Amarinder under mental stress: Bhattal

Jalandhar, Apr 16 (UNI) There seems to be no letup in the infighting in the Punjab Congress, with Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal taking a dig at former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and describing him as being ''mentally unwell as he was under stress''.

''Capt Amarinder Singh is issuing baseless and irresponsible statements as he is suffering from mental tension due to the ongoing City Centre scam trial at a court in Ludhiana,'' PPCC chief said at a media conference here today.

About her acquittal in the alleged corruption case, she said she was let off by the court and not by the Akalis. The case was filed by the Akali government (1997-2002) and application for withdrawal was filed by the Amarinder government on December 13, 2006.

Terming the allegation as baseless, levelled by Capt Singh that she was hand-in-glove with Akalis, Ms Bhattal said infact he was hobnobbing with top BJP leaders along with his brother-in-law Natwar Singh and even rumours were rife that he might join that party.

The state Congress leaders had been against Capt Singh's re-entry into the party after remaining in the company of Akalis for 14 long years, she claimed. However not only did the Congress accept him but also made him the chief minister of the state, she said while advising Capt Singh to accept the Congress party culture.

The PPCC chief warned that disciplinary action would be intiated against those who organise parallel meetings or rallies individually or indulged in anti-party activities.

Requesting Capt Singh to tow the party line, she said, ''If he did not walk the party line and refrain himself from issuing emabarrassing statements, which affect the party image, then the disciplinary committee will not hesitate in taking disciplinary action against him.'' UNI DP HS RSA BD2050