Calling upon the party workers, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday asked the party cadre to offer stiff resistance to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the ensuing Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections. Bajwa, in fact, urged the workers to fight tooth and nail to defeat the Akali candidates.
Bajwa, in an official statement, stated that the morale of the SAD workers was low after the ruling party failed to adequately address the issues concerning common people. “Rural Punjab is fed up of the policies of the SAD-BJP Government,” he added.
“PPCC will continue to fight for bonus on wheat and will oppose the hike in power tariff till the Government withdraws it,” said Bajwa.
He also reminded that due to timely efforts made by PPCC, the Central Government decided to withdraw wealth tax on agriculture land. “Earlier, due to pressure by Congress party, SAD-BJP Government was forced to review the property tax,” he added.
Bajwa said that if Government allows free and fair poll, the people of Punjab are in mood to give crushing defeat to Akali Dal in Panchayat elections. “Deteriorating law and order in Punjab is a major issue in the Panchayat elections. The delay in payment of wheat procured by the Government agencies is another. And, the Congress is continuing its protest against hike in power tariff. Farmers are getting irregular power supply for four hours only on alternative days,” said Bajwa.
Holding that the SAD-BJP Government was responsible for the unemployment among the rural youth and drug menace, Bajwa asked the Congress leaders and workers to highlight these issues in public and expose the misdeeds of State Government.
He said that SAD-BJP Government was a failure on all fronts and failed to fulfill promises made with dalits and backward classes in its election manifesto.
PPCC president also said that Congress would not tolerate any attempt by SAD to play mischief in the Panchayat elections. He warned the Akalis against influencing the polling staff and misuse of police to prevent Congress candidates from filing nomination papers.
“PPCC has appointed observers at block level. The directions have been given directions to all the party men to report to PPCC office if the ruling party tries to interfere in the election process,” he said.
He added that a legal cell has also been set up and it is monitoring the Panchayat elections. He also assured a prompt response by legal cell on election complaints.
Bajwa also appealed rural people for support in rising above the local politics in larger interest of Punjab.