The Aam Aadmi Party’s dangerous combination of the extreme left and extreme right ideologies could once again plunge Punjab into the dark days of terrorism, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder warned on Sunday, dismissing both the Badals and Arvind Kejriwal as big-time phonies out to sell Punjab’s interests to inimical forces.Addressing a public rally amid a sea of humanity in Barnala, Captain Amarinder launched a scathing attack on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, saying he had the same mindset which had led Punjab into terrorism, causing more than 35,000 people to lose their lives, in the 1980s. Caught between the extreme left (Naxalite) and right (Khalistani) philosophies, the AAP had absolutely no policies or programmes for the development of Punjab, and its leader, Kejriwal, only wanted to capture Punjab by making false promises, warned the PPCC president and the Congress chief ministerial candidate.
Kejriwal has his eyes on Punjab’s chief ministership, and eventually wants to become the Prime Minister, said Captain Amarinder, adding that his `kichchdi’ party of two different ideological extremes would vitiate the atmosphere of the state.Kejriwal is a complete outsider with no roots in Punjab, Captain Amarinder pointed out, adding that if, God forbid, he succeeds in his ambitions, the state of Punjab would once again end up in the grip of terrorist forces. Referring to the Delhi chief minister’s NGO, which was funded by the Ford Foundation, Captain Amarinder said it had the backing of the CIA, the Khalistanis and a whole lot of other forces inimical to India.Pointing to the exorbitant AAP spending on advertisements and publicity in Punjab, the PPCC chief questioned the sources of Kejriwal’s funds and warned the people that supporting him would be detrimental to Punjab’s interests.Captain Amarinder also questioned Kejriwal’s over two years of governance in Delhi, saying he had done nothing but make sham promises to the people of the national capital, just as he was doing now in Punjab. The PPCC president dubbed both Kejriwal and Parkash Singh Badal as `maha gappus’ (liars who talk in the air), saying they could not be trusted an inch. While the Badals had been busy minting money at the cost of the interests of the people of Punjab, Kejriwal was now trying to grab whatever was left of the state to further his own interests, he added.
Reiterating that he had decided to contest from Lambi in order to rout Badal completely, once and for all, Captain Amarinder said the Akali government had destroyed every vestige of development in Punjab and their leaders would have to pay for it.“I will throw Badal and anyone else found guilty of the sacrilegious incidents in the state into jail,” vowed Captain Amarinder, making it clear that religious intolerance could not be tolerated at any cost in Punjab, which has already suffered immensely due to communal strife and terrorism.Captain Amarinder also promised to punish the Chhota Badal (Sukhbir Badal) who was busy making hotels and other assets by diverting public funds and said the `Lambu’ (Bikram Singh Majithia) would also have to pay for his sin of destroying a whole generation of the state’s youth with his drugs and chitta.The Akalis have devastated Punjab and brought it to economy to its knees, said Captain Amarinder, pointing to the total collapse of agriculture and industry in the state, as well as the widespread unemployment and mafia rule.“I will not spare any of them,” said Captain Amarinder, amid shrill cries of `Badal bhagao, Captain lao.”The Congress candidate from Barnala, Kewal Singh Dhillon also came down heavily on the Badals for neglecting Barnala and blamed them for the total lack of development in the region.