Bathinda MP and former Union Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, has accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of acting under the directives of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging a betrayal in the offing for Punjab. Badal claims that Mann is preparing a report to falsely depict Punjab as having excess water to facilitate its release to Haryana.
Addressing public gatherings in the assembly constituency, Badal asserted that Mann had capitulated to Shah’s influence, fearing a fate similar to Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. She alleges that the Punjab government’s excise policy mirrors that of Delhi, benefitting the same liquor companies. Badal contends that Shah now dictates Mann to orchestrate a survey portraying Punjab with surplus water, intended for release to Haryana.
Badal reaffirmed Shiromani Akali Dal’s commitment to safeguarding Punjab’s interests, urging voters to carefully select representatives in the upcoming parliamentary elections who can effectively articulate their demands.
Highlighting the alleged financial mismanagement under Mann’s leadership, Badal criticized the AAP government for accumulating unprecedented debt of Rs 1 lakh crore in two years, ballooning the state debt to Rs 3.75 lakh crore. She accused the government of squandering state funds on advertisements, publicity stunts, and campaigns outside Punjab.
During interactions with women during her campaign, Badal expressed concern over the infiltration of chemical drugs into villages, attributing it to AAP legislators’ patronage of the drug mafia. She cautioned against the AAP-Congress alliance, accusing both parties of failing to address the needs of farmers, youth, and the industry.
Reflecting on the SAD’s governance, Badal highlighted the party’s track record of providing employment opportunities transparently and on merit, contrasting it with alleged irregularities in AAP’s recruitment process under Kejriwal’s influence.