Ready for alliance with Capt: BJP; Rawat terms it ‘shocking’
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Wednesday reciprocated warmly to former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh’s suggestion for an alliance with the party in the upcoming state assembly polls, lauding him as a patriot and asserting that it is open to joining hands with those who put national interest first.
BJP general secretary and party in-charge of Punjab affairs Dushyant Gautam said Singh, who has announced that he will quit the Congress and launch a party, is moving away from the dynasty and towards nationalism. Gautam’s comments came a day after Amarinder Singh said he will soon launch his political party and is hopeful of a seat arrangement with the BJP if the farmers’ issue is resolved in their interest.
On his condition of resolving farmers’ issue, the BJP leader said Singh did not talk about ending the farmers’ agitation.
“He talked about farmers’ issues. We are committed to it and are working for the welfare of farmers. When the time comes, both will sit together and discuss farmers’ issues,” Gautam told PTI. As far as the agitation is concerned, it is politically motivated, he alleged.
“Our main agenda is nationalism and keeping the nation first. All those parties who want to form alliances with us on this agenda are welcome,” he said.
Amarinder Singh was once a soldier and his stand on the issues of national security should be praised, the BJP leader said. “.... He (Amarinder Singh) was a soldier. He knows about the threats to the country and how to secure it is.
“He is patriotic. And whenever it was a matter of national security and security at the borders, we have appreciated his stand,” Gautam said, adding that nationalists are not “untouchables” to the BJP.
Punjab’s deputy chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Wednesday said that Amarinder has destroyed himself by announcing a seat arrangement with a party he has always criticised. “Captain Amarinder Singh has destroyed himself by announcing a seat arrangement with BJP, whom he has always abused,” he said.
Randhawa also called Captain an “opportunist” and claimed that he is responsible for the increase in Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction on the border of Punjab.
“Captain betrayed Punjab. I am sad that I have spent so much time with him,” he said.
Congress general secretary and party’s Punjab in Charge Harish Rawat on Wednesday said that the former Chief Minister has killed the “secular Amarinder” within him.
Rawat after meeting with party leader Rahul Gandhi told ANI that Amarinder Singh was a symbol of “Sarvdharm Sambhav” and was connected to Congress’ traditions for a long time.
“If he (Amarinder Singh) wants to eat crow and go with BJP, he can. Who can stop him if he can’t stay with his old commitment to secularism? He was considered a symbol of “Sarvdharm Sambhav” and was connected to Congress’ traditions for a long time. If he wants to go, he should,” said Rawat.
“Who can forgive BJP that has kept farmers at the borders for 10 months? Can Punjab forgive them for the manner in which farmers’ agitation has been dealt with? His statement is really shocking. It seems he has killed the ‘secular Amarinder’ within him,” he added.