Bankruptcy blamed on CM FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 26 — If the Congress comes to power it will root out corruption at the top and try to eradicate it from the lower levels also through tough new laws according to Capt Amarinder Singh, President PPCC. He was speaking at a well-attended political conference of his party on the second day of the three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela here today.

Congress leaders at the annual Shaheedi Jor Mela in Fatehgarh Sahib —Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

He said the main problem today was corruption and alleged that the entire family of Mr Badal was corrupt.

He said Punjab had become bankrupt and didn't have any money to even pay salaries to its employees.

In the previous budget a sum of Rs 1400 crore had been shown as spent on solving the water-logging problems of Malout and Gidderbaha. But the people of the area said they had neither got any compensation nor had money been spent on solving the problem.

He said if the Chief Minister could 'pocket' such a large sum, it was natural that the state move towards bankruptcy.

Lashing out at Mr Badal and Mr Tohra he said although the infighting among them was their internal matter, they had brought a bad name to the entire Sikh community and Punjabis by fighting at this juncture.

The Akalis, who claimed to be champions of the Sikhs had not bothered to invite the Akal Takht Jathedar to Anandpur Sahib for the stone-laying ceremony.

He said the Congress would celebrate 300 years of the Khalsa Panth with great enthusiasm and would extend invitations to all sects and sections of society.

Later, talking to media-persons, he confirmed that he had authorised Mr Jagmeet Brar to extend an invitation to the Akal Takht Jathedar and that no party flags will be depicted during the Congress organised march.

Addressing the conference Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister said whenever non Congress Governments rule the country or state they fail miserably as is evident from the present situation of the Akali Government.

Criticising the Akalis, she said for them the problem of the state and the public were not a problems. The problem for them was whether the Akal Takht Jathedar should intervene in their infighting or not.

Mr Jagmeet Brar senior vice-president of the Congress said that it was the first time that all factions of the Congress had united under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh while the Akalis had started fighting.

Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Leader of the Opposition, alleged that the Badal government has stopped the slipends of Dalit students and has done nothing for traders, employees and farmers.