On a two-day Punjab visit to meet the families of two Sikh protesters killed in police firing and families of farmers committing suicide, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) saying that only Akalis are prospering in Punjab.
Rahul, who arrived at Faridkot by train, said, “Right now no one, but the Akalis are prospering in Punjab. Only they (Akalis especially Badals) seem to have a future.”
“Punjab is in crisis. Farmers have problems here. Drugs are also a big problem here. When I said that there is a drug problem in Punjab then people made fun of me,” he added.
Rahul, on his day one of Punjab visit, met the family members of Gurjeet Singh Bittu and Krishan Singh - two Sikh protesters who were killed in the police firing during a protest against a sacrilege incident in Behbal Kalan village in October.
The Gandhi scion shared his grief with the family and sought details about the incident. He said the families of the two youths killed in firing at Behbal Kalan want justice. “One thing I gathered after meeting the families is that they want justice…If they do not get justice, a delegation of Congress would meet the President Pranab Mukherjee to take up their cause.”
Rahul said the Congress would put pressure on the SAD-BJP combine to ensure justice for the families of the two Sikhs. “Action must be taken against the erring cops,” he said.
“Every Congressman will work for ensuring justice for the victims of firing at Behbal Kalan,” said Rahul who spent some 30 minutes with the family of Gurjit Singh, a motor mechanic, killed during the protests. later, Rahul opted for seven-kilometre padyatra to reach the house of another deceased youth Krishan Singh at nearby Niamiwala village.
He consoled the family members and expressed grief over what happened at Behbal Kalan village.
On his way from Sarawan to Niamiwala village, Rahul met students of Government Primary School at Gurusar village and exchanged pleasantries with the young ones. later, Rahul spent some time in Gurusar village dharamshala and interacted with locals over a cup of tea. The villagers shared their problems with Rahul, who gave a patient hearing to the village folk.
Rahul will stay at Bathinda on Thursday night and would meet the families of farmers who had committed suicide due to debt in Bathinda on Friday before winding up his two-day tour to Punjab.
Before that, he is also scheduled to pay obeisance at Takht Dam Dama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo. He will also carry out a padyatra from Bhukianwali village to Mallwala village and interact with the villagers.