BHAGAPURANA (MOGA), November 14:Â Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today said the Akalis had sold out the thanas (police stations) and the patwar-khanas (revenue offices) to the jathedars and they were not only resorting to extortion and making money out of it, but were also settling personal score with their political opponents. He warned these jathedars and the police officials conniving with them that their time was up and he will hang them upside down.
Referring to the demand by the ex-servicemen for one rank one pension, he said, he fully supported their demand and will be taking up the case with Prime Minister personally. HE said, the anomalies in their pensions must be removed and their demand was genuine.
Addressing a massive rally in connection with the Punjab Bachao rally here today, Capt Amarinder announced that each and every false case registered against the Congress workers at the behest of the Akalis will be cancelled immediately. He also referred to the false case of murder slapped on two students Sukhminder and Gurpreet both studying in class XII at the behest of Akali jathedar Tota Singh. He said, there were thousands of other such cases for which the Akalis will have to account for.
The PCC President asked the party workers to pick up lathis against the Akalis if they try to intimidate them. He said, two of their party workers were killed in Dera Baba Nanak on the day of Deewali and police had not taken any action. Similarly some Congress workers revising the electoral rolls were beaten up and the police had not done anything, he disclosed while asking the party men not to depend on the police. “Take up the lathis yourself and hit them twice if they try to hit you once and if anybody tries to question you tell them I told you to do soâ€, he said amidst a thundering applause by a massive crowd of over fifty thousand people.
The former Chief Minister said, the Akali-BJP government had already lost the plot and they had virtually admitted to their defeat. He pointed out, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s sangat darshans were now infamous for the lathis they rain on people demanding jobs, while Sukhbir’s kabbadi show had become turned scandalously infamous for the nude dances and drug abuse. To top it all, Mr Advani’s yatra was greeted with black flags and empty chairs, said, while adding, let Akalis spell out who is happy with them.
Speaking on the occasion, the Congress incharge for Punjab Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak congratulated the party leaders and workers for organising such a grand show which has virtually declared the Congress to be the winner of the forthcoming elections. “While I already had no doubt about Congress victory in Punjab, after seeing these rallies across the state, I am confident that the party is certain to sweep the elections with two-third majorityâ€, he said.
At the same time, he advised the workers, to be cautious and remain alert. He said, this was the time to double their efforts and not feel complacent. He also said that the party workers must maintain discipline at all costs as there was zero tolerance for indiscipline. He urged them to remain united and whosoever gets the party ticket must get everybody’s support.
Prominent among those present today included Darshan Singh Brar, Ajit Singh Shant, Joginder Singh Panjgraian, Isher Singh Meharban, Dr Malti Thapar, Surinder Singla, Arvind Khanna, Kamaljeet Singh Brar, Gurinder Singh Gugga and others.