PHILLAUR:The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a major setback in Phillaur on Thursday when their senior leaders along with supporters from various villages joined Indian National Congress in the leadership of former Punjab Youth Congress President and assembly constituency incharge Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary.
These leaders include former Kot Grewal Sarpanch Pargan Singh, whose family has been associated with Akali Dal for forty years, former Panch Sukhwinder Singh Sukha (AAP), President Youth Akali Dal Kot Grewal Gurnek Singh Grewal, Amrik Singh Nano Mazara, Tajinder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh Shindar, Balbir Singh Ladian, Tajinder Rai, Shinderpal Kaale, Mangat Ram (Pappa) and many others.
The SAD leaders said they were upset by the party’s flip flops on anti-farmers laws brought by BJP’s Central Government, adding that earlier, the Akali Dal government had failed to act in Guru Granth Sahib desecration cases and now, the party has betrayed the farmers also.
The SAD and AAP leaders said that under Captain Amarinder Singh’s leadership, Congress party has taken pro-farmers steps to protect their interests, while other parties have only indulged in petty politics. “We would work to strengthen Congress in Phillaur under the leadership of Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, ” they added.
Welcoming these leaders into the party fold, Vikramjit Chaudhary said they would be accorded due respect in the Congress.
Goraya Market Committee Chairman Dara Singh Rai, Goraya Market Committee Vice-Chairman Ram Lubhaya, Rurka Kalan Block Congress President Rakesh Duggal, Goraya City Congress Vice President Sanjay Atwal, Panchayat Block Samiti Member Rajwinder Kaur, Dosanjh Kalan Sarpanch Makhan Singh, Ladian Sarpanch Bhajan Ram, former Dosanjh Kalan Sarpanch Balvir Singh, Dosanjh Kalan Mahila Wing President Usha Rani, Shinderpal, Rana Dosanjh, Ranbir Singh, Mangat Rai and Ravi were among those present on the occasion.