Challenging the SAD’s power-couple of Sukhbir and Harsimrat Badal in their own constituencies, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday launched scathing attacks against the “corrupt and power-hungry couple” saying that they need to be taught a lesson in these elections for their attempts to divide the State on communal lines.
Capt Amarinder, addressing massive elections rallies in Sukhbir’s Ferozepur and Harsimat’s Bathinda constituencies, asked the people to defeat such leaders who used Punjab and their power for promoting their vested interests and not for the State’s welfare.
In Bhuchho, the Chief Minister was accompanied by his Cabinet colleague Manpreet Badal, and senior Congress leader and Rajasthan Minister Harish Choudhary.
Seeking votes for the Congress candidates — Sher Singh Ghubaya in Ferozepur and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring in Bathinda, the Chief Minister alleged that the Badals had made hotels and properties at the cost of Punjab’s people during their tenure. “Even now, I have heard that Akali leaders are threatening people not to vote for Congress,” said the Chief Minister, asking the crowd for the names of the trouble makers.
“I know how to set them right, I know how to put the Badals in their place,” he declared.
“If they (Badals) and other Akalis leaders like Bikram Singh Majithia think they can go around scaring people into voting for SAD, they are mistaken...Muscle power and arm twisting does not work in a democracy. They will all be taught a lesson in these elections,” he said.
These tactics showed that the Badals were running scared in the face of imminent defeat as they knew they would have to face the consequences of their actions, Capt Amarinder said that nobody who allowed holy scriptures like Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Geeta, the Bible and the Quran to be desecrated will escape punishment. Punjab has been through bad times, which the Badals tried to further aggravate with their divisive agenda and attempts to create hatred through by allowing acts of sacrilege, he added.
“These elections are our chance to secure the future of our children and our country, and the Congress needs the support of the people to strengthen its hands in ensuring the same,” he said.