Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
(Maheshinder Grewal asks Amarinder to tell if he ever protested against hike in diesel prices between 2004 – 2014)
(Asks both Amarinder and Bajwa to explain allegations levelled against them by own party men)
Chandigarh, The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said Non Resident Punjabi (NRP) and mp Mr Amarinder Singh and tainted Congress leader Partap Bajwa were playing out a war of TRPs to impress the party high command and that was why they were misleading the people on the slight VAT increase in diesel as well as refusing to answer allegations of corruption levelled against them by their own party men.
In a statement here, SAD general secretary and core committee member Maheshinder Grewal said it was good Mr Amarinder Singh was back from his one month long sojourn abroad during the course of which he also gave a one day talk. “I know Amarinder must have been in a hurry to escape to the Himachal hills as it is still hot in the plains and that is why he has misread my statement on the recent VAT hike”.
The SAD leader said he had explained in his statement that it was appropriate of the Punjab government to increase VAT on diesel by one per cent only keeping in view the State’s agrarian economy even as VAT on cold drinks and cigarettes was increased by 5 and 9.5 per cent respectively.
Mr Grewal said instead of twisting this statement Amarinder should tell the people why the price of petrol was increased by Rs 33 and that of diesel by Rs 22 during UPA rule from 2009- 2014. “He must also tell the people who ordered decontrol of petroleum products and also disclose if he ever protested when diesel prices were increased by 50 paisa every month during UPA rule”.
Stating that Amarinder was the last person who could talk about farmer issues, the SAD leader said the mp had done away with the free power facility for the agricultural sector when he was chief minister and had even stood by when urea prices were increased manifold.
Urging Amarinder to look within, Mr Grewal said he should tell the people why his recent foe turned friend Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had levelled allegations that he was able to get his sprawling New Moti Bagh palace residence repainted and fixed with umpteen air conditioners only after becoming chief minister.
Speaking about Partap Bajwa and his tainted past, Mr Grewal said the less said about the PCC chief the better. He said Bajwa should however explain to the people as to why his name had become synonymous with corrupt deeds, be it the bitumen scam, Gujarat racket and the recent charges of having taken over land belonging to a village panchayat near Chandigarh. “The PCC chief’s character can be gauged from the fact that his family has been accused of working against the candidature of his own brother Fatehjang Bajwa during the Qadian by election”, he added.
Replying to recent remarks made by Bajwa about the erstwhile Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, the SAD leader said it was a case of simple misunderstanding between two brothers – Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He said Bajwa while raking up the past must also know that once Jathedar Tohra realised what was right he not only mended ties with Mr Badal but also led the party agitation when the Congress party embroiled Badal Sahab in false cases.
Speaking about both Amarinder and Bajwa, the SAD leader said they both had Akali pasts and had only adopted the Congress when they and their families realised they had no place in a people’s party like the SAD.
Explaining why he was defending the SAD as claimed by Bajwa, the SAD leader said he was convinced Mr P S Badal and Mr Sukhbir Badal were the only leaders who could watch the interests of Punjab. “The people of the State are also convinced on this issue and that is why they have rejected the Congress twice in assembly elections”, Mr Grewal added. EOM
