Lok sabha polls: Manpreet Singh Badal calls Akali regime 'snake'; vows to 'crush it'

BATHINDA: Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Bathinda seat Manpreet Singh Badal today called the Akali regime in Punjab a "snake" and said its "head needs to be crushed" to end "corruption and nepotism" in the state.

Addressing an election rally in presence of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi here, Manpreet, a member of Prakash Singh Badal clan, said, "there was a need to crush this snake to end corruption, bribery and nepotism in Punjab."

"A snake does not die if it is hit on its tail, but you (voters) will have to crush its head to end its life," he said while appealing to people to vote for the "betterment and prosperity" of the state.

"They are not lions of jungle. They are lions of a circus. Cats and lions are similar in appearance, but kitten can't match lion and wolves can never become lion," he said in a reference to CM Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and SAD candidates.

He said he will make sure that "their rising regime ends up in dusk."

Without naming Modi, he said, "those who harass minorities in Gujarat could never become lion of the country."

He exuded confidence that Punjab's future will change after the polls.

Manpreet had floated Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) ahead of 2012 Assembly polls after parting ways with Badals. However, his PPP failed to open its account in the 2012 Assembly polls. Besides, Manpreet, a four-times MLA, too lost from Maur and Gidderbaha assembly seats.

Manpreet is contesting on Congress ticket from Bathinda with the backing of CPI and PPP. He is locked in a fierce contest against his sister-in-law and sitting SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is wife of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.