Amarinder hits the Shahkot hustings

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday hit out at the Opposition parties for allegedly spreading “fabricated information” on the issue of alleged changes in the syllabus of history books in school affiliated to the State’s education board.

“The Akali Dal, led by the Badals, had failed to do anything for Punjab or its people during their 10-year rule, while Aam Aadmi Party’s Sukhpal Singh Khaira was misleading people by spreading untruths instead of raising issues related to the welfare of the people,” said Capt. Amarinder, addressing a rally before accompanying Congress candidate for the Shahkot by-election, Hardev Singh Laddi, for the filing of his nomination papers.

The Chief Minister said every vote for Mr. Laddi would be a vote for the future of Punjab as the Congress was the only party that could bring the State’s progress back on track and believed in implementing every single poll promise.

‘Damaging interests’

“Akalis had a history of damaging the interests of Punjab, right from the time of the State’s reorganisation. From health to education, agriculture to industry, the Shiromani Akali Dal had destroyed every institution in Punjab and continue to work against the welfare of the State and its people even now when they are in the opposition,” alleged Capt. Amarinder.

‘Politicising religion’

Accusing the SAD of politicising religion, he said that it was their own Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema who had set up the committee, in 2014, for review and finalisation of the history syllabus.

“They (Akalis) could not even stop the imposition of GST on langar at Harmandir Sahib nor could they get it waived off, despite their ally being in power at the Centre,” the Chief Minister pointed out, adding that this showed their duplicity with regard to the Sikh gurus and religious institutions.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar said the bypoll was an opportunity for the people of Shahkot to make amends for their earlier mistake of voting for the Akalis from this seat.