Cong asks Punjab unit to stop 'infighting'

Congress today sought to put an end to the infighting in its Punjab unit and asked leaders to work unitedly for the party, as it prepares for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"It was time for all Congress leaders of Punjab to work unitedly and aggressively under the leadership of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa to realise the dreams of late Beant Singh," Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed said here.
The party high command had given directions to all Congress leaders to support Bajwa, who took over as state unit chief earlier this year, he said while addressing a rally on the 18th death anniversary of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

"He is a youth leader and the future belongs to these leaders (referring to Bajwa)," he said, assuring Bajwa and Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar that the party high command would fully back them at all levels.
In his address, Union minister Jairam Ramesh told Bajwa to bravely face the challenges from "within and outside" the party and go ahead with his ideas and ideals.
The Congress also slammed the SAD-BJP government in Punjab for not organising any official function in memory of the late leader who laid down his life to keep separatists forces at bay.

Announcing that Congress would observe National Integration Day every year with a state-level function at the memorial of Beant Singh in Chandigarh, Bajwa said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had not released the state's share of funds for construction of Beant Singh memorial here.

Bajwa said more than 20,000 people had been killed during a decade of insurgency in the state and demanded that a 'peace memorial' be constructed in their memory.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was present at the function, said, "Punjab flourished under his leadership and came out of dark days of terrorism."
However, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was not present on the occasion.