Terming the announcement of debt waiver of farmers by state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh as merely an ‘election stunt’, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today dared Lok Sabha MP to explain that why was he mum on this issue when Congress was in power both in state and centre.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Pathankot assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that Captain was just shedding crocodile tears on the issue just in false hope of regaining power in the state. Mr. Badal said that had Captain been serious on this issue then he might have got this issue resolved during tenure of UPA-I, when he was head of the state. However, Mr. Badal said that Captain neither has vision nor the will power to get this issue resolved but was now just raising this issue to mislead the people.The Chief Minister said that the entire state was aware about the anti - farmer stance of Lok Sabha MP adding that that during his tenure as Chief Minister, Captain had imposed power tariff on the farmers which was waived off during SAD-BJP alliance government. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that Captain was heading the same party which was solely responsible for the plight of farmers of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance government believed in actions whereas both the Congress and AAP were trying to mislead the people through hollow and false slogans. He said that the work of state government was in front of everybody whereas the Congress and AAP were just selling dreams. Mr Badal hoped that people would support the alliance government for unprecedented development works in the state.Completely rejecting the pre poll surveys, the Chief Minister said that these surveys don't have any credibility. Citing the examples, he said that none of such survey predicted SAD-BJP alliance government before 2012 polls but people of state gave verdict in favor of alliance. Mr. Badal said that this time also all such surveys would prove wrong as people would support the pro people and growth oriented policies of alliance.On allegations of state AAP leadership regarding sale of tickets by SAD, the Chief Minister said that pot was telling kettle black on the issue. He said that every single person of the state knows that AAP has sold tickets to aspirants due to which widespread resentment was prevailing in its cadres. Mr. Badal said that by leveling false allegations on SAD the AAP was trying to hide its sins.
Addressing the gatherings in village Naushera Naal Banda and Foolda, the Chief Minister said that under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi the NDA Government would serve the country for minimum 25 years. He exhorted the people to re-elect SAD-BJP alliance government in the state for reaping the benefits of NDA government by getting due share in developmental projects. Complementing Mr. Modi for launching surgical strikes on terror pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the Chief Minister said that this unique and bold initiative has rejuvenated the spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst the countrymen. He said that the unprecedented, courageous, heroic and decisive act of the Prime Minister hardly finds any parallel across the globe.The Chief Minister further said that in a short span of BJP led NDA government’s rule at Centre under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Mr. Modi, Punjab has been immensely benefitted from his benevolence. He said that the Union government has given several key projects to the state, which would be instrumental in putting the state further on high growth trajectory. Mr. Badal hailed the NDA government for allocating prestigious projects like All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Post Graduate Horticulture Research and Educational Institute and other major projects.
Reminding the people about the notorious past of Congress, the Chief Minister said that Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state. He further bemoaned that the Congress governments at the Centre had deliberately denied the state of Punjabi speaking areas, its capital Chandigarh and even its legitimate share in river waters. Mr. Badal said that Congress party was the perpetrator of a deep rooted conspiracy to deprive the state of its waters by constructing the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, which was aimed at ruining the state by snatching its only available natural resources from the state.The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Mr Ashwani Sharma, his Joint Special Principal Secretary Mr Kumar Amit, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. AK Mittal, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Amit Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Rakesh Kaushal.