Patriarch campaigns for daughter-in-law

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), May 3

Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today formally started canvassing in favour of his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Lambi Assembly segment in the Bathinda constituency.

His first public meeting was held at Burj Sidhwan village. Badal was earlier almost daily touring one or two villages to express grief with families in Lambi who have lost someone in the recent past. Even today he visited two villages for the same purpose, but held a public meeting that was organised by party’s former district chief Dyal Singh Kolianwali.

In his first public address this election, Badal criticised the Congress terming it an “anti-Punjab” party.

“I have seen a number of PMs in the last 90 years and those belonging to the Congress snatched the rights over our river waters and state capital. First Jawaharlal Nehru discriminated with Punjab, his daughter Indira Gandhi attacked Harmandar Sahib and later her son (Rajiv Gandhi) was responsible for the anti-Sikh riots. This Gandhi family is against Punjab,” he said.

Praising NDA’s Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, he said, “Vajpayee gave us multi-crore petroleum refinery. Modi formed a SIT and sent former Union minister Sajjan Kumar behind bars in the anti-Sikh riots case. He also sanctioned the Kartarpur corridor.”

Again striking a personal chord with the public, Badal said, “I have visited your villages hundreds of times, even during my tenure as the CM. My effort has always remained to solve your problems. My bonding with you is not political, but we have familiar ties. However, Congress people always think that Badal family is a barrier for them to rule in Punjab and how to sideline us. Now, the Parliament elections are approaching and you have to decide whom to give the reigns of your fortune.” However, he did not make direct comment on any of Harsimrat’s rival candidates.

Went to jail for opposing Emergency: Chandumajra

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal candidate from the Anandpur Sahib constituency Prem Singh Chandumajra on Friday said he had been fighting against “anti-democratic and fascist policies of the Congress”. He said he went to jail also for opposing Emergency which was imposed by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. TNS