‘Honest people from other parties welcome in Cong’
Tuesday, 16/02/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=150123&boxid=58346&uid=&dat=2016-02-16
Ludhiana : Punjab unit Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said that honest and good people from all political parties are always welcome to join the Congress. He did not rule out the possibility of more leaders from other political parties joining the Congress but refused to divulge any names. Captain Amarinder also said that winability will be the sole criterion for choosing the candidates in forthcoming assembly elections. “Every constituency and every candidate will be thoroughly assessed before the final decision is taken,” he said. On the issue of alliance, Capt Amarinder said that he had favoured the alliance among the like-minded secular parties.
Amarinder said that the JNU controversy was quite “unfortunate” as the Constitution guaranteed the freedom of expression to everyone and it must not be “muzzled” at any cost. On Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s disclosures that the JNU protests received support from LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, Amarinder said: “The Home Minister must come out with the details as the country has the right to know,” he said, while talking to reporters after inaugurating the SC conclave of the party organised as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
Captain Amarinder said that it was immaterial for the Congress whether the Akalis and the BJP contested together or separately. He said that “both the parties had been finished off and the BJP cannot now escape the blame.” Amarinder claimed the Aam Aadmi Party was no challenge to the Congress as the party was only creating a false hype. Asked about his allegations that the AAP was pursuing an extremist agenda, Amarinder reiterated that the AAP was playing a dangerous game by playing up “extremist sentiments.” “AAP should resort to democratic means and not to the divisive and extremist agenda that can set Punjab on fire,” he warned.
Difference in Cong over Kejri’s visit
Ludhiana: The difference in opinion of senior Congress leaders came to fore on Monday as contrary to the statement of Member of Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu that Punjab Congress would oppose the visit of Arvind Kejriwal to the state, PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh said: “Kejriwal is welcome to Punjab.” Commenting on his Punjab visit, Captain Amarinder said: “Congress has nothing to do with Arvind Kejriwal and his visit. India is a democratic country and everyone has right to visit anywhere and speak anything.” A few days ago, Bittu had opposed the visit of Kejriwal in Punjab on behalf of Punjab Congress. In a statement issued via e-mail, Bittu has said that Punjab Congress will not allow Arvind Kejriwal to visit Punjab if the AAP does not change its agenda for the state in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections.
Highlights
- Captain Amarinder remained present in the SC conclave for the entire day and listened to the address of leaders and suggestion of participants.
- Former PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa asked the participants to visit every corner of their constituencies to propagate the policies and schemes of Congress party.
- CLP leader Charanjit Channi demanded Dalit faces in the new PPCC team.
- Manpreet Singh Badal got a huge response from the gathering during his address.
- Some Congress MLAs were not given seats on the stage.
Ludhiana : With an eye on Dalit votes in Punjab, around 25 persons belonging to scheduled castes from every constituency will be trained to propagate the policies, schemes and election manifesto of the Congress party. For this purpose, the Congress has organised two-day SC conclave in Ludhiana in which the people from all constituencies participated. The conclave was part of B R Ambedkar anniversary celebrations. Showing the united face and concern for Dalit community, senior Congress leaders from Delhi and Punjab including Shakeel Ahmad, Harish Chaudhary, Ambika Soni, Captain Amarinder Singh, Partap Singh Bajwa, CLP leader Charanjit Channi, Ravneet Singh Bittu and besides several others were present in the conclave.
On the first day of the conclave, the senior Congress leaders addressed the gathering and in the second half of technical session was organised in which the participants were made understand regarding the policies of Congress party for Dalits. Apart from the Congress party policies and announcements for Dalits, the participants were told about the BJP- RSS agenda against the thinking of BR Ambedkar. The professors and experts from the Panjab university were also invited to give lecture to the participants.
PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh said that the objective of the conclave was to tell Dalits that the Congress party is standing with them like anything. He said the suggestions will be discussed and included in the election manifesto of the Congress party, added Captain. Hitting out at the SAD- BJP government, Captain said that the ruling government is against the rights of Dalit community. Captain also promised to hike old age pension to Rs 2,000 from Rs 500 and Shagun scheme to Rs 51,000 from Rs 21,000. Congress Campaign Committee in-charge Ambika Soni said that with 37 per cent of population in Punjab belonging to the SC community, education will be the prime focus for the party after winning 2017 polls. CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi demanded that the party should include Dalit faces as vice presidents, general secretaries and other office bearers in the new PPCC team. Manpreet Badal, who recently joined the Congress, emerged as the star face on the dais, as a huge response was given to him during his address.
