Cong decides not to contest Khadoor Sahib by-election

Thursday, 28/01/2016

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Chandigarh : Adding fuel to political fire which is building up in run-up to the upcoming 2017 Assembly poll in Punjab, the Congress has decided not to contest the by-poll to Khadoor Sahib seat, from where the party nominee Ramanjit Singh Sikki had won in 2012 by a margin of over 3,000 votes by defeating Ranjit Singh Brahampura, the SAD stalwart and currently a member of the Lok Sabha from Khadoor Sahib. The by-poll is scheduled to take place on February 13. SAD has already fielded Ravinder Singh Brahampura from the constuency.

“After due deliberations, we have decided not to contest the by-poll to Khadoor Sahib Assembly seat. The Congress high command Sonia Gandhi had authorised us to take a call in this regard. We discussed the matter in the PPCC. Hurt over the incidents of sacrilege, Sikki had quit in protest against the incidents of sacrilege and had sought action against the guilty, but in vain. As a result, we have consciously decided to boycott the by-poll,” he said.

In reply to a question, Captain, who was interacting with media persons at Chandigarh Press Club at ‘Meet The Press’ programme, said that the Congress was not running away from the contest at all. “It is not like that at all. Our voters will not also participate in the voting. The decision is to maintain the eminence of Guru Granth Sahib. It is a boycott. We are not opting out of the electoral fight,” he said. The Congress party on Tuesday had announced the re-nomination of Ramanjit Singh Sikki who represented the Khadoor sahib constituency before quitting over the sacrilege issue a few months back.

Captain said that Sikki had written to him that he resigned on the desecration issue and further mentioned unless the party ordered him to fight, his conscience does not permit to fight. “I agreed with him, endorsed what he said and I sent his letter to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. She has, of course, approved his candidature but left it to me and the PCC to decide whether he should fight or not,” he said.

CAPTAIN TALKS TOUGH
Captain said that since the basic issue of the sacrilege of the holy Guru Granth Sahib, for which Sikki resigned, still remains unresolved, the Congress party decided there was no point in contesting the election. “Not a single person has been identified, leave aside punishing them for the sacrilege nor has any action been taken against the guilty police officials responsible for firing and killing of peaceful protestors,” he said.

“In my 47 years of political career, I have never backed off from a fight. I have fought at every level. If I feel something is correct, I do it. I have resigned from the Parliament on that issue because I did not agree on that issue. I have a track record, credibility, I would say. Why did I resign from the Parliament because of the Bluestar Operation? I thought that was not the solution. You cannot have peace by having religious provocation and that was the reason I quit,” he said.

MY LAST ELECTION
Former Chief Minister Captain said that his party would contest the coming Assembly poll with all might and determination. “The challenge is to save the state. It is faced with multiple problems. From poor economy to law and order problem, the state is struggling on all fronts,” he said, adding that the 2017 Assembly poll would also be his last election.

AAP IS NOT A FORCE

Talking about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Captain Amarinder said that the new outfit would lose all four Lok Sabha seats if the elections were held today. “Still, I do not believe in taking an enemy lightly. In war, you never underestimate the power of your enemy,” he said. Later in a statement, Amarinder ridiculed the AAP’s charge that the party had an understanding with the Akalis over Khadoor Sahib by-poll. “It is a classic case of pot calling the kettle black,” Amarinder remarked while pointing out that the AAP had run away long back without any reason. “The Congress party has spelt out the reason for its boycott, now you tell us why you didn’t contest,” Capt Amarinder asked the AAP leaders.