Bhupinder Singh Virk denied the allegations. Virk said that the ‘akhand paath’ is going on peacefully. “Akali leaders will not opt for bail. If police there will not act against real culprits, Akali Dal will launch an agitation,” he said. AAP leader Kanwalpreet Singh Kaki said, “I am here as a Sikh and whatever happened at the gurdwara was intolerable.”
BAJWA DENIES INTERVENTION
Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa denied any role in the episode. Bajwa said, “I belong to a secular party and I will never intervene into the affairs of any religion.” Slamming Majithia and other Akali leaders Bajwa said, “Akali leaders have gone mad after losing power in state.”
FIR FILED AGAINST AKALI LEADERS GURDASPUR:An FIR has been registered at Tibber and Bhaini Mian Khan police stations against Akali leaders, former Punjab ministers Sucha Singh Langah and Sewa Singh Sekhwan, AAP Majha zone president Kanwalpreet Singh Kaki and other unidentified persons.
They have been accused of thwarting police from performing duty and taking possession of the gurdwara Chhota Ghallughara forcibly on Sunday.
On Monday, Gurdaspur SSP Bhupinderjeet Singh Virk said that a case was registered against eight identified persons under Sections 353,186 ,332, 148, 149 and 188 of IPC at Tibber police station. Similarly, a case under Sections 447, 511, 506, 427,148 and 149 of the IPC was registered against 27 identified persons and other unidentified persons for allegedly taking forcible possession of the gurdwara. NEWDELHI:McDonald’s India Pvt. Ltd, the local unit of the American fast food chain, on Monday terminated its franchise agreement with Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd, which runs McDonald’s outlets in north and east India, and is now looking for a new partner. The CPRL is a joint venture between MIPL and Vikram Bakshi, who is managing director of CPRL. McDonald’s cited “default in the payment of royalties by CPRL” as the primary reason for termination.
As a result, CPRL will have to “cease using the McDonald’s system (which includes proprietary rights in McDonald’s names, trademarks, designs, branding, operational and marketing practice and policies, and food recipes and specifications) and its associated intellectual property in relation to these restaurants within 15 days of termination notice”.
“The termination is a result of a breach, a violation of certain essential obligations that were a part of the agreement typically the default of payment of royalties to MIPL for two years. CPRL was notified of the breaches and was provided opportunity to remedy those; it had failed to do so,” said Ron Christianson, global head of corporate relations, foundational markets, at McDonald’s Corp., adding that the company is looking for a new developmental licensee partner.
“It is a lengthy process but we are committed to the market. We want to rebuild a stronger McDonald’s,” Christianson said.
The company is currently working on terms to mitigate the impact of shutdown on all stakeholders, including thousands of employees across 169 restaurants. McDonald’s operations in west and south have not been affected as master franchisee rights of the chain are owned by another firm, Westlife Development Ltd, through its unit Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd.
Amit Jatia, vice-chairman of Westlife, declined to comment on possibility of it opting for McDonald’s franchise for north and east. Christianson of McDonald’s said it was too early to comment on potential partnerships.The move comes almost two months after CPRL shut 43 of the 55 McDonald’s restaurants in Delhi following its failure to renew their licences, amid a legal battle between Bakshi and McDonald’s.