Captain Amarinder Singh
Nawanshahar, August 12: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today promised one time settlement of farmers’ loans after Congress forms the government in the state. He said, the Congress government will bring in a law to ensure that the properties of debt ridden farmers were not auctioned.
Capt Amarinder also took a dig at the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for trying to blame others for their own failures. “Like Kejriwal tries to blame the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all his failures, Sukhbir is trying to blame the ISI for the complete breakdown of law and order in Punjab”, he said, while interacting with reporters during the sidelines of the ‘Halqe vich Captain’ programme here today.
Replying to question on the party’s manifesto, he said, the Congress party’s manifesto will be elaborate and comprehensive concerning all the issues related to Punjab. “The manifesto cannot be prepared in bits and pieces as it has to be integrated and interlinked for proper implementation”, he said while replying to a question about the AAP bringing multiple manifestoes. “They either do not have any idea about what the manifesto means or they are trying to befool people”, he observed, while pointing out, most of the policies and programmes in a manifesto are integrated and interlinked.
Capt Amarinder said, during his previous regime his government had waived off loans of all farmers which they had taken from the cooperative banks. He said, his government was also in the process of working out a settlement with nationalised banks, since Congress lost in 2007, it could not be settled. He promised, this time his government will ensure one time settlement of all the farmers’ loans.
The PCC president strongly disagreed with the state government claims that only one percent people were affected by drugs in the state. He said, the figures taken after the screening of candidates for police recruitment cannot be representative. “Just because Sukhbir Badal is not accepting the reality does not mean the problem does not exist” he remarked.
Capt Amarinder said, while suspended DSP Jagdish Bhola had been acquitted in one case of heroin smuggling, the investigation in the main case of synthetic drugs against him was deliberately being delayed by the Enforcement Directorate in order to protect some people. He said, the ED was trying to protect some Akali leaders whose names had figured during the investigation.
To a question about Sukhbir Badal alleging that the AAP was being funded by anti-India forces, the PCC president said, this was a serious charges and in case he (Sukhbir) has some proof and evidence he must share it with the people of Punjab.
Condemns sacrilege in US, attacks on Sikhs
Capt Amarinder strongly condemned the incident of sacrilege in the United States. He said, the government of India must register strong protest with the US government on the issue. At the same time, he blamed the SGPC for its failure to create awareness about the Sikhism and Sikh identity in the US. He said, it was the responsibility of the Dharam Prachar Committee of the SGPC to create awareness that Sikhs are the most peaceful people in the world and their identity must not be mistaken for anyone else.
Capt Amarinder later addressed a largely attended workers meeting. He exhorted the party workers to ensure that they reached out to people with policy and programmes. He said, it was a crucial battle ahead and everybody needs to work hard. He said, while the Congress party was far ahead of others, there was no scope for complacency.
Among others present on the occasion included PCC vice president Jagomohan Singh Kang, PCC general secretary RS Parmar, DCC president Satbir Singh Pallichaki, youth leader Angand Singh and others.