The Bharatiya Janata Party – Shiromani Akali Dal alliance nominee for Gurdaspur parliamentary bye poll, Swaran Salaria today slammed the Congress stating that it had seen the writing on the wall and hence was indulging in his character assassination by leveling false allegations. Coming down heavily on the Congress, Salaria said, “The Congress doesn’t have any issue to go amongst the masses. The Congress managed to come into power by fooling the people 6 months back, but today its leaders are not able to face the electorate because it reneged on its promises. This is the reason why they have left aside serious issues of development and have rather stooped down to petty politics”. It’s clear cut diversionary tactics of congress leaders to skirt their failure of fulfilling pre-poll promises like Full farmer Loan Waiver, Rs 2500 monthly Unemployment Allowance and Smart Phones to Youth, enhanced old age pension of Rs 2100 to elderly, etc, added Salaria.
Addressing a press conference here Salaria said, “Neither will I indulge in such cheap politics, nor would I allow anyone to do so. I come from a family of a freedom fighter and my father has spent time behind the bars for the nation’s independence. I have imbibed his morals and values and I will serve the people of this area. I promise that I won’t do anything which tarnishes the image of this constituency”. Salaria was accompanied by state party vice-president Anil Sarin, state party secretary Vineet Joshi and state BJP’s legal department Head Lekhraj Sharma.Countering the false propaganda of the Congress leaders, Salaria said that they should first come out clean themselves before leveling accusations against him. “I have entered politics to serve the people and I have been serving the people of this area since last 14 years. People of Gurdaspur are like my family and they know it very well that I can never do wrong. They will give a befitting reply to the Congress on October 11, when they will cast their votes in favour of the BJP”.Challenging state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Salaria asked him to prove his allegations or quit politics. “I will quit politics if Badal proves the accusations”, he said.
Attacking Badal, Salaria said, “He should immediately tender his resignation as he has lost his right to be in the Cabinet after misleading the people by making false statements at the time of elections”, he said. Answering to a query related to a photograph which has went viral on social media, Salaria clarified that he has no link to it. Salaria said, “If there would have been such a photograph, then the woman, Kamini Kaushal, who had filed the complaint in 2014 would have provided it to the police. The police had investigated the matter thoroughly and had found that the complaint was false. I have only a challan issued against me under section 506 of the IPC, which I had challenged in the Bombay High Court. The court had granted me a stay and sought a reply from the lady which she hasn’t filed even after three years have passed by”.Salaria surprised everyone when he disclosed that he received a message on September 27 which stated that some Congress leaders had approached the lady and conspired against him. “Since I was busy with the elections, I didn’t concentrate on it, but today it has become clear that the Congress can stoop so low just to win an election”, he said.