The war of words over the Khunda (decorative stick) seems to be continuing long after the Punjab Assembly polls. With SAD leaders,particularly the Punjab Chief Minister P S Badal and his deputy CM son Sukhbir Badal attributing the Congress defeat to statements on the stick,the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar on Friday responded by saying that the Congress workers would keep their Khundas at home and take it only when the need arises. Jakhar was speaking at a rally in Khatkar Kalan. State Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh,during the election campaign,had said that the Congress would use the Khunda to beat the Akalis for harassing his party men during their rule. After the polls,however,the Badals have not lost the opportunity to ridicule Amarinder over the Khunda issue. On Deputy CM Sukhbir Badals statement that a cricket match should be played between the ruling and opposition party MLAs,Jakhar said the Congress will only play the match if the government behaved in a nice manner or we also know how to play Gatka (traditional martial art). On the differences between party leaders after the defeat,Jakhar said that a meeting will be held between the senior party leaders to resolve the issues. Under fire PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh received some support after Congress MLA from Kapurthala,Rana Gurjit Singh said that Capt cannot be blamed for the partys defeat in Punjab. Peoples Party Punjab (PPP) president Manpreet Badal also paid tribute at Khatkar Kalan,from where he had launched his party a year ago.
