JALLANDHAR, May 16: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today asked the Punjab government to withdraw the extra taxes imposed on petrol in the state that makes its costliest in the country. He said, the government of India could not do much in controlling the petroleum prices since these were determined by the prices prevailing in the international market.Addressing a press conference after meeting the workers from the assembly segments of Nakodar, Shahkot, Adampur and Kartarpur falling under Jallandhar (Rural) district, Capt Amarinder said, the Punjab government has imposed exorbitant taxes on the petrol. He said, during his government he had ensured that the burden was not passed on to the people. He disagreed with the government assertion that the taxes cannot be reduced as it will lead to loss of revenue.
Replying to a question on the demands from different leaders for inclusion into the PCC, Capt Amarinder said, he had already written to the Congress President. He said, he could not comment on the composition of the list since it had been approved by Ms Sonia Gandhi. However, he agreed that some more leaders need to be included, both young as well as the old.
Asked about the possible action against the acts of indiscipline by some leaders, the PCC President said, if anybody has done anything it is a momentary and emotional outburst. He also confirmed that he had received a letter from the party high command seeking details about the leaders who had gone to the press against the PCC list.
He observed, it is just out of enthusiasm to work for the party that some leaders have aggressively argued for being included in the PCC or gone to the press. He said, among the current DCC presidents, seven have worked as District Youth Congress presidents earlier.
He also clarified that there was no proposal not to field the district presidents in the assembly elections. He said, the decision not to appoint any sitting MLA as district president was taken since the elections are not far and they will need to work in their respective assembly segments.
The PCC President strongly disagreed that there were any “tainted” people in the PCC. He said, the case against Chaudhary Jagjit and him was sheer political vendetta and whole world knew about it.
Similarly, about Arvind Khanna, he pointed out, he had not committed any offence as his father, who is doing business abroad, had sent money to him through legal channels and remitted it to his saving bank account. He said, the income tax department had already cleared him in the case. The only charge against him was that he had not taken “prior permission” from the government. “It was legal money sent in a legal way to him by his father”, he said.
He asserted that the BJP had already admitted to the guilt of its ministers by seeking resignations from them. When told that Manoranjan Kalia was being accorded a reception in Jallandhar today after having been divested of his ministerial portfolio for corruption charges, he remarked, “if this be the yardstick all the Akali ministers deserve same kind of reception”.
Capt Amarinder was accompanied by special invitee to the CWC, Mohinder Singh Kaypee, his PCC general secretary attached to him Arvind Khanna, OSD Major Amardeep, senior party leaders Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Chaudhary Jagjit, Avtar Henry and others.