Khaira wants migrants out, warring says Punjab can’t function without Bihar workers: Congress must clarify its stand, says Baltej Pannu

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing its leaders of hypocrisy and double standards on issues ranging from national pride to the treatment of migrant workers in Punjab. Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab senior leaders Neel Garg and Baltej Pannu slammed the Congress leadership after showing two videos that have sparked outrage among Punjabis.

The first video featured former Congress MLA from Sanour, Madan Lal Jalalpur, who shamefully referred to India as a “Ganda Desh" (third-rate country) while speaking about the assassinations of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. “This is an unpardonable insult to the very soil where martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Shaheed Udham Singh laid down their lives for India’s freedom,” said Neel Garg. “Calling the nation for which lakhs of Indians sacrificed their lives a ‘third-rate country’ is an insult to their martyrdom and to the pride of every Indian. The Congress party must apologize to the people of Punjab and the entire nation.”

The second video exposed the glaring contradictions within Congress leadership on the issue of migrant workers in Punjab. On one hand, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been demanding laws to restrict migrants from settling in Punjab. On the other hand, Punjab Congress President and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, at a party meeting in Bihar, hailed the deep ties between Punjab and Bihar and said that Punjab cannot function without the contribution of migrant labourers.

“This is Congress’ real face, double standards and political hypocrisy at its peak,” said Baltej Pannu. “One leader insults migrants, another praises them. One calls India a third-rate country, others do 'Savidhan Bachao' rallies to save this country. Punjabis are watching these contradictions closely. Congress must come clean on its stand: Does it support Khaira’s divisive politics or Does it stand by Warring’s words?”

The AAP leaders demanded that the Congress high command immediately apologize to the people of India for Madan Lal Jalalpur’s derogatory remarks and clarify its official position on the migrant workers’ issue before the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session.