Congress dares Jaitley to open debate

Amritsar, Punjab: Daring BJP candidate from Amritsar Arun Jaitley to a public debate on sensitive political issues, the Congress today said the prestigious Lok Sabha seat, that was also the religious capital of the Sikhs, was not the “fiefdom of the Badals which they can pass on to an outsider who has no concern for the issues related to the state”.

In a statement, PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira said Jaitley must clarify his stand on the issue of Sikh farmers in Kutch as the Gujarat Government was yet to withdrawn the SLP from the Supreme Court despite an assurance by Narendra Modi in this regard during the Jagraon rally.

He asked him whether he supported the views of LK Advani, who in his autobiography “My Country My Life”, had claimed credit for mounting pressure on then PM Indira Gandhi to undertake Operation Bluestar.

He asked him to spell out his stand on the Anandpur Sahib resolution and the Akalis’ demands on the transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas, increase in the quota of Sikhs in the defence forces and clemency to Balwant Singh Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.

He also sought his views on the Akali demand for an amendment in the Constitution to declare Sikhs a separate religion, transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and the SYL canal issue.

“The Congress challenges Jaitely to a public debate on these issues. If he fails to clarify his views on these matters, he is urged to withdraw his candidature from Amritsar. The Punjabis and Sikhs are not puppets in the hands of the Badal-Majithia clan,” Khaira added.

Sukhpal Khaira’s posers to BJP candidate from Amritsar:

• Clarify stand on the issue of Sikh farmers in Kutch as the Gujarat Government was yet to withdrawn the SLP from the SC
• Explain if you support Advani’s views who in his autobiography has claimed credit for mounting pressure on then PM Indira Gandhi to undertake Operation Bluestar
• Spell out stand on Anandpur Sahib resolution, transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas, increase in the quota of Sikhs in the defence forces and clemency to Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar
• Also explain stand on the Akali demand for amendmenting Constitution to declare Sikhs a separate religion, transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and the SYL issue

Source: HT