Bathinda, December 12
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today challenged both the Congress as well as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to tell one major development work or social welfare project they had brought into the State, even as he asserted former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was responsible for all development as well as social welfare benefits being enjoyed by Punjabis.
The SAD president was campaigning in Bhucho in favour of the party’s Zila Parishad candidate Bhai Gurjinder Singh Sidhu who has already made a name for himself as a model Sarpanch who had changed the face of his village. He also urged the people to break the arrogance of the AAP government and extend wholehearted support to SAD candidates who were still in the fray in many seats despite large scale rejection of nomination papers in many constituencies.
Badal also spoke on how during the last sixty years there had been four Congress chief ministers including Giani Zail Singh, Darbara Singh, Beant Singh and Capt Amarinder Singh. “I challenge the Congress party to tell me one thing they did for the State or one major facility they gave to the farmers or the poor”. Asserting that the same was the case with Bhagwant Mann, the SAD president said in sharp contrast Parkash Singh Badal during his 22 years in power had established thermal plants, Universities, cancer institute’s and world class memorials besides giving free power to farmers. I want to ask you, of everything has been made by the SAD then why are we indulging in experiments. Let us save Punjab by reaffirming faith in the SAD”.
Asserting that if Badal Sahab has not been in politics who would have made power free for farmers, build Mandis and thermal plants, dug irrigation channels, given away lakhs of tubewell connections and introduced social welfare schemes like aata- daal, Shagun, old age pension and SC scholarship scheme.
Urging the people to support their own regional party, Badal said the SAD alone had the potential to build a State of their dreams. “We are known for speedy development as well as championing the cause of the State at all costs. The SAD alone can put the State back on the track of development”, he added.
