Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday welcomed deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal’s decision to hold a rally in Patiala on December 15, the day he would take over as the state Congress president at a rally in Bathinda.
“They could not have chosen a better day to come to Patiala as everybody in the city would be in festive mood over my taking over the reins of the party in the state, and they (the Badals) are welcome to join the party,” he remarked, while taking a jibe at the Badals’ decision to hold the rally on the same day.
“Since Patiala is home to our family for 300 years, I welcome you all in the great tradition of hospitality every Patialavi and Punjabi is proud of,” he told Sukhbir, adding, “More so, the day being the occasion of my taking over as the PPCC president, I will send you laddoos and flowers so that you don’t feel left out.”
Amarinder said the Patiala tradition mandated due respect for guests, no matter what their intentions might be; in the same tradition, he would depute someone to carry the laddoos and bouquets. He said despite knowing Sukhbir’s intentions, he would send him the laddoos in deference to the Patiala tradition.
{{/usCountry}}Amarinder said the Patiala tradition mandated due respect for guests, no matter what their intentions might be; in the same tradition, he would depute someone to carry the laddoos and bouquets. He said despite knowing Sukhbir’s intentions, he would send him the laddoos in deference to the Patiala tradition.
{{/usCountry}}“Sukhbir and his father may turn abusive in frustration, but we cannot leave our tradition of hospitality and respect towards guests and will stick to that,” he said, making it clear that his battle against the Badals would continue till they were chased out of Punjab and Bathinda would mark the “beginning of their end”.