Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday asked Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh to come up with a date and time for his proposed Bathinda rally to counter the SAD’s sadbhavana show instead of resorting to false bravado and empty boasts to wriggle out of a tight spot.
Sukhbir also warned the Congress leader not to try to humiliate proud people of Punjab by claiming that they had been forced to mark a reluctant attendance at the SAD’s sadbhavana rally.
“You are free to take political pot-shots at the SAD but don’t try to strike the dignity of Punjabis by claiming they can be forced to attend a public rally against their will,” said Sukhbir.
Urging Capt Amarinder not to let the frustration of his repeated failures get to him, Sukhbir said: “It is the people who make and break governments. Don’t try to insult them. They can hit back faster and harder than you can ever imagine.”
Stating that he could only pity Capt Amarinder for making a laughing stock of himself, Sukhbir said that he failed to understand the Congress leader’s claim that the proposed Congress rally would not import people from Rajasthan and Haryana.
Agreeing with Capt Amarinder that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others, Sukhbir said that in case of the Congress leader, it required only one stone from the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) of Switzerland to reach India to for Amarinder’s entire edifice to crumble.
“Your Swiss bank details will soon be shared with the Indian authorities and the entire country will be witness as to who is living in a glass house,” said the SAD president.
Stating that wishes could not be horses, the SAD president said that it was true that the scion of the Patiala House was desperately craving for another chance at power in Punjab and this was the reason why he was coming out with statements bordering on fantasy.
“Rest assured, your ‘maharaja’ ways have been rejected by the people in two successive assembly elections. There is no chance of you making a comeback in State politics. Even debasing yourself by behaving like a lackey of Rahul Gandhi by grovelling at his feet and taking back previous insults hurled at him is not working. All this is happening because everyone has lost trust in you. Trust once lost can never be regained,” added Sukhbir.