By VIMAL SUMBLY, CHANDIGARH, November 12: The newly appointed president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Capt Amarinder Singh was today accorded a tumultuous welcome by the party workers and leaders who had converged on the party office here from across the state. Capt Amarinder also moved a strongly worded resolution to condemn the former RSS chief K Sudershan for his insane criticism of the Congress president Ms Sonia Gandhi, which was unanimously passed at the congregation.
It was a ceremonial reception accorded to the new PCC president with senior party leaders like Mr Balram Jhakhar and Mr R L Bhatia also having come to greet him on the occasion. Besides, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs Ms Perneet Kaur, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab assembly Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, past PCC presidents Mr Virender Kataria, Mr SS Randhawa, Mr Mohinder Singh Gill, Mr HS Hanspal and Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, the national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Manish Tewari, Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla, Ms Santosh Chaudhary, Mr SS Libra, PCC general secretary Raninder Singh, party MLAs, district and block presidents PCC delegates were also present on the occasion. Congress general secretary Ms Mohsina Kidwai and the union Minister Ms Ambika Soni could not attend the function due to ill health. Both had sent the congratulatory messages to the newly appointed PCC president, which were read by the stage secretary Mikiat Singh Dakha.
Speaking on the occasion Capt Amarinder made an impassioned appeal to the rank and file of the party to uproot the criminal and corrupt government of the SAD-BJP alliance. He said, this government had given nothing to the people except having unleashed a reign of terror on political opponents, caused massive unemployment and pushed the economy to the brink of disaster.
The newly appointed PCC chief asserted that each and every person found responsible for falsely implicating the Congress workers in the state will be brought to book. He said, the police stations had been handed over to the Akali leaders to intimidate and victimise the Congress workers. Over 20,000 false cases were registered against the Congress workers, he pointed out, while adding, nobody will be let off and everybody would be held accountable.
Promising to lead the party to victory in the next elections, Capt Amarinder told the workers that he will not let them stay indoors and nor would he himself as it was important to ensure that the Akalis were voted out of power. He said, he would be permanently stationed at the party headquarters and available to each and every worker each and every time he is needed.
Having a dig at the Badals he said, “I don’t know what has happened to the senior Badal but I can see the younger one (Sukhbir Badal) moving around”. Come what may, he asserted, their days are numbered and they will soon be out of picture. Because, he pointed out, they had ruined the state in every way and manner. There are forty lakh unemployed youth in the state. There has been 65 per cent increase in the law and order problems in the state. The economy is in a shambles, he pointed out, while adding, they (the Badals) have not contributed a single thing worth the name.
Capt Amarinder was duly supported by the leader of the opposition in Punjab assembly, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who said, the Akalis needed to be held to account. She appealed to each and every worker and leader of the party to unite and join hands to ensure the defeat of the Akalis.
Speaking on the occasion the secretary in charge of the AICC for Punjab Mr RC Kuntia said, the Congress president Ms Sonia Gandhi had respected the sentiments of the people of Punjab by appointing Capt Amarinder as the PCC president. “Now our belief has been reinforced that the high command has taken the right decision by appointing Capt Amarinder Singh as the PCC president as I can make out from the euphoria and enthusiasm among the people across the state”, he observed.
The INC national spokesperson Mansih Tewari cautioned the party workers to remain united. He said, nobody can defeat the Congress if it remains united within. He congratulated Capt Amarinder Singh on behalf of the party high command and said, the party was certain to achieve landslide victory in next elections under his leadership as he had done in the past as well.
Hundreds and thousands of people converged on Chandigarh today to greet the newly appointed PCC president. The whole city and the roads leading to it were decorated with the hoardings and banners congratulating Capt Amarinder.
Prominent among those present included former minister Lal Singh, Harnam Dass Johar, Amarjit Singh Samra, Chaudhary Santokh, Chaudhary Jagjit, Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Rakesh Pandey, Milkiat Singh Birmi, Surinder Singla, sitting and former MLAs including Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Jasjit Singh Randhawa, Arvind Khanna, Hansraj Joshan, Mohinder Singh Rinwa, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Prof Darbari Lal, Ramesh Dogra, Kaka Randeep, Razia Sultana, Love Kumar Goldy, Kewal Dhillon, Rana KP, Gurdeep Singh Bhaini, Tej Prakash, Sukhpal Khaira, Sunil Jhakhar, Kewal Dhillon, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Harmohinder Pradhan, Harminder Jassi, Harchand Kaur, Makhan Singh, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, OP Soni, Joginderpal Jain, Mangat Ram Bansal, Isher Singh, Sukh Sarkaria, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Sukhi Randhawa, Lali Jawandha, Jagpal Singh Khangura, Bhupinder Sindh Sidhu and others.
