Chandigarh, September 20
Congratulating the newly-appointed Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema expressed hope that he will fulfill all the election promises of 2017. He also expressed hope that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will send minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, accused of lakhs of Dalit students in the post-matric scholarship scam; which the ruling Congress has been protecting till now.
Cheema was addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here on Monday along with party’s state secretary Gagandeep Chadha. On this occasion, Cheema lashed out at the Badal family and the Akali Dal citing the farmers’ struggle. He said in the year 2017, the Congress party had issued a manifesto of 129 pages and made many promises like ‘Ghar-Ghar Rozgar’, farmer’s loan waiver, 5 marla plots and free houses to Dalits with eradicating the mafia rule. “But in four-and-a-half years, no promises were fulfilled. We hope Channi will fulfill all these promises,” he added.
The LoP further said that the Congress party itself has admitted that Captain Amarinder has been a flop and that is why he was removed from the post of Chief Minister. Cheema said the Congress will have to fulfill its promises as the people of Punjab cannot be misled by merely changing the face. He reiterated, “The people know that the Congress has not fulfilled even a single promise of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ghar-Ghar Rozgar, cheap electricity and cancellation of power purchase agreements. The AAP believes in work,” he said.
Harpal Singh Cheema expressed hope that Chief Minister Channi will fulfill the promises made to the people on the same lines as the Kejriwal government is providing free education, treatment, free electricity in Delhi. He said the biggest hope is that Charanjit Singh Channi will not give place to Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, accused of post- matric scholarship scam; in the cabinet and will send him to jail, so that the Dalits can get justice.
“Captain did not take any action against Sadhu Singh Dharamsot even after a Principal Secretary level officer of the government found him guilty in this case. Now it is expected that Channi will take action against him and will improve law and order on priority basis along with ensuring respect and security for women,” he asserted. Replying to a question, Harpal Singh Cheema said the heart of the entire Badal family (Akali Dal) still beats for the BJP. He said the Badals are still speaking BJP’s language regarding the farmers’ movement.
