The SAD-BJP alliance nominee for Gurdaspur parliamentary by-election Swaran Salaria on Friday slammed the Congress for indulging in his character assassination by levelling false allegations.
Coming down heavily on the Congress, Salaria said: “The Congress doesn’t have any issue to go amongst the masses. The Congress managed to come into power by fooling people six months back, but today its leaders are not able to face the electorate because it reneged on its promises.”
This is the reason why they have left aside serious issues of development and have rather stooped down to petty politics, he alleged.
Salaria, addressing a press conference, said that it was “clear-cut diversionary tactics” of Congress leaders to skirt their failure of fulfilling pre-poll promises like full farmer loan waiver, Rs 2500 monthly unemployment allowance and smart phones to youth, enhanced old age pension of Rs 2100 to elderly, etc.
“Neither will I indulge in such cheap politics, nor would I allow anyone to do so. I come from a family of a freedom fighter and my father has spent time behind the bars for the nation’s independence. I have imbibed his morals and values and I will serve the people of this area. I promise that I won’t do anything which tarnishes the image of this constituency,” said Salaria.
Countering the Congress’ “false propaganda” against him, Salaria said that they should first come out clean themselves before levelling accusations against him.
“I have entered politics to serve the people and I have been serving the people of this area since last 14 years. People of Gurdaspur are like my family and they know it very well that I can never do wrong. They will give a befitting reply to the Congress on October 11, when they will cast their votes in favour of the BJP,” he said.
Challenging the state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, Salaria asked him to prove his allegations or quit politics. “I will quit politics if Manpreet Badal proves the accusations,” he declared.
Attacking him, Salaria said: “He should immediately tender his resignation as he has lost his right to be in the Cabinet after misleading the people by making false statements at the time of elections.”
Answering to a query related to a photograph which has gone viral on social media, Salaria clarified that he has no link to it.
“If there would have been such a photograph, then the woman Kamini Kaushal, who had filed the complaint in 2014, would have provided it to the police. The police had investigated the matter thoroughly and had found that the complaint was false,” he said.
He added, “I have only a challan issued against me under section 506 of the IPC, which I had challenged in the Bombay High Court. The court had granted me a stay and sought a reply from the lady which she hasn’t filed even after three years have passed by.”
Salaria went on to claim that he had received a message on September 27 which stated that some Congress leaders had approached the lady and conspired against him. “Since I was busy with the elections, I didn’t concentrate on it, but today it has become clear that the Congress can stoop so low just to win an election,” he said.