Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Sunday said the Congress has become directionless and remains consumed by internal power struggles instead of addressing the concerns of Punjab and its people.
He said the ongoing infighting within the Congress has exposed the party’s complete political bankruptcy and accused the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal of joining hands to target CM Bhagwant Singh Mann because they have no answer to the unprecedented work done by the AAP government.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab State Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said the Congress’ internal feud is its own matter, but it reflects the party’s lack of direction. “The irony is that Congress leaders are explaining what is happening inside the BJP, while BJP leaders are speaking on Congress affairs.
It is evident that both parties are working in complete coordination,” he said. He said the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have effectively become “Team A, B, C”, with the sole objective of targeting CM Bhagwant Singh Mann because they have no answer to the AAP government’s performance.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Baltej Pannu said the party in Punjab has effectively become a “Congress wing.” “Most of the faces leading the BJP today are former Congress leaders. The original BJP leadership has virtually disappeared, while many more Congress leaders seem eager to join them,” he said.
Referring to senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Pannu said although Randhawa has offered a different explanation, everyone understands the political significance of the meeting.
“Opposition Parties Have United Because They Cannot Counter the AAP Government’s Performance,” he added. Baltej Pannu further added, “For the first time in decades, canal water has reached tail-end villages. Nearly 90 percent of households are receiving zero electricity bills because of 600 units of free power.
Farmers are getting uninterrupted daytime electricity and canal water. More than 34 lakh women have started receiving the financial assistance promised by the AAP government, while the remaining eligible beneficiaries will receive their dues from August 1.”
He added that instead of presenting any agenda for Punjab’s progress, Congress leaders remain occupied with their internal leadership battle. “One day they say Charanjit Singh Channi is in Delhi for meetings, the next day they say Bhupesh Baghel is coming to meet Punjab Congress leaders.
The entire party is waiting for directions from the high command while pretending to lecture others,” he said. Baltej Pannu pointed to Congress leaders’ double standards, saying they repeatedly attacked AAP by claiming the party was being run from Delhi, but are now themselves waiting for every decision from their high command.
“Will they now apologise for the abusive and derogatory language they used against AAP on this issue?” he asked. He also referred to the allegations previously made by Congress leaders regarding ticket distribution and the chief minister’s post during elections and said the Congress should first explain those allegations before targeting others.
Launching a broader attack on the traditional parties, the AAP Punjab Media In-charge said the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have no vision or roadmap for Punjab’s development. “They have no roadmap, no vision and no plan for the people. Their only agenda is Bhagwant Singh Mann. They are unable to digest the fact that the AAP government has delivered what these parties failed to do for decades,” he said.
Baltej Pannu said these parties never wanted the people of Punjab to receive 600 units of free electricity, canal water for farmers, cashless healthcare worth up to ₹10 lakh, or financial assistance for women. “Had the AAP government not come to power in 2022, these parties would have continued pushing Punjab backwards,” he added.
Concluding his address, Baltej Pannu said political bargaining between the Congress and the BJP is already underway in Punjab. “Many Congress leaders are preparing to join the BJP’s Congress wing. The people of Punjab are watching everything and will reject this opportunistic politics,” he said.