Amritsar, August 2
In a categorical statement, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, Shamsher Singh Dullo said that ‘no parallel could be drawn between Beant Singh and any other Chief Minister as he had left an indelible mark with his unparallel sacrifice’,
This, he said, to a question, when asked about comparison between the assassinated Chief Minister and Capt Amarinder Singh, the present incumbent. However, he hastened to add that every Chief Minister had his own style of functioning but ‘the person like Sardar Beant Singh had become immortal. He, however, expressed his satisfaction over the performance of ‘Capt Amarinder Singh government’ and hoped that Congress would win Assembly elections too. He said, initially, the Congress government inherited ‘empty coffers’ and there was huge loan outstanding against the state when this government took over three and half years ago.
Mr Dullo, who was denied ‘Siropa’ by the SGPC during his first visit to Harmandar Sahib after becoming PPCC chief, said that it was unfortunate that such honour (presenting of Siropa) could be bestowed on Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer who was responsible for Jallianwala Bagh massacre and not on ‘Desh Bhagatas’ (patriots). Earlier, Mr Inderjit Singh Baserke, district president Congress (Rural) and Mr Sukhdev Singh Shehbazpuri, a former Congress minister had hot discussion with SGPC officials over denying of ‘Siropa’ to
Congress leaders. They asked the reasons for such discrimination.
To a question, Mr Dullo said that Chandigarh had virtually become a non-issue for the party. However, he added that Chandigarh would continue to be capital of the Punjab. Replying to yet another question, Mr Dullo said that Punjab had no spare water and hence could not be given to any other state. He said Capt Amarinder Singh had put his own ‘chair’ in danger while taking daring and correct decision by abrogating all water agreements with neighboring states.
Justifying the renovation of the Chief Minister’s office in Punjab Civil Secretariat, the PPCC chief said that security of the Chief Minister and others was of paramount importance.
He said the state had already lost ‘Mr Beant Singh’ due to laxity of the security.
Mr Dullo said that the human bombs who were being nabbed by the state police were actually ‘Marjivdas’ created by the then SAD president, Sant Harchand Singh Longowal.
Sounding a note of warning to the Congress functionaries, Mr Dullo said that those who did not work as per the assignment given to them would be taken to task. However, he said there was no plan of re-organising the state or district units. He said he would like to continue with the same organisational set up for the next couple of days.
He said his party would endeavor to get the Congress manifesto implemented in toto. He said people of Punjab would be given health and educational facilities on priority. He said the poor people put their children in government schools and hence there was need to streamline them on priority basis.
In a message to the bureaucracy, Mr Dullo said that the officers being public servants will have to give due respect to the party workers and general public if they visited their offices for genuine work.
Earlier, a big caravan of Mr Dullo was given warm welcome on the entire route. Big receptions were organised at Beas, Rayya, Jandiala Guru and local Municipal Corporation Officer. He was accompanied by Congress leaders Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Mr Gurkirat Singh (son and grandson of late Mr Beant Singh), Mr Parminder Singh and Mr M.M. Cheema, senior Congress leaders.
Mr Dullo also visited Ram Tirath temple in the evening. However, he failed to visit the local District Congress Committee (Rural) office where party workers had been waiting for several hours).
