AAP dangerous mix of left, right ideologies: Amarinder

AAP's "dangerous combination of extreme left and extreme right ideologies" could once again plunge Punjab into the dark days of terrorism, state Congress chief Amarinder Singh warned today dismissing both the Badal family and Arvind Kejriwal as "big-time phonies out to sell Punjab's interests to inimical forces".
Addressing a public rally here, Amarinder launched a scathing attack on Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal, saying "he had the same mindset which had led Punjab into terrorism which killed over 35,000 people in the 1980s".
Caught between the extreme left (Naxalite) and right (Khalistani) philosophies, the AAP had absolutely no policies or programmes for the development of Punjab, and its leader Kejriwal only wanted to capture Punjab by making false promises, warned the PPCC president and the Congress' chief ministerial candidate.

Kejriwal has his eyes on Punjab's chief ministership, and eventually wants to become the Prime Minister, said Amarinder, adding that his 'kichchdi' party of two different ideological extremes would vitiate the atmosphere of the state.
Kejriwal is a complete outsider with no roots in Punjab, Amarinder pointed out, adding that "if, God forbid, he succeeds in his ambitions, the state of Punjab would once again end up in the grip of terrorist forces".
Referring to the Delhi chief minister's NGO, which was allegedly funded by the Ford Foundation, Amarinder said it had the backing of the CIA, the Khalistanis and a whole lot of other forces inimical to India.

Pointing to "exorbitant" AAP spending on advertisements and publicity in Punjab, the PPCC chief questioned the sources of Kejriwal's funds and warned people that supporting him would be detrimental to Punjab's interests.

Amarinder also questioned Kejriwal's over two years of governance in Delhi, saying he had done nothing but make sham promises to the people of the national capital, just as he was doing now in Punjab.
The former chief minister dubbed both Kejriwal and Parkash Singh Badal as "maha gappus" (liars who talk in the air), saying "they could not be trusted an inch".
Reiterating that he had decided to contest from Lambi in

order to rout Badal completely, once and for all, Amarinder said the Akali government had destroyed every vestige of development in Punjab and their leaders would have to pay for it.
"I will throw Badal and anyone else found guilty of the sacrilegious incidents in the state into jail," he vowed making it clear that religious intolerance could not be tolerated at any cost in Punjab, which has already suffered immensely due to communal strife and terrorism.
He also promised to punish the Chhota Badal (Sukhbir Badal) who was allegedly busy making hotels and other assets by diverting public funds and said the 'Lambu' (Bikram Singh Majithia) would also have to pay for his sin of destroying a whole generation of the state's youth with drugs.

"The Akalis have devastated Punjab and brought its to economy to its knees, he said pointing to the collapse of agriculture and industry in the state, as well as widespread unemployment and mafia rule.
REOPENS DES 35
Meanwhile, promising to make Malerkotla a separate
district on coming to power, Amarinder declared his commitment to the uplift of minorities in Punjab by giving the same benefits as are being provided to the Dalits, including houses for homeless Christians and Muslims.
While announcing his intention to nominate the Congress candidate Razia Sultan, an ex-MLA, as a minister in his cabinet, the PPCC president and chief ministerial nominee of the party said he was committed to ensuring communal harmony in the state and would punish all those, including Badal, found guilty of involvement in any of the sacrilege incidents that have vitiated Punjab's atmosphere.

Asserting his commitment to protecting the minorities in Punjab in the Muslim town of Malerkotla, he said he would make sure that their future is secured and would implement every promise made to the minorities in the manifesto, including due representation to them in all state boards and corporations.
The manifesto also promises the establishment of an Urdu Academy and a Medical College in Malerkotla.
Addressing a public rally, Amarinder said poor Christian and Muslim families would be given the same benefits by his government as are provided to their SC counterparts, such as Shagun under the Ashirward scheme, free electricity, pensions, loan waiver and scholarships.

Houseless/landless Muslims and Christians with an annual income less than Rs 5 lakh would be given five Marla plots or houses, on the lines of similar scheme for Dalits and SC poor, he added.
Amarinder expressed his gratitude to the Sehajdhari Sikhs who extended their support to the Congress on the occasion.
He dubbed the debarment of the Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections, under the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2016 passed by the Lok Sabha, as a conspiracy of the Badals to seize complete control of the religious body.
The PPCC president vowed to free the SGPC from the Badals' fetters to prevent the misuse of religion for political gains.

The Punjab Congress chief assured the people that his government, after the elections, would spare no effort in bringing to book all those guilty of ruining the state with their corrupt policies and actions.
He reiterated his promise of jobs for all unemployed youth, with loan waiver for farmers and new policy for industrial revival, immediately after coming to power.
He once again underscored his commitment to freeing Punjab's youth from the manacles of the drug mafia, allegedly patronised by the Akalis, within four weeks of coming to power.