Smriti Irani makes scathing attack on ''bully'' Rana

Kapurthala, Feb 7 (UNI) Wellknown TV star and BJP leader Smriti Irani today made a scathing attack on Jalandhar Congress MP and sugar baron Rana Gurjit Singh for allegedly ''bullying his own party and the voters in the Kapurthala assembly constituency to further his own ends''.

Addressing a women-dominated election rally in favour of SAD-BJP candidate Raghbir Singh, Ms Irani accused Mr Rana of manipulating the Congress Party. ''He first managed the party's ticket in favour of his sister-in-law Sukhjinder Kaur Rana, the sitting Congress MLA and then changed the candidate from Sukhjinder to his wife Rajbans Kaur. Now he is busy heading her poll campaign and wants to her to win by hook or by crook,'' she added.

''When Gurjit Singh was not sincere to his clan and party how can he be sincere to the electorate. He did not even fulfill his promise of setting up a sugar mill and open a women's college in the area,'' Ms Irani said.

Lashing out at the Congress, she said farmers of the state were committing suicides because of the wrong policies of the Centre as well as Punjab government which has ruined the agricultural sector.

Ms Irani blamed the Congress for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Women out-numbered men in the election rally to see Ms Irani, who has shot to fame in the role of Tulsi in the popular TV serial ''Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi''.

Mr Raghbir Singh and BJP district President Hira lal Dhir also addressed the rally.

UNI