Khaira, Bains, Dr. Gandhi ,BSP announce Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA)
KS Diwan/ royalpatiala.in/ Patiala
Living upto the expectations of the people, the combination of Sukhpal Khaira accompanied by his MLA’s, Bains brothers, MP from Patiala Dr. Gandhi and the BSP State President Rashpal Raju announced the formation of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA), a political formation of likeminded leaders aiming to clean the corrupt polity of Punjab. The announcement was made amid a thunderous applause and approval by the large gathering.
Khaira said that the alliance would aim to liberate Punjab from the clutches of corrupt traditional parties and the corrupt feudal families of Badal, Capt. etc. He said Punjab was facing a colossal debt of Rs. 2.5 lac crores, the farmers and labourers are committing suicides, lacs of unemployed youth have taken to drugs or are migrating to foreign shores because of hopelessness, frustration and dejection.
Khaira vowed to continue seeking justice for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib ji and the victims of Behbal Kalan police firing. He announced that if the government failed to render justice on sacrilege and Behbal killings within a month, the PDA would announce an action plan on the occasion of Maghi in January.
Dr. Gandhi MP while speaking on the occasion lambasted the central government for encroaching upon the rights of the states and Punjab through gross centralisation. He said the larger aim of PDA would be to strive for a federal India and a democratic Punjab. He said it was unfair for the central government to unilaterally implement schemes of education, healthcare, rural development, MNREGA etc. without taking into the consideration the aspirations of the people of our state. He said the PDA would approach other regional parties of India to unite and seek a true federal country. He said Punjab and other states are nothing more than a municipality now after the implementation of the GST, that has struck like the last nail in the coffin of financial autonomy.
Simarjeet Bains President LIP targeted the Capt. government for its failure to redress the grievances of small and medium scale industry and its workers. He said the so called relief of Rs. 5 per unit electricity charges has only benefitted a few hundred large industrial houses, while more than 30,000 smaller industries are paying through their nose for heavy electricity tariffs. Bains said the employees of state are up in arms against the draconian policies of Congress government which is playing a cruel joke on its own employees by snatching their dues. He said teachers are being forced to work at labour rates of Rs. 15,000 per month at a time when inflation is at its highest peak. He said the Punjab government has failed to implement the report of 6th pay commission, is not paying DA to its employees etc. He advocated restarting the old regular pension scheme that was scrapped by Capt. Amarinder Singh in 2004.
BSP State President Rashpal Raju said the weaker sections and Dalits are being exploited through petty welfare schemes of Atta-Dal, meagre pensions etc., while they are being denied their right of quality education, healthcare, affordable housing and employment.
Kanwar Sandhu MLA while speaking on the occasion charged the Capt. government for perpetrating the Akali sponsored mafia raj. He said Congress mafia now continues to rule the roost be it illegal mining, liquor trade, transport, cable network etc. He said the political class and bureaucracy have joined hands to blatantly loot the people of Punjab. He said the Capt. Amarinder Singh government appears to be an extended version of the Badal government with same corrupt work culture and even same officers like DGP Suresh Arora.
United Akali Dal President Bhai Mohkam Singh also addressed the gathering.
The PDA announced that it would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and will welcome more like minded parties and individuals who maintain equidistance from the Congress, BJP and SAD, so that Punjab can be saved the agony of corruption, feudalism and draconian family rule.
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