BADAL DECLINES CAPT’S OFFER OF GOVT HOUSE
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday declined his successor Capt Amarinder Singh’s offer of free government accommodation.
Terming Capt’s goodwill gesture “gracious”, Badal said: “I thank him from the core of my heart for this, but I am making my own arrangements for stay. However, I value his sentiment highly and fully reciprocate it.”
Capt’s offer had come two days after HT reported that the Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch, who remained CM five times, was looking for a private house after vacating his official residence in the city.
Badal said he and his party would wholeheartedly support any decision of the Congress government that is in the larger interest of the people of Punjab. “The SAD does not believe in confrontation or in criticism for the sake of it,” he said.
Claiming he expected the new government to fulfil its promises soon, Badal expressed surprise over formation of a committed on farm debt. “All the details are available in government records and also in various studies conducted by farm economists and university experts. All it needs is for the new government to implement its promise,” he said. AAP SLAMS CONG GOVT FOR OFFER TO BADAL Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party condemned the new govt for offering facilities to Badal. Addressing a press conference in Amritsar on Sunday, AAP chief whip Sukhpal Singh Khaira said his party welcomed other cabinet decisions, but giving accommodation and other facilities at state exchequer’s cost to Badal was not fair. “The Badal family owns assets worth many crores and owns many 7-star hotels. Offering senior Badal free accommodation and other facilities is not good for already empty coffers of the govt.” HTC