Amritsar Declaration was not about separate statehood: Capt

Manmeet Singh Gill 

Tribune News Service 

Amritsar, July 8

Congress Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today said the Amritsar Declaration was not about “Khalistan”, but about the rights of states under the Constitution.

Captain said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had already started following the Panthic agenda with an eye on the 2017 Assembly elections. 

The former CM was here to hold a rally as part of his mass contact programme for workers in Attari and Majitha constituencies organised by Tarsem Singh DC and Sukhjinder Singh Lally Majithia, respectively.

Taking a jibe at Badal for his Sangat Darshan programmes, Amarinder said it was around two centuries ago that rulers would organise such functions.

He said Badal should stop playing such “gimmicks” and focus on governance. He alleged Badal had not uttered a word when farmers were facing problems due to non-procurement of their crops.

“Now when the Haryana CM is issuing statements that he would press for the completion of the SYL canal, Badal is again mum,” he said, adding the state needed a strong leader. 

Captain alleged Badal had failed in handling drug issue and his party men were hand-in-gloves with drug smugglers. 

He said the police had arrested only petty drug addicts and none of the big smugglers was held.

At a rally in Majitha, Amarinder held Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia responsible for harassing Congress workers. He said: “If the party comes to power, all false FIRs against party workers would be cancelled. Besides, old-age pension would be increased to Rs 2,000 per month.”

On high prices of sand, he said: “The farmer from whose land the sand is mined should have the sole right on it. We will give farmers these rights.” Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar criticised the government for failing to distribute ration under the Atta-Dal scheme. 

Reminding the gathering of Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act 2004, Jakhar said: “Badal had said the SYL canal would not carry water, but blood of Punjabis. Had there a strong leader at the helm of state’s affairs, no one would have dared to ask for Punjab’s water.” 

Jakhar claimed Akali MPs stood behind the BJP on land acquisition Bill in Parliament, but in Punjab, Badal stated that farmers’ consent was must before acquiring land.  “He (Badal) should stop befooling people and show guts by submitting his resignation if he feels helpless,” he said. Around 12 MLAs, including Rana Gurjit Singh and OP Soni, and several other leaders were present. Some speakers even sought appointment of Captain as leader of the party in the state.