Chandigarh/Fatehgarh Churian, March 13
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal today said it was a matter of pride for the party that the Aam Aadmi Party government was projecting the development done during the SAD tenure to attract investment in the ongoing Invest Punjab summit even as he asserted that no one would invest in the State till the time the gangster culture which had proliferated in AAP rule was eradicated.
Addressing a huge rally as part of the party’s Punjab Bachao campaign along with senior leader Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, the SAD president said “the AAP government is showcasing airports, superior road connectivity as well as the power surplus status of Punjab, all of which were created by the erstwhile SAD government, to investors. They should honour us for creating this infrastructure”.
Badal said that it was a fact that despite these assets, Punjab would not get any investment as investors were wary of the ‘gundaism and gangster culture which had proliferated in the State under AAP rule. He said the fact that the Summit was being held at the fag-end of the AAP government’s tenure, instead of the first year, proved that it was being staged as a propaganda exercise only. He also asked the government to explain why Arvind Kejriwal was leading the summit. Is he the chief minister of Punjab?”
The SAD president also came down heavily on the AAP government for trying to deceive the women of the State. “The AAP government is taking a loan of Rs 52,000 crore this year even as it has taken a total loan of Rs 2 lakh crore in the last four years. It is also selling government properties. After indebting the entire State and its people, is using part of these proceeds to purchase women votes. The women will see through this deceit and won’t support AAP ever”, he added.
Speaking about his vision for Punjab, the SAD president said all farmers who were bereft of a tubewell connection would be given the same within one month of the formation of the government. He said farmers would also be given power for 12 hours during the day.
Badal also announced the next SAD government would eradicate gangsters and drug mafia from the State. “We will bring in legislation to deny bail to gangsters and drug lords and seize their complete properties”. Announcing another priority of the next government, Mr Badal said “I will not let one drop of industrial or sewerage effluent enter the Sutlej and Beas rivers. The violators will be dealt with sternly. This is absolutely essential to tackle the scourge of cancer in the Malwa belt”.
