JALANDHAR, Chandigarh 08 July (Harbans singh)
On the last day of campaigning for the Jalandhar West by-election, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the Member of Parliament for Ludhiana and President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), addressed a press conference in Jalandhar. The by-election is set for voting on July 10.
Speaking to the media, Raja Warring criticized the current state government, labeling it as a complete failure. “In my entire life, I have never seen such a failure of a government. The Punjab government and its Chief Minister have failed in all aspects of growth and development in Punjab,” he asserted.
He further condemned the Aam Aadmi Party for ruining Punjab. “Whether it’s the drug menace, law and order, education, or healthcare, everything has deteriorated in the past two years. Even during the by-elections, there has been immense misuse of power by the AAP. People are being paid and given alcohol in a bid to buy votes. Votes are being bought by the AAP government to ensure victory in Jalandhar West.”
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa echoed these sentiments, stating, “The AAP government continues to misuse power to secure votes. Where is the Rs 1,000 promised to women by the AAP government? They are desperate and will use all means to buy votes in Jalandhar West for the election on July 10.”
Raja Warring highlighted the worsening drug problem, “The drug menace, which they claimed would decrease, has increased fourfold. Law and order are at an all-time low, with people living in fear due to broad daylight attacks. Recent cases of violence and murder in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bathinda, and other places have created an environment of fear and unrest. This government has also resulted in all employee unions to protest for their rights. A political party founded on protesting for the people’s rights has led to almost all sections of society protesting on the streets in Punjab.”
Raja Warring criticized the government’s financial management, “A number of schemes launched by the AAP can never be fulfilled. The government’s loan amount continues to increase, with more than Rs 66,000 crore borrowed by the AAP government alone. No infrastructure has been created despite these heavy loans. Additionally, we are losing out on central government funds due to the AAP’s insistence on their own branding, costing Punjab over Rs 1,000 crore during their tenure.”
Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition, stated, “The people of Jalandhar are intelligent and politically astute. They know who to vote for and recognize how the AAP government has ruined our state. I commend our Governor for personally addressing the recent attack on a Shiv Sena leader, but I must ask why similar measures were not taken in response to the death of Punjab’s beloved Sidhu Moosewala.”
MP for Ludhiana, Raja Warring, added, “Our health infrastructure, which effectively managed the COVID-19 pandemic, is now collapsing, with numerous positions lying vacant. Even in CM Mann’s home district of Sangrur, 85 out of 117 medical officer posts remain unfilled.”
Raja Warring emphasized the need for change, “The Punjab government is defunct. Essential commodities like moong are being sold below the MSP rate to private procurers. It is crucial to show the AAP government the door in Jalandhar West to signal that Punjab is no longer with them, but with those who genuinely work for the state, which is the Congress party.”
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, MP for Amritsar, added, “This is a crucial period for Punjab. We cannot let AAP ruin our state any further. There have been no Municipal Corporation elections in Jalandhar for two years, resulting in a lack of proper infrastructure and services. If this is the condition of a major city like Jalandhar, what else can be expected in other parts of the state?”
In conclusion, the Congress leaders rallied in support of Bibi Surinder Kaur, the Punjab Congress candidate for Jalandhar West. They highlighted her dedication to the people of Jalandhar and her ability to address their concerns. Raja Warring also warned the police against interfering in the election process, emphasizing the need for a fair and smooth voting process without any booth capturing by the AAP.
The press conference was also attended by former MLA Kulbir Singh Zira ji and Jeet Mohinder Sidhu ji.
