Vij flays Mamata, Rahul; confident of BJP’s rise in Punjab

Ambala: Haryana's energy, transport and labour minister Anil Vij on Wednesday hit out at outgoing West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also expressed confidence about the BJP's future in Punjab.Speaking to the mediapersons here, Vij criticised Mamata Banerjee over reports that she was unwilling to step down following the electoral defeat in West Bengal. He remarked, "India is a democracy, not a monarchy.""The Constitution provides mechanisms to remove a chief minister if they act against democratic norms," the minister said while accusing Mamata of disregarding democratic principles.Reacting to the reopening of a temple in West Bengal after 17 years, Vij said the Trinamool Congress' appeasement politics in West Bengal suppressed the majority community. He said with the temple reopening, both society and religious institutions were now able to "breathe freely".Turning his focus to Punjab, Vij said the state, once considered among the most prosperous in the country, was pushed into economic distress due to misgovernance and alleged corruption by successive govts.He expressed confidence that the BJP would come to power in Punjab, noting that the party already governs over 20 states across India.Vij asserted that Punjab would not remain an exception and claimed that a BJP govt would restore the state's economic strength.He also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the BJP's electoral success in West Bengal, where he reportedly attributed the victory to the Election Commission.Vij dismissed the claim and accused the Congress leader of consistently reacting negatively during moments of national celebration. He mocked Rahul Gandhi, stating that he lost 99 elections and people were now waiting for him to reach a "century" of defeats.Vij's remarks come amid intensifying political rhetoric ahead of upcoming Punjab elections, reflecting the sharp exchanges between major political parties across the country.MSID:: 130860052 413 |