In view of recent media reports regarding a case registered against his former personal assistant’s alleged involvement in the misappropriation of public funds disbursement, Punjab minister for animal husbandry, fisheries, dairy development and SC/BC welfare Gulzar Singh Ranike on Sunday personally met chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and voluntarily submitted his resignation on moral grounds.
Disclosing this here on Sunday, a spokesperson of the chief minister’s office said that Mr Ranike urged the chief minister to accept his resignation immediately to uphold the highest moral ethics in politics as well to maintain the dignity of the office held by him so as to enable the ongoing enquiry by the Vigilance Bureau to proceed in a free, transparent and impartial manner without casting any aspersions.
In his resignation letter, Mr Ranike reiterated that he and his family had always stood firmly in his social and political life as a votary for honesty, transparency and high moral values as propagated by the Shiromani Akali Dal. He also mentioned that he and his family has ever reposed unflinching faith and confidence in the supremacy of the SAD party under the leadership of the patron and chief minister and its president. Mr Ranike also pointed out that his brother had laid down his life fighting for the sake of the parties’ principles and policies.
The chief minister highly appreciated the moral courage shown by Mr Ranike in submitting resignation on his own. Making a firm resolve, Mr Badal said that the law of the land will takes its own course and made it crystal clear that the vigilance enquiry ordered by him in the case was in line with the SAD-BJP’s government policy to ensure clean, transparent and corruption free governance.
Meanwhile, the chief minister forwarded the resignation of Mr Ranike to the governor.
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Mea: Google has blocked film in India
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Sept. 16
Condemning all acts that disparage religious sentiments and beliefs, India on Sunday said it was in touch with the US over the issue of an anti-Islam film that generated violence and sparked anti-US protests across the Muslim world, including Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Sudan and Afghanistan. The issue also led to the murder of US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. The government also announced that Google India has blocked access to the film.
Official spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Syed Akbaruddin said, “The ministry of external affairs is in touch with US officials who share our concerns on the matter. Google India has, in compliance with Indian law, blocked access to the offensive material.”
He added, “In connection with recent events we would like to reiterate that India has always strongly condemned all acts that disparage religious beliefs and hurt religious sentiments.” In Benghazi, along with Chris Stevens, four others were killed on September 11, by a violent mob as retaliation against the film.