Bajwa hits back, says Capt suffering from memory loss
CHANDIGARH: Congress Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday hit back at Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh for his comment on Thursday that he (Bajwa) was free to join the Akalis to go to Kartarpur if he did not want to be part of the jatha that will visit Kartarpur Sahib on November 9, if Amarinder led it. On Friday, Bajwa responded by saying that it appeared that the CM had suffered a memory loss.
“Why would I join the Akalis? I am a born Congressman. It was Amarinder who left the Congress in 1984 and remained in the Akali Dal till 1998. But, he is very good at forgetting truths. Moreover, who is Amarinder to lead the jatha? Visiting Kartarpur Sahib is a pious matter for all Sikhs and there is no concept of leading any jatha. It is not a 400m race where the CM is claiming that he will lead,” Bajwa told a press conference.
On joint celebrations of the 550th Parkash Purb, Bajwa claimed that if the CM could have an ‘understanding’ with the Badals on the issue of transport, cable and mining mafias, why did similar coordination not happen for the celebration.
“It is unfortunate that when it came to jointly celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, both the Badals and Amarinder are doing a drama and indulging in a blame game. What is the issue? The SGPC is under the control of the Badals and, in understanding with the CM, things would have materialised and joint celebrations would have shown the Sikh community as being united,” he claimed.
“On all other issues concerning their own interests, both the CM and the Badal family have never had any serious differences. Before becoming the CM, Amarinder had promised to the people of Punjab that action would be taken against sand, transport and cable mafias. However, despite a hue and cry by his own party MLAS, he did nothing and all businesses run by Badals are safe and secure,” Bajwa alleged, adding that on illegal mining, such was the bonhomie, that those running this trade since the era of the Badals were minting crores of rupees in this government as well without any ‘interruption’.
‘MODI SHOULD DIRECT BADALS, AMARINDER TO CELEBRATE JOINTLY’
The Rajya Sabha member said he also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that to win hearts of Sikhs across the globe, he should strictly direct Badals and Amarinder to celebrate jointly at Kartarpur and Sultanpur Lodhi.
“The Centre should not fall prey to the political agenda of the Badals and run parallel stages as they did in Kartarpur, where the state government had made arrangements for the inaugural ceremony but at the last minute, the Land Ports Authority of India decided to have its own stage, which Modi will attend,” said Bajwa.
Bajwa took another jibe at Amarinder’s move to set-up an Open University in the name of Guru Nanak at his home district in Patiala.
“Patiala has never been associated with Guru Nanak. Three cities of Sultanpur Lodhi, Batala or Dera Baba Nanak were best suited for the setting up of such an institute.
Why would I join the Akalis? I am a born Congressman. It was Amarinder who left the Cong in 1984 and stayed in the Akali Dal till 1998. PARTAP SINGH BAJWA,
Congress Rajya Sabha MP
FACILITIES BEING OFFERED TO PILGRIMS
Three tent cities have been set up on the three approach roads to Sultanpur Lodhi — on Talwandi