Rajiv, Longowal were betrayed by Badal: Capt Amarinder

Saturday, 20/08/2011

http://my.amarindersingh.in/rajiv-longowal-were-betrayed-by-badal-capt-amarinder

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today said, former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi was the architect of peace in Punjab. However, Capt Amarinder added, selfish leaders like Mr Parkash Singh Badal betrayed him and Sant Harchand Singh Longowal for personal political gains that delayed the return of peace and also led to loss of about 35000 precious lives in Punjab.

Earlier the PCC President participated in the bhog ceremony of the Akhand Path of Guru Granth Sahib held here for the good health and speedy recovery of the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi at Gurdwara Singh Sabha.

Party incharge for Punjab, Mr Gulchain Singh Charak in his speech paid glowing tributes to late Prime Minister who despite being so young launched India on the path of progress. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of Ms Gandhi.

Addressing a mammoth rally organised here to mark the sixty-seventh birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi, Capt Amarinder recalled his personal association with him. “He was always concerned about the peace in Punjab and it was this concern that led him to bring Sant Harchand Singh Longowal on negotiating table and sign the accord”, he said about late Rajiv Gandhi, while adding, but unfortunately Mr Badal betrayed them both.

The PCC President reiterated that Mr Badal was a coward that is why he did not accompany Sant Ji, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala and Mr Balwant Singh to sign the accord. “Had he (Mr Badal) accompanied them, the dark era would not have prevailed that long and we would not have lost 35000 lives”, he said, while adding, Mr Badal was always scared for life and always concerned about his personal gains.

Capt Amarinder, who was closely associated with the developments that led to signing of the Rajiv-Longowal accord, said, it was an irony that the same people who betrayed Sant Ji and were responsible for his assassination were now observing his death anniversary and Mr Badal was shedding only crocodile tears at Longowal today.

Capt Amarinder also recalled his close friendship with late Rajiv Gandhi. He said, late Rajiv Gandhi was one year junior to him in Doon School and their friendship continued till the cruel hands of destiny snatched him away. He remarked, “Shri Rajiv Ji was quite an affectionate, accomplished and an affable person”.

Referring to the Akali dharnas against corruption, the former Chief Minister asked Mr Badal, what moral right he had to stage a protest as he was presiding over the most corrupt government in the world. “First you explain how you could build hotels worth Rs 2000 crores with an income from 80 acres of land and then take the moral high ground”, he told Mr Badal while adding, the Akalis’ was a gang of thieves, thugs, robbers and dacoits.

Defending the Congress led UPA government at the centre for measures it took against corruption, the PCC President pointed out, it had removed a Chief Minister and several ministers and senior leaders against whom charges were made and some of them were even in jail. “The Congress does not need lessons from anybody much less the Akalis or the BJP who are themselves corrupt from head to toe”, he said.

Supporting the agitation of the farmers in Mansa, Capt Amarinder reiterated his offer to Mr Badal to give his own land for the power project. “I had offered him double the price he was offering Mansa farmers but more than a month has passed and he has just kept quiet and not given any answer”, he said.

Referring to the challenge posed to him by Mr Badal in a newspaper interview to go for a wrestling bout with him, Capt Amarinder remarked, “better be cautious and careful Mr Badal as you have already broken your hip once and don’t want to repeat it again”. He said, political fights are not fought in wrestling rings but with mind and vision and unfortunately Mr Badal lacked both.

Paying tributes to late Rajiv Gandhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Ms Perneet Kaur, pointed out, the progressive steps he had taken to lead India into the twenty first century. She pointed out, late Rajiv Gandhi was the architect of the progress that the country has seen during last two decades.

Speaking on the occasion, Congress Legislative Party leader Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal paid glowing tributes to late Rajiv Gandhi sayin g, he had dreamt of a great and prosperous India. “It is his vision that is bearing fruit and the country is on the path of an irreversible progress”, she said.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included PCC vice president Mr Laal Singh, general secretary Arvind Khanna, MPs Sukhdev Singh Libra, Vijay Inder Singla, Kaka Randeep Nabha, Nirmal Singh, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, KK Puri, Hardayal Kambhoj, Pawan Dewan, KK Bawa and others.