SARDULGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections the choice before Punjabis was between those who had always lived and worked amidst them versus outsiders who only came to Punjab to loot and exploit.
The SAD president, who toured Sardulgarh and Talwandi Sabo constituencies as part of the Punjab Bachao Yatra along with senior leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundur and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, said “it is a choice between apne and prayee”. He said the SAD was “apne ghar di party” even as he accused the Delhi based parties of always indulging in conspiracies to create a wedge of misunderstandings between the Punjabis and their own social, religious and political “fauj”- the SAD. “This conspiracy, which was underway since the last two years now, stands fully exposed and Punjabis were ready to shun the ‘jhadoo’, ‘khooni panja’ and ‘kamal da phul’ and repose their faith in the ‘takdi’”.
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said “once Punjabis decide to repose faith in the SAD all efforts to pit Punjabis against Punjabis by Delhi based parties would fail”.
The Yatra received a massive response in both constituencies with people coming out in hundreds at all village stops besides ‘bazaars’ even as hundreds of vehicles including tractors, jeeps, cars and motorcycles accompanied the Yatra. People came up to Mr Sukhbir Badal and gave instances of how they were facing huge power bills and deletion of their social welfare benefits including aata-daal cards and old age pension cards. Horse breeders also approached the SAD president and pointed out that “Pashu Melas” started by the erstwhile SAD government had been discontinued. Mr Badal assured them that the SAD was committed to not only restart animal fairs but also encourage Marwari horse racing.`
Asserting that the SAD was committed to maintaining the Panthic as well as regional character of the party, Mr Sukhbir Badal said “we have a glorious heritage of safeguarding the Panth as well as the aspirations of Punjabis. Unlike Delhi based parties, who can sacrifice anything for political motives, the SAD can never compromise on its core values and principles. This is why we did not get into any power game and chose to stand with Punjabis”.
Appealing to Punjabis to strengthen their own regional party, Mr Badal said “Delhi based parties have ruined Punjab in the last seven years. Not only has the State been bankrupted but all development activity has come to halt. I challenge both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to tell one major infrastructure project they have established in Punjab in the last seven years during their tenure in government. In contrast the SAD is responsible for ensuring free power to farmers, unique social welfare schemes like aata-daal and shagun scheme to the under privileged and old age pension. It is also responsible for all major infrastructure projects in the State be it the Bathinda refinery, thermal plants, AIIMS institute, Central University, four lane highways and airports``.
Others who participated in the Yatra included Istri Akali Dal president Bibi Hargobind Kaur, Bathinda Distt president Balkar Singh Brar, SGPC member Mohan Singh Bangi, SOI president Ranbir Singh Rana, Akashdeep Middukhera, Gurwinder Singh and Balraj Singh Bhathal.