Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
CHANDIGARH, December 17: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today sought probe into the fake encounters and extra-judicial killings alleged to have taken place during militancy in Punjab.
Referring to the revelations made by a former cop, Pinky wherein he had alleged that a number of people were killed without trial during militancy in Punjab, he demanded dismissal of DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and registration of case against him.
The PCC president also advised the party leaders not to comment on policy matters in public when they were not authorised to speak.
In accordance with the tradition, he also announced the dissolution of the PCC and other committees saying he will make the fresh recommendations to the party high command very soon. However, he said, four zonal vice presidents Gurpreet Kangar, OP Soni, Tralochan Soond and Charanjit Singh Channi will be retained. However, Mr Channi has since been appointed as the CLP Leader.
Addressing a press conference along with the former Chief Minister Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the CLP Leader Charanjit Singh Channi and senior vice president Laal Singh, at the Congress Bhawan after taking over as the PCC president, here today, Capt Amarinder demanded a high level inquiry into the revelations made by Pinky. He also asked as where did Rs 50 lakhs, alleged to be paid by Pinky for his reinstatement, go. “Let it be probed where the money went?” he said.
Replying to a question about one of the party MP’s suggesting that nobody with the name ‘Badal’ should be accommodated in alliance or otherwise, the PCC president made it clear, “nobody has any business to comment on the policy matters”. He said, alliance will be recommended by the PCC and the final decision will be taken by the Congress president and the vice president.
He said, the Congress was very much open to alliance with the likeminded parties, particularly the CPI and CPM, the People’s Party of Punjab and the Bahujan Samaj Party. He disclosed that he had spoken to the CPM general secretary and PPP chief Manpreet Badal. He hoped that the BSP will also be positively inclined towards the idea.
Capt Amarinder strongly refuted the suggestion that the Congress was espousing any panthic agenda. Replying to a question on holding the ‘Ghutka Sahab’ in hand while taking a pledge to eradicate drug pedalling and corruption from Punjab, he pointed out, even when somebody takes an oath, he takes it in the name Ishwar (God).
He reiterated his pledge that he will punish the drug pedlars within four weeks, put behind bars all the corrupt, cancel all the false FIRs and start the process of providing jobs to the unemployed in the stipulated time. He said, while he will not be providing all the details right now, as an example he said, like the Badals were operating 5 buses on one permit, he will stop them plying unauthorised buses and provide these to the unemployed youth.
He asserted that there was complete unity in the Congress party as it was important in the interest of Punjab. He maintained that all the senior leaders including Ms Bhattal, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa and others will be involved in reaching out to the people. He said, till the elections the Congress will not hold any big rallies. Instead, he added, the party will form clusters of 10 booths and interact with the people and workers from these booths. It will be done by all the leaders as one leader cannot do it alone.
Replying to another question, the PCC president said the Congress will certainly contest the Khadoor Sahab byelection. He said, the candidate will be decided by the party high command.
To a question on the Aam Aadmi Party, Capt Amarinder said, he neither considered the AAP nor SAD to pose any challenge to the Congress. At the same time, he added, that does not mean the party will lower its guard in any way after the grand success of the Bathinda rally. He said, while people were totally disillusioned with the Akalis, they were well aware about AAP’s capabilities as they realised the party (AAP) neither has any policy nor any leader.
