PRESS NOTE

PRESS NOTE

BATHINDA, April 19Rishma Kaur, the better half of Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate fromBathinda parliamentary constituency has told the people of Bathinda not tobe scared of the threats of intimidation and reprisals from the Akalis asshe and her entire family stood and will stand by them, always. Moreover,she remarked, “barking dogs seldom bite”, while pointing out that theirrivals were feeling desperate and frustrated and had started resorting tobullying and terror tactics.During her tour of various areas in the city last night, Rishma Kaur moved aroundNFL Colony, Thermal Colony, Hazura Kaupra, Baba Farid Colony and severalother localities where she met among others the councilor Dr Mukesh and aleading social worker Mona Chauhan. She was accompanied by the local MLA,Harminder Singh Jassi, the District Congress Committee Bathinda (urban)president Ashok Pradhan and KK Aggarwal.Referring to the threats of stopping grants to the villages that vote forthe Congress issued by the Akali candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Rishma Kaur toldthe voters, “I am pleading for you to vote for the Congress and I am sureyou will certainly vote for the Congress, but even if you don’t, as it isyour discretion, that does not mean we will resort to any reprisals likestopping of grants and intimidation”. She said, “Voting freely is yourdemocratic right and serving you all, without any discrimination, is ourdemocratic duty.”Trying to touch an emotional cord, Rishma Kaur urged people, “the choice is yoursand you have to choose who would be in a better position to serve andrepresent you…one who threatens and intimidates you or one who promises tostand by you in all your circumstances”.Rishma Kaur seemed to gel well with the people particularly among the women andthe youth. She appealed them to ensure that they voted as it was not onlytheir right but duty as well. “It is the duty of our educated youth to voteso that they can make the right choice”, she told a cheering crowd in NFLcolony who mostly consisted of youth and women.Amar Jang SinghMedia Coordinator