Ludhiana, July 10 (IANS). Amidst the ongoing discussions regarding leadership in Punjab Congress, senior Congress leader and former Chairman Krishna Kumar Baba has clearly said that the final decision in the party is of the high command and all leaders and workers should respect it. He said that former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Wadding should focus on strengthening the Congress by working together and not in any competitive spirit.
While talking to the media, Krishna Kumar Baba said that the decision regarding any post in Congress is taken by the party leadership and public statement on it is not appropriate. Talking to IANS, he said that Bhupesh Baghel has come to listen to all the leaders and he has listened to everyone’s opinion. If there is talk of any change then it has to be decided by the Congress high command. There is no need for any leader of Punjab Congress to interfere or make statements in this matter. The Congress Committee has handed over the responsibility to Amarinder Singh Raja Vading after a long process of about three months and discussions with all the leaders. In such a situation, it is not appropriate to question the same decision again and again. Whatever decision the high command takes, everyone should accept it.
He said that Congress is a democratic party, where decisions are taken through democratic process. The MLAs express their opinions and the senior leadership takes a decision after listening to all the parties. While giving responsibility to any person, aspects like his working style, sacrifice, seniority, ability, patriotism and ideology should be considered. Many times when we move away from these things, we have to suffer losses.
Rejecting the notion of any conflict between Channi and Raja Vading, he appealed to both the leaders to work unitedly. He said that it should not be a question of Channi versus Raja. For us everyone is a king and everyone is a channi. I feel that both the leaders should work together like the old election symbol of Congress ‘a pair of two oxen’. Both of them should bring victory to Congress with brotherhood and hand over Punjab to Rahul Gandhi. This is the ideology of Congress. If we accept Rahul Gandhi as our leader then there is no reason left for quarrel. Whatever decision Rahul Gandhi takes, we all should accept it.
On the question of factionalism in Congress, Krishna Kumar Baba said that there is no such situation of factionalism within the party and termed such discussions as a perception created by the media. He said that the word factionalism itself is very bad. Factionalism occurs when a party gets divided into many parts. There is nothing like this in Congress. We have one leader, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge is our national president. Then what kind of factionalism? We are all members of one family. Channi has also said that he is with Rahul Gandhi and will accept whatever decision Rahul Gandhi takes. In such a situation there is no question of factionalism. This discussion has been created by the media.
Krishna Kumar Baba also targeted the law and order system and state government of Punjab. He said that the first responsibility of the government is to protect the life and property of the people, but at present serious questions are being raised regarding law and order. He said that the law and order situation in Punjab is not good today. Incidents like bomb blasts are happening in Moga. The first constitutional responsibility of the government is to protect the life and property of the people. There is a need to work seriously in this direction. He also raised questions about the promises of financial assistance made to women and government schemes. He said that the promises made before the elections were not fully implemented and people should not be misled.
Krishna Kumar Baba criticized the working style of the central and state governments and said that both the governments should seriously consider the future of Punjab and the situation in the state. He said that every word of the Chief Minister has importance and he should play his role with responsibility. Referring to the development works done during the tenure of Congress governments, he said that many important institutions and projects like Agricultural University, Bhakra Dam, PGI, AIIMS are the contribution of Congress. Congress leaders have also made an important contribution in establishing peace in Punjab. The public should see what work the government did during its tenure. Punjab needs serious and responsible leadership to take it out of the present circumstances. Both the Central and State Governments need to think in the interest of the State and act responsibly.
–IANS
PSK
