‘Split with SAD won’t rectify BJP mistakes’

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt. Amarinder Singh on Sunday said the BJP cannot wriggle out of the mess it has created in Punjab by simply trying to walk out on its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal at the eleventh hour after having enjoyed the pelf and power for the last nine years. Further, the Capt. demanded a white paper on the state of economy in Punjab.

Reacting to the reports of the BJP’s intentions to part ways with the Akalis, the PCC president said, although it is their internal affair whether to continue with the alliance or not, one thing the party cannot escape is the onus and responsibility of being partners in the sins of omission and commission of this government during the last nine years.

“If the BJP thinks that by walking out of the alliance at the eleventh hour, people of Punjab can forgive it, the party is badly mistaken,” he said, while pointing out that at no point did the party raise any objection to the rampant loot the Akalis resorted to, rather they became equal partners in everything.

“It is not that the party has woken up to some moral consciousness but the harsh realisation that it cannot win even a single seat in alliance with the Akalis is the reason for walk out,” the former CM said, adding, whether the BJP remains with the Akalis or walks out both the parties are destined to be doomed in 2017.

Referring to deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s statement claiming that the state’s financial position was not as bad as it was said to be, Capt. Amarinder asked him to better bring a white paper on the state of economy in Punjab. He pointed out that the state debt has already crossed Rs 1.25 lakh crores and by the time the Akalis are thrown out, the debt would already have crossed Rs 1.4 lakh crores.

“So much so the state has to take loans to service its debts”, he said, while pointing out, how the Akalis have mortgaged the jails and old age homes to get further loans for survival. “And if Sukhbir still believes that the state of economy is not bad and this was being deliberately done to malign the government’s image he should better bring out a white paper and bring out the truth before the public,” he suggested.