London: Even as he welcomed the NSUI victory in DUSU elections as a sign of a swing in the Congress favour, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday lashed out at the critics of party vice president Rahul Gandhi for misconstruing his statement on dynastic rule and spreading false propaganda against him. 

In interviews to some TV channels here, the Chief Minister came out strongly against what he described as politicians (BJP) letting off steam and deliberately misinterpreting Rahul’s remarks. 

The remarks, said Captain Amarinder, had been made in the context of the fact that his great grandfather, grandmother, and father had led the Congress and ruled India. In a democracy likes ours, everyone has the freedom to choose who they like or not like, said the Chief Minister, adding that voting for any person was an individual choice in this country. 

The Congress has not been arm-twisting the voters, they are free to vote for who so ever they like, said Captain Amarinder, adding that “if people are voting for us then where is the dynastic rule?” The voters are free to change their minds, which they have been seen to do on a periodic basis, he said, and expressed the hope that the trend would continue. 

On the NSUI come back in the DUSU polls, Captain Amarinder said it was an encouraging sign. The recent Congress victories, first in Punjab assembly and then Punjab University and now in Delhi University, was a sign of a swing back in the Congress favour, he said, adding that these victories had proven right his belief that such things are part of a democratic system. 

These ups and downs happen in elections so there was no need for people to overreact in such matters, he added. 

On the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticism of his UK tour, the Chief Minister flayed their negative mindset, saying the party had no other business but to indulge in negative politics. 

His absence from Punjab had not led to any problems in the state, he said, adding that everything was fine there except AAP. They are used to creating ruckus every now and then for no rhyme or reason, he said, adding that he had come to London for the launch of his book on the Saragarhi Battle, as well as the global launch of his government’s global Connect with Your Roots (CYR) programme. 

It may be noted that the Chief Minister has also held several important business meetings in London to woo investment and industry into Punjab. 

Referring to CYR, which he launched here later in the evening, the Chief Minister said it was aimed at giving 3rd and 4th generation youngsters born and brought up in other countries the chance to go back home and see what actual Punjab is. 

These youngsters were being misled and influenced by false propaganda, especially that which endorsed the Khalistani movement, said Captain Amarinder, hoping the CYR initiative would succeed in creating awareness about the ground realities in Punjab among such youth in various countries.