Capt Amarinder Singh: Corruption up manifold

Former CM Capt Amarinder Singh today launched a scathing attack on his successor Charanjit Singh Channi, claiming corruption had increased manifold in the Congress government ever since he stepped down.

“Total chaos prevails in the Congress government. They used to tag me with Akalis or others for not properly handling the sacrilege cases or booking the Akalis in STF drug report. Those who were raising the voice are in power. One needs proper evidence to take action and not just run false political narrative,” said Capt Amarinder after inaugurating the office of the Punjab Lok Congress here.

On the mining mafia, the former CM said illegal mining was still there. “I had constituted a special task force to check illegal mining.”

Capt Amarinder said his party would contest the elections in partnership with the BJP and that the alliance would be announced soon. “Our party, Sukhdev Dhindsa’s SAD (Sanyukt) and the BJP will have a seat-sharing arrangement. I can’t tell you the exact number,” he said.

Referring to reports of nearly 35 Congress MLAs likely to be denied a party ticket, he said only those would be welcomed who had the ability to win.

Asked whether he expected to be the CM candidate of the alliance, Capt Amarinder said: “All alliance partners will decide on the CM face.” He clarified his son Raninder Singh would not contest the elections, but would manage the party office. To a question on when he would meet BJP president JP Nadda for seat-sharing talks, he said in principle, a decision had been taken on the alliance.

Plea against Kishor’s appointment junked

New Delhi: The SC on Monday disposed of a petition challenging poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s appointment as an adviser to then CM Capt Amarinder Singh in view of the fact that he himself had resigned. Kishor was accorded the rank of a minister. He had said he was taking a “temporary break”. TNS