Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's son today hit back at his critics in the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for describing him as an "opportunist".
Raninder Singh Tikku, who is the son of Amarinder and Union Minister Preneet Kaur, was referring to comments by Punjab rural development minister and Samana MLA Surjit Singh Rakhra.
"I am here in the constituency for the past couple of days and have been in regular touch with my workers... He (Surjit Singh Rakhra) is nobody to (question me).... Moreover, I am answerable only to the people of the constituency, not to him," he added.
Raninder lost to Rakhra in the last Assembly elections.
Referring to Raninder, Rakhra had recently said, "eh fasli batteray ne... Ehna te yakin na karyo (they are opportunists, don't trust them)".
Asked why he and his father were missing during state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa's visit to the area last month, Raninder said both of them were busy in national Rifle Association elections.
"(We were) busy for the elections of the Rifle Association ... I had informed the PCC chief about his (Amarinder's) unavailability," Raninder said.
Bajwa had recently hinted that action would be taken against party leaders, including Raninder, for their absence from the Congress campaign for the May 19 Zilla Parishad and Block Samiti elections in the state.
