M A I N   N E W S

Cong a party of sycophants, says Dullo
Divedi differs with him
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Payal, August 31
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Shamsher Singh Dullo and Mr Janardhan Divedi general secretary, AICC and in charge Punjab affairs seem to be on different wave lengths on the status of the Congress party with the former claiming it a party of sycophants only while the latter stressing the view was wrong.

Both leaders made references about the ‘Congress culture’ while in speeches at the 11th martyrdom day function of late Congress leader Beant Singh here today, where in a special message, read by Mr Dullo, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, described Beant Singh as a national hero.

Chief Minister Punjab, Amarinder Singh was conspicuous by his absence from at the function even though his life-size cutouts were seen all over the place and on approach roads. The CM’s name was mentioned on invitation cards too.

Mr Dullo said the culture of the Congress party, which was hailed for selfless service to public with honest approach was a thing of the past with sycophancy gaining ground. However, later, Mr Divedi sought to correct the view saying the Congress party still was of strong character, secular in nature and worked for service to people.

Later at a press conference, Mr Dullo evaded a talk on the issue but reiterated the old culture was lost. Mr Divedi referring to the difference of opinion and the absence of the Chief Minister stressed there was no infighting in the party, ‘‘ The CM had to attend a function in New Delhi and had not avoided the function deliberately. The party is united and would win the next elections.’’ he said.

Expressing serious concern at deterioration of political culture in the country, Mr Divedi claimed that the Congress party was the only party which still pursues politics of principles and sacrifice and its senior leader Ms Sonia Gandhi had sacrificed the highest post of Prime Minister.

Mr Divedi announced the farmers in the state could hope for better facilities as the Congress government was planning to provide them more schemes to be decided at the Chief Minister’s meeting scheduled on September 23 at New Delhi.

Member of Parliament Preneet Kaur represented Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at the function. Paying tributes to late Beant Singh, she said he was a great patriot, who had fought terrorists and wiped terrorism from the state and established the democratic system after restoring peace. She said he had made great sacrifice furthering traditions of the Congress party, whose senior leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and many others had laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the country.

Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab paying her tributes said coming generations would always remember his sacrifice made to save the unity and integrity of the country.

Mr Divedi and other leaders honoured Mata Jaswant Kaur wife of late Beant Singh by presenting her with a shawl and conferred Beant Singh Memorial Social Service Award on Dr Uday Partap Singh. Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, senior Congress leader from Haryana lauded role of Punjabis while paying tributes to Beant Singh. He said the Punjabis were the bravest community in the world.

Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, criticised the BJP for ignoring the security of the Sikhs in the states governed by the party. He referred to hair cutting incident. He refuted the reports that Mr Simranjit Singh Mann was a Congress agent.