In an attempt to woo the Rai Sikh community which comprises a formidable chunk of electorate in this border area, PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today announced that a representative from this community would be given Congress ticket from one of the assembly segments.
The PCC chief addressed a “Punjab Bachao Yatra” rally here today. The rally, which was organised by Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, MLA, saw a large turnout of people from Guruharsahai and Jalalabad assembly segments.
Seeing the gathering, an elated Capt said this was so far the biggest Punjab Bachao Yatra rally. Besides Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, Sunil Jakhar, Abohar MLA, Former minister Hansraj Jossan, Dr Param Navdeep, Congress legislator from Sangaria (Rajasthan), Anoop Singh, president DCC, Anumeet Sodhi, Raj Baksh and other Congress leaders were present. While advocating strong ties with Pakistan, Capt Amarinder said following the efforts of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pakistan had accorded the MFN status to India, which would go a long way in ushering an era of prosperity and development in this border state.
“I want that Hussainiwala, Wagah and Dera Baba Nanak borders should open as it will transform the economy of Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur,” he said while talking about the advantages of opening the trans-Pakistan route to central Asia and beyond.
While promising to continue the “Atta-Daal” scheme, the former CM said he would improve and expand it further. On the problems being faced by farmers in selling the basmati 1121 variety, Capt said he,during his regime, had announced an MSP of Rs 1,850 for the basmati growers, but the Akali government failed to continue it due to which the farmers had been facing huge losses.
The PCC chief alleged that the Badal family was earning an amount of Rs 1 crore every day from operations of various TV channels in which they had 99.65 per cent stake. He claimed that his government had brought hundreds of mega projects which would have revived the economy with an investment of over Rs 1.07 lakh crore and created employment opportunities for more than 10,000 Punjabis, but all those projects were mired by Akalis due to their self-seeking interests.
He said after addressing over 24 rallies in more than 70 assembly segments in the state so far, he had noted that the people were ready to teach a lesson to the Akalis who had unleashed a reign of abject autocracy in the state.
Noted singer and actor Harbhajan Mann and Satwinder Satti enthralled the crowd with their performances.
News Source: Tribune
