BY:S.P.PANDEY:Chandigarh, May 8, 2009 :Mr Satya Pal Jain BJP candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency today challenged his Congress party rival to have an open public debate on issues concerning Chandigarh and nation before the polling day.
Making his offer in a press conference here he said he is prepared to have this debate on any neutral forum. Mr Jain said as such debates are common and are considered a normal part of American presidential elections there is no reason it can not be held here. He mentioned that the Congress MP and Minister had shied away from such programmes earlier this year too.
Referring to staying away by the Congress MP and union minister from the live debate organised by a major national news channel last evening he said such discussion are a part of the healthy democratic culture he said avoiding such debates is sign of lack of confidence. If the Congress MP and union minister thinks he is too big to share such forum with his rival candidates that are not a sign of healthy democratic thinking.
Mentioning two unsavoury incidents involving use of bad and abusive language by a close supporter of the Congress MP for him (Mr Jain) he said I am more deeply hurt by the statement of the MP, who said he and the entire party stands by Mr Davinder Singh Babla who used abusive language. The MP?s challenge during a press conference yesterday ? he (Babla) is here let us see who can arrest him.
Mr Jain said people of Chandigarh must think about it ? if a minister who has sworn in the name of god to owe allegiance to the constitution is seen to protect a criminal should they vote for him? Should they vote for a person who is protecting a criminal ? this will lead to the common man being targeted by criminals who have the protection of politicians. Tomorrow any one of us ? a man or a woman will become a target. If the MP cannot behave in a responsible manner people must teach him a lesson. This, Mr Jain said, can be the beginning of criminalisation of politics in Chandigarh. He recalled how he had gone to the houses of Mr Pawan Bansal and Mr Harmohan Dhawan after winning the election in 1996 to seek their goodwill.
The BJP launched a poster highlighting some statements of the Congress MP and union Minister showing his helplessness in handling officers of Chandigarh Administration, Municipal Corporation etc and not being able to address the problems of Chandigarh citizens, farmers etc. The poster is illustrated with reproduction of very recent newspaper reports headlined ? ?I am powerless says Bansal? another with his photograph is headlined ?Good governance has been a casualty in Chandigarh?.
Members and leaders of the Devalaya Poojak Parishad, a body of temple priests, today assured full support to Mr Jain and BJP. They also honoured Mr Jain with a ceremonial turban.
Mrs. Kamla Sharma, President, Chandigarh State BJP, Mr. Sanjay Tandon, Gen Secy, Chandigarh State BJP, Mr. Davesh Moudgil, Spokesperson, Chandigarh State BJP and Mr. Kehar Singh Koundel, Incharge, Media Cell, BJP, were on the dias.