Aim to improve health, education infra in Baba Bakala: Dalbir Singh Tong

Tribune News Service

Charanjit Singh Teja

Amritsar, april 14

Starting his political career from the All India Rangreta Dal, a caste-based organisation for the welfare of the Dalits, Dalbir Sing Tong was elected legislator from the Baba Bakala constituency in the recent elections.

A transporter who owns a fleet of school buses, Tong once led a local demonstration of small transporters against the government and became a known face in the area. In 2012, Tong joined the Aam Adami Party and camped in New Delhi in support of party convener Arvind Kejriwal.

Root out drugs

I had promised residents of making efforts to eliminate drugs. I have issued directions to police officers concerned in this regard. —Dalbir Sing Tong, Baba Bakala

“We used to stay in a gurdwara and work for the party in 2013. No one was convinced AAP would form a government, but I had a strong belief in Kejriwal that one day he would bring about change,” said Tong.

In 2017, he got the ticket from Baba Bakala, but was defeated by Congress candidate Santokh Singh Bhalipur by a thin margin.

“Former Union Home Minister Buta Singh was my mentor and I started working with the All India Rangreta Dal in 2004. After joining the AAP, I never got demoralised, even after the party’s defeat in the 2017 Assembly elections. I had served as state vice-president of the SC wing, general secretary of the party and president, transport wing,” said Tong.

Tong said he would work towards curbing drug menace in the area. “People suffered a lot due to free flow of drugs during the SAD and Congress regimes. I had promised area residents of making serious efforts to eliminate drugs from the constituency. I have issued directions to the police officers concerned in this regard and expect positive results, ” he said.

The Baba Bakala MLA also aims to strengthen the education, health, water, sewer and road infrastructure in the area. “Illegal mining activity in the Beas will be strictly prohibited,” he added.