The BJP's Punjab unit chief Shwait Malik today accused the Amarinder Singh government of failing to keep its poll promises despite being in power for over a year and asked it to "either perform or quit".
Rajya Sabha member Malik lashed at the Congress government while taking over as his party's state unit president in presence of senior party leaders including party incharge (Punjab) Prabhat Jha, union minister Vijay Sampla, BJP Vice President Avinash Rai Khanna, national secretary Tarun Chugh and several former presidents of party's Punjab unit.
"During polls, the Congress had announced unemployment allowance, raising amount of shagun and old age pension. Rather than honouring those promises, the government stopped giving it to the people," said Malik in his address to party workers.
He also accused the Punjab government of betraying farmers by promising to waive all their debts, pegged at Rs 90,000 crore. "Power rates have doubled up in the state," he said.
He alleged that the state government burdened people with imposition of new taxes instead of providing any relief to them.
"We have given one year to Amarinder Singh government to honour its promises. But now we will not sit silent. I on behalf of BJP challenge the state government either perform or quit," he said.
"'Congress quit Punjab' will now be our campaign and we will fight on the street for the cause of public in order to wake this government from its deep slumber," said Malik.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, senior BJP leaders exhorted party workers to gear up to fight and win 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With state unit allegedly facing "factionalism", they also emphasized on "taking all people along".
Addressing gathering, former Punjab unit chief Ashwani Sharma asked Malik to "take all people along" which will not only ensure party's victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections but also in 2022 assembly polls in Punjab.
Another former president of state unit Rajinder Bhandari stressed upon on the need for "introspection" in the wake of BJP wining just three seats out of 23 allotted during 2017 assembly polls. BJP is an ally of Akali Dal in Punjab.
Outgoing state unit chief Sampla exhorted party workers to be aware of "false propaganda" launched by opposition party on SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
"We should not be misled by the false and fake propaganda launched by opposition parties on the issue of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," said Dalit leader.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)