Amritsar: Punjab BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday attacked the Congress and urged party leader Rahul Gandhi to look at the people around him rather than faraway ideals. He added that the party leadership must introspect and cleanse itself of corrupt elements.
Jakhar emphasised that while idealism is commendable, it is the company one keeps that truly defines them and pointed out that the individuals Rahul Gandhi associates with are the "manifestations of corruption" and "personified corruption."
"Rahul Gandhi should not look far but around himself. If he believes that he is an idealist, it is a very good thing, but a person is known by his company. The person he sits with is are manifestation of corruption and personified corruption. If he takes these kinds of people along with him, then what will we do with such ideals?" Jakhar said.
Quoting a saying, Jakhar said, "Kaun kehta hai saubat ka hota nai hai sarr, insan toh kya, deewar badal jate hai," implying that it is not just humans but even walls that can change, highlighting how one's surroundings influence their character.
Addressing the current state of the Congress party, Jakhar stated that if the party's leadership truly wants to revive, they must look inward and cleanse themselves of corruption and stressed that "aadarshwad ke sath yatharthwad bhi hona chahiye" (Idealism must go hand-in-hand with pragmatism).
Jakhar also underscored the importance of a strong opposition for a healthy democracy, criticising the current state of the Congress as incapable of fulfilling its role as an effective counterforce to the ruling government. He called on Rahul Gandhi to distance himself from corrupt elements within his party to help strengthen both Congress and the democratic opposition as a whole.
"If the leadership of the Congress party wants to revive the party, then they should look within themselves. Aadarshwad ke sath yatharthwad bhi hona chahiye. Rahul Gandhi should be rid of these kinds of people, because I believe that the ruling centre also requires a strong opposition in a democracy. Here the opposition is itself 'kheru-kheru," he said.
Sunil Jakhar also lashed out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government over the law and order situation in the state and raised questions over security, hours after a blast was reported outside BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia's residence in Jalandhar.
In a sharp attack on the Punjab government, State BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of misusing police resources, alleging that the CM has deployed an intelligence team from the Punjab Police to monitor activities at the Delhi Congress headquarters.
Jakhar questioned the Punjab government's preparedness, asking, "Where was this intelligence when a bomb was thrown at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia's residence?" A blast was reported outside the residence of BJP Leader Manoranjan Kalia in Punjab's Jalandhar. Police said that they are monitoring the CCTV and investigating whether it was a grenade attack or something else.
Dhanpreet Kaur, Jalandhar Police Commissioner, told reporters, "Around 1 am, we got information of a blast here, after which we reached the spot and started the investigation. The forensic team is investigating the matter...We are also monitoring the CCTV... The forensic team is investigating whether it is a grenade attack or something else..."
Manpreet Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Jalandhar, confirmed the incident and told reporters, "The forensic team will inspect and give the report. The incident took place at the residence of Manoranjan Kalia."