Anna is welcome to Punjab but before that he should verify Badals’ credentials
Saturday, 8/10/2011
FARIDKOT, October 7: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today suggested to Anna Hazare to verify the credentials of the Badals’ and their government before coming to Punjab in their support. “After all it is the question of Anna’s credibility as well, as which type of people he is going to support and I am sure he cannot support the people who are identified as most corrupt people in Punjab”, he remarked.
Addressing a press conference after meeting the workers of the three assembly segments of Faridkot, Kot Kapura and Jaito here today, Capt Amarinder said, while Anna was welcome to Punjab, he must verify the reputation of the Badals, who are claiming to host him here, lest it tarnishes his own image.
Replying a question about the claims made by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Badal that he would be coming to Punjab in their support, he observed, “once Anna Hazare learns about the enormity of corruption the Badals’ have indulged in he will never come to support them”.
The PCC President observed, “Anna Ji is a crusader against corruption and I am sure before embarking upon any programme to support the Badals he will examine and verify their credentials and once he learns how corrupt they are it will be difficult for him to support them”.
He pointed out, as more and more scams by the Badals were being revealed, Anna will have more reasons not to support them. “And I am sure once he learns about their scams, he as an anti-corruption crusader will launch an agitation against them also as he once did against BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra”, he observed.
Asked about Mr Badal’s desire to retire from politics, Capt Amarinder remarked, “I have been hearing him saying that for last four elections and he says it every time on the eve of elections that it is going to be his last elections to gain public sympathy”. However, he added, these tactics are not going to work for Mr Badal anymore as people have already seen through his designs. Referring to Mr Badal’s appeal to Ram Sharnam Ashram seeking a hut (kutiya) with them, he suggested to Mr Badal to better spend time in the old age home he has set up in his own Badal village and rest there.
Giving details about his meeting with the party workers today, the PCC President said, he had come across several cases of criminal intimidation of the Congressmen. He revealed that the number of false FIRs registered against the Congress workers all over the state had already crossed 50,000 and the Akalis had become more vindictive after the SGPC elections. “However, I have been warning the Akalis and the police officials that they would be held accountable very soon as the countdown of this government has already begun”, he asserted, while adding, all these FIRs will be quashed and those guilty of intimidating and implicating Congress workers will be severely punished.
Maintaining that the land grabbing was the traditional job of the Akalis, Capt Amarinder said, several such cases had come to his notice. “It is a matter of four months more and everything will be set right”, he warned.
The PCC President reiterated that the party tickets will be decided by the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi and he will only be recommending the candidates. He said, merit and winability will be the main criteria for choosing the candidates. He disagreed with a question that there was going to be any rebellion. “Once tickets are decided everybody will support the official nominee”, he said, while warning at the same time, “those, indulging in indiscipline will be firmly dealt with”.
Among those present on the occasion included Sukh Sarkaria, who was the coordinator of today’s meeting, MLAs Avatar Singh Brar, Ripjit Singh Brar, DCC president Surinder Gupta, Lali Dhillon, Upender Sharma and others.
