Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today condemned the bomb blast across the border at Wagah which killed more than 60 people and injured over 100 others. He said, it was high time that India and Pakistan cooperated with each other to fight terrorism and hoped that the rogue elements in that country are not provided state protection and patronage.Addressing a public meeting at Konewala village near Indo-Pak border, in Ajnala assembly segment organised by Harpartap Singh Ajnala here today, Capt Amarinder said, while in the past the hostilities would mainly hit the border people, now nobody was safe anywhere. He expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives in such acts of terror. "It is the innocent blood that is spilled whether here (in India) or there (in Pakistan) and the two countries can jointly fight this scourge in a stronger and better way", he observed, while adding that the onus was with Pakistan as it must positively respond to India's frequent friendly gestures.
Capt Amarinder recalled his long association with the border areas of the region when he would visit these during 1965 War along with Gen Harbakah Singh. "I can still recall those days", he said, while adding, thankfully there has been peace on the border and hoped it prevailed for ever. He also prayed that the incidents like the one that took place at Wagah on Sunday night never takes place again.
Referring to the local demands particularly the problem of recurrent floods in the area, he assured, he will raise the matter of the construction of the 'dhusi' embankment with the Union government and expressed confidence it would be completed very soon. "This will not only help the farmers, but will be helpful from the defence point of view also", he remarked.
The former Chief Minister lashed out at the Akali-BJP government in the state, particularly the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying he had completely given up on governance and was now busy humouring the BJP leaders despite their frequent insults just to save his government. He said, he was more concerned for saving his business interests and that is why he was tolerating all those insults without any protests. He pointed out while Punjab was getting poorer day by day under Badal's rule, Badal himself was getting richer and richer with his properties and five star luxury hotels multiplying at an accelerated rate.
Capt Amarinder also rubbished the anti-drug drive of the government saying while small time pedlars and addicts were arrested the big fish were either not touched or simply let off. He referred to the seizure of 110 kgs of heroin from Kalanaur village saying this might be just the tip of the iceberg as much more heroin might be slipping out. "This cannot be possible without state patronage", he pointed out. He said, it was not just the smuggled drugs, but the home made synthetic drugs produced in Punjab with state patronage that was destroying and entire generation. He wondered why the investigation and prosecution was being delayed.He said, he will soon be taking up the case of increasing the cultivation hours for land outside the fence along the border with Pakistan. He agreed with the farmers that the current timing was very insufficient for the farming and cultivation.
Capt Amarinder demanded ownership rights for the farmers who had been cultivating the reclaimed river land for over five decades. He opposed the government move to take it back on the pretext that it was the forest land. He asked, where was the forest department for all these years when the farmers made this land cultivable with their blood and sweat.Earlier Capt Amarinder accompanied by Harpartap Ajnala, Sukhjinder Randhawa and others conducted a tour of the area hit by September floods. He said, he could not come during the floods as he was away to Europe paying tributes to the martyrs from Punjab who had laid down their lives while participating in the World War I.Among others present on the occasion included, Harpartap Ajnala, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Dr Rajkumar Verka, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Major Rajbir Singh Ajnala, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Karamjit Singh Rintu, Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwadi, Jugal Kishore, Harjinder Thekedar, Jugraj Singh, Kanwar Partap Singh, Rana Ranjit Singh, Brij Mohan, Dr Dharamvir Agnihotri, Sukhpal Bhullar, Gurdev Nijjer, Deepak Arora, Ashwani Pappu and others.