Chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said Union minister and Akali Dal nominee from the Bathinda constituency, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, is an “arrogant lady” who has betrayed Punjab and its people by failing to support the state in its various confrontations with the central government.

Addressing a press conference after accompanying the Congress’ candidate from Bathinda, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, for filing his nomination, the CM said, “I always considered her an arrogant lady. The people of Bathinda will punish the MP (Harsimrat) for her arrogance and the sacrilege incidents that occurred during the SAD-BJP government’s tenure in Punjab.”

State finance minister Manpreet Badal and other senior Congress leaders also accompanied the CM. He said the people of the state have not forgotten the Bargari or Behbal Kalan incidents, which were a brazen attempt by the Badals to create communal tension in the state.

“Parkash Singh Badal (Akali Dal patron and former CM) had no business intervening in the police firing investigation, and the Election Commission crossed its line by shifting out a key special investigation team (SIT) officer,” he said.

The Badals, he said, will face the consequences of their actions.

“We have to free Punjab from the Badal family,” he said, adding that he planned to spend two days each in Bathinda, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha segments to ensure defeat of Harsimrat, her husband Sukhbir Badal and BJP nominee Sunny Deol.

On Partap Singh Bajwa’s remarks against the Congress high command’s decision to pin responsibility for the candidates’ electoral performance on Punjab ministers and MLAs, Amarinder said while victory or defeat was the responsibility of the entire party, senior leaders had to be held more accountable. He warned that senior leaders found trying to sabotage the prospects of any candidate would have to face the consequences of their actions.

On possibility of Congress seeking support from Dera Sacha Sauda in the polls, he said the party is not in contact with the sect.

As per the schedule, the CM was to take part in a roadshow in support of Warring, but did not, citing bad weather. A section of traders also objected to heightened security in Dhobi Bazaar in view of the CM’s roadshow, create a hassle for them. Some of them also closed their shops in resentment. They opened their shops after some Congress leaders intervened.

First Published: Apr 26, 2019 13:02 IST