Out to expose Akalis: Capt

Monday, 08/10/2018

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/out-to-expose-akalis-capt/664871.html

Killianwali : Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said he came to Lambi to expose the Badals in view of their misinformation campaign.

It was his first visit to Lambi ever since he took charge of the state in 2017, but he made light of this fact. “It’s not the number of visits that count, but the groundwork my government has been doing in the past 18 months. My agenda is not to visit all 117 Assembly constituencies, but to ensure that people get what they had voted for — development, welfare and economic revival,” he told The Tribune here.

When asked about parallel rallies by the Congress and SAD, Capt Amarinder said his party did not believe in playing games with people.

He shot back by asking the number rallies the Congress had organised since it took over the reins of the state.

When reminded about his remarks made at a pre-election rally in Lambi that he would put SAD leaders Dyal Singh Kolianwali, Satinderjit Singh Manta and Tejinder Singh Middukhera behind bars, the Chief Minister said, “I never said I’ll simply throw SAD leaders behind bars. I always said I will get every allegation against them probed thoroughly and, if an iota of evidence was found against any of them, we would act as per law.”

On the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission report, he said the panel called for further investigation to find out the role of the Badals in sacrilege incidents. “An SIT has been formed for that. If you ask me, Badal has been exploiting religion to further his interests. But my contention does not amount to evidence in the eyes of the law. Let the SIT complete its job and we will take action against those found guilty.”

When asked about Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s absence from the rally, he said: “The rally is a party programme and everyone was invited. I don’t his reason for skipping the rally.”

Rally Sidelights

Former Muktsar MLA Karan Kaur Brar wanted to be sure that her supporters reached the rally venue of the Congress. So she appealed to them through a Facebook post to make videos before leaving from villages and make another one on reaching the venue, and post the two videos on a WhatsApp number.

Punjabi singer Sharry Mann, who has released a few tracks glorifying alcohol consumption, performed at the rally. This created a buzz on social media, with some saying the Congress had promised to make Punjab drug-free, but called a singer who promoted liquor in his songs. Mann, however, did not sing any such song at the rally.

A majority of Congress leaders were busy checking WhatsApp messages for updates on the SAD’s Patiala rally. One of them showed his cellphone, saying that only 19,000 people were present in the SAD’s rally.

To ensure that leaders present on the stage do not feel the heat, the organisers had installed a number of air-conditioners and fans. For the public, several LED screens were put up in the ‘pandal’ so that they could have a closer look at leaders.

A short clip on Capt Amarinder’s political life and works done during his present rule was shown to the public when he arrived at the venue.

The picture of Asha Kumari, Congress’ Punjab affairs incharge, was displayed on the hoarding put up on the main stage, but she did not turn up.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal addressed his father Parkash Singh Badal as “apne pita samaan bazurg (our father-like elderly)” while starting his speech.

Thousands of workers were stuck in a traffic jam outside the venue, while hundreds had to stand in the sun for more than three hours as the venue was packed to capacity.

Sikandar Singh Maluka, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Surjit Singh Rakhra sat on the floor of the stage as senior leaders occupied front seats.

Sukhbir termed Sikh organisation United Akali Dal as a handful of men who could fit in a Maruti car, leaving the gathering in splits.

Bikram Singh Majithia termed Aam Aadmi Party rebel group leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira as a camel who entered the tent of any political outfit.

For a change, langar was prepared for workers at the rally venue itself; workers were seen packing food while on their way back home.