Govt failed to honour any pre-poll promises: Sukhbir
KHADOOR SAHIB Criticising the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, chief of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Sunday, accused the government of failing to honour any of its pre-poll promises.
Sukhbir claimed that because of his government’s failure, the chief minister has been abstaining from attending political rallies organised by his party. “He is worried what face will he show to the people of Punjab,” Sukhbir said.
He was speaking at the Gurta Gadi Divas of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji here on Sunday.
The former deputy chief minister added: “Welfare schemes, development projects and World Kabbadi Cup that were started by the SAD government for the welfare of Punjabis, have been stopped by the Congress government. What else we can expect from this government?”
Speaking on the SYL Canal issue, Sukhbir said, “The chief minister should have sent out a clear message to farmers in Punjab that no negotiations can be held to barter their precious river waters. Even approaching the negotiating table tantamounts to selling the state’s interests.”
Besides these, he also asked Akali workers to be always ready to stage dharna against the police whenever SAD workers are implicated in false cases.
Taking a dig at Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi for his past comment wherein he had claimed that seven out of 10 youth in Punjab are drug addicts, Sukhbir said, “Because of Rahul Gandhi’s false claims, no foreign companies, or those from other states, are ready to set up their businesses in Punjab.”
MAJITHIA:NONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO SIDHU Meanwhile, speaking at the event, former cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia also made personal attacks at cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Addressing SAD workers, Majithia called Sidhu a ‘Nacha’ (dancer) and said, “Navjot Sidhu was leading the Congress rally during Rakhar Puneya mela at Baba Bakala. The rally was a flop show despite the party staging a dancer (Sidhu) on the stage. When he failed to mobilise people, Congress had to arrange a singer because now no one wants to listen to Sidhu.”
Taking his attacks further, he said, “Sidhu had been calling Rahul Gandhi a ‘pappu’ and Sonia Gandhi a ‘Munni’. But now, after having a good sauda (business) with the Congress, he is speaking against SAD, a party which he always revered.”
Besides Sidhu, Majithia also attacked Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal.
“He should be booked for the suicides of around 200 farmers in Punjab in the last six months. In the run-up to the polls, he had promised a complete loan waiver for farmers. However, nothing has happended in this regard,” Majithia said.
Member of Parliament Ranjit Singh Barhampura, former minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, former MLAs Virsa Singh Valtoha, Ravinder Singh Barhampura, Vir Singh Lopoke, Dalbir Singh Verka, and Malkiat Singh AR were also present in the event.