SAD-BJP worn out, AAP fledgling, state needs visionary leader: Capt

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Jaitu (Faridkot), August 30

Veteran Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh today launched his “Mission-2017” campaign in Faridkot district.

The former Chief Minister and his supporters projected him (Amarinder) as the best-suited candidate for the chief minister’s post for the 2017 Assembly elections.

Making indirect reference to his rivals in the party, Amarinder said only an experienced leader could pull the state out of quagmire it was stuck in, else Punjab would sunk into despair as was happened in Delhi after Arvind Kejriwal came to power.

Slamming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said it was a group of inexperienced leaders who got power due to emotional outpouring of the voters. “Punjab needs an experienced and visionary leader. While the SAD-BJP is a group of looters, AAP doesn’t know how to rule. I have 47 years of experience in politics. I know how the government runs,” he said while addressing a public rally at Jaitu.

For the massive loss to cotton crop due to whitefly, Captain demanded probe into the involvement of Agriculture Minister Tota Singh in the purchase of spurious insecticides. He alleged it was a massive scandal involving crores of rupees.

As a precautionary note, he said the Punjab government was yet to chalk out a programme for timely procurement of paddy and payment to the farmers.

“Farmers faced huge difficulties during the wheat procurement season. But in case of paddy, it might lead to law and order problem in Punjab as paddy is highly perishable. If the paddy procurement is not done properly, it will cause major problems. While wheat can remain in the open for sometime, paddy turns black due to high moisture,” he said.

Maluka counters Capt's protest

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 30

Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh today held a protest here alleging registration of false against party men.

Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, however, countered his protest.

While Captain accused the SAD-BJP government of registering false cases against four of his party workers at Dyalpura police station, Maluka refuted the charge and supported police action.

Captain said the maximum number of cases was registered in Rampura Phul, a constituency of Maluka. The latter said: “They are misguiding the people of Punjab by seeking sympathy by crying hoarse over registration of cases against their party workers”.