Congress committed to strong Lokpal, says Rahul Gandhi

Tarn Taran (Punjab), Jan 25 (ANI): Congress General Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed his party's commitment towards bringing in a string and effective Lokpal Bill, and said that his political outfit was dedicated to ameliorate the common man, the poor and farmers.

Addressing an election rally here, Gandhi said: "It (Congress) introduced a bill for a strong Lokpal...a strong Lokpal is a dream of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi...Congress is committed to ameliorate common man, the poor and farmers."

Rahul Gandhi further blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of obstructing the passage of Lokpal Bill, and also mocked BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani's 'Jan Chetna Yatra'.

"What did the NDA (National Democratic Alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party) government do? They obstructed the passage of Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha. They talk about corruption and their great leader (Lal Krishna Advani) toured the country and said that that he would tour the whole nation against corruption," said Gandhi.

"However, they failed to notice their corrupt partners (regional Shiromani Akali Dal party). They fail to notice the corruption in Punjab and do not notice the illegal flow of government funds," he added, while lashing out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Punjab.

Gandhi also pointed out the at the rising drugs addiction cases in Punjab.

"I am pained to see the rampant problem of drugs in the state. So, when you (Captain Amarinder Singh) become the Chief Minister, you should peruse hard to fight against drugs as the problem is very serious," he added.

Urging the masses to vote for the Congress, Gandhi said: "Captain Amarinder Singh says that there is a wind of change blowing in the Punjab, I say, it is not a wind, it is a storm and on the day of election it will be clear what happens to Shiromani Akali Dal. So, all of you should vote for the Congress Party and allow us to govern the state."

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had earlier on Tuesday lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Punjab for not properly utilizing the funds granted by the Centre, and charged it of pushing the state from number one to twelfth position in India.

Punjab is one of five states due to hold elections this year. As per the schedule planned by Election Commission, the state assembly poll in Punjab would be held on January 30.

In Punjab, the main battle is expected to be between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- Bharatiya Janata Party alliance and the Congress Party. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and son of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, heads the SAD. (ANI)