Punjab Cong chief accuses Gopal Kanda of using money power in elections

The Sirsa Assembly seat has become one of the most talked-about seats in Haryana with a direct contest between Congress candidate Gokul Setia and HLP candidate Gopal Kanda. Punjab Congress president and MP Amrinder Raja Warring has come to Sirsa to campaign for Setia and has been holding public meetings to gather support for him.

During a rally on Barnala Road in Sirsa on Monday evening, Warring spoke to the crowd, beginning his speech with a playful remark. He said, “It’s almost 8 pm, and I still have three more programmes before 10 pm. But after 10 pm, Gopal Kanda’s police will show up.” He confidently added, “But I want to tell him, your and the BJP’s police are only in charge until October 5.”

In his speech, Raja Warring also made a direct attack on Gopal Kanda, calling him a “cunning man” based on his appearance. Warring pointed to the election posters of both Setia and Kanda and commented that Setia looked innocent while Kanda appeared sly. He criticised Kanda for using pictures of leaders like Abhay Singh Chautala and Mayawati on his hoardings but not showing any photos of BJP leaders Khattar or Modi, even though he is associated with the BJP.

Warring confidently predicted that Gokul Setia would win by more than 20,000 votes. Drawing from his experience of winning four elections, Warring said, “I can feel the direction of the political wind, and it is in Gokul Setia’s favour.”

He also accused Kanda of deceiving the people of Sirsa by using money to buy votes. “Every election, Kanda comes, flashes money and wins by befooling people,” said Warring. “This is the fault of the people of Sirsa. We have made Ambani and Adani rich because we buy petrol from their petrol pumps.” He added, “Gopal Kanda spends Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 to buy five years of your life, then spends those five years enjoying in Goa. If you divide the money he gives by 1,700 days, you’re only getting one rupee a day, but you don’t realise it.”

Warring called on the people of Sirsa to reject such leaders who treat politics like business. He said it was time to oust such politicians who have turned public service into a profit-making venture.

Warring also took a jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of using “emotional issues like Ram Mandir and Pulwama attacks” to win votes. He said, “Modi asked for votes in the name of Ram, saying he built the temple. I have also built many gurdwaras, but I don’t ask for votes in their name.” He questioned the Pulwama attack, asking if anyone had really seen it. He criticised Modi for using national security issues for political gains, saying people voted emotionally for him, believing he could stand up to Pakistan. Warring said, “We don’t need war; we need peace and development for the country to move forward.”

Warring ended his speech by urging the people of Sirsa to vote for Gokul Setia and reject those who buy power with money. He said the people need leaders who genuinely care about their development, not those who use money and tricks to win elections.

Says HLP leader ‘befooling’ people

• Warring also accused Kanda of deceiving the people of Sirsa by using money to buy votes. “Every election, Kanda comes, flashes money and wins by befooling people,” he said.
• He criticised Kanda for using pictures of leaders like Abhay Singh Chautala and Mayawati on his hoardings but not showing any photos of BJP leaders Khattar or Modi, even though he is associated with the BJP.