Badal vs Badal
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the two estranged cousins, took potshots at each other on their home turf, Bathinda, last week. Addressing the ‘pol khol’ rally at Bhai Rupa village on Friday, Sukhbir described Manpreet as the “cause of troubles” for any government. “When Manpreet was in our party, development could not take place during the SAD-BJP government. Once Manpreet was out, the state witnessed development,” he said, advising (Congress chief minister) Amarinder Singh to get rid of him. Manpreet, who was in Bathinda on Saturday, targeted the former deputy chief minister. Asked about the SAD chief’s comments, he said that misgovernance and corruption of the previous SAD-BJP government ruined the state financially. He challenged Sukhbir to a debate on the state finances, politics and corruption of the previous Akali government. “Let Sukhbir speak for 45 minutes. I will speak for just 15 minutes,” he said. Charges, counter charges and debate, all in the family.