Patiala, May 2
The former Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today arrived in his home town amidst rousing welcome from thousands of party workers, though most of them were from Patiala district only. He was initially received by many sitting and former MLAs at the Shambu barrier at about 3.30 pm.
Today the former Chief Minister also managed his show of strength in Punjab Congress. As many as 23 sitting MLAs and an equal number of former MLAs were present to welcome him. The sources available here told that Malwinder Singh, brother of the former Chief Minister, played a key role in the success of today’s show of strength.
At his residence the former Chief Minister was welcomed by his wife Preneet Kaur and grandson Yadu Inder Singh.
Later, Amarinder held a meeting with party MLAs and workers at his Moti Bagh palace residence. Senior leaders of the Congress, including the PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo, leader of opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and chief whip of party Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, who is considered to be a close confidant of Amarinder,
were, however, not present among those who gathered to welcome the former Chief Minister.
Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi and Lal Singh were represented by their sons. The Congress workers organised a rally in Dhillon Palace, just a few kilometers from Shambu barrier, as a show of strength.
While talking to mediapersons Amarinder Singh termed the huge crowd that had gathered to welcome him as a verdict against the atrocities being committed by SAD/BJP government against the Congressmen. He said, “I would stand by the Congress workers”.
While responding to a query regarding the statements issued against him by Dullo, the former CM said, “We stand united against the SAD/BJP government”. He, however, added that Shamsher Singh Dullo has not contacted him as yet.
About Rajinder Kaur Bhattal he said she was in constant touch with him and there were no differences between them.
About the whereabouts of his former media adviser Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, Amarinder said, “I am not in contact with him. I do not know anything as to where he was putting up. Only his advocate might be in his contact with him”.
He said the state Congress was united and would fight against repression unleashed by the ruling party against the party workers. “I have come to know that 44 cases have been registered against Congress workers in a single police station. I would look into the matter and do whatever is necessary to protect the workers”.
Congress workers, led by state president of the Youth Congress Vijay Inder Singla, brought the former Chief Minister to Patiala in a cavalcade. Some students also welcomed him near the main gate of Punjabi University campus.
The Congress leaders who were present to welcome Amarinder, included Sukh Sarkaria, Harchand Kaur, Jeet Mohinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Makhan Singh, Sukhpal Singh Khiara, Randeep Singh, Nirmal Singh, Rana KP Singh, Luv Kumar Goldy, Sadhu Singh, Surjeet Singh Dhiman, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Mangat Rai, Surinder Pal Singh Sibia, Harmohinder Singh, Sunny Brar, Naresh Katarai, Sunil Jakhar and Om Prakash Soni, all MLAs.
The former MLAs and ministers, included Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Harpratap Ajnala, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Jasjit Singh Randhawa and Aruna Chaudhary.
