BATHINDA – Managing more than double the crowd in response to Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s challenge, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh vowed to wipe out drug menace from the state within four weeks if voted to power.
At his coronation ceremony today in Bathinda, where Sukhbir held his first Sadbhavna rally on November 23 that was attended by nearly 60,000 supporters, Capt Amarinder swore by “Gutka” (a miniature Guru Granth Sahib) and Takht Damdama Sahib. Almost the entire state party leadership had descended on the venue, projecting a united face of the party that was riddled with factionalism under Partap Singh Bajwa in the past two years.
Bajwa said: “I would have sacrificed my post even 20 times if the party had asked me to. And with Capt Amarinder as the state party leader, we will work together to show the door to the SAD leadership.”
“I am humbled and overwhelmed with the unprecedented love and affection shown by you (Bajwa),” Capt Amarinder said after being formally handed over the charge of the state leadership. Virtually announcing the party agenda for the 2017 Assembly elections, Capt Amarinder said: “I swear by our tenth Guru (Guru Granth Sahib) that FIRs against all Congress workers and others lodged under the influence of the SAD government will be cancelled. I will ensure the end of corruption and quality education, particularly in government schools, which was upgraded to connect with employability of youth in the state.”
He announced to end the “scourge of drugs, corruption and police high handedness” after forming the government. Amid cheers and rousing welcome, the former CM said: “Sukhbir Badal had called me an old lion. Let me tell him, loud and clear, that I am still fit enough to gobble up his entire giddar (jackal) family.”
On farmer suicides, Capt Amarinder said: “Give me just one more year. I will sort out your farmland troubles which forced you to take such extreme steps.” He announced to stop auctioning of the land of farmers who might have defaulted on their loans.
On the crowd response to the rally, a policeman on duty, requesting anonymity, said: “The number of Congressmen who gathered for today’s rally is more than double the number of Akali supporters who attended the Sadbhavna rally in November.”
Capt Amarinder said the amount for the shagun scheme would be enhanced to Rs 51,000 from Rs 15,000 at present and the old age and widow pension to Rs 2,000 per month from Rs 500. He also announced to extend free electricity to Dalits from current 200 units to 300 units per month.
Referring to the alleged undue control of the Badals over the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Capt Amarinder said: “Not as a Congressman, but personally I will definitely participate in the SGPC elections to oppose the Badals.” He also alleged direct role of Badals in the sacrilege incident at Bargari village recently.
Those who addressed the rally today include Congress general secretary and Punjab in charge Shakeel Ahmad, secretary Harish Chaudhary, Congress campaign committee chief Ambika Soni, CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, Indian Youth Congress president Amarinder Raja Warring, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, MPs Ashwani Kumar, Chaudhary Santokh and Ravneet Bittu, former CLP leader Sunil Jakhar and MLA Sadhu Singh Dharmsot.
