AAP initiatives fail to cut much ice with Opposition

Recent initiatives taken by the AAP government in the form of Sikhiya Kranti, action against drug peddlers and surprise checking by the police, among others, are being dubbed as “panic exercise” by leaders belonging to all major Opposition parties in the state. They said this kind of “damage control” would hardly bring any fruitful result as in the past three years, the AAP government had failed miserably on all fronts.

Mamta Ashu, wife of Congress candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll Bharat Bhushan Ashu, said all models of the AAP government had failed in Delhi due to which the party had to face defeat.

Now, they were trying to bring everything here in Punjab and would meet the same fate again, she said, adding that washrooms, toilets and classrooms in schools are being inaugurated but where were teachers or the other required infrastructure? By disturbing works at civil hospitals and dispensaries, mohalla clinics had failed to borne no fruitful results. “They are demolishing properties of drug peddlers, why the woman constable from Bathinda, who remained in controversy, is spared? The pick-and-choose policy of AAP is uncalled for,” Mamta Ashu said.

Former SAD minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal said the present government was doing a “panic” exercise to control damages done in the past three years. “But they stand exposed and such damage control at this stage would hardly bring good results. The AAP has faced crushing defeat in Delhi poll, they are going to meet the same fate this time here too. They are not demolishing houses of drug peddlers but adhering to the High Court orders and razing unauthorised buildings actually. Instead of coming up with new inauguration plaques, the government should maintain schools as and when required,” he said.

Voicing similar views, senior BJP leader Anil Sarin said for the past three years, the AAP government had done nothing. The people of the state have already created an image that the present government has failed to provide them with a safe environment. “Extortion calls, grenade attacks, snatching in every street, law and order, everything is in disarray. On drugs, they should tell the people where are big fish or kingpins? They have not taken any action against the drug mafia that controls everything, petty peddlers are being targeted. Sikhiya Kranti is nothing but an inauguration kranti. They should tell people that more than 40 per cent seats of principals, BPEO are lying vacant, how can they claim to bring about a kranti,” asked Sarin.

Meanwhile, AAP MLA Madan Lal Bagga, commenting on the inauguration spree and other works, said there was always a process involved in each and every work. “Now is the time to tell people what all we did in three years. We are initiating a demolition drive against drug peddlers, inaugurating new buildings in schools to show the public the works we have done in the past three years. The people are with us

and appreciating our efforts,” he said.

Ludhiana