Won’t oppose if Amarinder made PPCC chief: Bajwa

Monday, 05/10/2015

http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/

Fazilka : Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa today claimed there was no rift in the state Congress. He said if Capt Amarinder Singh was made the president of the state unit, he would be the first person to welcome the move.

He refuted the claim that he had been isolated in the Punjab Congress saying that he enjoyed the support of the leadership, besides party MLAs, MPs, DCC presidents and workers.

Bajwa sought the resignation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, holding him responsible for the pesticide scam. He alleged corruption had increased to alarming levels in the state.

He alleged Badal and his team had robbed the farmers of Rs5000 crore to pocket commission worth Rs5 crore by allowing the sale of spurious pesticides that failed to check whitefly attack.

He alleged: “SAD workers and leaders are involved in drug trading. If voted to power in 2017, the Congress will introduce special summary trail courts for speedy disposal of drug cases.”

Bajwa reached out to the affected farmers in different parts of the Fazilka district to listen to their grievances. He also condemned the alleged police atrocities on Congress workers who had held a dharna against police inaction in a case of eve-teasing in Jalalabad.

Even as Bajwa denied any factionalism in the party, a large number of senior Congress leaders were absent during his Fazilka visit.

Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar, former Fazilka MLA and halqa in charge Dr Mohinder Rinwa, Balluana halqa in charge Giriraj Indora were conspicuous by their absence. Former MLA Mehtab Singh, DCC president Kaushal Kumar Bouk, Jaspinder Jakhar, Dr Yash Pal Jassi and other party leaders were present.

‘No factionalism in state congress’
There is no truth in reports of rift in the state Congress. If Capt Amarinder Singh is made the president of the state unit, I will be the first person to welcome the move. I still enjoy the support of the Congress leadership, besides party MLAs, MPs, DCC presidents and workers

'Govt responsible for farm crisis'
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should own the responsibility for the agrarian crisis and tender his resignation. Badal and his team robbed the farmers of Rs 5000 crore only to pocket commission worth Rs 5 crore by allowing the sale of spurious pesticides. —Partap Singh Bajwa, PPCC President