Instead of protesting at Ludhiana, Akalis should have joined dharna of Punjabis at Delhi: Bittu

Ludhiana: Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu today said that instead of organising a protest at Ludhiana, the Akalis should have joined the Dharna at Delhi, that has been organised by the Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab government at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. “If the Akalis are so concerned about the rights of Punjabis, then they should have focussed on organising a protest at Delhi, instead of Punjab. During these testing times, the Akalis should focus on safeguarding the democratic rights of Punjab rather than shedding crocodile tears for petty political gains,” said MP Bittu in a press statement issued here today.

It is pertinent to mention that accompanied by a handful of Akali workers, the Shiromani Akali Dal, led by Bikram Singh Majithia, organised a protest near the house of Punjab Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in Model Gram, here today.

While lashing out at the Akalis, MLAs Surinder Dawar, Sanjay Talwar & Kuldeep Singh Vaid today said that the Akalis have no locus standi to question honest leaders like Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. They said that the Akalis are issuing frivolous statements merely to save their long lost political ground. “People have seen their true colours and that is why, they are issuing such frivolous statements,” quipped the MLAs.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and Ludhiana Improvement Trust Chairman Raman Balasubramaniam said that Akalis first signed in approval of the three farm ordinances brought by the Union government. “It is a known and documented fact that former CM Parkash Singh Badal as well as former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had given official statements in media appreciating the farm ordinances. But when people started objecting to it, they were forced to backtrack and shedded crocodile tears in support of the farmers. This clearly shows the opportunistic nature of Akalis and Punjabis would never forget their misdeeds done in opposition of the farmers,” they said.

District Congress Committee Ludhiana (Urban) and (Rural) presidents Ashwani Sharma and Karanijt Singh Soni Galib said that before questioning the credibility of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Akalis should first come clean on the misappropriation of public funds to the tune of Rs 31,000 crore during their 10 years of misrule. “The Akalis have no moral right to question an honest leader like Bharat Bhushan Ashu and if they are so concerned about Punjab, they should first question their own leadership as to why Rs 31,000 crore were misappropriated during their tenure,” they said.

Mamta Ashu, MC Councillor and wife of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, said that the Akali protest near their house was more like a political gimmick because unsuccessful and failed leaders like Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal now want to contest Assembly elections and want to show his prominence in the Akali Dal, which is still not coming out of the shock of BJP disowning them.

“Everyone knows about the honesty and credibility of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who has not lost even a single election since the year 1997. This clearly shows that Ashu has been accepted year after year by the people of Ludhiana. From the actions of the Narendra Modi led Union government, one can easily make out that they are hell bent to destroy the agriculture, industry as well as entire economy of Punjab”, she said while adding that the Punjabi industry which is world famous for its hosiery, textile, cycle parks and automotive components, would not be able to sell their products because Modi government is operating in an autocratic manner and Narendra Modi like a dictator.

She further said that the Punjabis have always given their sweat and blood for safeguarding the rights of Punjabis and would not bow down in front of the dictatorial Modi government. “People should question Bikram Singh Majithia as to why he did not go to Delhi for organising a protest against Union government. Maybe he is scared of the Enforcement Directorate,” she quipped.