Other States - Punjab   

Congress leaders gun for Badal

CHANDIGARH: The Congress leaders of Punjab, especially those from the younger generations, have adopted combative stance to not only in generating public support for the UPA government at the Centre over the N-deal but also deriding the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in the State, especially the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, for voting against the “first Sikh Prime Minister” of the country.

The Congress MLA from Qila Raipur constituency in Ludhiana district, Jasbir Singh Khangura said that through his actions over the past few weeks Mr. Badal had risked diluting the relevance of Punjab to the nation. “Not only have you sold out Punjabi interests to communal forces but you have done so in a manner that is alien to great leaders,” he said in a letter to the Chief Minister, copies of which were released to reporters on Sunday.

Mr. Khangura said that Mr. Badal had failed the electorate by not explaining the differences he had for the decision by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. By parroting and paraphrasing the BJP’s position over the issue, people wondered whether the Akali party will ever be able to play a constructive and responsible role in the Parliament. The Congress leader said that in spite of six decades of public service. Mr. Badal had failed to sense the mood of the Punjab masses.

Representing Bholath constituency in the Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, through a separate statement criticised Mr Badal and the Akali leadership for having voted against the Prime Minister and that too on the issue of more power for India as well as Punjab. Charging the State ruling party of exhibiting narrow, opportunist and parochial approach, Mr. Khaira said that the Akalis could no longer claim to be representing the Sikh community.

Mr. Khaira said that during the last fortnight people witnessed how regional and small parties used the present political situation to their advantage, by taking up their issues with the national leadership and getting assurances. However, Mr. Badal miserably failed to rake up any important issue, especially when he had the opportunity to seek transfer of Chandigarh, inclusion of Punjabi speaking areas and control of Bhakra Hydel headworks for the State.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Congress leaders gun for Badal
Anganwadi workers demand better pay, regular service
Congress upbeat about upcoming Lok Sabha polls

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu