Several senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers from Kahan Singh Wala village joined the Congress in the presence of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh here on Tuesday.
The Akali workers, including Jagroop Singh, Nand Singh, Ajeet Singh and Mandir Singh, said many others were likely to join the Congress as they were feeling suffocated in the SAD after the joining of Joginder Pal Jain. They alleged that Jain had hijacked the party and traditional, dedicated and senior Akali workers were rendered insignificant.
"We had given our votes to former DGP PS Gill, who contested the 2012 assembly elections as the Akali candidate against Jain. Now, we have decided to join the Congress because Amarinder had worked for Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat during his tenure as chief minister," they added.
Welcoming these workers into the party fold, Amarinder said they would be accorded due respect in the Congress. "Unlike the SAD, which works in a feudal and autocratic manner, the Congress is a democratic party," he added.
Having a dig at Sukhbir's remark that he was picking diamonds from the Congress, Amarinder said, "We need and respect workers, not diamonds. You keep the diamonds and we will keep the workers. Let's see who wins."
{{/usCountry}}Having a dig at Sukhbir's remark that he was picking diamonds from the Congress, Amarinder said, "We need and respect workers, not diamonds. You keep the diamonds and we will keep the workers. Let's see who wins."
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