Punjab Bypoll 2014 - No ‘achhe din’ yet for common man: Tewari
Thursday, 14/08/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140814/punjab.htm#3
Patiala : Canvassing for Congress candidate for Patiala (Urban) bypoll, former Union minister Manish Tewari said, “The victory of the Congress in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo will set the tone for the 2017 Assembly elections, which the Congress is bound to win.” Lashing out at the ruling SAD-BJP state government, Tewari said their rule for two terms had pushed the state far behind in progress and development.
He urged the people of Patiala to ensure that they voted for Preneet Kaur on August 21 as it was not only in the interest of the city, but also the entire state. “If she is voted as the MLA, it will teach the Akalis a lesson that the voters are not happy with their performance,” he said.
Addressing a public meeting, Tewari recalled his roots and association with Patiala. “Both my parents belonged to this place before moving to Chandigarh,” he said. “It is sort of a homecoming for me,” he said.
Tewari also lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. In just two months, it had exposed itself in terms of ideological bankruptcy, he said. The prices of essential commodities had increased manifold, he said. “What happened to their promise of bringing down prices immediately?” he said.
He said they always advocated a tough stance towards Pakistan, but took no time to accord red carpet reception to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief to embellish their swearing-in ceremony.
Having a dig at the “ache din” slogan of the BJP and the NDA, he said, “Achhe din have certainly come, but only for the BJP and NDA and not for the common man.”
Meanwhile, SAD-BJP combine candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja said, “Preneet Kaur should first tell the people that what would she do if she wins the election this time and how her win could benefit the city?”
Seeking votes from shopkeepers in the AC market area, Juneja said, “Preneet Kaur ignored city’s development while being a minister in the Union Cabinet and a Member of Parliament for 15 years. Now, she was attributing her non-performance to her status of minister of state for external affairs.”
