On coronation,Bajwa declares toll free helpline for political vendetta

“Our cadre is demoralised after losing the Assembly elections and the ruling regime is trying to browbeat them by unleashing a reign of political vendetta. We would start a tollfree helpline to provide free legal aid to our workers. The first helpline will start in Amritsar on March 25 and within two months,all the districts will have similar helplines,” he said.

After his ceremony,Bajwa said the tollfree number would be both in English and Punjabi and on receiving a complaint,it will connect workers to lawyers on party’s roll.

“The lawyers would decide if it is a case of political vendetta. If found to be one,the party will foot the expenses of fighting the case. We will tie up with 10 to 11 advocates in each town and city that has a court. Many lawyers have agreed to provide us their services for free and there are many partymen who are willing to contribute funds to provide free legal aid,” he added.

It was show of unity for the party as a galaxy of union ministers,central leaders,former PPCC presidents,MLAs and MPs expressed their support to the new chief,including his predecessor Capt Amarinder Singh,who walked in with his own army of 20 MLAs,candidates who lost last year’s Assembly polls,district presidents and senior leaders.

Bajwa seized the opportunity and started his speech thanking Amarinder.

“Our fight is not amongst ourselves but against a common enemy. I assure you there will be no factionalism in the party and I will take everybody along. I expect the blessings and guidance of Capt Amarinder to execute the responsibility given to me,” Bajwa said.

He did not conclude before hailing the “courage” of Congress MLAs who took on the ruling combine head on the ongoing budget session,under leadership of Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar.

“Was the Tarn Taran police assault victim a terrorist that she had no right to enter the Assembly. The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the police brutality and the Opposition has no right to raise the issue in the Assembly. I also congratulate Jagmohan kang for sitting on the Speakers’ chair. Perhaps Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has forgotten how he had occupied the chair of Speaker Surjit Singh Minhas when he was in the Opposition,” Bajwa added amid slogans hailing the Congress.

Those present on stage included Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal,Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur,Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari,Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and former information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni,general secretary incharge of punjab,Gulchain Singh Charak,secretary incharge Harish Chaudhary besides other Punjab Congress MPs,former PPCC presidents,MLAs and senior leaders.