Manpreet says he may quit as MLA before launching new party on Mar 23

Upbeat from the strong and positive public response to his camp at Maghi Mela in Muktsar,former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal was at his candid best.

Does not rule out possibility of father taking on uncle Parkash Singh Badal from Lambi in 2012

Upbeat from the strong and positive public response to his camp at Maghi Mela in Muktsar,former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal was at his candid best today. A confident-sounding Manpreet even said he may quit as MLA,if need be,even before the formation of his yet-to-be-named political outfit on March 23. Manpreet also did not rule out the possibility of his father,Gurdas Badal,contesting against his (Gurdas Badals) brother and present MLA from Lambi,Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,in the 2012 Assembly elections. It may be noted that SAD is yet to take any disciplinary action against Beas MLA Manjit Singh Kang and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Jagbir Brar,who are supporting Manpreet openly.

Addressing reporters at the residence of his cousin and SAD MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment,Jagbir Brar,after the launch of Manpreet Badal Fan Club,Manpreet said when peoples will could unseat the Tunisian dictator-president of 23 years and force him to flee the country,with peoples support the current Nizam (the present Punjab government) can also be changed after 12 months. While comparing the ills of corruption,drug addiction and illiteracy plaguing Punjab to leprosy,he added that no one will come from outside the state to eradicate these.

When Manpreet was asked whether his father Gurdas Badal would fight from Lambi,he neither denied nor said yes,but left the decision to time. He castigated the Congress saying that it is merely a reactionary political party without any agenda whilst the Akalis have always had an agenda and the Congress only reacted to it.

Manpreet said that he has never met the two Badals (Parkash Singh and Sukhbir) ever since his resignation as finance minister and the question of his patching up with them doesnt arise,therefore. When asked if he is in contact with SAD MLA from Sri Hargobindpur and the recently-inducted Cabinet Minister,Capt. Balbir Singh Bath,Manpreet refused to comment except saying that he likes Capt. Bath very much.

Thirty constituencies have already been covered under Manpreets Jaago Punjab Jaago movement and theres been encouraging response,he said,adding that the second phase of his movement will be launched from Anandpur Sahib on January 23.

Calls for support against social ills

At a seminar organised by Punjab Peoples Party later in the day,Manpreet said people should join hands with him in getting Punjab rid of corruption,drug addiction and illiteracy. The event titled,Punjab Vich Saaf Suthre Rajneetik Badla di Usaari (Evolution of Change towards Clean Politics in Punjab),was largely attended by intellectuals,including economist SS Johl,writers Waryam Singh Sandhu and Suresh Seth. Comedian Bhagwant Singh Mann too also vent his ire against the current regime at the meeting.

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