In times of mutiny, Capt to go to war

Sunday, 02/09/2012

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CHANDIGARH: Captaining a statewide agitation is on Amarinder’s mind when his own ship is unsteady and there’s rebellion on board.

Captain Amarinder Singh, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, on Saturday announced the programme of his party’s statewide dharnas on September 7 against the state’s ruling coalition of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bhartiya Janata Party over the levying of new taxes.

“The government never prepared people for the taxes,” he said. “Near the budget, it was quiet because of municipal corporation elections and now it has thrust a burden of Rs 9,000 crore on taxpayers.”

Addressing the media here on Saturday, the former chief minister declared his strategy to “gherao” the government, when he himself is caught in a sea of dissent within the Congress.

A group of sitting and former legislators and ex-ministers in the party had got together on Friday to seek his head over the Congress’ drubbing in the last state elections.

A marinder called upon the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India ( Marxis t ) ( CPM); Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP); and Sanjha Morcha to be on a common platform to support to the fight.

He invited the others parties to join the Congress protests on September 7 in all district headquarters . He said his programme of touring all assembly constituencies would continue as scheduled till midNovember.

The government circumvented the legislative process by way of showing a “tax-free” budget and imposing a heavy duty subsequently, said Amarinder. “This is a fraud against people.”

“The government has decided to tax vacant plots in the cities, even if the owners were poor,” the state Congress president added. “Nearly 200 arc and induction furnaces have shifted from the state and the

entire furnace industry is thinking of exodus because of fresh taxes and the shortage of electricity.”

More than a dozen legislators sat with him in the press conference. Taxes were a shortterm measure and not the way to revive economy, he said, adding that it was just the beginning.

Reply to a query about the Congress MLAs and lead - ers asking to dethrone him, Amarinder said it was the discretion and prerogative of the all-India Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

He declined to comment on the rebels’ meeting in Chandigarh on Friday. “I am not keen to recommend any action against those demanding my removal,” he clarified.