Capt dismisses reports of differences with Kishor

Tuesday, 17/05/2016

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Chandigarh : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday strongly rejected the rumours of any differences with the party's poll strategist Prashant Kishor.

Replying to a question about Kishor's meeting with the expelled leaders Jagmeet Singh Brar and Bir Devinder Singh, he said that there was nothing wrong in it.

"For formulating the strategy he (Prashant) will need to meet all the leaders," added Amarinder.

The PPCC president also asserted that he was very much satisfied and happy with what Prashant was doing and he was an asset for the party. He also clarified that Prashant was strategising the election campaigning for the party.

Addressing a press conference after his return from the United States, Amarinder suggested that the 'blacklist' of the Sikh immigrants living in various countries should be revised as all those who went abroad for "political asylum" were not anti-national as most of them were actually the job seekers.

The PPC president further announced that he would be taking up the matter with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

About cancelling his Canadian visit, Amarinder said, "I have already hired the services of a lawyer there. I will be visiting Canada immediately after the matter is sorted out."

On the recently released list of the PCC vice presidents, general secretaries and district presidents Capt Amarinder said that he had tried to accommodate as many people as possible.

He also made it clear that he had not removed any of the earlier office-bearers but had only made some additions. He also announced that some people were left out in the original list and they were also being accommodated.

Kishor has no role in organizational matters: Ahmed

Chandigarh: Congress on Monday asserted that political strategist Prashant Kishor has no role in the organisational matters of the party and his job is confined only to preparing election strategy.

"Prashant Kishor is a strategist. He will suggest which points are to be highlighted in our manifesto or in our campaign, and he will have no role in organisational matters and ticket distribution," party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who is in-charge of party affairs in Punjab, said while speaking to reporters at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.

"This was made clear to him that whatever strategy he has to make, he will advise our captain of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh," Ahmed added.

Ahmed's statement assumes significance as it comes soon after Kishor's meetings with expelled Congress leaders Jagmeet Brar and Bir Devinder Singh. Some political observers said Kishor had possibly recommended that both the leaders should be taken back into the party, which had angered Amarinder.

Ahmed stressed that Kishor will be a key person in preparing the manifesto. He added that people are losing interest in party manifestos as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made some "unrealistic promises which could never be fulfilled".

"But we will make only those commitments which we may realise after coming to power," Ahmed said.

Manmohan to assist committee for economic revival of Punjab state

The PPCC president announced that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had agreed to assist the Special Committee set up for suggesting means and measurers for economic revival of Punjab.

Amarinder said that he had requested Singh to assist the committee and the latter willingly accepted it.