No differences with Bajwa, claims Capt

Tuesday, 22/10/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131022/punjab.htm#6

Kapurthala/Phagwara : Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, while denying he had differences with Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa, today said they both had separate roles to play, he as a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and Bajwa as PPCC chief.

He was talking to mediapersons at the residence of District Congress Committee (DCC) president Harjit Singh Parmar in Phagwara. He admitted that wrong selection of candidates had led to the defeat of the Congress in the last assembly elections.

He was hesitant to reply on the possibility of an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party for the coming Lok Sabha elections. The party high command would decide on the matter, he said. Regarding the controversy on regularising illegal colonies, he said during the Congress regime he himself had regularised several colonies without charging money. He alleged that the drugs menace was on the rise owing to the "wrong, corrupt and selfish policies" of the Badal Government which had failed to create jobs for the state's youth.

He alleged that law and order had collapsed because of "politicisation" of the police.

Congress leaders Rana Gurjit Singh, Sukhjit Singh Parmar and Inder Duggal were present on the occasion.

In Kapurthala, Amarinder was virtually mobbed as people queued up for hours to have a glimpse of their leader. As his cavalcade moved through Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Phagwara, it was showered with flowers by supporters. At the Kapurthala grain market, Amarinder interacted with locals. The programme was organised by Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh.

“I will not interfere in the functioning of the PPCC. One cannot be president of the PPCC all the time. Partap Bajwa is the president now and he will be carrying out the duty assigned to him by the party high command. I am a man of the masses. So, I will work amid the common people. " I am ot going anywhere. I have no ambition to be Governor or Ambassador. Such speculation has no basis,” Amarinder announced. Surprising one and all, he asked his supporters to attend PPCC functions and rallies to make these a success.

Amarinder was virtually mobbed by farmers at the grain market who alleged that they were forced to sell paddy up to Rs 300 per quintal below the MSP. He held the Badal Gocvernment responsible for the same.