‘Punjabis discriminated against in Haryana’

“Despite comprising 38 per cent of the total population,Punjabis have been deprived of their rights in Haryana.” These views were expressed by speakers at a convention organised by the Punjabi Mahasabha at Chadha Palace,Ambala City,on Monday. The speakers regretted that successive governments in the state had discriminated with Punjabis who were not offered jobs in government services in proportion to their population. Mahasabha president Ashok Mehta also addressed the gathering. Haryana Punjabi Sabha Zonal Treasurer Tilak Raj Taneja,however,criticised the formation of the Mahasabha and said Punjabis would further be divided into different groups. Punjabi leader Darshan Dua said that instead of forming a new body,there was a need to unite on one platform. Dharampal Chadha was nominated president of the Ambala City Mahasabha with Ved Verma as secretary. Four Punjabi poets Sudarshan Gaso,Surjit Singh Surjit,Rajinder Sharma and Jagjit Sufi were honoured on the occasion.