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I have returned to fight injustice: Amarinder

Special Correspondent

Former Chief Minister threatens “people’s movement” against Badal Government

Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh on Thursday.

CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has threatened to launch a “people’s movement” along with all legal and political means to put an end to “the era of unprecedented atrocities, repression, political vendetta and violation of human rights unleashed by the present Akali-BJP Government in the State headed by Parkash Singh Badal”.

Addressing his first press conference after return from Britain two days ago where he had gone for medical treatment, a visibly charged up Capt. Singh discounted all talk of returning abroad. “I am not going anywhere now. I have returned to fight this injustice and would prefer to die here,” he said.

“Let it be clear to the Badals that we are not going to allow them to continue with the tactics once used by the Gestapo in Nazi Germany to frighten political opponents into submission. Enough is enough now,” said Capt. Singh, disclosing that he would take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the Congress high command.

Capt. Singh said he would undertake a State-wide tour and visit all the victims of repression of the present Government. He also proposed to organise the party rank and file into a combative unit to launch an aggressive mass struggle, the results of which would be visible in the forthcoming municipal and Lok Sabha elections.

He said he was aware that the present Chief Minister and his MP son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, were furious with him ever since the previous Congress Government had initiated legal proceedings for their alleged involvement in large-scale corruption. Responding to a question, Capt. Singh said that on Wednesday he met his media adviser, B. I. S. Chahal, in the Patiala jail where he has been lodged after five cases based on “concocted evidence” were slapped on him. He alleged that during interrogation Mr. Chahal, who had a Minister of State status in the previous regime, was subjected to torture in the most inhuman and barbaric form.

He rubbished Mr. Badal’s claim that not a single case had been registered against any Congressman. He said the party had documentary and photographic evidence to show that Congress workers and other supporters were mercilessly beaten up at police stations in Rampura Phul and Fatehgarh Churian constituencies. During the recent budget session of the Assembly, the party had presented 111 false cases registered against Congress workers in just 18 constituencies. In Fatehgarh Churian, as many as 35 persons had fled their homes.

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I have returned to fight injustice: Amarinder

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