Taking serious exception to Mr Sukhbir Badal’s words in stating that he would not relinquish his “kabza (occupation)” of Punjab for the next 25 years, the Congress Party said the deputy chief minister’s choice of expression is evident “reflection of his feudal and autocratic mindset”.
Mr Sukhbir Badal’s statement in response to the huge reception accorded to former chief minister Amarinder Singh at Amritsar on Sunday seems to have given the Congress another handle.
Describing the deputy chief minister’s words as “arrogant” and “absurd,” Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira said Mr Sukhbir Badal has unwittingly divulged his real designs as well as “the scantest regard for democratic and constitutional functioning”.
He said, “Badal has already taken kabza of the important trades of transport, cable network, sand quarrying and bulk liquor to make hundreds of crores at the cost of public exchequer. Having tasted power by throwing to winds all constitutional norms Sukhbir Badal is planning to remain in kabza of our.”
Mr Khaira said “a party that had come to power on the emotional, vote-catching slogan of ‘raj nahi, sewa (service not rule)’ is now resorting to kabza to stay in power”.
The Congress leader said this was tantamount to “a violation of Mr Badal’s oath of office” as a member of the state Cabinet.