AAP factor: Capt plans US, Canada trip to woo Punjabis

Wednesday, 06/04/2016

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

SAS NAGAR: While rubbishing any threat from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming assembly elections, the Congress is preparing to woo non-resident Indians (NRIs) from Punjab, taking a leaf out of the AAP’s book.

Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu (left) interacting with mediapersons in SAS Nagar on Tuesday.

“AAP is not a threat to us, as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) remains our nearest rival. But at the same time, it is necessary to check AAP, as there is no time for experimentation when Punjab is in the doldrums,” said Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, who is planning a month-long foreign trip to “expose AAP”. Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the US and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada are the cities that feature on his itinerary for the trip that begins on April 19.

Captain was in SAS Nagar on Tuesday to furnish bail bonds of ` 5 lakh and a surety at the district courts to get his passport released for visiting the two countries in between April 15 and May 15. He is named as an accused in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case and the matter is pending in the trial court here.

“In the upcoming elections in Punjab, NRIs will play an important role,” said Captain, adding that his trip would focus on “garnering support for the Congress among NRIs and show the real face of AAP to them”.

AAP has already emerged as a popular party among NRIs and has been receiving funds by promising to be an alternative to SAD-BJP and Congress.

Pointing towards AAP’s lack of experience and need for stability in state, Captain said: “Their (AAP’s) state convener, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, was a minister of state for just three months back in 1985-86. In the past 10 years of SAD-BJP misrule, people of Punjab have had enough. This is the last chance to save Punjab, and the Congress is the only party that can provide it stability and growth while checking the depleting state finances.”

‘PREFERENCE TO YOUTH IN PARTY TICKETS’
Amarinder said the first list of candidates for the assembly elections would be out by June. “Youngsters will be given preference as majority of population in Punjab is below 40,” he said.

Calling the youth’s preference for AAP a “myth”, Captain said: “We are getting a lot of support from youngsters, who are turning in huge numbers at our rallies.”

‘SYL PRE-ELECTION PLOY’
Accusing chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of raking up controversies to gain support before elections, Captain said this time it was the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal link issue. He said the Badal government had complicated the matter by delay of four days in sending the bill for the governor’s approval, giving time to the apex court to take cognisance of the legislation.