AMRITSAR
: Shining Punjab starts at the very bottom for both, but while a cobbler gives free boot polish to anyone who will vote for the Aam Aadmi Party, a daily-wage labourer candidate is for "jobs instead of freebies".
Sohan Lal the cobbler, who sits by the roadside near Crystal Chowk under a 'free boot polish for AAP voters' sign, said: "I have had enough bad experience with the traditional parties who keep us poor, so it's time to try out someone new. AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal seems a noble man who understands the struggles of a common man like me."
He claims that many people come to him for free shoe polish and the only thing he accepts from them is a promise to vote for AAP. He said: "A poor man, I can't give any money to the party, so I contribute this way. I can't afford to keep this free offer for long but it is matter of only a few more days, and it's for Punjab."
Asked how he will ensure if those who got free shoeshine kept their word, he replied: "I leave that to their conscience." Then there is Sham Lal Gandhi, independent candidate from Amritsar West, who despite being a poor man and a daily-wage labourer is against all freebies. He is up against Congress heavyweight Raj Kumar Verka.
Gandhi said: "We should make our youth self-sufficient by opening factories and businesses to give them jobs. Once they start earning, there won't need freebies. Setting something for nothing makes a man lazy and static. My daily campaigning expenses are Rs 900 that I saved over years for this election. I have no bankroller but I have the people of my constituency, who want me to win."
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.
Start a Conversation
Post comment