BJP, Akali Dal ministers feeling 'suffocated' in Punjab: Former CM Amarinder Singh

JALANDHAR: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today alleged it was not only the BJP ministers who were feeling "suffocated" in the current government, but even most of the Akali ministers as well, since power had been "concentrated" within the Badal family.

Amarinder also claimed that there was a lot of "resentment" among the BJP ministers, and those in Akali Dal.

"Total power has been concentrated within the Badal family and ministers cannot even think of transferring a class IV employee without their (Badals') permission", he alleged here.

"Well, the way situation is building up, it seems both the partners are waiting for an opportunity to call it off and also preparing for it", he claimed.

He said Badal's latest pursuit for 'panthic' agenda was part of those preparations only.

He also alleged Chief Minister Badal was "deliberately" trying to "fiddle with the panthic agenda" despite knowing well that it can have dangerous repercussions for the state.

The Lok Sabha MP maintained that his mass contact programme had proved to be a "spectacular success" as people have been attending the rallies in huge numbers.

He claimed the rallies have mobilised the cadres and boosted their morale and they are ready for the 2017 assembly elections which will see clear sweep in favour of Congress.

"We are having more and more requests from our MLAs and other leaders who want to hold rallies in their respective areas", he said, adding, after completing the district-level programmes, there will be assembly-level public meetings.

Earlier, Amarinder visited the residence of late leader Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and met his wife Gurbachan Kaur and son Chaudhary Surinder Singh and offered his condolences.

The former chief minister recalled his long association with the late leader, saying, Chaudhary Jagjit was a selfless leader who always worked for the welfare of the downtrodden.