However, he said, if Mr Badal really wanted to provide relief to the people in the state he can always slash the VAT. He pointed out, when he was Chief Minister he had also slashed the VAT on petrol to provide relief to the people. He hoped, now at least Mr Badal will provide some relief to people by slashing the VAT.

Replying to a question on the allegations by Mr Badal that the UPA government was discriminatory towards Punjab under Akali-BJP regime, the PCC President said, it was wrong and baseless. He said the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has been liberally generous towards this government and has gone out of way at times to provide assistance to the state.

Moreover, he asked, if Mr Badal really feels that UPA is discriminatory towards Punjab how come he seen meeting the Prime Minister and other ministers in New Delhi every other day. “This is extreme of ingratitude and ungratefulness”, he remarked about Mr Badal.

Capt Amarinder refuted that any notice had been issued to PCC Vice President Ashwani Sekhri, who was the coordinator of the Jallandhar rally. He disclosed that he had called for a detailed report from Mr Sekhri but no notice had been issued to him.

Asked about the reported merger of Lok Bhalai Party with the Akali Dal, he said, it will hardly make any difference. He said, the LBP led by Balwant Singh Ramoowalia had hardly any support base anywhere and it will hardly make any difference anywhere. “He keeps on hopping here and there”, he said about Ramoowalia.

Similarly, the former Chief Minister said, the Third Front will not have any significant impact on the overall situation. Replying to a question about the Third Front rally, he said, the Third Front may have a limited influence in some assembly segments but not across the state and any impact will be on the Akalis mainly.

Source: Punjab Newsline, India,  dated 07/11/2011