To counter Cong’s Bathinda event, Akali Dal plans rally in Patiala : The Tribune India

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To counter Cong’s Bathinda event, Akali Dal plans rally in Patiala

PATIALA: With newly appointed state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh deciding to challenge the Badals on their home turf, the Akalis today announced to counter him by holding a rally at his home town Patiala.

To counter Cong’s Bathinda event, Akali Dal plans rally in Patiala

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal interacts with BJP leaders JP Nadda and Kamal Sharma in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh



Gagan K. Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 29

With newly appointed state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh deciding to challenge the Badals on their home turf, the Akalis today announced to counter him by holding a rally at his home town Patiala.

SAD spokesperson and Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said the party would hold a rally in the district during the second phase of its “Sadbhavna” rallies. “We will announce the date soon,” he said.

Amarinder had yesterday said he would assume charge of the state Congress in Bathinda. He is yet to announce the date. He had also said that the Congress was popular in Punjab as his wife Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur had defeated the Akali and AAP candidates.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Surjit Singh Rakhra, whose village is a few kilometres away from Patiala, said the Akali Dal would prove who was more popular in Patiala. “We have decided to hold a mega rally at Mehmadpur village and the strength at the rally would be at least two times the Congress will muster at its proposed Bathinda rally,” he said.

Within a day after the Congress announced to hold a rally in Bathinda, the Akali leaders went into a huddle to counter the move.

Rakhra held a meeting with party leaders and proposed to organise a rally at Captain's hometown.

A party leader said it was decided that the Akali Dal should hold rallies across the district to mobilise the rank and file of the party against the royal family with an aim to "exposing Amarinder and his divisive policies".


Facing threat for tackling unrest: Dy CM

Jalandhar: Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal on Sunday claimed his and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s threat perception was highest among the Z plus security holders in the country. Speaking at an event here, he claimed the Badal family was under threat for thwarting the attempts of certain elements to disrupt peace in the state. 

Says Cong hand in Sarbat Khalsa proved

Sukhbir said the Congress’ refusal to take action against its leaders who attended Sarbat Khalsa proved that the party was trying to disrupt peace. On not targeting BSP leader Avtar Singh Karimpuri who too was present at the November 10 event, the Deputy CM said: “He has already stated that he wasn’t aware of the resolutions to be passed at Sarbat Khalsa.” 

Favours world anti-terrorism forum

Sukhbir advocated the need to form a world anti-terrorism forum to counter terrorist attacks and terrorism activities across the world. He emphasised that terrorism could not be related to any religion or community as the terrorists had no religion and to eliminate such activities, all nations had to unite on the anti-terrorism forum like economic forums.

Blames Cong for defaming Punjab

Blaming the state Congress for "defaming" Punjab on the drug issue, the Deputy CM said there should be an uniform policy in the country to tackle this serious issue as some states such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pardesh were generating revenue from the cultivation of opium even as other states were suffering.

BJP joins war of words

Chandigarh: The BJP on Sunday joined the war of words raging between Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh on the issue of Congress leaders' participation in Sarbat Khalsa. Party's national secretary Tarun Chugh said Amarinder should take charge as PPCC president at Chabba town where Sarbat Khalsa was organised. "Your conspiracy to plan Sarbat Khalsa with the support of radicals at Chabba in connivance with your trusted leaders has helped you get the post," he alleged. 

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