AAP today said that the ruling SAD's district-wise dharnas against the alleged role of the Delhi government in the demolition of a 'piau' at a gurdwara in the national capital was a "complete flop show".
"Reports from all the districts show that only a few Akali workers took part in the dharnas. There was no participation by 'aam aadmis' in these protests," AAP leader Sanjay Singh, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, the state convener of the party, and Sagrur MP Bhagwant Mann said here today.
These "flop shows" should be an "eye-opener" for the Akalis as they point to the prospect of a "humiliating defeat" for the party in the Assembly polls in Punjab in 2017, the AAP leaders said.
The AAP leaders said the people of Punjab are intelligent enough to understand as to who was behind the demolition of the 'piau', or drinking water counter, at the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi.
Rejecting allegations that the Delhi government had ordered the demolition, the AAP leaders claimed it was the BJP-controlled Municipal Corporation of Delhi that had carried out the demolition drive.
"Sukhbir ji, the public is intelligent enough to understand everything. The day is not far when curtains will come down on your political drama," Sanjay Singh said.
Targeting SAD chief Sukhbir Badal over his comments that he was deeply hurt by the demolition of the 'piau', Sanjay Singh asked why he "wasn't hurt when there was a series of attacks on the Shri Guru Granth Sahib?"
"Where was he (Sukhbir) when police opened fire on peaceful protesters in which two Sikh youths were killed? Why did his heart not melt when innocent Sikh youths were arrested and tortured by police who falsely implicated them in a case of sacrilege?
"Instead of enacting a political drama, Sukhbir should have saved the farmers who were committing suicide due to faulty policies of the state and central governments," Sanjay Singh said.
AAP alleged that instead of extending a helping hand to farmers, the Punjab Agriculture Minister was busy supplying spurious fertilisers to them and ultimately the Agriculture Director was made the scapegoat for the entire racket.
The time is ripe for the Badals to book "a family room in their 7-star hotel permanently" as they would not be able to show their faces to the public after the 2017 Assembly polls, the AAP leaders said.
Shergill also questioned the timing of bringing in changes
in the laws related to parole in Punjab.
Prisoners in the state can now get parole for reasons such as renovation or repair of house or for agricultural purposes with the Assembly yesterday passing the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Amendment Bill, 2016.
"We are not against parole being given to prisoners. But, we suspect the timing. We kept saying that in genuine cases, parole should be granted. But, for the last nine-and-a-half years, the Akalis did not feel the need to bring in the changes. They brought this law when the polls are round the corner, making its timing suspect," Shergill said.
The AAP leader also targeted the Congress, alleging that it was "hand-in-glove" with the Akalis.
"Both parties know that Kejriwal has shown zero tolerance towards corruption. They know that anyone who has indulged in any wrongdoing will not be spared and this has made both the parties jittery," he claimed.
Meanwhile, with state Congress chief Amarinder Singh regularly attacking Kejriwal, the AAP today launched a strong counter-attack.
Amarinder had yesterday attacked Kejriwal and said he will fight the "Haryanvi" from wherever he would decide to contest the upcoming state Assembly polls.
"He is a Haryanvi, he is a Dilliwala and I will fight him from wherever he chooses to contest. Win or loss is god's will, but I will not let him have it easy," he had said.
In response, AAP's Sukhpal Khaira said, "Kejriwalji has categorically stated that he would not leave Delhi and therefore, the questions of his becoming the chief minister of Punjab or contesting the polls here do not arise."
"Our national leaders Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak have also said they will not even contest the panchayat polls, but Amarinder Singh is feeling jittery and is raising this issue of Punjabi versus non-Punjabi," he said.
"At least, he (Amarinder) has admitted that the next chief minister will be from the AAP. I too want to assure him that (if the AAP comes to power) the chief minister will be from Punjab and will be a Punjabi," he added.
When asked why has the AAP not taken the lead in declaring its chief ministerial candidate like it has done in releasing the first list of candidates and Kisan Manifesto, Khaira replied, "What is the hurry? Look at the time we have got. We are not time-bound (to do so)."
He then added, "The Congress and the Akalis have a common agenda which is to keep the AAP down.
