Actor-politician Vinod Khanna, the BJP candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, today accused his rival and sitting Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa of neglecting the constituency, even as Bajwa dismissed Narendra Modi's state tour saying it failed to create any ripple.
Addressing people during a roadshow here, Khanna said "Bajwa has neglected this constituency. Where are all the huge promises he made to you in 2009? He just took your votes and ran away."
Taking a swipe at Bajwa, Khanna said, "He claims to be the next CM of Punjab. He doesn't enjoy the support of his own party leaders, what makes him think that voters will support him."
Khanna alleged that Congress' policy had led to price rise and affected people of the country, especially the women.
"Congress is responsible for making people, especially women, suffer for basic needs," he said.
"I have fame and money...There is no reason for me to join politics for any of these reasons. I am here only to serve people," he said.
Khanna, a three-time MP from the seat, claimed that he had built bridges connecting remotest villages in Gurdaspur during his tenures and said the bridges had opened avenues for movement, employment and other activities.
He said if elected, his focus would be to promote industries, education, employment and tourism.
He promised people that he would get special packages from the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, if formed, to develop the constituency.
"I will turn the constituency into a tourism hub. We are blessed with a beautiful topography," he said.
Meanwhile, Bajwa also held a roadshow here during which he dismissed Narendra Modi's tour of the state yesterday.
"The much-hyped whirlwind tour of Modi failed to create even a ripple in Punjab where the people are filled with anger against the autocratic, degenerated and corrupt rule of the Akali Dal-BJP government headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal," he said.
Bajwa said Modi had nothing new to offer to the voters during his visit and did not said a word about opening up borders with Pakistan to facilitate free trade.
"The so-called Modi wave is just a hype created through lies and utter lies. The people have realised the danger to the idea of India in case such divisive forces captured power," he said.
"Transportation of Punjab products to Central Asian markets is the best hope for revival of the economy of this land-locked border state, which has been the victim of mismanagement and bankrupt policies of the Badal government," he said.
