3 days ago
Amid talk of differences over Congress inductions, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring says no internal differences
Chandigarh: Putting to rest speculation about unrest over the party revoking the suspension of Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Tuesday said there were no internal differences, and everyone was welcome in the party.
Dismissing reports of discord within party ranks over the entry of leaders from other parties, Warring said there was no dissent. "Every party aims to expand its base and strengthen itself. The more people who join, the better it is," he said, responding to the recent inductions.
On the upcoming Ludhiana West byelection, the PPCC president claimed that the Congress was ahead of rivals and expressed confidence that the party would win by a record margin.
Warring reiterated his opposition to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt's land pooling policy, warning it would lead to the destruction of Punjab's agrarian economy.
Interacting with media after a meeting of constituency coordinators at the PPCC headquarters in Chandigarh, Warring said the policy was aimed merely at collecting money. He warned against acquiring 24,000 acres of agricultural land saying that it would destabilise the state's agricultural economy and, by extension, affect every section of society.
"Punjab's entire economy—trade and industry—depends on agriculture.
When you undermine the base, the entire economic edifice collapses," he said.
He also criticised the govt for not taking stakeholders into confidence. He questioned the very need for such a policy when there was no apparent demand for additional residential or industrial plots. "When there is already an abundance of residential plots, where is the need to create more?" he asked.
Responding to remarks by BJP state president Sunil Jakhar and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Warring quipped: "The two of them are enough to sink the BJP's boat, just as they sank the Congress boat a few years ago."
Commenting on a village reportedly putting itself up for sale due to the govt's failure to curb drug peddling, Warring remarked: "There can be no bigger slap on the face of the Punjab govt—and no greater proof of defeat in the so-called 'Yudh'—than an entire village putting itself up for sale while drug peddlers are having a field day."
