AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Akali Dal’s ex-MLA from Amritsar (South), Inderbir Singh Bolaria, joined the Congress fold on the eve of the ‘Dussehra’ along with the Punjab Energy Development Agency’s former Chairman, Upkar Singh Sandhu. The head of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Captain Amarinder Singh, and the Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, Harish Chaudhary, formally inducted the duo leaders by offering sweets to them.
Interacting with the media on this occasion, Captain Amarinder Singh said that the duo leaders have joined the Congress fold unconditionally and there has been no promise of giving the assembly ticket to them. He claimed that a large number of the ruling SAD’s activists were keen to join the Congress and by the start of the nomination, the Badal led Shiromani Akali Dal will be left empty. He said that anyone willing to join the Congress unconditionally will be warmly welcomed.
Commenting on the possibility of an alliance, Navjot Singh Sidhu led Awaz-e-Punjab forum, Captain Amarinder Singh ruled out the possibility of an alliance but indicated the possibility of a merger of Awaz-e-Punjab forum into Congress. He said that Navjot Sidhu was notorious for indiscipline and the Congress has a zero tolerance for indiscipline. He added that legislators, Simarjit Singh Bains, Balwinder Singh Bains and Pargat Singh were welcome to join the Congress.
MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria quit the legislative assembly on October 10 before joining the Congress on October 11. In his resignation sent to the Speaker of the Punjab State Assembly, he alleged that the SAD led Punjab government was ruining the state with its impotent policies. He said in his resignation that the serial incidents of the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that occurred last year disheartened him deep inside and the failure of the Punjab government in nabbing the responsible culprits depicts that not even the prophets were safe today in Punjab.
He further stated in his resignation that the Punjab government was spreading panic in the state masses instead of inculcating the feeling of security in them. He said that the proposed installation of a Solid Waste Management Plant against the wishes of the local masses forced him to resign from his legislative constituency. He alleged that the mis-governance of the Punjab government could be judged from the bad Sewerage management in the state. ‘Due to inadequate arrangements to facilitate filtered water to the masses in my constituency, the people were suffering from Dengue and Chickengunia’ he said in his resignation.
