Kejriwal tries to woo industrialists ahead of Punjab polls
Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Feb, 2022 11:26 AM
Chandigarh, Feb 16 (IANS) In the run-up to the February 20 Assembly polls in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday made three announcements to woo industrialists and traders by ensuring their safety and ending bureaucratic hassles.
Accompanying AAP's chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann in Mohali, near here, Kejriwal promised that for the safety of the businessmen, no leader or official would intimidate anyone or get him raided.
"After the formation of AAP government in Punjab, if any of our MLAs or ministers asks for a share from a businessman, we will take immediate action against him," the Delhi Chief Minister told the media.
He alleged that leaders of the Akali Dal and the ruling Congress in the state ask the traders for share and weekly cuts.
"If people refuse to pay, they are intimidated with threats of raids. The businessmen of Punjab are most troubled by corrupt politicians and officials. To eliminate the fear among the traders, we will completely eliminate the ‘inspector raj' and illegitimate taxation to create a safe environment for business," the AAP leader said.
Kejriwal appealed to all the traders and ‘arhtiyas' for support and said this time they should give a chance to the Aam Aadmi Party.
"Just as we have won the hearts of traders in Delhi, we will win yours too," he said.
On the issue of security of the people, Kejriwal accused the previous Akali Dal and Congress government of registering false cases to intimidate people, and said the governments of both the parties misused the police to register false cases against thousands of people who raised their voice against corruption.
AAP's CM candidate Mann assured the businessmen and traders that the party will not ask for any share from any trader, but rather make the businessmen partners in the government.
"The AAP government will work closely with the traders and launch new schemes to promote business. We will completely delink business from police and politics. We will create a safe environment for the industry and business and will stop the exodus of traders from Punjab," Mann said.
The 117-member Punjab Assembly will go to the polls on February 20, and the counting of ballots will be taken up on March 10.
Organised by EcoSikh and Clean Air Punjab, a citizen's collective working on the issue of air pollution, over 50 prominent citizens across the state attended the meeting.
Disclosing this here on Wednesday, Amarinder Singh, who announced to float a new political party with seat sharing with parties, including the BJP, said he had been discussing various options with Home Minister Amit Shah, whom he will be meeting in Delhi again on Thursday, and others.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday said that India is the world's largest generic and affordable medicine supplier. "Pharma sector is our religion, we believe in the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", said the Minister.
According to sources, Kejriwal will visit Sangrur, Mansa and Bathinda on October 28 and 29. He will have a dialogue with farmers on Thursday and will meet businessmen on Friday.
The NCB team arrived here this afternoon and is understood to have recorded Wankhede's statement besides summoning a 'Panch-Witness' Prabhakar Sail for probe.
The petition alleged that as per the video of the meeting, the CM was asking party workers to make "500-600-1,000 volunteers" in every district of north and west Haryana, and be ready to "face sticks, imprisonment", which will make them "big leaders".
