Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said experimenting between one Delhi-based party and another had cost Punjab dearly with all its core issues including federal autonomy being thrown on the back burner and urged Punjabis to put their faith in the SAD to ensure the State’s voice reached parliament.
The SAD president made these remarks during a tour of this assembly segment while campaigning in favour of the party’s Patiala candidate N K Sharma as part of the Punjab Bachao Yatra. The Yatra received a historic response with thousands of people coming on the roads at major stops to welcome the SAD president. Sukhbir Badal was repeatedly showered with flower petals and profusely garlanded at all stops of the Yatra which witnessed a huge participation from youth.
Speaking at a stop, the SAD president said “our experiments have cost us dearly. Earlier the Congress misled you with false promises of a loan waiver, ‘ghar ghar naukari’ and Rs 2,500 per month to unemployed youth but did nothing. Then the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) went a step further and promised Rs 1,000 per month to women besides promising to eradicate the menace of drugs within ten days. This promise was also false and AAP stands thoroughly exposed as it has bankrupted the State by taking on a loan of Rs one lakh crore besides discriminating against the farmers, scheduled caste and weaker sections and trade and industry”.
Asserting that the SAD alone could fulfill the aspirations of Punjabis, Sukhbir Badal said “we are committed to federal autonomy to ensure the rights of Punjab are safeguarded. Similarly we feel the sentiments of the Sikh community should also be respected. This was not being done and that is why we chose to stand by our principles and contest this election alone. We will continue on this path but will never compromise with our core ideology”.
Stating that Punjab was for everyone, Badal said “divisive politics propagated by Delhi-based parties which are based on religion and casteism would never succeed in the State. Punjabis are secular by nature and follow the principle of ‘sarbat da bhala’ propounded by our Guru Sahiban. I am confident they will repose faith in their own regional party – the SAD and shun Delhi-based parties”.
Asserting that only representatives of the SAD would be able to raise the voice of Punjab in parliament, Badal said “you have seen how MPs of Delhi-based parties have kept quiet on crucial issues of Punjab because they take directions from their heads for whom Punjab is of no consequence.
