Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said outsiders were trying to destroy peace and communal harmony in Punjab, even as he asserted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had sublet the state to outsiders due to which it has descended into chaos.
Talking to reporters here during his visit to the city, the SAD president said, “We will not allow the peace of the state to be destroyed at any cost.”
He said it was condemnable that the CM had tried to divert attention from the failures of the AAP government by resorting to crackdown against innocent Sikh youths as part of ‘Operation Amritpal’.
“I am happy to state that more than hundred youths were freed at the instance of the SAD alone even as he thanked the people of Punjab for forcing the AAP government to release the youths from captivity.”
Asking the CM not to take the state back to the dark days of militancy, Sukhbir Badal said, “The then Congress government also resorted to the politics of polarisation for petty political gains and drenched our soil with the blood of our brothers and sisters. The AAP government should also desist itself from following in the footsteps of Congress and should work for public welfare, not just for Arvind Kejriwal alone.”
Addressing the party workers at a meeting at Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi here later, Sukhbir Badal said, “The erstwhile Parkash Singh Badal government was known for massive development, extending free electricity to farmers, making Punjab power surplus, introducing novel social welfare schemes, etc.”
He said it was condemnable that all developmental activities in the state had come to a grinding halt and that not even a single new infrastructure project has been taken up for implementation in the last one year the of AAP tenure. He said instead of doing something positive, the AAP government has given a free rein to gangsters with the law and order situation in the state at its lowest ebb.
“The electorate of Jalandhar will definitely teach this corrupt and scam-ridden AAP government a befitting lesson in the byelection to the parliamentary seat next month,” he added.
Ram Navami symbolises unity of mankind, brotherhood: Mann
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Thursday offered prayers at the Shakti Peeth Sri Devi Talab Mandir on the occasion of Ram Navami and prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of the state. “This sacred festival symbolises the unity of mankind and brotherhood, besides inspiring people with the moral and spiritual values preached by Lord Ram,” the chief minister said. He said that “Lord Ram showed us the path of ideal and virtuous living to carve out a prosperous and harmonious society”.
