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Cong. gets support of religious sect

Staff Correspondent

Dera Sacha Sauda asks followers to cast vote in favour of Congress candidates

CHANDIGARH: The Congress, which has always made secularism its main plank during any elections across the country, on Sunday claimed a major shot in the arm when the seven- member "Political Affairs Wing" (PAW) of a religious sect based in Sirsa district of Haryana, Dera Sacha Sauda, issued a directive to its followers to cast "each and every vote" in favour of Congress candidates.

According to a release by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), the Dera's PAW comprising Jagjit Singh Mann, Raj Singh Kingra, Gurbaz Singh Husnar, Ram Singh Aspalkalan, Major Singh Dhaliwal, Jagjit Singh Randhawa and Ramkaran Bhawanigarh issued a "directive"to their followers in Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa and Barnala districts. A similar announcement in favour of Congress candidates is expected for the other Assembly constituencies in the in a day or so.

The PAW members met at the Dera's Patiala district branch. The Dera's delegation assured Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that their followers would not only strictly adhere to the directive but would extend full support and cooperation to the Congress as "it was the only secular party that respects all religions, communities and castes regardless of the parochial consideration of colour, caste and creed in line with the principles and ideology of the Dera Sacha Sauda". The delegation also expressed satisfaction over Capt Singh's unique contribution in the overall development of the State.

The announcement is likely to help the Congress as the Dera wields major influence on a sizeable population in the south- western districts of Punjab, especially those adjoining Haryana. In case the directive is adhered to, it could tilt the balance in favour of Congress in the region in which leaders including the Chief Minister, his Deputy, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Shiromani Akali Dal Chief, Parkash Singh Badal are contesting.

Charged up by the vital support, Capt. Singh stormed into Lambi where Mr. Badal is seeking election to the Assembly. Supporting the party candidate, Mahesh Inder Singh, the scion of the Patiala royal family made a blistering attack on Mr. Badal for having bartered the interests of Punjab. At an election rally close Mr. Badal's village, Capt Singh accused the Akali chief of allowing Haryana more river water in exchange of canal water facilities for his farms in Balasar in Sirsa of Haryana as well as some other benefits in Rajasthan.

Capt. Singh said that if the present Congress Government could enact the Punjab Water Termination Act in the Assembly to quash all the past river water agreements, what had prevented Mr. Badal during his three tenures as Chief Minister. He also went to explain how the previous Government led by Mr. Badal had cheated the people to promote the pesticide business of his son-in-law which led to major losses to cotton farmers.

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Cong. gets support of religious sect

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