Chandigarh: Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday alleged that the “mafia raj” in Punjab has grown stronger beneath the “patronage” of the AAP, which had promised to demolish it earlier than coming to energy. Sidhu additionally attacked the ruling dispensation over its failure to implement its pre-poll guarantees and dared Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to a debate with him concerning the state authorities’s efficiency.
The cricketer-turned politician, who was launched from jail final week after serving almost 10 months in a 1988 street rage case, was in Jalandhar the place to fulfill the household of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, who died in January.
The Congress has fielded Chaudhary’s spouse Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary as its candidate for the byopll from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, scheduled to be held on May 10.
Speaking to reporters in Jalandhar, Sidhu known as the AAP “poachers” after it introduced former Congress MLA Sushil Rinku as its bypoll nominee. Rinku joined the AAP on Wednesday within the presence of Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Sidhu alleged that the AAP had earlier tried to poach former Congress MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee as effectively. Apparently referring to Rinku becoming a member of the AAP, Sidhu mentioned, “The circumstances in which they poached, I call them (AAP) poachers.”
Sidhu mentioned the AAP got here to energy by promoting desires and making “hollow” guarantees.
“I want to ask you that you had promised to end the ‘mafia raj’ from Punjab. Today, the mafia raj has become stronger and the AAP is the kingpin behind it. Today, the mafia is being run by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),” he added.
In a tweet later, Sidhu alleged, “The Mafia that has weakened Punjab over decades is now stronger, more protected, under the patronage of AAP Those who promised to demolish it have become it’s godfathers! “No income mannequin solely borrowings and taxes driving us in direction of chapter and authorities in a pitiable state of affairs.”
The AAP stormed to energy in Punjab in 2022, successful 92 of the 117 seats within the meeting elections.
Earlier, he advised reporters that the AAP had promised one lakh authorities jobs in a yr and Rs 1,000 per thirty days to girls earlier than coming to energy.
He additionally pointed to Kejriwal, within the run-up to final yr’s meeting polls, claiming that the state would generate revenues of Rs 50,000 crore.
“Kejriwal sa’ab, where is the Rs 50,000 crore? You had promised Rs 20,000 crore from sand mining,” the previous Punjab Congress chief requested. “What have you (AAP government) done so far except dramas?,” he mentioned.
Sidhu additionally claimed {that a} sand trolley that was earlier out there for Rs 3,700 now prices Rs 12,000. The former MP requested how a lot cash the AAP authorities has borrowed because it assumed energy.
“Did you tell people that you will be raising Rs 25,000 crore and give free electricity to the people?” he mentioned. Sidhu mentioned in response to a query that he’s a employee of the Indian National Congress and doesn’t want any place. “I became a four-time MP and also an MLA. I do not need anything. I do not need any position. I am a worker,” he mentioned.
