Sufi singer and SAD leader Hans Raj Hans joins Congress party

CHANDIGARH : Noted Punjabi Sufi singer and Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) leader Hans Raj Hans today joined Congress party and described the SAD and Badal family thankless and opportunists. He joined Congress in the presence of PPCC President Capt Amarinder Singh at a closed function at the residence of a party MLA.
Hans Raj Hans said that he had campaigned for Harsimrat Kaur Badal in Bathinda Parliament constituency and helped her win the seat. He said she later became minister but neither she nor anyone from Badal family even thanked him for the campaigning. He said that Badals were thankless and opportunists.
Hans Raj Hans had contested on SAD ticket from Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat but he was defeated. At that time he had blamed local Akali Dal leaders for not supporting him. He later kept himself aloof from active politics. During Lok Sabha elections, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal approached him for campaigning for Harsimrat Kaur Badal due to large number of votes of particular community. Badal had promsied him due respect in the party. However, he was ignored after victory of Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Hans said, he had resigned from the Akali Dal about one and a half year ago as he had not found it coming to his expectations. He said, he had looked around and found that the Congress under Capt Amarinder’s leadership was best suited to rule Punjab. He made it clear that he had not joined the party with any condition as his only aim was to see Punjab grow and prosper. Capt Amarinder Singh welcomed Hans Raj Hans into the Congress fold and assured him full respect in the party. Congress MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot were also present.