Soni disapproves of Amarinder's tirade against Bhattal

Anandpur Sahib, Mar 21 (UNI) Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni today disapproved the open outburst of former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh against PPCC president Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

It may be mentioned that yesterday Capt.Amarinder Singh had accused Bhattal of colluding with Akali Dal-BJP government. While talking to mediapersons at Anandpur Sahib Soni said Capt Amarinder Singh should have raised the issue at party forum instead of going to press.

In reply to a question whether any disciplinary action would be taken against Capt Amarinder Singh for his outburst, Soni said she had only read the statement in the newspapers and would talk to him over the issue first.

PPCC president Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who was also present on the occasion, when asked to comment on the issue, also maintained that Capt Amarinder Singh should have raised the issue at party platform. Commenting on the allegation of the Capt Amarinder Singh that Mrs Bhattal was playing friendly match with government, PPCC president said she did not need any certificate regarding what she had to do not to do.

Earlier, addressing an impressive political conference organised by congress on the occasion of Hola Mohalla, Mrs Soni said congress would struggle for the waiver of the loans of farm labourers, dalits and poor people belonging to OBCs having less than two hectares of land. She said congress would also work for increasing the land ceiling of five acres for the waiver of the farm loans.

She said although UPA government had waived off Rs 60,000 crores of farm loans, but the Punjab government was yet to identify the farmers to be benefited by the loan waiver.

Mrs Soni alleged that Akali Dal had failed to fulfill its promises made with the people of the state even after one year of coming in to office. On the other hand UPA government had done a lot for the state by providing liberal grants for several projects.

She said Centre had cleared the funding of Rs 180 crores for the development of Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo towns to commemorate the tercentenary of Gurta Gaddi of Guru Granth Sahib.

Besides this the Centre had also decided to provide Rs 2000 crores for the development of Nanded where these celebrations were being held.

While speaking on the occasion Rajinder Kaur Bhattal asked the government to fulfill the promises made with the people otherwise the congress workers would not allow the rulers to move on the roads' and would force the government to fulfill the promises.

She alleged that Akali Dal leaders were using the religious places for political purposes and they were traitors of Sikhs.

Accusing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of nepotism, Bhattal said half dozen ministers in his Cabinet were his relatives while the real Akali workers were being ignored.

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