Arvind Kejriwal helping forces who were responsible for recent bomb blast in Punjab: Rahul Gandhi

Launching an all-out attack against Arvind Kejriwal in the backdrop of the Maur Mandi blast, Rahul Gandhi today accused him of "helping" forces who want to disturb Punjab's peace and push it back to the dark days of militancy.

On the last day of the poll campaign in Punjab, Rahul addressed a gathering in Ballian village here and referred to the Tuesday night's car explosion in Maur Mandi, which left six dead. The blast had occurred shortly after the "jansabha" of Congress candidate Harminder Singh Jassi, who is contesting the February 4 elections from Maur Assembly seat.

"The most important thing is the atmosphere you live in. If that atmosphere gets spoiled, violence starts or anger prevails, then the work of farmers, labourers, weaker sections suffers, entire state suffers," Rahul said. Taking a veiled dig at the ruling Akalis and the AAP, Rahul said, "from one extremist thinking, Punjab should not go to other extremist thinking. Congress is one such party which takes all sections along. We want that Punjab should rapidly progress."

"But if violence breaks, anger prevails, then everything will be destroyed. We have to understand that those forces, which destroyed Punjab earlier (referring to militancy period in the state), because of whom violence broke, such forces are yet again raising their head." "Bomb blast took place and six people died (Maur). Arvind Kejriwal, who is Delhi's Chief Minister, is helping these forces and helping them raise their head. And this is most dangerous thing for Punjab. "If these forces raise their head again, then entire agenda will be hijacked and Punjab will look in some other direction," he warned.

Rahul said, "So, it is necessary all of us together, be from any religion, caste or creed, we all should again stand up so that we can build a Punjab, which was known for its spirit of giving, a path as shown Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh." Addressing the gathering while sitting a cot with villagers and farmers of Ballian here, Rahul also talked about farmers issues, saying during UPA's time loans of farmers amounting to Rs 70,000 crore were waived off and promised that if Congress forms the next government in the State, the burden of state's farmers will be lessened.

Rahul is also scheduled to address poll rallies in Malwa belt today, which constitute bulk of the seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly. After interacting with local villagers, Rahul also sat on a mat and shared food with them. From Sangrur constituency, Congress has fielded its former MP Vijay Inder Singla, who was also present. 

With the drug menace becoming a major election issue in Punjab, Rahul promised a tough law to wipe out "chitta" and jail for those responsible for playing with the lives of youth. He appealed to the people to strengthen the hands of the Congress to bring growth back on the rails in Punjab. Promising to generate employment avenues for the youth if Congress forms the government in Punjab, Rahul said backlog in jobs will be cleared and employment will be given to the Dalit youth. The state, alleged Rahul, had seen destruction under the rule of the Badals.

He said the Congress would restore the spirit of `tera hai' (it's yours) and not `mera hai' (it's mine), "which the Badals had established over the past 10 years". Targeting the Badals, he said, "Guru Nanak Sahib said `sab tera' but the Badals' philosophy is `sab mera'". "The money of Punjab is the money of its farmers and labourers and would be spent on their development," promised Rahul, reiterating that the loan of Punjab farmers would be waived off once the Congress comes to power.

The Congress Vice President alleged that the Badals were squarely responsible for all the mess in the state, including industrial and agricultural ruin. "They plundered the State for their own interests. They have ruined the State by controlling everything here," he alleged. "The industry is shifting to Jharkhand and Haryana," he said.

With the Malwa belt of Punjab also infamous for number of cancer cases, Rahul promised to have a world class cancer hospital set up so that people do not have to go elsewhere for treatment.
Referring to the train between Bathinda and Bikaner, which has come to be known as Malwa's "cancer train", Rahul said once a hospital is set up here, people need not go anywhere.

Later in the day, Rahul addressed an election meeting at Gidderbaha in Muktsar district, from where youth Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring is contesting as party candidate. Referring to Warring, the Congress vice-president said, "He is a good candidate, works very hard and if you elect him, he will work even harder." Appealing to electorate to vote for the Congress, Rahul said he wants to make some promises.

After which, terming the drug menace as a grave problem, he said, "Drug menace has snuffed the lives of the youth. We promise that we will wipe out this menace within one month and frame a tough law to deal with the menace (if Congress forms the next government in Punjab)."

Rahul also promised that "within two months, that Panchayat land, on which poor have right, will be given to the poor people." "Without the land, poor cannot move forward and carve out a better future," he said. On unemployment, the Congress leader said there is a huge backlog in government jobs. The thousands of jobs, which the poor and other sections should have got, have not been given to them during SAD-BJP rule.

"Within three months, these jobs will be given in a transparent manner," he said. He also promised free treatment to the poor people of Punjab in hospitals. "We showed how we could do this in Rajasthan and now here also we will do it," Rahul said. On the people of Punjab, he said, "Punjab needs to be connected and the spirit of Punjabiyat needs to be upheld, where peace, prosperity and brotherhood prevails."

Making a whirlwind tour on the last day of campaigning, Rahul also addressed a poll rally in Lambi, home constituency and pocketborough of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, where he launched an attack on the Akalis as well as the AAP.

From Lambi, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh (74) is taking on the 89-year-old five-time Chief Minister. Among the six candidates in fray from Lambi, AAP has fielded Jarnail Singh (43). Addressing a poll gathering in Lambi, in which Amarinder was also present, Rahul said Punjab was once famous for its flourishing industry.

"People used to come here from other states and far off places to set up industry. In Ludhiana and Jalandhar, industry flourished at one time. However, during Badals' time, industry started shifting from the state to other places because of their lopsided policies. They also sought commissions, forcing the industry out of here," Rahul alleged.

He said Congress' focus will be to revive the industry and give jobs. "We will not only give jobs in the government sector, but also in the private sector thousands of jobs will be given," Rahul said. He also said within four months, the Congress government will bring a new law wherein free treatment will be given to the poor for various ailments including cancer and heart diseases.

Rahul, who was clad in a kurta-pyjama, said, adding Punjab can show direction to entire India. Slamming the ruling Badals, he said, "For last 10 years, you have seen the misrule of the Badals. Cancer, drug menace, unemployment, hardships faced by farmers, you braved it all. But now, from one extremist thinking, Punjab should not move to another extremist thinking."

"We want that peace and brotherhood should prevail. We want that Punjab should move ahead on the path shown by Guru Nanak ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji. Guru Nanak gave the message of love and universal brotherhood.

"Congress will also bring a storm of love in Punjab. We will bring everyone closer and do what is for the benefit of the state," the Congress leader said.
Turning towards Amarinder, who is fighting his last election, Rahul told the gathering, "Amarinder is fighting the polls, he will become Chief Minister of Punjab. In Punjab, Amarinder will work for you and in Delhi, in the Lok Sabha, I will work for you."