Amarinder accuses Badal of promoting 'parivar' rule

Baba Bakala, Amritsar, Aug 16 (UNI) Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh today accused his successor Parkash Singh Badal of promoting 'family rule' and ignoring the interests of the state.

''It is Badal 'parivar' (family) rule which has taken Punjab to the brink of disaster'', Capt Singh said while addressing a Congress rally in this historical town on the occasion of 'Rakhar Purnima'.

Claiming that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government had failed on all fronts, Capt Singh said the state was bankrupt and there was no progress or development. The only progress was of the Badal 'parivar', he added while referring to the Chief Minister, his son and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, a close relative of the Badal's.

Accusing the government of political vendetta, the former chief minister alleged that a large number of Congress workers were being implicated in false cases.

''It is police raj in Punjab, democracy has been eroded'', he added.

Capt Singh who was recently appointed chairman of the Election Campaign Committee of the state Congress was impressed by the large turnout at the rally and congratulated local leaders, patricularly former MLA Jasbir Singh Dimpa.

''Now I know the Congress is coming back to power in Punjab'', he said adding that his party would win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the next elections.

On the occasion, Capt Singh took the opportunity to issue a warning to the official machinery in the state, asking them to abide by the law and not to stoop low before their ''political masters''.

He also warned that officers who violate the rule of law would not be spared once the Congress returned to power in the state.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) working president Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, AICC member Jagmeet Singh Brar and a number of other senior leaders also spoke on the occasion.

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