Betrayed Manpreet takes on defectors

“The PPP is least bothered by fickle-minded opportunists. If we keep on appeasing people or compromise on our values,the very existence of the party will get compromised,” he said.

He was answering queries on the Jagbir Brar and Kushaldeep Dhillon defecting to the Congress.

“Mere hathon se tarashe hue but,aj mandir mein bhagwan bane baithe hain (those sculpted by me are today sitting in the temple as Gods),” Manpreet said.

Talking about the “betrayal” by his cousin,Jagbir Brar,the former Jalandhar Cantt MLA,Manpreet said,“Brar was a block development officer before he got a ticket to contest polls. He has changed his political affiliation thrice in the last five years. He wanted a ticket for his brother from Muktsar while Kushaldeep (former Faridkot MLA) wanted it for his brother from Kotkapura. Such turncoats never believed in PPP ideology. I forgive them,but people of Punjab will never forgive their betrayal.”

He also took on those who termed it as the “final nail in the PPP coffin” before polls. “How can the departure of people who change parties faster than clothes be a jolt for us,” he asked.

He also went on to rebutt the allegations levelled against him by the duo at the Congress press conference.

Starting with Brar’s allegation that there was “no accounting” for USD 50,000 collected during US-Canada visit,he said,“This figure is ridiculous. As per Election Commission norms,no political party can collect funds abroad and we told NRIs,both through letters and later at public rallies,to be cautious of people trying to do so,” he said.

Showing photocopies of cheques posted by some NRIs,returned with a PPP letter expressing inability to accept them,he asked,“Can they produce a single Canadian and US organisation stating that we took funds? All our accounts are audited,”

On the allegations that his wife and brother-in-law were running the PPP show,Manpreet said his wife has a US passport and cannot contest polls. “Till recently,she used to stay in Delhi and is not involved in the party functioning. My brother-in-law is not a member of the PPP governing council or the central committee.”

He also ruled out giving a party ticket to his brother-in-law,saying,“none of my blood relations would get a party ticket.”

On Dhillon’s assertion that PPP would support Akali Dal in case of hung assembly,Manpreet said,if there is a hung assembly the PPP would ask the Governor to order fresh elections as Punjab needs a majority government to resolve its issues.

He also dismissed the contention that it PPP a one-man show,saying,“One man can neither create a party with 18 lakh members nor run it.”

Never sought ticket for kin,says dhillon

Refuting PPP president Manpreet Badal’s allegations of nepotism,Kushaldeep Dhillon said his businessman brother was not interested in politics and that he had never asked the PPP chief for a ticket for his brother. “We helped him set up the party. We had difference of opinion over various other issues but not over tickets for the kin .”

No ticket to blood relatives,but father an exception,claims Manpreet

While reiterating that none from among his kin will be allotted a party ticket,PPP president Manpreet Badal was quick to explain why his father,Gurdas,was an exception. “He is the ace of spades and is the only one who can stand against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,if he contests from Lambi. So the party has decided that if the CM has to be defeated,my father will have to contest,” he said.