Badal who also celebrated his 90th birthday on Thursday, said the large gathering at the rally symbolised the significance of the issue for people of the state
Moga, Punjab: Battling anti-incumbency, the ruling Shiromoni Akali Dal (SAD) government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal showcased its power, by kick-starting election campaign from Killi Chillan village in Moga district on Thursday. With hundreds of saffron flags fluttering with slogans like ‘Pani Bachao, Punjab Bachao’ , it became clear that the SAD will seek votes on the emotive issue of water sharing, much to the embarrassment of the ally the BJP, which is ruling the neighbouring state of Haryana.
“Punjab di khushali paani te nirphar ae (Development of the state is dependent on water). We will not let river water of Punjab to be used by any other state,” said Badal, emphasising that by giving the ownership rights of the land acquired for the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal to its original owners after its de-notification, the government has put the contentious issue to rest. Badal who also celebrated his 90th birthday on Thursday, said the large gathering at the rally symbolised the significance of the issue for people of the state. “Punjab has no spare water to share with anyone,” he asserted from the stage, flanked by his party MLAs and MPs. Terming Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as anti-poor, the CM said that he was cautioning people that if voted to power both these parties would discontinue the several pro-people schemes and subsidies being currently given to people. “I request you to save Punjab,” he said.
Hundreds of school buses had ferried villagers from far-flung districts to attend the rally. “Our Sarpanch brought us to the rally,” said one of the residents of Ludhiana, who had come to attend the rally. When asked what the rally was about, he said, “It was about saving Punjab waters.” Addressing the rally, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal lambasted the AAP, referring to them as ‘topiwallahs’ and Congress for allegedly defaming Punjab youth as drug addicts. “Our youth do not get jobs when they go to different states, because Gandhi family had run a propaganda stating 70 per cent youth are drug addicts,” he said, raising the slogan, ‘Congress tey Topiwale bhajao, Punjab bachao’.
He challenged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to showcase his accomplishments in Delhi before eyeing Punjab. “We will build 5 lakh houses for poor and 1,000 colleges in the state. Also, 1.50 lakh more jobs would be created more than 12,000 villages of the state would get solar lights, sewerage and clean water supply facilities at a cost of more than Rs30,000 crore,” he said.
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 "Parkash Singh Badal")
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