Chandigarh, March 18: Promising to fulfill all the 2017 pollcommitments before going back to the people for their blessings ahead of the2022 Assembly elections early next year, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said the Congress inPunjab has no rival, as neither the Akalis nor the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) offerany competition.
Vowing to “finish what we have started”, the Chief Ministerassured Punjab that his government will leave no stone unturned to fulfillevery promise that the Congress made to the people in the 2017 polls. More than85% manifesto promises had already been implemented, he pointed out, addingthat it was a record for any party in any state, and the previous record washeld by Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh (for 81% promises fulfilled).
Listing his government’s biggest achievement as themaintenance of Punjabiyat in the state, which had witnessed on communal tensionor trouble, Captain Amarinder said people want peace, where they can conducttheir work or business in a peaceful environment. “People will see ourperformance and management,” he said, responding to questions at a mediaconference to mark 4 years of his government.
To questions about the promises of debt waiver for allfarmers and Rs 2500 a month to all unemployed youth, the Chief Minister saidthe fiscal constraints in the state, especially due to the unprecedented Covidsituation, had pushed back his government in implementing some of the promises.But with revenue increasing, these would be fulfilled as soon as feasible, hesaid, reiterating that he was committed to the implementation of all promisesbefore the next polls. Already 5.64 lakh farmers had been relieved of theirdebts and currently farm labourers were benefitting for the waiver policy, hesaid. The Chief Minister further said all proposals made in the budget werebased on realistic assumptions.
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Asked about Navjot Sidhu’s rehabilitation, the ChiefMinister said “everyone wants him to be part of our team.” He was hopeful thatSidhu, whom he had known since the latter was a kid and with whom he had a verycordial meeting even yesterday, would soon take a decision on joiningback. He would also be happy to havePartap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Dhullo as part of the team, he said, addingthat while everyone has their own ambitions, it is up to the Congress Presidentto decide. “In a difficult hour, you have to set aside your own ambitions andstand with the party,” he, however, remarked.
To a question on him leading the Congress and being its CMface in 2022, Captain Amarinder said it was for the AICC president to decide.Asked about Prashant Kishor’s appoint, the Chief Minister responded that in ademocracy every leader and party has a team of strategists.
Replying to a question on EVMs versus Paper Ballots, theChief Minister said he was among the first to oppose electronic voting machinesas they can be fudged, which he had even proved to the Election Commission atone time. He pointed out that advanced countries like Japan, Sweden and UK werenot using EVMs