AAP is 'ignorant' of Punjab's recent history: Amarinder

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh accused the Aam Aadmi Party of fiddling with the elements that can push the state back to the "dark days", saying they are "grossly ignorant" of its recent history.

Addressing a workers meeting in the Grain Market here, he said that AAP, being alien to and ignorant of Punjab's history, particularly the recent past, was fiddling with the elements that can push the state back to the "dark days".

The former chief minister promised that if elected to power, he would ensure that the "lost glory" of the state was restored.

"That is my manifesto and that is my promise with you," he said, adding, "This is going to be my last election and I want to ensure that I redeem and regain the glory of Punjab it is known for, but has lost for some time now."

Amarinder accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family of looting the state.

"The Badal family had monopolised each and every business in the state. Whether it be transport, cable, sand, liquor... Whatever they think is profit making, they grab it", he said, and declared that he will ensure that this monopoly is ended.

"While Punjab is on the brink of bankruptcy with over Rs 1.5 lakh crores of debt, Badal's fortune is multiplying so much that he has built a fleet of aircrafts, many seven star hotels besides a fleet of 500 buses," he alleged.

Amarinder said there appeared to be a pattern in the sacrilegious incidents in Punjab. Similar incidents were "scripted" in early 1980s ahead of terrorism.

He appealed to people to not get provoked or misled, while calling for a thorough probe.

The former chief minister said while the needle of suspicion is pointing towards the AAP MLA, accused in Malerkotla sacrilege incident, nothing can be ruled out at this stage.