The Rs-3 application form for membership of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee submitted by all new members and those who have renewed their membership in 2009 contains an extraordinary declaration: "Main sharaab jaan kise hor nashe da sewan nahin karda".
Translated from the Punjabi: "I do not consume alcohol or any other intoxicant."
Patiala District Congress Committee president Prem Krishan Puri confirmed the form requires applicants to make the declaration.But he did not want to press the point.
"Many senior leaders who have become members yet again, do drink," conceded Puri. "It is their conscience... the party cannot do anything about it."
Said a senior Punjab Congress leader: "Do you think that the crores of party workers and members in the country have given up drinking?" The membership drive will continue till December 31, the last date for submitting the form.
"Already, 45 lakh forms have been distributed in the state. We are expecting around 50 lakh new members," said Congress Legislature Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
She conceded the declaration in the form meant little."I would be lying if I said that all these 45 lakh people are teetotalers.If our senior leaders can drink, why can't these new members?" Bhattal said.
Source: The Indian Express We are in Punjab Cong, we declare we do not drink
