CM gives function a miss, opposition leaders fume

Tribune News Service

Issru (Ludhiana), August 16

The Congress government organised a state-level function in the memory of martyr Karnail Singh Issru at Issru village.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who was supposed to preside over the state-level function on the martyrdom day of martyr Karnail Singh Issru, gave it a miss. People who especially came to Issru to hear his speech were left disappointed.

A number of chairs in last rows at the venue were lying vacant when other senior Congress leaders were addressing the gathering. Earlier, high security arrangements were made for the Chief Minister’s visit.

In absence of Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Sunil Jakhar, cabinet ministers Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot addressed the gathering.

Soon after paying tributes to the martyr, conferences of different political parties turned into a political battle field.

A visitor, Amrik Singh, said, “I had come to see the Chief Minister, but it is very disappointing that he did not visit here. Earlier, it was announced that the CM would be presiding over the function. I learned at the venue that he is not visiting.”

Lok Insaaf Party chief Simarjit Singh Bains said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh would like to visit the beautiful valleys, instead of visiting Issru in this scorching heat. Though big advertisements were given in newspapers before the state-level function, the Chief Minister did not visit, he claimed.

Besides, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), SAD (Amritsar) and AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira along with his team organised political conferences. The Lok Insaaf Party carried out a protest march against drugs. Leaders of major political parties slammed their rivals.