AAP dissidents, LIP vow to form third front to take on Cong, SAD
Will seek justice in sacrilege incidents, raise other key issues of Punjab
TALWANDI SABO (BATHINDA: ) Showcasing their strength and unity as a third alternative to the ruling Congress and the Akali-bjp coalition in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party’s dissident leaders, led by MLA Sukhpal Khaira, and the Bains brothers of Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) on Saturday launched their ‘Insaaf March’ that will cover 180 km in nine days to reach Patiala on December 17.
Khaira was accompanied by six other MLAS and Lok Sabha member Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, while Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains, both LIP MLAS, reached the Gurdwara Takht Damdama Sahib here, along with hundreds of their supporters from Ludhiana and other places.
“The days of the Badals are numbered, and their drama of the sewa at Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) today shows their guilt. They are guilty of the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, guilty of two deaths in the police firing (in two incidents under the Akali-bjp regime in 2015), guilty of selling ‘chitta’ (drugs), of running cable mafia and sand mafia, and looting the state,” said Simarjeet Singh Bains, amid slogans of ‘Bole so Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’ by the audience.
Bains also described the Badals and chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh as “politicians who failed the people for their vested political interests”.
Terming the launch of the ‘Insaaf March’ as historic, he said it is the “beginning of the third front alternative” to both the Congress and the Akali-bjp coalition ahead of the parliamentary elections, due next year.
‘AMARINDER LIED WITH GUTKA IN HAND’
Khaira said, “Capt Amarinder had vowed at this place (Talwandi sabo) only with a ‘gutka’ in his hands to wipe out drugs from Punjab within 4 weeks after coming to power and to arrest all the guilty of sacrilege and police firing incidents. Now, you can see how he had lied with the people of Punjab just for the sake of votes before the assembly polls (in 2017).”
He also termed the state government’s second drive to waive off farm loans — of the landless farm workers — as “eyewash”.
Earlier, Sikh historian Prof Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon said the ‘Insaaf March’ would not be enough and they need to send vociferous leaders from Punjab to Parliament to raise the state’s genuine demands.
Dr Gandhi reiterated his demand for “political autonomy” to Punjab, saying he would continue raising the issue for the benefit of the people of the state.
CONCERN OVER LIFTING OF BARGARI MORCHA
The key issue of the fate of Bargari Morcha, which is proposed to be lifted on Sunday, was echoed by most of the speakers at the event.
Bains termed the lifting of the morcha as “a conspiracy” of the state government. “I still have faith in the morcha and believe that Jathedar (Dhian Singh) Mand will not lift it.” The ‘Insaaf March’, which halted at Jodhpur Pakhar village on Saturday night, will culminate at a rally at Patiala December 17.