Dance of democracy: Lawlessness a major issue in Punjab's Ferozepur, say opposition parties

CHANDIGARH: Lawlessness and the incumbent Congress’s failure to come through on the poll promises it made in 2017 are emerging as the most important issues in the four assembly seats falling under Ferozepur district — Ferozepur Urban, Ferozepur Rural, Zira and Guru Har Sahai.
The government's failure to establish a PGIMER satellite centre, which would have transformed healthcare in the district, is also turning into a bone of contention, said opposition parties.

Ranvir Bhuller, senior AAP leader and probable candidate from Ferozepur Urban, said the Congress government had done nothing constructive for the betterment of Punjab. “The people of constituency have been living under terror as anti-social elements rule the city. Law and order worsened by the day,” he said, adding that serving MLA Parminder Singh Pinki and his brother-in-law had created political terror in the constituency and there had been a series of corruption charges against them.
A notice over corruption charges has also been issued against them by the Punjab lokpal.
In Ferozepur Rural, illegal mining and corruption charges against Laddi Gehri, husband of Congress MLA Satkar Kaur, are going to be detrimental factors in the coming elections for the incumbent party.
BJP former chief parliamentary secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu, who lost the last election from Ferozepur Urban, said the Congress MLA from his seat, Parminder Singh Pinki, had done nothing except loot the people over the last four and a half years. “He laid the foundation stone of the proposed PGIMER satellite centre on January 1, 2021, with pomp and show, but nothing has been constructed on that site even after eleven months,” he said. “Antisocial elements strike at will, creating terror in the city.”
When contacted, Congress functionary Vikas Mittal said opposition parties did not have any agenda and that’s why they were levelling baseless allegations. The other two assembly constituencies in the district include Guru Har Sahai and Zira.
In Guru Har Sahai, Congess MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi is known for his proximity to former chief minister Capt Amrinder Singh. He had also been part of Amarinder’s cabinet. Because of this, the constituency witnessed all-round development during his term. However, as power exchanged hands in the state, Sodhi was dropped from the cabinet by the new CM, Charanjit Singh Channi, who took charge in September this year.
Vardev Singh Mann, who is the SAD candidate from the constituency, is already facing a case for his involvement in dragging farm activists on the bonnet of his car when they were protesting against party leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal during her visit to Ferozepur.
In Zira, Congress MLA Kulbir Singh Zira had been vocal against Amarinder. Rampant mining, drugs and deteriorating law and order are some factors which could influence the 2022 polls here.
HOW THE SEATS STACK UP
Ferozepur Rural Reserved for SC/ ST communities and represented by Satkar Kaur Gehri of the Congress, the seat has a host of issues — failure to meet poll promises, lack of development, drugs, illegal mining, and corruption charges against Laddi Gehri, husband of Congrss MLA
Ferozepur Urban Represented by Parminder Singh Pinki of the Congress, the seat’s major issues include worsening law and order and proliferation of drugs. Failure to establish a PGIMER centre is considered to be one of the biggest issues when it comes to development
Guru Har Sahai Represented by former minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi of the Congress, the seat is headed for an uncertain election in 2022. Issues of the constituency are similar to those faced by residents in other segments of the district
Zira Rampant mining, drugs and lawlessness are the major issues. In SAD, Janmeja Singh Shekhon is the candidate, while Awtar Singh Minna has revolted against the move. Congress's Kulbir Singh Zira won the seat in 2017 elections