SAD committed to turning the Mohali-Zirakpur-Dera Bassi-New Chandigarh-Kharar belt into the next financial hub of the country : Sukhbir S Badal

SAD committed to turning the Mohali-Zirakpur-Dera Bassi-New Chandigarh-Kharar belt into the next financial hub of the country : Sukhbir S Badal

(Says AAP – Congress tie up in elections to top posts in Block Samitis made it clear that they would contest the 2027 assembly election in alliance with each other)

(Says Kejriwal lying that welfare schemes would be stopped in case anyone except AAP came to power in 2027)

Addresses massive rally in Dera Bassi which was attended by thousands despite a spell or rain and change in venue.

Dera Bassi 29 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that the party was committed to turning the Mohali – Zirakpur - Dera Bassi - New Chandigarh - Kharar belt into the next financial hub of the country on the pattern of Mumbai and Gurgaon once it forms the government in 2027. Addressing a massive rally here which was attended by thousands despite a rain spell which necessitated a change in venue along with senior leader N K Sharma, the SAD president said “we will create an IT hub in this area besides bringing in tourism projects and establishing an industrial hub in Dera Bassi”. He said the entire area would be linked with a metro rail system besides upgradation of the road infrastructure and establishment of world class solid waste management systems. He said the endeavour, which would be completed in five years, would result in the emergence of a new Metropolitan city in the vicinity of Chandigarh. He also detailed how the erstwhile SAD government had put Mohali on the world map by establishing an international airport and that the party was committed to taking it to the next level post 2027.

Sukhbir Badal also spoke on how the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress had teamed up to support each other in elections to Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of Block Samitis making it clear that they would contest the 2027 assembly election in alliance with each other. “Like in the Block Samiti elections to top posts in Baghapurana, Kotkapura and Faridkot besides others in which both parties ganged up to keep the SAD out, AAP and Congress will align in 2027 with the same motive”. Warning Punjabis that both these parties were responsible for taking Punjab back by decades, Mr Badal said “I’m confident they will shun both these Delhi based parties and vote and support their own regional party - the SAD”.

Badal also took on AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal for lying that welfare schemes would be stopped if anyone except the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in 2027. Asserting that Punjabis knew the truth, the SAD president said “everyone knows that all welfare schemes currently running in Punjab were started by the SAD. AAP has in fact either scrapped or drastically reduced benefits under various schemes including old age pension, Aata-Dal, Shagun and SC Scholarship”. Asserting that after being thrown out of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal was nursing dreams of befooling Punjabis again, Mr Badal said “this won’t happen. Punjabis know he is surviving on funds looted from the State’s treasury and will reject him completely in 2027.

The SAD president also agreed to take up all the issues raised by N K Sharma once the party formed the government including establishing a hospital at Zirakpur, providing canal water for drinking purposes, creating a tourist attraction in Chhatbir, making Handesra a sub-Tehsil, establishing a Girls College at Lalru, starting teaching of Puadhi in schools in the area and developing the religious sites of Gharam and Kunti Kund. Badal also announced that Mr N K Sharma would be given the finance portfolio in the next SAD government.

Speaking about his vision for Punjab, Badal said tubewell connections would be given to all farmers who were bereft of this facility. He said besides this, farmers would be given power for twelve hours during day time. He also announced that a World Skill University would be established which would skill one lakh youth every year and would have centres in each district. He announced an Rs 10 lakh interest free loan would be offered to youth besides restarting an expanded Aata Dal scheme and raising old age pension to Rs 3,100 per month and Shagun allowance to Rs 1 lakh. He also announced that education would be provided free of cost till the graduation level and 75 per cent subsidy would be given to youth setting up livestock farms, including dairy and poultry farms. Among others, senior leader Hira Singh Gabria, Parminder Sohana, Sarabjit Singh Jhinjar, Ravinder Khera & Rajinder virk also addressed the gathering.