Amarinder Singh accuses SAD Govt. of poor governance

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Ludhiana/Amritsar, Jan 24 : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Captain Amarinder Singh has accused the Parkash Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Government for poor governance in the state.

Addressing a rally here, Singh said the SAD manifesto was a rehash of its promises made in the 2007 election.

"What is there in the manifesto? They say they will build a metro service in Ludhiana. We have been hearing about it for five years now, but no work has been started. Not even a single track has been laid. These are lies. They said they will provide electricity within two years, even this we heard five years ago," Singh added.

Singh had earlier accused Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badalof "bribing" party rebels to go against the Congress.

He warned the rebel candidates that they faced serious consequences if they went against the Congress party line.

"Unfortunately, Sukhbir Singh Badal has paid money to many of our rebel candidates. The conduit for carrying this money, I say again, has been the vigilance department. Whether Mr. Saini agrees or does not agree it is his business, but we know that and we have already informed the Election Commission. As far as settling the row with the rebels in concerned, it is subject to discipline," he said.

"If they withdraw their nomination papers in a day or two...otherwise, they will be expelled from the party. This time, the party has taken a very stringent view in Delhi, that for five years they will be out, and for the next five years, they will have a cooling off period, they will be given no jobs. So ten...they will have to sacrifice for few hours of pleasure," he added.

Punjab is one of five states due to hold elections this year. As per the schedule planned by Election Commission, the state assembly poll in Punjab would be held on January 30.

In Punjab, the main battle is expected to be between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- Bharatiya Janata Party alliance and the Congress party. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and son of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, heads the SAD.