Declaration of free bus travel for women, another false claim of Captain government : Raghav Chadha

Private buses ply on more than 70 percent of the routes in Punjab in which travel has not been made free: Raghav Chadha

5 Dariya News

Chandigarh 01-Apr-2021

On the announcement of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh government's free bus travel for women, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated that it was completely a hollow promise. The AAP said that through this announcement, Captain Amarinder Singh was hoodwinking the people of Punjab. Addressing the media during a press conference convened at the party headquarters here on Thursday, AAP Punjab co-incharge Raghav Chadha said that the Captain government has announced the free bus travel for women of Punjab, mimicking the schemes of Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal government.He said that the Kejriwal government had made the travel in DTC buses free for the women of Delhi, about two years ago; but Captain government did not mimic Kejriwal government's schemes well and this promise became hollow because even to imitate, one needed wisdom. Chadha said that the Captain government has announced to provide free travel for women in government buses only, whereas private buses run on most of the routes of Punjab. "The government has not freed private buses nor announced any reduction in its fares. In government buses also AC and Volvo buses are not free. Captain government is applauding itself only by freeing general government buses," he added.Further questioning this plan, Chadha said that this announcement by the Captain government was completely misleading to the people. He said that private buses ply on more than 70 percent of the routes in Punjab. "Private buses run mostly on link roads. The buses connecting the villages to the cities and those connecting the villages to the other villages are almost private, so how is the Captain government claiming to provide free bus facility to women," said Chadha.

He further demanded from the government that if Captain Amarinder Singh really wants to give free travel to the women of Punjab, then the government should free all private buses and government buses whether it is Volvo bus or any other AC buses; in all the buses travel should be made free for the women. Taking a dig at Captain Amarinder Singh, Chadha said that when Captain was only copying Arvind Kejriwal, then he should do it completely. "Captain government should also provide free electricity to the people in Punjab like in Delhi.The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi is providing free electricity to the people by purchasing power from other states, but despite the production of electricity in Punjab, the Captain government is robbing people through electricity," he added. Chadha said that Captain Amarinder Singh, after learning from the Kejriwal government, should also make electricity free for the common people in Punjab. He said that after the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, free electricity and free travel in every bus to women will be provided.Slamming Captain Amarinder Singh, Chadha said that to copy, one needs wisdom. "Therefore, my advice to Captain Amarinder Singh is to copy the Kejriwal model of development with wisdom. Just as free bus service is being provided to women in all the buses of Delhi, similarly all types of buses in Punjab, be it AC, HVAC, link road buses or rural buses, free travel should be made for women in the buses," he added.Chadha warned Captain Amarinder Singh that if the Kejriwal government is to be imitated, he should do it properly and provide electricity to the people of Punjab like Delhi for free. He further accused Captain Amarinder Singh of handing over the government of Punjab to a retired bureaucrat and a false promising election strategist, stating that Captain himself was resting in his royal farm house and not once in the last four years has the Captain met the public. He said that in time to come, the people of Punjab will give them a befitting reply to their false promises.