Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
RAMPURA PHOOL (BATHINDA), August 4: Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said that there was widespread resentment and disillusionment prevailing among the Akali rank and file against the Badals and it will be manifested in 2017 assembly elections. He said, several Akali leaders were in regular touch with him and were waiting for the elections to join hands with him.
Addressing a largely attended public rally organised by PCC vice president and ex-MLA from here Gurpreet Singh Kangar and later talking to the reporters, Capt Amarinder said, every section of the people including the Akalis were feeling disillusioned as the Badals had not been able to look beyond their own family interests.
“Not only in Punjab, even abroad people are very angry with them and this anger was vented at the Akali leaders when they went on a tour of North America”, he pointed out, while criticising the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal for alleging that those who opposed the Akalis in North America were Khalistan supporters.
“They are the people who are concerned about Punjab and have been victimised here with false cases and suffered land grabbing and they had every reason to show their resentment against the Akalis”, he observed, adding, it was highly condemnable on part of Sukhbir to write off everybody as a Khalistani.
Lashing out at the local MLA and minister Sikander Singh Maluka for letting lose a reign of terror on the Congress supporters including physical intimidation and registration of false cases including those of murder, Capt Amarinder served an ultimatum telling him (Maluka) that his countdown had already started as he was not going to be the minister for a very long time anymore.
“Let me promise you today that when we come to power in 2017, you will be held accountable for every sin of omission and commission and you won’t find a place to hide”, he warned Maluka amidst thumping applause from the impressive crowd, “think of the time when you will no longer be in power and the law will catch up with you”.
Referring to the discrimination and victimisation by the Akalis with the areas supporting the Congress like Meraj, his ancestral village, Capt Amarinder regretted their (Akalis’) mindset of behaving in such a manner. “Does that mean when I come to powertomorrow I will stop all development work in Badal’s village”, he asked, adding that for the government everybody should be same and equal.
The former Chief Minister reiterated that not only will his government continue with the free power to the farmers and the dalits consuming 200 units of power, but he will ensure that they get the regular power supply, which they are not getting right now. He accused Badal of spreading the disinformation campaign that if Congress comes to power it will stop the free electricity to the farmers. “Let me remind Badal that it was me who started free power to the farmers and why should I stop it?” he asked, adding, he was well aware of the plight of the farmers a large number of whom were driven to suicide over failure of their crops.
Later replying to a question on Dina Nagar terrorist attack, Capt Amarinder reiterated his caution to Mr Badal against fiddling with the panthic agenda. He said, the ISI will always try to fish in the troubled waters. “It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not allow any such thing to happen so that they find the ground fertile to carry out their nefarious plans”, he said.
Addressing the rally, Gurpreet Kangar listed the atrocities being committed against the Congress workers by Maluka and his men and urged Capt Amarinder that when he becomes the Chief Minister he shall avenge all these excesses. To this, Capt Amarinder, later in his speech, promised to avenge each and every excess and persecution in the same measure.
Among others present on the occasion included Gurpreet Kangar, Rana Sodhi, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Joginder Panjgraian, Mohammad Sadiq, Harminder Jassi, Kikki Dhillon, Makhan Singh, Jagbir Brar, Surjit Singh Dhiman, Sher Singh Gagowal, Mohinder Rinwa, Charanji Lal Garg, Narinder Boleria, Amarjit Singh Tikka and others.
