Cong MLAs slam Brar for statement on Mansa agitation

CHANDIGARH: Days before the Congress plan to start agitation against land acquisition in Gobindpura village of Mansa district, a controversy has erupted over certain remarks made by party MLA from Kotkapura, Ripjit Brar.
On Friday, a number of MLAs slammed Brar for allegedly opposing the proposed agitation in Mansa -- some even went to the extent of saying that Ripjit was "playing into the hands of Akalis".They were reacting to a statement attributed to Brar in a section of media, which quoted him as saying that the agitation would serve the party no purpose.
Brar, meanwhile, has vehemently denied the charges. "I have a copy of my statement wherein I had said that the agitation will bring results only if all those farmers who gave land for the project are equally compensated. I meant, the agitation should help get compensation for everyone and not just those who are agitating against acquisition,`` he claimed.
In separate statements sent to media offices, Congress MLAs Kewal Singh Dhillon, Rana Kanwar Pal Singh, O P Soni, Sukhpal Khaira, Harchand Kaur, S S Sukhsarkaria and other party leaders "condemned`` Brar`s statement, saying the party decision should have been questioned at the time it was being discussed and not after it had been made unanimous by the senior leadership.
Indications that the issue was more of a rift between state Congress chief Amarinder Singh and Brar`s brother and AICC leader Jagmeet Brar came when the leaders asked Brar "if the issue was not that important, why did you and your brother Jagmeet Brar stage a protest demonstration in support of the farmers at Mansa?``
Capt reiterates support for agitation
State Congress president Amarinder Singh avoided getting into the controversy over Brar`s alleged remarks but slammed the SAD-BJP government for claiming that most farmers had agreed for the deal. "If that be so, then why is there so much agitation, and why did the government need to crush it brutally by cane-charging and imprisoning hundreds of agitating farmers, leading to one death and causing injuries to dozens others,`` he asked. The party, he maintained, was firm on its plans for agitation.