Capt Amarinder Singh quits Congress, launches new party 'Punjab Lok Congress'

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2

Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh finally resigned from the Congress today, ending his over 40 years of association with the grand old party, and launched the “Punjab Lok Congress”. Its registration is pending with the Election Commission.

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He has already hinted at seat-sharing with the BJP and breakaway Akali factions, subject to an amicable solution to the farmers’ stir.

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The offenders (indulging in illegal sand mining) are mostly Cong MLAs and ministers… I intend to make public the list provided by state intelligence.

In his letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Capt said, “I hereby tender my resignation from the Indian National Congress in the interest of my state and my country.” In the seven-page letter, he said, “Despite my profound reservations you chose to appoint Navjot Singh Sidhu as president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. One day the Congress high command will have to regret its decision.”

Taking a dig at Gandhi siblings, the former Chief Minister said, “I actually felt deeply hurt by your conduct and that of your children... Unfortunately, rather than reining in Sidhu, he was patronised by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while you chose to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans of this gentleman who was aided and abetted by the general secretary in-charge Harish Rawat, perhaps the most dubious individual.”