Barnala bahu files papers, says family still with Cong

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 18

Harpreet Kaur Barnala, wife of former MLA Gaganjit Singh Barnala, today filed her papers from Dhuri as an Independent, but claimed that she had done so without the consent of her family members. She said she wanted to fight for the supporters of the Barnala family.

“Gaganjit and Simarpartap both do not know about my decision to contest. I have filed papers without giving any information to them. Gaganjit got to know about my decision when some mediapersons approached him,” Harpreet told The Tribune.

Her son Simarpartap had contested the Dhuri byelection on Congress ticket two years ago. He got around 31,780 votes, but lost to SAD candidate. The Barnala family was expecting Congress ticket for Simarpartap again to carry on the legacy of Surjit Singh Barnala. But the Congress opted for Dalvir Singh Goldy.

“Gaganjit and Simar both are with the Congress. But I want to fight for the supporters of our family and cannot leave them alone. I know I may face problems, but I am willing to take risk,” said Harpreet.

When contacted, Gaganjit Barnala said he was in a gurdwara and would speak later. He later did not take calls.