Punjab: AAP starts statewide Jan Chetna Yatra against SAD-BJP regime

Amritsar, May 15: Aam Aadmi Party on Friday launched the statewide 'Jan Chentra Yatra' from here with an aim to create awareness about the alleged massive corruption, drug menace, lawlessness and sand mafia in the Parkash Singh Badal-led regime in Punjab.

The Yatra (march) started from historic Jallianwalla Bagh here and was led by party's national convener Sanjay Singh, Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann, AAP Punjab Convener Sucha Singh Chottepur and Delhi MLA Naresh Yadav.

The march, which saw massive support of people including women and youngsters, passed through the city where people could be seen extending warm welcome to AAP and joining it.

AAP's march will reach Pathankot district late tonight after passing through Batala, Dhariwal and Gurdaspur. AAP leaders, during the march, said massive turn out of people indicated that people in Punjab wanted change as they were "fed up" with the current regime under SAD-BJP combine because of alleged "oppressive" behaviour of the state government towards masses.

AAP saw historic win in Delhi Assembly polls early this year. Pitching for change in regime, party's Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann said the state government had completely failed in curbing drug abuse among youth in the state.

Despite announcing several steps to check drug menace, narcotics were "freely" available in the state, he said.

Strongly condemning the recent Moga bus incident in which a teenage girl was molested and died after being thrown off from the running bus along with her mother, Mann said girls travelling in buses are no longer safe.

"It was a shameful incident for the state government. Now girls do not feel travelling in buses. But it seems this incident has failed to bother the state machinery," he said.

Party national convener Sanjay Singh alleged that 'Aam Aadmi' was unhappy with the present government while accusing SAD-BJP regime of not curbing lawlessness in the state.

The Jan Chenta Yatra will culminate at Anandpur Sahib on May 23 after passing through all the districts in Punjab.

Earlier, all the leaders paid rich tribute to the martyrs at historic Jallianwalla Bagh before beginning the rally.

PTI