Capt Amarinder gives patient hearing to workers at Tarn Taran meet

Congress workers here on Sunday raised the issue of groupism in the party during a district-level meeting that was attended by Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh.

Congress workers here on Sunday raised the issue of groupism in the party during a district-level meeting that was attended by Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh.

Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh addressing workers as Ramanjit Singh Sikki (left) looks on in Tarn Taran on Sunday. (HT Photo)

Congress workers were of the opinion that factionalism was behind party’s defeat in 2012 assembly elections in Tarn Taran and Patti segments and similar thing should not happen again.

Captain took responsibility for the defeat in 2012 and said anybody going against the party decisions would face expulsion. Workers said the party should finalise candidates early, to which Captain agreed, saying,

“The tickets for next assembly elections will be allotted six months in advance.”

The party workers alleged the ruling party had been harassing them all this while, but nobody from the party ever cared to come to their rescue.

“It is for the first time in nine years that PPCC chief visited us to redress our grievances. Congress workers have been facing false cases, but no one from party helped,” said Babbu Sharma from Bhikhiwind.

On Aam Aadmi Party, Captain said, “Reins of Punjab unit of AAP have been given to non-Punjabis—Kejriwal from Haryana, Sanjay Singh from Uttar Pradesh. Do Punjabis like that? The youth should weigh these aspects?”

Prominent among those present were former MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki, PPCC general secretary Harminder Singh Gill, former cabinet minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar and district president Sukhpal Singh Bhullar.