Tell Punjabis why you whittled down 18-point agenda: SAD to Sidhu

Says new state Cong chief had a change of heart after ministers linked with sand and liquor mafia switched over to his camp

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday said newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Navjot Singh Sidhu should tell Punjabis as why he has whittled down the 18-point agenda handed over by the party high command to 5 points to provide relief to the sand and liquor mafia in the state.

Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu and others during a meeting with chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Talking to mediapersons, SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said it was intriguing that Sidhu had a change of heart after the Congress ministers linked with sand and liquor mafia switched over to his camp and he has given up his supposed fight against illegal activities.

“This is the reason why this demand disappeared from Sidhu’s agenda put up before the chief minister yesterday. Sidhu may have sold off his conscience to secure the support of tainted Congress legislators but Punjabis will not forget all the wrongs done to them. The state witnessed one of the worst hooch tragedies in recent times wherein 130 persons died due to spurious liquor. Demanding justice for the victims who died due to the spurious liquor distributed by Congress leaders does not seem to be on Sidhu’s agenda,” Cheema added.

Also, Sidhu seems to have forgotten that the Congress MLAs who were behind the illegal distilleries at Ghanaur and Khanna are among his biggest supporters and that is why he is not demanding action against the liquor mafia, the SAD leader said.

“Same is the case with regards to the sand mafia as one of its kingpins, who has even occupied forest land to establish a stone crusher, not in Sidhu’s line of attack any longer. It seems all their sins have been washed away after they joined the new PPCC president’s camp,” he said.