Kejriwal chasing an illusive dream of ruling Punjab, says Cong

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Last Updated : Feb 27 2016 | 9:57 PM IST
Congress and BJP in Punjab today mounted a sharp attack on Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who is touring Punjab with an eye on the 2017 assembly poll, saying he is "chasing an illusive dream of ruling" the state instead of serving Delhiites who are facing severe water crisis.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh said Kejriwal is trying to "sell false dreams" in Punjab instead of standing with his people and address their pressing problems.
State BJP chief Kamal Sharma termed Kejriwal as 'Natwarlal' of politics who is "befooling everyone". 'Natwarlal' is the character of a con man in a popular Hindi cinema.
"This mufflerman bureaucrat-turned-politician has created anarchy in Delhi. Now, he is hell bent upon replicating the same in Punjab. But the people of Punjab are very intelligent and would not allow him to succeed in his designs," the BJP president said in a statement.
Singh said there has been no supply of water in most parts of Delhi for the past 10 days due to the Jat stir in Haryana but Kejriwal is "loitering around" in Punjab. The characteristic of Kejriwal is either to put the blame on someone else or run away from the situation, he claimed.
Besides, the Congress leader said, "why his heart did not bleed for thousands of Punjabis who were selectively targeted in violence and their properties damaged in Haryana?"
"Leave aside visiting them and offering them any assurance, you didn't even bother to issue a word of consolation for them and not even to those women who were allegedly molested and raped," Singh said in a statement.
He said Kejriwal's promise of job to family members of Bhim Taank of Abohar whose limbs were chopped off by some goons was made with an eye on the 2017 assembly poll.
Singh asked why Kejriwal did not bother to visit the Pathankot terror attack victim from Ambala, Gursewak Singh, while he did so in the case of two others in Pathankot and gave them cash relief.
Advising Kejriwal to better focus on Delhi "than loitering around in Punjab", Singh cautioned him against losing even Delhi in this "misplaced excitement".
Punjab BJP chief Sharma said Kejriwal follows the policy
of "hit-and-run". "He hits an issue but runs away when asked about its solution."
He asked Kejriwal to clarify his stand on three "crucial" issues -- the JNU row, Jat quota stir and the Khalistan issue.
The BJP Punjab president demanded that Kejriwal should speak on the JNU issue without any further delay.
Sharma said Haryana kept burning for so many days "but unfortunately, Kejriwal, who hails from the state, did not utter a single word".
"What moral right Kejriwal has to stay in politics if he stays away from the crucial issues?" he said.
"Elections in Punjab are due to be held early next year and Kejriwal has already started electioneering but what has shocked everyone is that he is not clarifying his stand on the Khalistani agenda. Kejriwal... Should address the issue categorically," the BJP leader said.
"Earlier, Kejriwal took the entire Delhi electorate for a ride by promising moon but did not fulfil any of his poll promises after coming to power. Now, Kejriwal is adopting similar tactics in Punjab by making big promises," Sharma said.
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First Published: Feb 27 2016 | 9:57 PM IST

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