VALTOHA(Amritsar) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Wednesday appealed to people of border constituency of Valtoha to vote for Congress party for guarantee of peace and development in Punjab.

Chief Minister was addressing a series of election meetings at Rajjoke, Valtoha, Dhoot and Khemkaran in Valtoha assembly constituency where polling will be
held on February 24. The election in Valtoha couldn’t be held on February 13 when polling was conducted in 115 assembly constituencies. The election in Beas
constituency will be held on March 11 where election was postponed due to violence.

Captain Amarinder Singh raised the issue of terrorism and said that people of border areas were worst affected by militancy. He said that Congress
government led by former Chief Minister Beant Singh had fought hard to restore peace in the trouble torn state. He said that people of state had given a chance
to SAD president Parkash Singh Badal to rule the state for five years but he disappointed people by indulging in corruption and nepotism.

He said that again Congress government led by his (Amarinder Singh) came to power in 2002 and a new era of development was started. He stated that it would be
in the interest of Punjab to give another chance to Congress party. He said that Congress would ensure both peace and development.

Captain Amarinder Singh said that the SAD had fielded Virsa Singh Valtoha who is a former militant and was involved in many crimes. “People have told me that SAD
candidate was issuing threats to the people. Let my government form, I will take him to task”, Amarinder added. He said that Congress was going to form next
government with large mandate. He said that high polling in Punjab elections was a clear indication that people had voted for peace and prosperity in ate.

He said that his government had chalked out a plan to bring big industry in Punjab in next five years so that employment could be generated for at least
40,0000 people. He said that border area would get due share of industry. He said that Congress government had tried to improve relations with Pakistan and if
trade opens through wagha and other routes, the direct benefit would go to border areas.

Chief Minister said that he had visited Pakistan on the invitation of Chief Minister of west Punjab and took up the issue of Punjabi youth lodged in Pakistan
jails. He said that on his request 170 youth were released and he brought them back. He said that Parkash Singh Badal had also visited Pakistan along
with former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but he ignored the plight of Punjabi youth in jails.

He said that Badal had no vision and he was disillusioned about forming next government. He asked the people do you have any reason to vote for SAD. He
said that SAD had encouraged terrorism and misguided youth to indulge in violence. Amarinder Singh said that Congress stood for
development while Akalis stood for destruction and confrontation.  They had destroyed the economy of Punjab whereas we had brought it back on the rails. “I
wish that entire Punjab should develop, each and every Punjabi should rise to the occasion by bringing Congress party again to power because the central
government and the Prime Minister had already given Rs.22000 crore for the development of Punjab and Congress could only fulfill the aspirations of the
voters", said Captain Singh. 
 
PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo, said the Congress Party was only secular political party that cherished the aspirations of all sections of the society
irrespective of class colour, creed and religion.  He said the Congress party appointed Giani Zail Singh as a first Sikh as President, Mamanmohan Singh as first
Sikh PM. Even the first Sikh Chief of Army was  appointed by Congress. Now it was the turn of the Punjabi to pay back for all these appointments by
voting the Congress Party to power. He applealed to the Punjabis to strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi by voting the Congress to power for another term.
 
These rallies were attended by Lal Singh and Jagmohan Singh Kang and Gurchet Singh Bhullar and the senior leaders and party workers of the Congress party.