SAD attacks Cong Govt for neglecting backward classes in Cabinet expansion

In an apparent attempt to cash in on the prevailing resentment within the Congress state unit over the recent cabinet expansion, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday condemned the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government for not inducting any MLA from the backward classes in its recently expanded cabinet while terming it as a biggest betrayal with the backward classes.

“Congress Government had promised to the BC community that a proper representation would be given to it in the state cabinet. But, it shamelessly betrayed the backward classes,” said the former minister and head of party’s BC Wing Hira Singh Gabria.

Gabria said that comprising of 27 percent of the total population, the BC community has 36 percent vote share in the state. “Currently, there are 11 MLAs representing the BC community in the Congress party. But no one was given any berth. They all feel cheated and some of them have shown their displeasure by resigning from all posts of the Congress party,” he said adding that it shows Congress government’s insensitive attitude towards backward and underprivileged classes.

“SAD would soon call a meeting of all backward classes of the state to outline an agitation on the issue…We will not let this government ignore the interests of BC community anymore and force it to give proper representation to backward classes in the state cabinet,” he added.

Notably, senior Congress leader and sitting MLA Surjit Singh Dhiman has tendered his resignation from all party posts in protest of not including any member from BCs.