AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today received a major boost in Amritsar East constituency with three sitting Congress councillors joining the party besides leaders from other areas.
The SAD President, who addressed an enthusiastic public meeting along with party candidate Bikram Singh Majithia, welcomed councillors Rajesh Madaan, Rajinder Saini and Ladoo Pehalwan into the party fold. The occasion also witnessed a host of other leaders including former block Samiti member Balwinderpal Sharma, former councillor Rashpal Kaur Bajwa and Jagtar Singh Verka joining the SAD.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sukhbir Badal said Pradesh Congress President Navjot Sidhu had never done anything for Amritsar. “He has ignored Amritsar East for the last five years. Earlier he has refused to even maintain the Heritage Street alongside Sri Darbar Sahib as Local Bodies minister”.
Mr Badal said the erstwhile SAD government had put the holy city of Sri Amritsar Sahib on the world map. “We assure you that all pending development works of Amritsar East will be taken up on a priority basis. We will shift the Transport Nagar out and allot land for reestablishing businesses there. We will create modern facilities at the Sabji Mandi and completely revamp the Focal Point”. He also announced that the entire walled city would be developed on the lines of the Heritage Street.
Asserting that Mr Bikram Majithia would win from Amritsar East with a huge margin, Mr Badal said “all senior Congress leaders of the constituency are fed up by Sidhu’s arrogant behaviour. They realise he has done nothing for the constituency and will do nothing in future also. This is why they are joining the Akali Dal in droves”.
Speaking about the unfounded allegations being put on Mr Majithia, the SAD President said “Mr Majithia and his family are not only deeply religious and God fearing but have a track record of unblemished social and political service to their credit. I have already gone on record to say that I will leave politics if there is a single piece of evidence against Mr Majithia in the drug case filed against him”. He said the people of Amritsar East would also give a befitting answer to Sidhu for making such false allegations on February 20”.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Majithia while thanking the Congress councillors and leaders for reposing faith in him, said “it is now my mission to ensure speedy development of Amritsar East constituency”. He said all development works in the constituency would be taken up on a priority basis immediately after the formation of the SAD- BSP government.