Eight prominent BSP leaders, accompanied by hundreds of supporters, from Bapu Dham colony, today joined the Congress.

The public meeting organised on the occasion also saw huge gathering of Bapu Dham Colony residents.

Prominent among those who joined the congress party included, Shamlal, Nahar Singh, Sham Singh, Samar Pal, Nasir, Masterji and Balinder Singh.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, MP Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal welcomed the leader to the party. Bansal also informed about various initiatives taken up for the people of Chandigarh. 

Bansal said that looking into the problems being faced by residents in getting the ration from fair prices shops, he had taken up the matter with the administration who had agreed to increase the number of shops from existing 60 to 100. 

Bansal also said that no resident of the city would be uprooted in name of illegal construction or jhuggi. All would get the flats for BPL as per the policy norms. 

He also advocated for enhancement of covered area for the smaller houses, particularly the houses developed under slum rehabilitation schemes 2-3 decades ago.

Mr Bansal also told the gathering that he had got 22 new schools sanctioned during his present stint as MP. Of these eight were ready. 

He also said that at least two schools were made smart schools, which were aimed at providing quality education to people from low income group. 

Referring the issue about increased prices of LPG, Bansal told that the government had been shelling out the subsidy of Rs. 125 lakh crores to provide cheaper LPG and petroleum products to the people. 

However, people were not getting full benefits of the subsidy due to the middle men. That’s why now it had been decided to provide subsidy directly to the beneficiaries. 

Addressing the gathering former Chandigarh Mayor, Subhash Chawla lashed out on BJP, accusing them of interrupting the proceedings in MC house and not allowing taking up developmental issues. 

Former Mayor Pardeep Chhabra informed the gathering about the new dispensaries, schools and other facilities developed in the city.

Manish Bansal who was also present in the meeting was also honoured.

Prominent among those who were present were H.S. Lucky, congress leader Krishan Lal. Rano, former municipal councilor Sohan Lal Vaid, youth congress president Malwinder Kalu.

Besides, youth congress leader, Gurpreet Gabi, Ankush Jolly, Yadvinder Mehta, Aman Deep, Manoj Lora, Ravinder Lohat, Naveen, Rajiv Moudgil, Parveen, Balbir, Kuldeep Dhillon and Navin Sehgal were present.