Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh launched his last leg of campaigning on Thursday from Kotkapura, with a call for peace and harmony, and a promise to bring back to Punjab the innocent Sikh youth languishing in jails around the country.Addressing a mammoth rally at the Purani Dana Mandi here, Captain Amarinder said the Congress candidate from the constituency, Bhai Harnirpal Singh Kuku had lost his brother to violence and, knowing the pain caused by such incidents, would ensure that peace prevails in the region at all cost.Punjab was brought out of the throes of terrorism with great difficulty but with the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the threat of violent disruptions and revival of terrorism has come back to haunt the people of the state, said the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president.Warning AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal against playing with fire if he did not want to get burnt, Captain Amarinder said the extreme left-right ideological mix of AAP and the dirty politics being played by Kejriwal would lead to the dormant Khalistani elements once again becoming active, thus throwing the state into violence and mayhem.
The trend started by AAP was extremely dangerous for Punjab, said Captain Amarinder, pointing to AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s remarks, when asked to comment on Kejriwal’s stay at a KCF commando’s house, that they were still learning. “What have they been doing for the past 2 and a half years,” asked the Punjab Congress chief, adding that such inexperienced leaders could not be allowed to take over the reins of a sensitive border state like Punjab.Kejriwal’s only motive is to grab power, without any concern for the consequences of his deeds, said Captain Amarinder, warning the people against being taken in by the AAP leader’s false promises and propganda. The AAP and its leaders cannot be trusted, said the PPCC president, adding that as many as 17 party MLAs in Delhi had some or the other case against them, and even the AAP candidate for Kotkapura, Kultar Singh, had four cases pending against him.
Captain Amarinder decried the pathetic conditions into which Punjab had been plunged by the Badal-led SAD-BJP government, saying there had been an all-round decline under their rule.Captain Amarinder once again promised cancellation of all false FIRs, saying all Sikh youth languishing in prisons around the country would be brought. Predicting a total rout of both, the Akalis and the AAP, he said SAD will not get more than 10 seats in these assembly polls.Promising to bring back the lost smiles of the people of the state, he reiterated his promise of farm loan waiver and revival of industry. He also vowed not to allow SYL construction at any cost, saying he was prepared to go to jail rather than let a single drop of water leave the parched state of Punjab.