Congress’ expelled leader Jagmeet Singh Brar on Monday said that he was not averse to fighting Assembly polls on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) symbol.
At the same time, Brar, who recently decided to give unconditional support to the AAP, hailed its ‘Kisaan Manifesto’ as a very well drafted comprehensive solution that will lay foundation for the revival of Punjab’s rural economy and ailing farming sector.
Heaping praises on AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Brar said, “I am prepared to fight polls on the AAP symbol if asked by the party.”
Brar, who was expelled from Congress in April and launched his lokhit Abhiyan Party only recently, blamed the conservative politics practiced by SAD and Congress for halting the progress of the State. “I will work hard to influence people’s mind against both the rival parties,” he said.
On AAP’s prospects in Punjab, Brar said that the party needs to strengthen its reach in Doaba and Majha belt. lauding Kejriwal, he said: “The Delhi Chief Minister is a savior of democracy”, while dismissing rival parties’ allegation that he is an “anarchist”. Asked about his plan to launch a grand alliance of like-minded parties, he said that it appears to be a cluttered idea at present.
“Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s wife is still a BJP MlA. Sidhu and his wife have no clarity of mind,” he said.
Sidhu, who quit the Rajya Sabha membership in July following differences with BJP’s top leadership over alliance with the Akali Dal, has already launched a new party, Awaaz-e-Punjab, with an eye on Punjab polls.
Taking potshots at SAD and Congress for “playing politics” over the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) canal, Brar said: “Punjab has no surplus water. We have nothing to spare for other States…The riparian principle should be followed for sharing water.”
He also stressed on the need for an agriculture policy of the State.
Brar claimed that he had “ample evidence” regarding Congress State chief’s illegal assets abroad. Taking about manifesto, Brar said that it had covered the pain areas of Punjab’s farming sector and provided a much-needed ray of hope to distressed farmers who were on the verge on suicide.
Thanking the people of Punjab for their overwhelming response at Sunday’s event, Brar said that the crowd had surpassed Maghi rally he had praised openly while still in Congress. “Despite every Akali roadblock, there was a sea of Punjabis at Baghapurana yesterday and a Tsunami of hope started when this manifesto was released,” he added.
He also thanked AAP’s manifesto team and party leadership for incorporating key suggestions of lok Hit Abhiyan in the manifesto.
Brushing aside Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh’s remark that the manifesto was copied from Congress, he said: “Amarinder should get his memory checked – Congress has not released a manifesto yet, how can we copy something that doesn’t existIJ On the other hand, I started a campaign for a loan Settlement Ordinance in May from Chapperchiri – Bajwa and Amarinder started to copy that two weeks ago.”
He also laughed off Capt Amarinder’s tweet saying that Kejriwal had no knowledge of agriculture and jibed, “If Amarinder thinks he’s an agriculture expert because of his Cherry farming experience then his manifesto will be a joke book”.