Advani appeals to teach 'arrogant' Cong leaders a lesson

Ropar, Feb 7 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani today called upon the people of Punjab to teach a lesson to the 'arrogant' Congress leaders in the February 13 assembly elections.

While addressing an election rally infavour of BJP-SAD (Badal) joint candidate from Anandpur Sahib constituency Sant Ajit Singh at local Bela Chowk, the former Deputy Prime Minister said Congress leaders had behaved in an arrogant manners during last five years and resorted to excesses against the people including farmers.

He said arrogance had no place in a democratic set up as people could throw them out of power after five years by exercising their right to vote.

He appealed to the people to vote for Akali-BJP alliance to make Mr Parkash Singh Badal as chief minister and Punjab, a number one state of the country.

He alleged that the Central government has been 'criminalised' as number of persons with criminal background are ministers at the Centre.

Mr Advani said it was a strange thing that the Left parties, supporting the Congress led government at the Centre, are accusing it of adopting anti-people and anti-poor policies.

He alleged that Central government had surrendered to the Left parties and Dr Manmohan Singh was working under the pressure of these parties.

While addressing the rally, SAD president Parkash Singh Badal termed the reported statement of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as extremely unfortunate, in which he had apprehended the revival of terrorism in the state.

Mr Badal said he had highest regard for the Prime Minister but such statements did not suit a person like him.

He alleged that it was the Congress, responsible for terrorism in the state claiming that he had solid proofs in this regard. ''It is an open secret that Khalistan protagonist Ganga Singh Dhillon had addressed a press conference in Congress Bhawan to make statements about Khalistan,'' Badal said.

He said infact it was the Akali Dal which had suffered during the terrorism as a number of its leaders including Sant Harchand Singh Longowal lost their lives during the period and leaders like Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Jagdev Singh Talwandi escaped murderous attacks.

He lashed out at Congress government accusing it of failing on all fronts and appealed to the people to give his party a chance to serve the state again.

UNI