In Gidderbaha, personal barbs fly thick and fast

The high-decibel campaign for the Gidderbaha bypoll has become more vigorous with some candidates, their family members and key politicians indulging in personal attacks and counter attacks.

The rivalry between Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu has intensified as the latter took a jibe at the former for being “gender biased.”

Recently, Warring during a public meeting in Gidderbaha said, “My wife hits the ground (starts campaigning) daily at 6 am and returns at 11 pm. She is of no use to me now... Please find a cook who can prepare food for me. After a few days (once the bypoll results come), she will get busy with other functions. I will have to wait to see her for even two minutes...”

On this, Bittu said, “I condemn Warring’s statement, which exposes his mindset. What is he trying to say to women? He says that his wife sports a ‘surkhi-bindi’ and leaves home at 6 am and returns at 11 pm. He has used improper words and given the wrong message. He should apologise to all women, just like he recently apologised to Akal Takht. He should control himself...”

Addressing Bittu as her brother, Amrita Warring, wife of the PCC chief, said, “I want to tell you that we both speak from the heart and don’t read out a written speech. People understand what we want to say. Raja Warring just wanted to say something on a lighter note. You have become a minister after losing the Lok Sabha poll. Raja Warring has always supported me. What I am in politics today is because of him. I think you don’t like a woman contesting the election. I will write to the Prime Minister and Home Minister about what kind of man they have made a minister. A man having such a mentality should not be on such a post,” said Amrita.

Earlier, Warring targeted Bittu, who has been campaigning for BJP candidate Manpreet Singh Badal, by stating that a leader who tasted defeat in Ludhiana has now come to campaign here.

Further, Manpreet’s son Arjun has publicly termed the PCC chief as “vinga” Warring. Similarly, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been attacking former finance minister. Mann said, “Manpreet spent 16 years by speaking Urdu. He should at least start speaking Punjabi now.” On this, Manpreet retorted, “Those less educated find reciting couplets offensive.”