Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday lashed out at the critics of Congress’ national vice-president Rahul Gandhi for “misconstruing” his statement on dynastic rule and spreading false propaganda against him.
Capt Amarinder came out strongly against what he described as politicians (BJP) letting off steam and deliberately misinterpreting Rahul’s remarks. “The remarks had been made in the context of the fact that his great grandfather, grandmother, and father had led the Congress and ruled India,” he said, in a statement from london where he is on a visit.
In a democracy likes ours, everyone has the freedom to choose who they like or not like, said the Chief Minister, adding that voting for any person was an individual choice in this country.
“The Congress has not been arm-twisting the voters, they are free to vote for whosoever they like…If people are voting for us then where is the dynastic ruleIJ” he said.
The voters are free to change their minds, which they have been seen to do on a periodic basis, he said, and expressed the hope that the trend would continue.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder welcomed the Congress’ student wing — National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) victory in the Delhi University Student Council (DUSU) elections as a sign of a swing in the Congress favour.
“It is an encouraging sign. The recent Congress victories, first in Punjab assembly and then Punjab University and now in Delhi University, is a sign of a swing back in the Congress favour,” he said, adding that these victories had proven right his belief that such things are part of a democratic system.
These ups and downs happen in elections so there was no need for people to overreact in such matters, he added.
On the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticism of his UK tour, the Chief Minister flayed their “negative” mindset, saying that the party had no other business but to indulge in negative politics.
“My absence from Punjab has not led to any problems in the state,” he said, adding that everything was fine there except AAP.
“They are used to creating ruckus every now and then for no rhyme or reason…I had come to london for the launch of my book on the Saragarhi Battle, as well as the global launch of the government’s global ‘Connect with Your Roots’ (CYR) programme,” he said.
The Chief Minister has also held several important business meetings in london to woo investment and industry into Punjab.