LAMBI: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were in an informal alliance in Punjab and were fighting a proxy war to befool the people, even as he urged them to vote for the SAD to bring back an era of inclusive development, peace and communal harmony.
Addressing massive gatherings at each stop during the party’s ongoing Punjab Bachao Yatra during the course of which he was welcomed with flower petals, firecrackers and dhols by enthusiastic crowds in Lambi and Bathinda Rural constituencies, the SAD president said, “the SAD is committed to take everyone along in the path to progress as per the philosophy of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal”. He said Punjabis were now realizing the need of a regional party which could safeguard their rights following the onslaught of looters from Delhi which were stripping the State of its wealth to further their own political goals. People from the constituency come out in thousands to pay tribute to S Parkash Singh Badal besides assuring the SAD president that they were one with him.
Urging the people to beware of both the Congress as well as AAP, Mr Sukhbir Badal said “both these parties are fighting a proxy battle in Punjab following a formal tie up at the national level. This is why AAP is borrowing candidates from Congress where needed even as it has gone soft on corruption cases pending against senior most Congress leaders”.
Stating that both the Congress and AAP had looted the State and discriminated against each section of population, Mr Badal said “we have witnessed how no development took place under the erstwhile Congress rule. This is the same now. However, AAP has gone one step further than Congress by diverting funds meant for development and infrastructure creation to publicity campaigns and hiring of jet aircraft”. Mr Badal said he had already challenged both the Congress and AAP to tell one big project they had brought into the State during their respective periods. “Instead of doing anything for the people, both governments have discriminated against the poor by withdrawing social welfare benefits to the poor and denying jobs to youth besides presiding over the breakdown of law and order”.
Speaking about his association with Lambi constituency, Mr Badal said “I have witnessed this constituency developing from a dust bowl to a model constituency which has every conceivable facility”. He said it was a shame that the constituency had been ignored both during the previous Congress regime and the present AAP government. “Even basic facilities like roads, streetlights and water works are in shambles”. He also assured the people that he was committed to working for the welfare of the constituency in the same manner as the former chief minister.
Mr Badal was accompanied by Istri Akali Dal president Bibi Hargobind Kaur besides District president Preetinder Singh Sammewali and Youth Akali Dal district president Navjinder Singh Mann in Lambi constituency and former legislator Parkash Singh Bhatti.
District president Balkar Singh Brar and Youth Akali Dal district president Kamaldeep Singh in Bathinda Rural constituency.
In Bathinda Rural constituency, Mr Badal said “this constituency also witnessed unprecedented growth during the previous SAD led government with the AIIMS, Bathinda and the Central University coming up in the constituency”. He said the SAD was committed to expanding both Institutes once it returned to power.