Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President, Sunil Jakhar, on Monday said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh would lead the party in the 2022 assembly polls, as the people of the state had reposed their faith in his leadership with their landslide verdict in Congress’ favour in the recent civic polls.
While participating in the event for the launch of various developmental projects worth Rs 1087 crores by the Chief Minister, under the Smart City and AMRUT schemes, Jakhar said, “the Congress party’s sweeping victory in the civic polls has not only revalidated Captain Amarinder’s leadership in the state but was an endorsement of the faith of Punjabis in his future leadership also”. He said the state Congress had already launched mission “#Captainfor2022”, and the next elections would be fought under his leadership.
Lauding the Chief Minister, Jakhar said Captain Amarinder had led the state in very difficult times and the people were well aware of his massive contribution. “Punjab is perhaps facing its worst ever crisis – Covid, farmers’ unrest due to the black farm laws, coupled with an unfriendly Union government – and only Captain Amarinder Singh had the vision and leadership qualities to steer the state out of it”, he said.
Lambasting the Union government for its step-motherly treatment to Punjab, Jakhar said the Centre had resorted to all kinds of measures, including economic blockade, to punish the state for supporting the farmers’ agitation. He said the federal structure of the country was under extreme threat under the BJP led national government. He also questioned the recent decision of the Union government to refuse permission to a jatha to go to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan and accused the Centre of being biased against the state.
While complimenting the Chief Minister for launching projects aimed at development of urban areas, Jakhar said there had been a growing though incorrect perception that this government was only working for the rural areas. He said though Punjab is an agrarian economy, the massive development works that have started in the urban areas would dispel this perception.
Jakhar also urged the Chief Minister to ensure that the Congress manifesto for 2022 should promise making Amritsar – the ‘Guru ki Nagri’ – an iconic city. “Amritsar should be made as one of the best cities in the World on the lines of the Vatican”, he said.