Cong resorting to mafia raj: Punjab AAP co-president

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21

The state Congress party was resorting to the same measures of taking over the mafia and indulging in corruption as the previous Akali-BJP government, said AAP Punjab co-president Aman Arora.

The Congress was ‘systematically’ taking over the mafia like the previous government, he said. It has come to the fore that Congressmen have grabbed the quarries, Congress legislators were involved in the bidding during the auction of sand and gravel quarries, Arora said, adding that Congress party workers were involved in gaining control of liquor vends.

He said the Congress party had shown little performance in two months as it had not addressed any issues of the state so far. More than 50 farmers committed suicides in these two months, but the government failed to get their loans waived off, he said.

On being asked about the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA), which was reportedly being mulled by the state government, Arora said AAP would oppose the controversial act from being passed.

To tie-up with LIP for MC elections

AAP is likely to contest the MC elections in alliance with the Bains Brothers’ led Lok Insaaf Party. The MC elections in four districts, including Ludhiana, are set to be held in July.

Arora said a seven-member committee was being formed for each constituency, where elections were going to be held to screen the right candidates for the elections. The committees would elect district president and five senior members, he said.

He said the party would also reach out to party workers who moved away from the party before the Vidhan Sahba elections. “I take responsibility of volunteers who got disappointed with the party during the Vidhan Sabha elections. We will reach out to them and bring them back into the party fold,” he said.

He said the party was not down and out as it had become the principal Opposition party within three years of formation, which was an achievement for any party.

The party was being restructured after the Assembly elections, he said, adding that the process would be complete within a month.