Chandigarh: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said Wednesday the Punjab government has been reduced to a ‘tamasha’. He urged the new Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to immediately remove ‘tainted’ ministers from his cabinet. The Delhi CM said this at the Chandigarh airport. Arvind Kejriwal also asked the Punjab CM to act on promises made by his predecessor, including the action in the Bargari desecration case.
During the previous SAD-BJP regime, torn pages of a religious text were found at Bargari in Faridkot. Later, in police firing incidents at protesters, two people were killed at Behbal Kalan and many injured in Kotkapura.
“We are seeing what kind of political atmosphere is prevailing in Punjab. Political instability is there, which is unfortunate,” said Kejriwal, who arrived on a two-day visit to Punjab. “A dirty fight for power is going on. People are not able to understand whom they should approach for their problems. They have reduced the government to a ‘tamasha’,” alleged Kejriwal.
The Delhi chief minister also said accusations have been made that Channi has inducted ‘tainted’ people in his Cabinet. “I request that they should be removed forthwith, cases be registered against them and they be dealt with strictly,” asserted Kejriwal.
While he congratulated Channi on his elevation as the Punjab CM, Kejriwal said people of the state want him to act on five issues, including the Bargari desecration case.
“The masterminds in the sacrilege incidents have not been punished till now. I don’t need to tell who the masterminds are. Their names are there in the report of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and Channi can go through that. The culprits can be arrested within 24 hours,” Kejriwal informed.
Kejriwal said the promises made by former CM Amarinder Singh to people should be fulfilled by the Channi-led government. “Amarinder had promised to give jobs to the youth and till the time they got one, he had promised to give unemployment allowance. That allowance should be given. He had promised loan waiver to farmers,” he said.
Kejriwal also said the Congress government should scrap the power purchase agreements. Kejriwal reminded Channi that despite being in power for 49 days in the first term, his government did many work. The Punjab CM still has four months left before the state goes to polls.
“I had 49 days when I first came in power. During that short period, I had halved power rates, made water free and eliminated corruption. If I could do so many works in 49 day period, then Channi too can fulfil pending works,” asserted Kejriwal.
The AAP leader said only his party can give a stable and honest government in Punjab. When asked who will be the CM face of AAP, Kejriwal said, “I have repeatedly said we will give such a face on which you and the entire Punjab will be proud of.”