Congress rejects news channel survey; ridicules Sukhbir for basking in its glory

Congress rejects news channel survey; ridicules Sukhbir for basking in its glory

Harshabab Sidhu
Nabaz-e-Punjab,CHANDIGARH, January 17:
Punjab Congress today rejected the “survey” conducted by the television news channel saying the so-called survey was far from the reality prevailing at the ground level.
The party reiterated that Capt Amarinder Singh continues to remain the most popular Chief Minister in the state and was set to lead and return for another term.
Senior leader and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Bharat Bhushan Ahsu also ridiculed the Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Sing Badal for trying to gloat over the “survey”, that deliberately and mischievously seems to have placed the Congress Chief Ministers, including Capt Amarinder in poor light.
The minister questioned the very purpose of the survey at this stage particularly about Punjab, when elections in the state are more than one year away.
“The purpose of the survey is too obvious to please a particular party to boost the sagging morale of its cadres owing to multiple reasons”, he said, while adding, given the mood of the nation that is grossly and overwhelmingly against the ruling party at the centre, the survey appears to be attempting to deflect the public attention to provide some consolatory breather to its demoralised workers.
“When farmers from across the country have risen against the government and it is finding it difficult to face them, it appears to have sponsored a survey to deflect the public attention from the real issue, with an obliging channel playing the second fiddle”, Ashu remarked.
Referring to Sukhbir Badal’s “overwhelmingly excited” reaction to the “survey”, the party leader challenged him for an open referendum to check his popularity in comparison to Capt Amarinder Singh.
“Moreover the same survey, Mr Badal is gloating about, puts Delhi Chief Minister, otherwise the worst Chief Minister ever, as the second best Chief Minister, does he (Sukhbir Badal) accept him to be the second best Chief Minister in the country”, he asked.
“Leave aside going for the popularity vote, let you visit any village in Punjab without any security and then talk about the popularity of the Chief Minister”, the minister dared Mr Badal.