Amarinder Singh warns Akalis against power misuse

Saturday, 02/08/2014

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=112161&boxid=58073&uid=&dat=2014-08-02

Patiala : Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday warned the Akali government against misusing the official machinery during the forthcoming Assembly by-elections in the state.

At the same time he expressed confidence and hope that the officials will not get pressurised and hoodwinked to do the Akalis’ bidding and will perform their duty in an honest, fair and impartial manner.

Responding to the reports about the possible misuse of the official machinery, Capt Amarinder, who arrived here on Friday from Delhi for filing of the nomination papers of his wife Preneet Kaur from Patiala (Urban) Assembly segment on Saturday, asserted that he would personally ensure that nobody is allowed to hoodwink or intimidate the Congress workers and supporters.

The former chief minister said he will be personally keeping an eye on everybody.

He said that he had full confidence and faith in the officials and police and hoped that they would not come under any pressure from the Akalis who are known for intimidating the officials and their opponents.

Moreover, he added that the Election Commission of India was closely monitoring these by-elections.

“I assure you that I will stand by you as long as you perform your duties in an honest and impartial manner,” he assured partymen while adding,“I want to warn all those who may try to misuse their position and power as it is matter of two more years only when the Congress will be back in power.”

Capt Amarinder expressed confidence that the Congress will retain this seat with an improved margin. He remarked, “It is not just our fight alone, but the fight of all the people of Patiala as we are all one family and our bonds go back to many centuries.”

Defending Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his opinion whether Sonia Gandhi should accept the post of Prime Minister or not, Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh said that Natwar Singh was wrong in going public with private information that was shared with him in confidence.

In an informal conversation with reporters here, Capt Amarinder Singh said that it was natural for Rahul Gandhi, who at that time was just about 30-year-old, to voice his concerns over the security of his mother in case she became the prime minister, as he had lost his grandmother and father within a span of less than seven years.

Referring to Natwar Singh’s book, he said that he had not read it as yet. However, he added that what he had read in the newspapers was wrong on part of Singh. He said that he should not have gone public with what was a private conversation and had been shared with him in confidence.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation Employees’ Union on Friday met former Union External Affairs Minister and Congress candidate from Patiala Urban assembly segment Preneet Kaur here.

The delegation announced its support to Kaur for the forthcoming by-elections, saying that the Akali government had failed them.