Congress shows strength, unity as Amarinder Singh takes over as Punjab chief

BATHINDA: Newly-appointed Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh formally took the charge at a rally here today, where his party presented a show of strength and unity and he blasted the state's ruling SAD-BJP alliance.

Singh was seated next to outgoing president Pratap Singh Bajwa who was flanked by Campaign Committee chief Ambika Soni, in an apparent show of unity in the party's state unit, which was engaged in internal wrangling for the past over a year.

Coming down heavily on the Akalis in his over 30-minute speech at the Badals' bastion here Singh charged, "They have ruined the state. They have created a mess and if they think they can get away with it, they are mistaken," he said.

Amarinder accused them of the Friday's Muktsar bus accident and Abohar Dalit murder case saying they should own responsibility.

He sought an answer from the Akalis into the Kotkapura firing incident and the incidents of sacrilege.

Commenting on series of incidents of sacrilege and alleged breakdown of law and order machinery, Amarinder questioned, "Is this autocracy or democracy? What is happening in Punjab? People of Punjab are not going to tolerate this."

Amarinder took holy book 'Gutka Sahib' in his hand and promised to end drug pedalling, punish guilty, end corruption, cancel false cases against his party workers and end alleged high-handedness of police.

"We cannot let our youth to be consumed by the drugs and I promise you I will eradicate this problem within few months only," he said amidst thunderous applause from the crowd.

Speaking at the 'Badlav rally', Amarinder focussed also on 2017 elections and made several promises if Congress forms the next government in the state.

If Congress forms the next government we will stop auctioning land of the farmers who may have defaulted on loans and provide subsidy to the industry to buy land to set up units in Punjab, he said.

"We will talk to banks to provide relief to the farmers."

"Buoyed by the presence of huge number of people" and several party leaders including all the MLAs, MPs and office bearers from the state, Amarinder said this rally would mark the "beginning of the end for the Akalis."