Youth Cong threatens to remove CM’S pictures from ambulances
Thursday, 22/11/2012
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HOSHIARPUR: The political scene in Punjab is set to hot up with the state youth Congress threatening to remove chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pictures from the ‘108’ ambulances in a week’s time and replace them with those of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the SAD warning them against it.
The stage was set for confrontation as a group of leaders led by state youth Congress president Vikramjit Singh Choudhary and district Congress president and MLA Sunder Sham Arora started the “campaign” from the civil hospital here on Wednesday by sticking Manmohan Singh’s photo on the ambulance beside that of the chief minister.
The Congressmen dispersed soon after. Senior civil and police officials reached the spot. The ambulance disappeared soon after. Senior medical officer in-charge Dr Anil Mahindra said it had been taken away by the police but SP (detective) Jagmohan Singh said it was not with them.
Vikramjit Singh said the Congress had been warning the state government all along to install the Prime Minister’s photos on the 108 ambulances as these were bought with the central funds. “We had also complained to the Election Commission before the assembly elections at whose directions the government had removed the chief minister’s pictures, but after the elections they were restored. The SAD-BJP government should give due recognition to the Prime Minister,” he said, warning that if the chief minister’s photos were not taken off in a week, the state youth Congress would do it.
Urmur MLA Sangat Singh Gilgian, Mukerian MLA Rajnish Babbi, national secretary Sangram Pundir, district youth Congress president Mantoo Lally, and senior leader Raj Kumar were among those who pasted the Prime Minister’s photo on the vehicle.
Reacting to the move, chief minister’s adviser Daljit Singh Cheema said whosoever tried to fiddle with the CM’s pictures would have to face the consequences. “We will not allow anyone to indulge in this unlawful activity,” said Cheema.
He said the Congress leaders had five years at their disposal to get the photos pasted wherever they wanted, but they did not have even a single achievement to their credit.
