Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh to launch new political party

Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister and Congress stalwart Captain Amarinder Singh yesterday said that he will launch a new political party soon. He said, the name and symbol of his new political party has been decided and a nod from the Election Commission is being taken. Captain Amarinder had resigned as Punjab Chief Minister on September 18 after a months-long power tussle with Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Interacting with the media at Chandigarh Captain Amarinder said, a number of congress leaders and MLAs are in touch with him and his new party will contest all the 117 assembly seats in Punjab and to give the fight to Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party. An alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party and Sanyukt Akali Dal of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and other like-minded parties will be made. However he clarified, he has no formal meeting with BJP and Sanyukt Akali Dal yet.  

He claimed his detractors in Congress were threatening and harassing his supporters. Captain Amarinder vowed, he will not rest till he secured the future of his people and his state. Captain Amarinder said, On Kisan Andolan he said, no agitation goes forever, he wants, the concerns of farmers should be addressed. 

He said that he had already had three meetings with the Union Home Minister to solve this issue. He said that he



is going to Delhi today, where he had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

On the issue of opposing the centre's decision of centre extending the area of operation of BSF in Punjab by the state government, Captain Amarinder supporting the Centre's decision said, the threat from across the border is prevailing, attempts to destabilise the country using drones are being done., the sleeper cells are active in the country. 

He said, in the last short span Punjab has recovered a number of arms including 1200 rifles, 1000 pistols. 100 kilogram  RDX and  Tiffen bombs. In such conditions, extension in the area of operation of BSF is not only helpful for the state police but also is in the interest of the country. He advised other political parties not to do politics on this issue.

On the Bargadi sacrilege issue, he said the matter is in court and the court will decide. In a tweet by State Congress President Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, he said he has low understanding and does not know the administrative responsibilities, if any Chief Minister meets any minister of the Central Government, that does not mean he has made an informal agreement with the Centre. He said that for the development of any state the Centres help is always required and must.