Responding to Amarinder Singh’s political overtures ahead of Punjab elections, the BJP on Wednesday said it is open to forming an alliance with all those who put the nation first. The BJP’s indication comes a day after Amarinder announced he would launch his own political outfit in Punjab and hopefully reach a seat-sharing deal with the BJP if the farmers’ issue is resolved in their interest.
BJP general secretary and Punjab in charge Dushyant Gautam described Amarinder as a patriot and said his party is open to establishing ties with people who put national interests first. On his condition of resolving farmers’ issues, the BJP leader said Singh did not talk about ending the farmers’ agitation. “He talked about farmers’ issues. We are committed to it and are working for the welfare of farmers. If the time comes, both will sit together and discuss farmers’ issues,” Gautam said. “Our main agenda is nationalism and keeping the nation first. All those parties who want to form alliances with us on this agenda are welcome,” he said.
Meanwhile, a report from Chandigarh quoted Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as saying on Wednesday that the former Chief Minister has destroyed himself by announcing a seat arrangement with a party he has always criticised. “Captain Amarinder Singh has destroyed himself by announcing a seat arrangement with BJP, whom he has always abused,” he said. Randhawa further slammed Amarinder Singh and said that BJP should hold an enquiry over the former Punjab Chief Minister’s “whereabouts after his resignation in 1984 and his relation with Pakistan”.
“There must be some pressure on him. Many cases have been filed against him and his children. We have no fear of Amarinder’s decision,” he added. Randhawa also called Captain an “opportunist” and claimed that he is responsible for the increase in Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction on the border of Punjab. “Captain betrayed Punjab. I am sad that I have spent so much time with him,” he said.
Terming Captain Amarinder Singh’s statement on aligning with the BJP as “shocking”, Congress General Secretary and party’s Punjab in Charge Harish Rawat on Wednesday said that the former Chief Minister has killed the “secular Amarinder” within him. Rawat after meeting with party leader Rahul Gandhi said that Amarinder Singh was a symbol of “Sarvdharm Sambhav” and was connected to Congress’ traditions for a long time. “If he (Amarinder Singh) wants to eat crow and go with BJP, he can. Who can stop him if he can’t stay with his old commitment to secularism? He was considered a symbol of “Sarvdharm Sambhav” and was connected to Congress’ traditions for a long time. If he wants to go, he should,” said Rawat.
“Who can forgive BJP that has kept farmers at the borders for 10 months? Can Punjab forgive them for the manner in which farmers’ agitation has been dealt with? His statement is really shocking. It seems he has killed the ‘secular Amarinder’ within him,” he added.