State govt patronising the corrupt, alleges Amarinder
Friday, 22/11/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131122/punjab.htm#7
Moga : Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh has accused the SAD-BJP government of promoting corruption.
“The government is patronising the corrupt, something that has disturbed the socio-economic balance in the state. In the absence of employment, our youth are taking to drugs, which is a matter of concern. We need to rise above party lines to tackle this issue,” he said.
Amarinder had last visited Moga during the assembly bypoll around nine months ago when the Congress had lost to the SAD. He took a brief halt in the city on his way to Ferozepur.
Appearing elated over a sizable number of party workers, he said, “Winning or losing an election is part of politics. But, our fight against the power-hungry Akalis will continue. To give them a befitting reply in next Lok Sabha elections, you all (party workers) need to go to the masses and make people aware about their anti-people policies.”
Former MLA Vijay Sathi and SGPC member Sukhjit Singh Kaka Lohgarh were there to greet Amarinder. Several senior leaders, including former ministers Darshan Singh Brar, Dr Malti Thapar and district president Jagdarshan Kaur, were conspicuous by their absence.
Lashing out at the Akalis for levying property tax, he said Punjab was headed for a financial mess.
Amarinder also took a dig at the state government for failing to protect the rights of farmers who were allegedly harassed by officials of Punjab procurement agencies on the pretext of high humidity content in paddy and forced to sell their crops at lower prices.
'Not keen to contest from Bathinda'
Amarinder said he was not interested in contesting the Lok Sabha election from Bathinda. He said he had already conveyed it to Congress president Sonia Gandhi that he wanted to work in her team and that was why he had been given the responsibility in the party's Central Working Committee.
Complaints against SAD supporters
A woman broke down when Amarinder was addressing a press conference. She alleged that a supporter of a SAD leader had grabbed their three acres of land. Similarly, a BPL card holder, Jaspal Singh, showed Amarinder an electricity of Rs 66,000, which he alleged was a punishment for supporting the Akalis
