20 Sarpanches, others join Congress

Chandigarh, May 23 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today suffered a set back in the Majha region as 20 Sarpanches, 36 Member Panchayats and their supporters from Patti assembly constituency joined the Congress in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh here today.

While welcoming these leaders in the Congress fold, Capt Singh said that the electoral battle against former Chief Minister and SAD president Parkash Singh Badal had already begun and would get a major boost and certainly demoralise the Akalis whose supporters and workers were quitting the party against the repression unleashed by them on every passing day.

Capt Singh assured of giving due representation and respect to the workers who joined the Congress today and commended Com Balwinder Singh Bhikhiwind, the Shauryanchakra awardee of CPI (M) for waging a relentless war against terrorism, who also joined the Congress party.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general secretary Harminder Singh Gill said that the political activists who joined teh Congress today were ''fed up with the autocratic style of functioning of Patti MLA and Mr Badal's son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon''.

Mr Harminder Singh Gill, who has been instrumental in the Akali and Communist leaders joining the Congress, accused Mr Kairon for grossly neglecting the development of the Patti area.

Mr Gill said the pro-people and development oriented policies of the Punjab government under the able leadership of Capt Singh motivated them to join the Congress. He said that Congress was the only party that could deliver the goods effectively and fulfil the aspirations of the people through its policies and programmes.

In his address, Jathedar Bahal Singh Singhpura, ex-chairman Market Committee Bhikhiwind and descendant of Nawab Kapur Singh, said he was feeling relieved today after bidding farewell to SAD after putting in 42 years of his political career.

He said that he and his supporters were feeling suffocated in the SAD because they were being completely ignored.

Meanwhile, Com Balwinder Singh said that he joined the Congress as he was deeply impressed by Capt Singh for his bold initiatives for pro-farmer stance in protecting the river waters in larger interest of the peasantry.

UNI PS SHB PM1923