SAD to hold ‘pol khol’ rallies from Feb 7

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday said it will hold “pol khol” rallies across Punjab to highlight the “mis-governance” of the Captain Amarinder Congress government in the state.

The rallies will start from Fazilka on February 7 where party chief Sukhbir Badal would be present. These rallies will be addressed by the senior leadership of the party.

In a statement, former minister and SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the Punjab government’s “betrayal” of farmers, youth, employees and other sections of the society shall be exposed through these rallies.

He said the Congress should explain why it was “running away” from implementing the complete loan waiver scheme that it had promised to farmers.

He said the government must explain why it was running away from implementing the complete loan waiver scheme that the Congress had promised to farmers of Punjab. “The issues of taking away people’s jobs by closing thermal plants, to closure of sewa kenrdas, 800 primary schools, discrimination with Punjabi in government schools, atrocities on political rivals, murder of democracy in civic polls and complete failure of law and order will be highlighted during these rallies,” he added.

The SAD leader said that the state government had put on hold all the welfare schemes, be it the ‘Atta Dal’ scheme, old age pension or other pensions since it came to power around 11 months back.

“These issues will be highlighted during the Pol Khol rallies,” he said.

The SAD leader said these rallies will be held in Rampura Phul (February 9), Baghapurana (February 13), Dakha (February 14), Garhshankar (February 15), Amloh (February 22), Bhulath February 27), and Guru Har Sahai (February 28).

He further said on March 1, on the occasion of Hola Mohalla, the annual SAD conference will be held at Anandpur Sahib. Rallies will continue in March as well, he said.