by Administrator
26. June 2009 06:44
Navjot Singh Sidhu has said silence of BJP ministers and leaders on crucial issues led to a massive defeat of the party in the state.“As we, including myself, failed our urban supporters in the state, they taught us lesson in the Lok Sabha elections”, a party insider quoted Sidhu as saying on the second day of party’s meeting here today. The meeting was called to introspect on party’s massive defeat in the elections in Punjab.The party insider said posing questions indirectly to the BJP leaders and ministers, Sidhu asked why the industrial policy had not been framed yet even after the formation of the SAD-BJP government more than two years ago. Why has the pay commission not been implemented in Punjab yet when other states had already done the same? Why were people in urban areas not being given adequate power and potable water? Why were the BJP state leadership and ministers not raising their voice on these crucial issues concerning people of the state in general and especially urbanites? he questioned amid thundering applause from many middle-rung party leaders on the second day of the meeting here today.Sidhu said when a senior leader of the party was abused, the party rank and file got together in his support. And it was a right thing to do so. However, when party workers were beaten up in Rampura, Bathinda, Patiala, Tarn Taran, Amritsar and other places during the civic body elections, no one showed enough zeal to defend them and to stand by them.
“The party was unable to get even a single senior officer transferred in the districts where BJP workers were beaten up.”
*/
google_ad_slot = "3351290150";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 60;
//-->
Raising another serious issue, he said why the party’s senior leaders have grabbed wholesale liquor depots and other profitable ventures being made available at the state government level. “Party workers and activist have made us MPs, ministers and MLAs and it was our duty to get liquor depots allotted to them instead of grabbing them ourselves”, he said, making many faces turn red at the meeting.
A strong stand would have to be taken against the sand mafia and other bad elements trying to rob people of their properties, he said.
Party’s senior leader Balramji Dass Tandon said there was need to confront the SAD on all issues during the next two years and it was crucial for party’s revival in the state. Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal, president of the BJP’s investor cell, said some gangs supported by top leaders of the SAD had established control on most of the sand and gravel mines, on main bus routes and also captured the cable network. “Punjab was passing through an era which it did not witness even during Emergency”, he said. Mr Balbir Punj presided the party meeting on both days.