3 Congress heavyweights fail to lift prospects of party in Amritsar

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 28

As the 2022 Assembly elections are around the corner, residents feel that the Congress government, does not have much to boast about development of the holy city.

Despite recent reshuffle in Congress, including appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu as chief of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, OP Soni being made Deputy Chief Minister and Raj Kumar Verka inducted into the Cabinet, locals have little hope from them at the fag end of their term.

The projects—surface-based water supply and Smart City mission—have yet not been fully implemented.

The previous SAD-BJP government, which had faced criticism over sacrilege and drugs, had constructed Heritage Street, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), War Memorial and renovated Qila Gobindgarh, to boost the tourism and economy of the city, said locals.

Micheal Rahul, a social activist, said, “As compared to the previous government, the Congress shifted its focus from Amritsar to Mohali. They had promised to develop an IT- hub and uplift public health system. Other cities got AIIMS and PGIMER satellite centre, but Amritsar got nothing. Former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal proposed to shift the bus terminal on the outskirts of the city, but the Congress government failed to do it. The Horticulture Centre, announced by late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has not come up.”

He said Sidhu had announced to construct a worldclass sports complex in 2010 on Attari bypass, but the project has not moved an inch to date. Advocate Kuljit Singh, another activist said, “There is no accountability of government officials. Roads are crying for attention. Projects have been announced, but nothing is happening on the ground.”

Sandip Kural, an environmentalist, said, “Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Amritsar (South) MLA Inderbeer Singh Bolaria, had promised to shift Bhagtanwala dum yard out of the city. The Congress government failed to fulfil their promise and the dump is still a headache for residents.”

District Congress chief Jatinder Sonia said, “Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led Congress government waived power bills tio the tune of Rs 1,200 crore. We reduced water tariff. No other government can do this. During the first and second wave of Covid-19, we provided best medical facilities to patients. Huge amount of money has been spent on the overall development of the city.”