By Satinder Bains/Punjab News Express
CHANDIGARH: The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) and Punjab Congress party have sharpened atack on Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) fearing the rising popularity graph of AAP. SAD is ruling Punjab in alliance with BJP for the last nine years and Congress is out of power for the same period. Both the parties are competing with AAP to capture the power in 2017 assembly elections.
The AAP was targeted by Congress and SAD during their political conferences at Maghi Mela today. Both these parties have flayed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for poor governance in Delhi and put the AAP at third place in race for power. However the overwhelming response by people to AAP conference belies the claims of both traditional aprties rtuling in Punjab turn by turn for the last about 60 years.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who had dismissed AAP as a non-entity a few months back today spent half the time of his speech critricising AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. He described AAP a bunch of fugitives and rumour mongers. “Kejriwal is totally unaware of rural life of state and he cannot even differentiate between the varieties of crop”, added Mr. Badal.
Beside Badal SAD general secretary Maheshinder Singh later in the day came out with a statement against AAP leader Sanjay Singh against whom revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia had filed a defamation case for calling him kingpin of drug mafia in Punjab. Grewal used filthy language against AAP leader in his statement which showed the frustration level in the Akali Dal. He quoted, "This party of traitors are running a circus with the ringleader Kejriwal leading a pack of turncoat bhagodas.Grewal said that self proclaimed revolutionary Sanjay Singh is just a bhagoda and their party is also nothing more than a party of bhagodas who have brought a culture of substandard politics to the country.
Commenting on AAP, Grewal said, “The people of Punjab will never entertain this party of chameleons and rootless bunch. “It is clear that AAP won in Delhi on the basis of fake promises and tall claims and they have backstabbed and deceived the people only to win.” Grewal added that Kejriwal’s stint mostly confirms his "dramebaaz" (showboater) image rather than demonstrating his commitment to any cause and his renegade cronies like Sanjay Singh have become increasingly aggressive with their cheap political gimmicks.
Sanjay Singh had yesterday stated that he would not be scared of defamation case against him and he would repeat thousand times that Majithia was kingpin of drug trade in Punjab. Majithia in a statement said that he would ensure that Sanjay Singh is put behind bars.
Same was the case of Capt Amarinder Singh who said AAP is nowhere near Congress. He lashed out at Kejriwal for failing to fulfill promsies made with the people of Delhi. He also questioned the source of the massive expenses made by the AAP in mobilising people and spending huge money on publicity. “After all somebody has to pay for all these expenses”, he pointed out.
AAP had started collecting funds from public on the Delhi pattern and collected Rs. 8 lakhs for sharing dinner with Kejriwal. The AAP invited donors for Rs.5000 per person for the dinner. The party has so far collected Rs.42 lakhs during its fund raising campaign, an APP source said.