CHANDIGARH, December 23: Independent MLA from Chamkaur Sahib Charanjit Singh Channi joined the Congress along with thousands of his supporters at an impressive function held at the Punjab Congress Bhawan here today under the chairmanship of the PCC President Capt Amarinder Singh.
Besides Channi, Shnghara Ram, a two time MLA from Garshankar and Gurkirat Singh Dhuhi, a close associate of senior Akali leader late Capt Kanwaljit also joined the Congress today.
A grand function was organised in the lawns of the PCC office which was attended among others by the President Pradesh Youth Congress Raveneet Singh Bittu, Fatehgarh Sahib MP SS Libra, Mr Lal Singh, MLAs Randeep Nabha, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, former ministers Chaudhary Jagjit, Jasjit Singh Randhawa, Arvind Khanna and others.
Talking to reporters, they said, several other senior leaders from ruling Shiromani Akali Dal were waiting to join the Congress under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. They said, there was a sense of neglect among the party rank and file, particularly the supporters of late Capt Kanwaljit Singh and they will soon be joining the Congress.
Speaking on the occasion the PCC President said, all of them had joined the Congress unconditionally. “Everybody is welcome to join the Congress unconditionally as long as he or she subscribes to party’s policies and principles”, he said, while adding, he was expecting several more senior leaders to join the Congress in near future.
To a question as whether Channi, who is a sitting MLA from Chamkaur Sahib, has been assured a party ticket, Capt Amarinder Singh said, it was too early and it has always been the prerogative of the party high command to nominate candidates for the elections.
The PCC President clarified that no meeting was convened or conducted by the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi in connection with the economic situation in the state in New Delhi. He said, Ms Gandhi met the Punjab Congress delegates like those from other states for a photo session only after the conclusion of the eighty-third plenary session of the party.
Capt Amarinder Singh reiterated his apprehensions about the Punjab economy while pointing out that the state was continuously taking debts and by the time Congress government takes over the debts would have crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crores. He said, only recently the state had borrowed Rs 1850 crores from various banks. He added, the state has been continuously borrowing money as has completely failed to generate or mobilise any additional resources.
On the constitution of the PCC and DCCs, the PCC President said, it will be done once the AICC is reconstituted. However, he added, the PCC has already started the party programmes across the state and it was planning a series of rallies in different districts in the coming two months. Once the districts are done these will be followed by the constituency level meetings, he added.