Capt attacks Badals for ‘derailing’ SIT

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, April 24

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, during his visit here on Wednesday, harped heavily on the sacrilege incidents to criticise Akalis and garner votes for Mohammad Sadiq, Congress candidate from the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat.

Addressing a rally here, the Chief Minister was also defensive on Akali and AAP’s attack on him for going back on his oath “on the Gutka” at Takht Damdama Sahib to wipe out drug menace.

“I had promised to break the backbone of the drug cartel in the state. Nabbing over 26,000 drug peddlers and sending over 4 lakh drug addicts to rehabilitation centres for their treatment in the last two years, I have rescued the state from the clutches of drugs as I had promised. There is increase of about five times in the drug prices in the state as the supply line has been cut down. This is a clear indication of drug abuse getting under control,” said the Chief Minister.

Attacking the Badal family for using their influence to derail Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe in the sacrilege and police firing incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, Capt Amarinder alleged that with the shifting out of IGP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, the Akalis had slowed down the investigation. However, once the election process was concluded, the IGP would resume investigation in the cases and take it to the logical conclusion, putting all accused behind bars, he said.

Due to his late arrival, the Chief Minister could not accompany Mohammad Sadiq for the filing of his nomination papers. “As all choppers have been booked by BJP leaders, I could not reach on time in absence of one,” said Capt Amarinder.

‘Kept my promise’ 

Nabbing over 26,000 drug peddlers and sending over 4 lakh drug addicts to rehabilitation centres for their treatment in the last two years, I have rescued the state from the clutches of drugs as I had promised, says Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The drug prices have increased five times in the state as the supply line has been cut down. This is a clear indication of drug abuse getting under control, he adds.

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 24

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said he would support all those who want to work for the freedom of the SGPC from the clutches of SAD leaders.

“Badals are misusing the SGPC money for their political gains. Though I do not want to use religious issues, but as I am a Sikh, I will support all who would work to get freed SGPC from the political control of Badals,” said the CM during a rally at Sangrur to support party candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon at a local marriage palace on the Dhuri road here.

Dhillon filed his nomination papers today. Though Capt Amarinder did not accompany him to the office of the District Electoral Officer (DEO) Ghanshyam Thori, but he presided over a meeting of party workers.

The CM discussed all important issues such as failures of the BJP, AAP and other political parties, but he mainly focused on the “interference of Akali leaders in Sikh affairs”.

“The Akalis claim to be the custodians of Sikh religion, but have always used it to promote their political interests. Both Sukhbir and Harsimrat will lose elections,” said Capt Amarinder.

Pointing out that even Maharaja Ranjit Singh had bowed before the Akal Takht and served his punishment before it, the CM said the Badals, on the other hand, had lowered the prestige of the Akal Takht by unabashedly summoning and dictating terms to the Jathedar to promote their political interests.

“By undermining the esteem of the Takht, the Akalis, led by the Badals, had brought ignominy to the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs. Where is Sikhi going,” he added.

Poll code violation 

The Sangrur Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) issued a notice to Congress candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon on Wednesday evening for alleged violation of model code of conduct and sought reply within 24 hours. Sources said Sangrur District Electoral Officer Ghanshyam Thori had received some pictures of banners, allegedly installed by Dhillon’s supporters at public places, which he forwarded to Sangrur ARO Avikesh Gupta. TNS