Amarinder tells BJP not to "pontificate" Cong on nationalism

Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today attacked BJP over the JNU row and said Congress does not need any "lessons or certificate of patriotism" from the saffron party.
He advised BJP not to "pontificate" Congress or Rahul Gandhi on nationalism and patriotism and said the party in general and the Gandhi family in particular had a record of greatest sacrifices to safeguard the unity and integrity of the country.
"Our contribution and sacrifice for the nation are exemplary and unparalleled, while the BJP has none," Amarinder said.
"Besides, let me tell BJP it was during their rule that Parliament was attacked, while it was under Congress-led UPA government that terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru were hanged," the former Punjab Chief Minister said.

On Rahul Gandhi's visit to Jawaharlal Nehru University, Amarinder said, the Congress vice president had already clarified that he supported freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution but anything anti-national was absolutely unacceptable.
Meanwhile, addressing the convocation of Hindu College here, the state Congress chief said, "I have a dream to see bright smiles on each and every face that is sitting right in front of me to receive the degrees."

"I understand your concerns as after completing education you must be expecting and aspiring for the right kind of job which is our duty to provide," he said, adding "your job has ended by completing studies and now it is our duty to provide you the jobs."

"At the same time it is not possible for the government to provide all the jobs. We need to create the right kind of atmosphere where investments and industry can come to Punjab that will lead to job creation," Amarinder said and assured, "I will create that atmosphere because that is my duty."
Alleging that the state government was not providing due aid to the college, the state Congress chief said, "Same is the case with all aided educational institutions as the state has gone bankrupt."
Announcing a Rs 25 lakh grant for the college from his MPLAD fund, Amarinder said, the state's debt has mounted to Rs 1.25 lakh crore

In education sector, Punjab is divided into "haves and have not" as a majority of students who could not afford to go to private schools were not able to get good results, he said.
Underscoring the need for revival of education and health system in the state, Amarinder said, "We need to bridge that gap in education if we really want Punjab's youth to be employable.