CHANDIGARH, December 22: Former minister and national vice president of the Shiromani Akali Dal Chiranji Lal Garg today joined Congress along with several of his supporters. He was inducted into the Congress by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh at the Congress Bhawan here today.
Rajan Garg, the president of the District Bar Association Bathinda and Ram Kumar Menhdirata, president Municipal Committee Jandiala, Amritsar also joined the Congress today. Besides, several other leaders from Lok Bhalai Party also joined the party today.
Welcoming Mr Garg into Congress, Capt Amarinder said, it will further strengthen the party particularly in the Bathinda region. He said, Mr Garg was a popular and well respected leader in the area and party will certainly benefit from his experience and influence in the area.
Giving reasons for resigning from the Akali Dal and joining the Congress, Chiranji Lal said, he felt relieved today as during the last five years he was feeling suffocated in that party. He said, he was sure and confident that only the leadership of Capt Amarinder can save Punjab from the current mess.
Garg said, in due course of time he will come out with more reasons and disclosures for his leaving Akali Dal and joining the Congress. He, however, added, at times he felt humiliated within the party with which he had a long association of over three decades. He disclosed that there were several other Akali leaders who were keen to join the Congress and were awaiting the right opportunity. “There are so many like me who are feeling restless and waiting for the first opportunity to join the Congress”, he revealed.
Mr Garg is a former minister who was an M.L.A. from Bathinda from 1997 to 2001. He was the National Vice President of Shiromani Akali Dal before joining the Congress. He is also the Executive Member of Agroha Vikas Trust and All India Aggarwal Sabha, besides having been an Ex-PAC Member of the Shiromani Akali Dal(Badal)
Several senior leaders of the Lok Bhalai Party also joined the Congress today. They were received and welcomed into the party by Capt Amarinder Singh, who said, the party will utilize their services in the coming elections.
Those who joined the Congress today included, Hakam Singh Bakhtriwala National President Kala Te Virasat Cell ( Ex-Coordinator Minority Education), Yadwinder Singh Jaweddi National Vice President LBP (Ex-Coordinator Minority Education), Balvinder Singh Kullar (National Gen. Secy. Youth Wing LBP ), Parminder Kumar Pathak Hathur (National Gen. Secy.LBP), Darshan Singh (Gen. Secy.), Parmjit Singh Pappi Hathur (Gen. Secy.), Gurdeep Singh Butta (Sr. meet Pradhan Youth Wing Ludhiana Urban), Gurupinder Singh Lucky ( Ex-President Youth Wing Urban Ludhiana), Tarsem Singh Alamgeer ( Jathebandak Secy. Youth Wing), Darsan Singh Kandda ( Meet Pradhan Youth Wing), Baba Kulwant Singh ( Prachaar Secy. Youth Wing), Laaljit Singh Maan (Gen. Secy. Youth Wing), Ramvir Singh Bakhtriwala (President , Numberdaar union INTUC Punjab), Palaram Bakhtriwala (Member Panchaayat), Najar Singh Bakhtriwala (Member Panchayat), Baljir Singh Zaildaar, Bathinda, Daljir Singh Maachika (Block Pradhan Nihal Singh Wala), Manjeet Singh Nangla (Youth President Ludhiana), Ranjit Singh Rana(Member Central Committee), Gaganjit Singh Jimmy ( Member Central Committee), Jasvir Singh jassi (Sr. Vice President Youth Wing), Iqbal Singh Faguwaal (Member Local Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee), Bagwant Singh Jawadi (Member Central Committee), Pavitr Singh (Member Central Committee), Karmjit Singh Karma Hathur (President Kishan Wing), Jagdish Singh (Block Pradhan Hazipur), Vishakha Singh Saroa (Block Pradhan Mukerian), Darmjit Singh (Member Central Committee Ludhiana), Mayor Singh Bakhtra ( Member Co-operator Society Bakhtra), Boar Singh Bandna (Ex-Serpanch Bandna), Bhag Singh Goli Hathur(Secy.) and Sukhwinder Singh Hathur (Member Central Committee).
