Patiala, February 6 (22G TV) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the nomination of chief minister Charanjit Channi as the chief ministerial face of the Congress party was a victory for the sand mafia.
The SAD President, who was here to campaign in favour of party candidate Harpal Juneja, said “it is shocking but true that the sand mafia has even prevailed over the Congress high command and foisted its candidate on the party. However the people have seen through Mr Charanjit Channi and will see through this move to strengthen loot and corruption in Punjab. They will definitely give a befitting response to the Congress party on February 20”.
Speaking at the public gathering, Mr Sukhbir Badal said Capt Amarinder had presided over the decline of Punjab during the last five years. “Capt Amarinder did not undertake a single development work or infrastructure project. He even left his constituency which had elected him with a huge margin in the lurch. He did not even care to come and meet the people of the constituency even once forget listening to their grievances and resolving their problems”.
Speaking about Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, the SAD President said the former was trying to dupe Punjabis in the same manner as done by Capt Amarinder Singh earlier. “Kejriwal is fond of talking about change and harps about the Delhi Model. If we study the Delhi Model we will realise that it does not have any space for free power to farmers or social welfare schemes like old age pension, aata- daal or Shagun scheme”. He said it was also true that Kejriwal stood for transfer of river waters of Punjab to Haryana and Delhi. Mr Badal said Kejriwal had also approached the apex court to demand closure of thermal plants of Punjab and registration of criminal cases against farmers who had burnt their paddy stubble under trying conditions. “Punjabis will never trust such a man and hand over their future to him”, he added.