It’s a matter of pride for SAD that the AAP govt is projecting the development done by us in the Invest Punjab summit : Sukhbir S Badal

It’s a matter of pride for SAD that the AAP govt is projecting the development done by us in the Invest Punjab summit : Sukhbir S Badal

(Says Summit would however not attract any investment as investors were wary of the gangster culture which had proliferated in Punjab under AAP rule)

(Fatehgarh Churian Punjab Bachao rally draws thousands)

Fatehgarh Churian/Chandigarh 13 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said it was a matter of pride for the party that the Aam Aadmi Party government was projecting the development done during the SAD tenure to attract investment in the ongoing Invest Punjab summit even as he asserted that no one would invest in the State till the time the gangster culture which had proliferated in AAP rule was eradicated. Addressing a huge rally as part of the party’s Punjab Bachao campaign along with senior leader Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, the SAD president said “the AAP government is showcasing airports, superior road connectivity as well as the power surplus status of Punjab, all of which were created by the erstwhile SAD government, to investors. They should honour us for creating this infrastructure”. Sukhbir Badal said that it was a fact that despite these assets, Punjab would not get any investment as investors were wary of the ‘gundaism and gangster culture which had proliferated in the State under AAP rule. He said the fact that the Summit was being held at the fag-end of the AAP government’s tenure, instead of the first year, proved that it was being staged as a propaganda exercise only. He also asked the government to explain why Arvind Kejriwal was leading the summit. Is he the chief minister of Punjab?” The SAD president also came down heavily on the AAP government for trying to deceive the women of the State. “The AAP government is taking a loan of Rs 52,000 crore this year even as it has taken a total loan of Rs 2 lakh crore in the last four years. It is also selling government properties. After indebting the entire State and its people, is using part of these proceeds to purchase women votes. The women will see through this deceit and won’t support AAP ever”, he added.

Speaking about his vision for Punjab, the SAD president said all farmers who were bereft of a tubewell connection would be given the same within one month of the formation of the government. He said farmers would also be given power for 12 hours during the day. Badal also announced the next SAD government would eradicate gangsters and drug mafia from the State. “We will bring in legislation to deny bail to gangsters and drug lords and seize their complete properties”. Announcing another priority of the next government, Mr Badal said “I will not let one drop of industrial or sewerage effluent enter the Sutlej and Beas rivers. The violators will be dealt with sternly. This is absolutely essential to tackle the scourge of cancer in the Malwa belt”. 

Badal also asserted that the SAD was committed to the welfare of women. “We will raise the emoluments under the Shagun scheme to Rs 1 lakh for marriage of daughters of under-privileged sections of society besides raising old age pension to Rs 3,100 per month and ensuring revival of the Aata –Dal scheme by giving flour at Rs 4 per kg and pulses at Rs 20 per kg to the beneficiaries”. Badal announced that all 13000 villages would be taken up for development in a phased manner and that concrete would be laid on all village streets and sewerage facilities would be created at par with those in the city. He also announced that the ‘Rahat’ scheme initiated by the erstwhile SAD government would be revived to put an end to tax terrorism to which traders were subjected to both during the previous Congress and present AAP government. Mr Badal also announced that a Rs 10 lakh interest free loan would be given to youth to help them to become entrepreneurs besides establishing one medical and one veterinary college in each district. Other senior leaders who spoke on the occasion included Mr Bikram Singh Majithia,Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Suchha Singh Langah , Guriqbal Singh Mahal, Rajanbir Ghumann, Raman Sandhu, Naresh Mahajan, Kamaljeet Chawla & Sandeep Singh Lodhionangal.