How Punjab Election Is Only About Mud-Slinging
The election for the 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly will be held on February 4, 2017.
By Rakesh Raman
As no political party has any plan to help Punjab recover from the socio-economic disaster, the politicians are only accusing each other in a manner that would put even the fighting street dogs to shame.
For example, the multihyphenated politician Navjot Singh Sidhu who defected the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently to join Congress said today that the ruling party headed by Badals is a corrupt party.
He said that the Badal government has brought the state under a heavy debt of Rs. 3 lakh crore (approximately US$ 40 billion) while Badal family’s business is flourishing. But Sidhu or his party Congress has not given any road-map that will save Punjab from this debt.
On the other side, instead of countering Sidhu’s allegations about the government’s corruption, Badals blame him of pursuing his commercial interests in the Mumbai-based entertainment industry where Sidhu spends most of his time as an ordinary artist.
[ Also Visit: Save Punjab – Punjab Election News 2017 ]
Sidhu – who belongs to Punjab – has been looking for a powerful role in the state, although Congress has not yet specified his responsibilities. Currently, top Congress leader and former chief minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh is spearheading the party’s election campaign in the state.
Addressing our first Press Conference together. @sherryontopp is like my son, and I’m glad we’re together in our #BattleForPunjab pic.twitter.com/vXNMiuDxEs
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 19, 2017
Congress has not yet announced its chief ministerial (CM) candidate for Punjab where its fight will mainly be against SAD-BJP alliance.
Kejriwal Issue
Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal – the leader of Delhi-based Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – has no plan for the state because he does not belong to Punjab. He is wandering aimlessly in the streets of Punjab and abusing his opponents while his own state Delhi is suffering.
.@ArvindKejriwal is quick to question others but has been maintaining stoic silence at his party’s scams/scandals and unkept promises.
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 21, 2017
Punjab deputy chief minister (CM) Sukhbir Singh Badal said today that Kejriwal had exploited the anti-corruption movement of social activist Anna Hazare to make his political career and now his party AAP is embroiled in scams and scandals.
[ Swaraj India Launches ‘Jawab Do, Hisab Do’ Campaign in Delhi ]
As Kejriwal is Delhi CM, his government is facing serious corruption charges. Last year, the lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung had set up an expert committee – called the Shunglu Committee – to examine over 400 files for financial and administrative irregularities committed by Kejriwal’s government.
While the Shunglu Committee had submitted its report in November last year, it is stated that the report has found serious cases of fraud, cheating, and misappropriation of funds in the Kejriwal’s Delhi government.
In order to hold the Delhi government accountable for the irregularities, a new political outfit Swaraj India has started a door-to-door campaign to inform people about the misgovernance in Delhi.
However, instead of addressing the problems in Delhi, Kejriwal – along with his associates – is wasting his time in Punjab.
Captain Amarinder sahib, u shud show some courage n withdraw ur nomination from Patiala. Fight straight battle against senior Badal in Lambi
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2017
The election for the 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly will be held on February 4, 2017.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government award-winning journalist and social scientist. You also can visit the REAL VOTER – Politics in India Information Center that he manages.
Photo courtesy: Congress
