Amarinder warns officials "discriminating" against Cong

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today warned officials in the police and administration not to discriminate and victimise Congress workers.
"It is a matter of six more months when those responsible for persecuting Congress workers will face justice," he said at a meeting with party workers as a part of his outreach programme 'Halke Vich Captain' (Captain in Assembly constituency) here.
Several party workers alleged discrimination by the administration as well as victimisation by police with false cases.
"Remember that I have taken an oath on Gutka Sahab (religious book) and I am repeating it now that I will not only cancel the false FIRs against my party workers but will also ensure that those responsible for lodging false cases, including Akali leaders and police officials, are taken to task (when Congress forms the government in Punjab)," the former Chief Minister said.

The party workers listed several instances of being "ignored" when it came to distribution of development grants or issuing of 'blue cards' for the below poverty line (BPL) people. They alleged that localities with a strong presence of Congress supporters were not even provided basic amenities such as roads and drains.
Replying to a question, Amarinder said he has already announced that when Congress comes to power in Punjab, it will ensure "at least one job in one family" with a decent and reasonable income enough to sustain it for a month.

At the same time, he said, it will require a lot of efforts and building up of trust and goodwill of private investors and industry because all jobs cannot be provided by the government.

Amarinder said healthcare and quality education for everyone will be his topmost priority when Congress forms the government.
Replying to a question from a cancer patient, Amarinder
said a super-specialised cancer treatment hospital will be set up where patients will be treated for free if his party forms the government.
He expressed concern over the alarming rise in cancer cases, adding that he was surprised why Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has "not done anything" for their treatment.
He agreed with the observation of one of the party workers that private educational institutions were not honouring the commitment of providing 25 per cent reservation to children from less privileged families saying he was aware of the problem and will ensure that these institutions fall in line.

Replying to a complaint regarding poor quality wheat and pulses supplied under the 'Atta-Dal' scheme, the Amritsar MP said he will not only ensure that the scheme continues but also good quality Atta-Dal is provided to the people. Besides, he added, the Congress government will add other essential items such as sugar and tea in the list.
Amarinder alleged that Badal was not in favour of getting the SYL canal issue resolved to Punjab's advantage.
"If the SYL issue is settled in Punjab's favour, it will not suit Badal politically and he is deliberately trying to spoil the case to make political capital out of it," he said, reiterating that he will "go to any extent" to save Punjab's waters.

Amarinder played down recent reports regarding presence of terrorists in Pathankot.
"This is quite an irresponsible statement whosoever has made it," he said, adding, "our soldiers are guarding the borders and it is not that everyday terrorists can sneak in at their free will".
Under 'Halke Vich Captain', Amarinder spent the entire day at Akali bastion Jagraon in Ludhiana, meeting over 3,000 people, listening to their grievances for 180 minutes and assuring them of redressal within 100 days of his party forming the government.