Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh today promised a new dawn for Punjab with the revival of its lost glory and return of smiles on people's faces if the party was voted to power in 2017 Assembly polls.
"We have to take them (SAD) head on and we will ensure they are thrown out of Punjab. I promise you a new dawn with a new government," he said at a protest dharna which was led by party Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
"I want to see the smiles back on your faces and I want to retrieve and revive our lost glory," he said.
He accused the Akalis, particularly Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and the family for "destroying a whole generation".
There are so many villages where every young man has died of drug use, he said.
"Today the situation is such that 78 per cent people are believed to be involved in drugs and the entire blame lies on the Badals," he said, while expressing concern over the "alarming rise" of drug addiction.
There was a direct link between drug addiction and petty crimes as addicts can commit any crime to buy drugs. When they have no money, they resort to snatching to buy doses for themselves, he said.
"People are too scared to venture out of their houses," he said, claiming it was never like this in Punjab.
The former Chief Minister also referred to the alleged deterioration of law-and-order situation in the state.
"Never in my 47 years of political life have I seen such anarchy and lawlessness in Punjab," Amarinder said.
Namdhari Mata was killed about two months ago and then Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadarianwale was attacked, he said, pointing out that in Jalandhar a Congress worker was shot dead in broad day light.
He also referred to the death of an electrician who succumbed to his injuries in Jalandhar after he was allegedly beaten up by a BJP leader.
