Sounding the poll bugle in Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that his party will sweep at least 100 seats of 117 in Punjab in the upcoming elections.
Kejriwal, who started his three-day political tour of the poll-bound State with prayers at two famous shrines in this Sikh holy city and releasing party’s 51-point poll manifesto for the youth, also claimed to end the drug menace in Punjab within a month’s time.
AAP convener, addressing a party’s rally, maintained that his party, after coming to power, would act strict not only against those behind desecration, but also those involved in drug mafia, and corruption.
Kejriwal’s visit came at a time when the party is embroiled in a controversy after one his MlA from Delhi Naresh Yadav has been named in a case filed over the sacrilege of Quran, the holy book of Islam, in Punjab’s Muslim dominated town of Malerkotla in Sangrur district. Kejriwal is expected to visit Malerkotla too.
There are reports that Kejriwal’s effigy was burnt by the protestors in Malerkotla.
“AAP will sweep at least 100 seats of 117 in Punjab in the upcoming elections…I am making this claim on the basis of various surveys conducted nationwide,” said Kejriwal while addressing a party’s rally.
“If our party comes to power, those behind desecration of Quran and Guru Granth Sahib will be booked to justice,” he said while addressing party workers. He also promised to end the menace of drugs business and mafias in Punjab within a month.
“First Capt Amarinder looted Punjab followed by Badals…If AAP comes to power, we will put behind bars those involved in corruption,” said Kejriwal.
This is Kejriwal’s second tour of a longer duration to Punjab this year. He made a five-day trip to various parts of Punjab in February.
The visits are in connection with the assembly elections to be held in Punjab in February next year for which the AAP is posing a serious challenge to the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine and the opposition Congress.
KEJRIWAl FACEs PROTEST AT GOlDEN TEMPlE
Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and his supporters faced protest from a couple of unidentified Sikh persons at the Golden Temple complex, when the AAP leader was on his way back from the complex after offering prayers.
Seeing Kejriwal coming out of the temple complex, two Sikh youth started raising anti-Kejriwal slogans and threw pamphlets at him which provoked AAP supporters who then manhandled the duo.
The situation was brought under control with the intervention of the police who were present there in casuals.
The pamphlets, titled as “Mister Kejriwal tu Sikhan da doshi hai” (Mr Kejriwal, you are an enemy to the Sikh community), held him responsible for demolition of a historic ‘piau’ at Delhi’s Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib. They rued that no apology came either from Kejriwal or his MlA Alka lamba.
“We, Sikhs, have never allowed anyone to point finger at our gurdwaras. You have run over our Sis Ganj with bulldozers!” the leaflet read.
It was on the orders of the Delhi High Court that the drinking water kiosk near the gurdwara was demolished on March 28. A mob took to violent protests when the Delhi MC officials demolished a ‘piau’ (water kiosk) during an anti-encroachment drive in Chandni Chowk. However, the kiosk was rebuilt after the drive.
Comparing Kejriwal with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the protesters said that the Sikh community will never forgive him and his party’s ideology, which had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs. The youth were reportedly taken into custody by the police.
KEJRIWAl NOT PRESENTED ‘SIROPA’
The SAD-ruled Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), while not recognising Delhi Chief Minister’s visit, did not present siropa (robe of honour) to Kejriwal. Kejriwal’s entourage was well escorted by the SGPC task force and the local police.
later, Kejriwal went to pay obeisance at the Durgiana Temple where he was duly honoured by the Durgiana Committee members.