Claiming that he is “oath bound” to eradicate corruption and drugs from Punjab, state Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Saturday asked people to give him “just five years to launch Punjab back on the path of progress”.
“Unlike others, I am not asking for 25 years, just give me five years and I will ensure that Punjab regains the glory it has lost,” he said while addressing people here during the ‘Halqe vich Captain’ programme.
Time-bound manner
Amarinder said he is committed “under oath to finish corruption and drugs from the State in a time-bound manner” and he will not spare even Parkash Singh Badal if found guilty.
The Former Punjab CM reminded people how he had caught the then Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravi Sidhu “red handed” during his previous regime and he is still undergoing the sentence in the case.
SYL issue
Explaining his statement earlier that Congress legislators in Punjab will submit mass resignations in the event of the Supreme Court decision on the SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link) case goes against the state, he said, they would seek fresh mandate from people “to save our waters“.
“After resigning we will go back to people and seek their mandate and majority in the Vidhan Sabha to bring a legislation to save our water on the same pattern as I did in 2004 when I brought in Punjab Termination of Agreements Act,” he said.
Amarinder said he respects the Supreme Court’s decision but he would see that Punjab’s interests are protected legally and constitutionally.
He announced if Congress forms the next government, it would bring Punjab specific ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) scheme to cater to the local needs.
Abolition
He also ruled out abolition of Mandi Board, saying it was an important corporation Punjab cannot do away with.
Later Amarinder told reporters AAP state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur “validated” his charges that his was being run by the “outsiders and local Punjabis had no say in it“.
He said the State chief has been “ignored” in ticket distribution which shows the “arrogance AAP leaders from UP and Haryana were exhibiting towards Punjabi leadership”.
Amarinder said the AAP euphoria has already “fizzled out” in Punjab.
Trifurcated
“The party has already been trifurcated with two MPs on one side, another group led by Yoginder Yadav on the other side and the third led by Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak in Punjab,” he said, adding, the party is likely to break up further.
He also invited party worker Preet Singh to his residence at Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala.
Preet Singh, while asking a question to Amarinder expressed his urge that he wanted to see the palace.
Amarinder told him although he mostly remains outstation, whenever he will be back in Patiala he will ask district president Hardayal Kambhoj to arrange for the visit. -PTI
