SAD taking to bullying tactics, says Amarinder
Saturday, 19/11/2011
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111119/punjab.htm#5
PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today accused the Akali leadership of indulging in bullying tactics and making use of police, money and muscle power to retain power in the state.
Addressing a rally here, Amarinder said several recent incidents, including the murder of Sangrur Congress leader Ricky Duleet, booking of his mother in an attempt to murder case and Rs 2,500 loot case against Moga Congress MLA’s son, showed how “frustrated” the Akalis were. The ruling party, said he, was trying to build pressure on the Congress rank and file.
Akalis, the PPCC chief alleged, were not even sparing the media. Citing certain incidents where mediapersons, who were covering incidents that did not show the government in good light, were roughed up by the police allegedly at the ruling regime’s instance, the PPCC chief said, “They are using stick and carrot methodology to gag the media…force is even being used to disperse peaceful protesters at CM’s Sangat Darshan programmes.”
Meanwhile, ticket aspirants from the three assembly constituencies of Faridkot, Jaitu and Kotkapura could be seen vying with each other to meet Amarinder at the rally. In order to outshine his rivals in the race for party ticket, former Education Minister and Faridkot MLA Avtar Singh Brar at one time told his supporters to raise their hands apparently to show how much hold he enjoyed in the constituency. Congress Working Committee member Jagmeet Singh Brar, who is seeking ticket for his brother and Kotkapura MLA Ripjeet Singh Brar, reiterated that Amarinder was the “best chief ministerial candidate”.
Also, Jagmeet said the party needed to be wary of dissidents as “they had dented the party’s prospects in Punjab during the last General Election”. “We need to be wary of such defectors as they are more dangerous and a bigger threat than the Akalis,” added Jagmeet.
