Amritsar: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assured the people of Punjab that if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is voted to power in the state, Amritsar would be given the status of a 'holy city'. He also said that an AAP government would ban consumption and sale of alcohol, meat and tobacco near the Golden Temple.
"I have come here to pay obeisance. The Darbar Sahib is a place where not only Sikhs but people from all other religions gather to worship. The Durgiana temple is also here in Amritsar, Jalianwala Bagh is also here; the city also has a Ram Teerath. So, if the Aam Aadmi Party forms a government here, Amritsar would be given a status of a 'holy city'," said Kejriwal.
"Anandpur Sahib which is the birth place of the Khalsa will also be declared a holy city," he added. Kejriwal is in Punjab to hear the grievances of AAP workers in the state. Kejriwal's visit has come at a time when AAP is facing "crisis" over several issues, including the sacking of Sucha Singh Chhotepur as Punjab convener. During his tour, the AAP chief will meet party volunteers, workers, including those who are "angry over not getting party tickets", amid "growing voices of rebel" and allegations of exploitation of women which could threaten to derail the party's prospects in high-stake 2017 Assembly polls.
Sidhu criticised
The AAP, meanwhile, criticised cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu for his remarks against Kejriwal, saying that the latter is acting like the "team B of RSS." AAP leader Jarnail Singh said that to save the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab, Sidhu has launched a new front. "Navjot Singh is playing a game in Punjab as RSS's B team, because he knows that the BJP-SAD alliance is ruling Punjab for the past 10 years, and the BJP is equally responsible for the current situation in Punjab," said Singh.
"To save SAD and BJP in Punjab, Sidhu has made this B team, whose job is to make Kejriwal its target. He is opposing the Badals in the garb of targeting Kejriwal," he added.
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Navjot Singh Sidhu formally launched a new political front 'Awaaz-e-Punjab', which will contest the Punjab assembly elections next year.
