Cong says 'go outside Parl' as SAD plans gherao of Pb Assembly tomorrow

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today assailed SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal for his call to gherao the assembly on the first day of the budget session tomorrow over farm debt-waiver issue, and challenged him to protest outside Parliament.

SAD president Sukhbir has planned to protest outside the state assembly tomorrow to pressure the government to bring in a complete loan-waiver scheme for farmers, farm labourers and the Dalits. Today he reviewed the arrangements for the party's protests.

Chief Minister Singh lambasted Sukhbir for "eroding the sanctity of the democratic institution of the Vidhan Sabha" with his gherao call.

"If he really has a strong case against the Congress government," Singh said, "he should place it on record inside the House rather than resorting to such shameless tactics that can only lead to hassles for the citizens and a waste of their money."
"Sukhbir's stand on the issue is preposterous," he said, "given that his wife Harsimrat Kaur is a member of the Union Cabinet (Minister of Food Processing). Also the BJP and the SAD are allies."
"If Sukhbir were really concerned about farmers' plight, he would have taken up the issue with the Centre and managed to secure some relief for the community in the past four years instead of engaging in chest-beating antics after the Congress came to power in Punjab."