Punjab bypoll: Bittu mocks Congress for fielding wives of Warring, Randhawa

Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Thursday took a dig at the Congress leadership for giving tickets to the spouses of PCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa from Gidderbaha and Dera Baba Nanak seats, respectively.

Bittu was accompanying a former Finance Minister and BJP candidate from Gidderbaha, Manpreet Singh Badal, for the filing of nomination. “Raja Warring used to seek votes saying that he belonged to a non-political 'normal' family. What happened to him now? He has fielded his wife, as has another senior party leader Sukhjinder Randhawa. Where are those youngsters now, who worked hard on the ground? The Congress has become a party that only promotes family culture. Priyanka Gandhi is also contesting the Lok Sabha bypoll from Wayanad,” he stated.

Speaking about paddy procurement pangs in the state, Bittu held the AAP government responsible for it. “The Central government had to provide money for the procurement, which it did. But the state government failed to make arrangements and keep a check on some unapproved varieties of paddy being sold in the name of hybrid. It is now trying to pass the buck to the Central government,” he claimed.

Later, Bittu met residents of Gidderbaha village area, who have been on an indefinite protest and assured them that their issues would be addressed. Thereafter, they lifted their protest. Their demands include the construction of a railway overbridge.