Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), said on Monday that the party was committed to correcting the historical injustices inflicted on Punjab by parties in Delhi that had denied the state its own capital, excluded Punjabi-speaking areas while reconstituting the state on a linguistic basis, and diverted half of its river waters to Rajasthan.
File Photo: IANS
Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), said on Monday that the party was committed to correcting the historical injustices inflicted on Punjab by parties in Delhi that had denied the state its own capital, excluded Punjabi-speaking areas while reconstituting the state on a linguistic basis, and diverted half of its river waters to Rajasthan.
Addressing a mammoth rally here as part of the Punjab Bachao movement along with senior leader Parambans Singh Romana, Mr Badal said, “Punjab is the only state which does not have its own capital.”
Advertisement
He added that this happened because the Congress party favoured Haryana over Punjab. “We are also the only state in the country in which Punjabi-speaking areas were left out while reconstituting it on linguistic lines. Half of our river waters were also arbitrarily given to Rajasthan by the Congress in violation of the Riparian Principle, which clearly states that states through which rivers flow have the sole right over their waters.”
Advertisement
Asserting that parties in Delhi had destroyed Punjab, Badal said, “These parties still want to take away the remaining water of the state by completing the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL). If this water has not flowed through the canal till now, it is because of the SAD. If it had flowed to Haryana, our state would have turned into a desert.” In an emotive address, he added, “Parties in Delhi can never have the same concern for you as the SAD. They come to rule and loot; our purpose is to serve you.”
The SAD president also appealed to Punjabis to stop experimenting. “Tomorrow a person may appear who gives the impression that he is even more Panthic than us. Remember, such persons are puppets of agencies. They are planted to weaken the SAD as well as capture the religious institutions of the Sikh community. We should beware of such stooges and work to strengthen the SAD in order to save Punjab from their clutches.”
Badal reminded Punjabis that if the Malwa belt was prosperous today, it was because of the SAD. “We are responsible for Punjabis getting a Minimum Support Price (MSP) on wheat and paddy. Parkash Singh Badal removed the problem of waterlogging in this area. He also established the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, which has ensured the provision of quality health services in this and neighbouring districts.”
Asserting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had deceived Punjabis to win the 2022 election, Badal said, “This corrupt and anti-Punjabi party is up to its old tricks again.” He added that the AAP government had announced it would pay Rs 1,000 per month to women for six months. “This is being achieved by taking a loan of Rs 52,000 crore and by selling government properties. It will also result in the government defaulting on the power subsidy, which will cause untold misery for farmers.”
Stating that the AAP government had bankrupted Punjab, Badal said, “This government has taken on debt of Rs 2 lakh crore in four years, whereas earlier governments took 56 years to accumulate a debt of Rs 2.5 lakh crore.” He also spoke about the false cases registered against political opponents by both the erstwhile Congress government and the present AAP government, and announced that a commission would be formed to review all these cases.
Later, while talking to newsmen, Badal said the chief minister was trying to deceive new investors at the Invest Punjab summit by claiming responsibility for development in the state, including four-lane highways, airports, and the power-surplus status.
“He should know that the SAD is responsible for each and every achievement about which he is boasting. He should be honouring us for these achievements.” He added, “The chief minister does not have even one achievement of his own to cite. I challenge him to name a single thing he has done for Punjab in the last four years.”
Laying out his vision for Punjab, Badal said the SAD would not allow water to flow into the Rajasthan canal. “All water diverted through the Rajasthan canal will instead be diverted to the fields of Punjab.” He also announced that he would not allow even a single drop of industrial or sewage effluent to enter the Sutlej and Beas rivers.
“Violators will be dealt with sternly. This is absolutely essential to tackle the scourge of cancer in the Malwa belt.” He further announced that the ‘Rahat’ scheme initiated by the erstwhile SAD government would be revived to end the tax harassment faced by traders during both the previous Congress government and the present AAP government.
The SAD president also announced that an interest-free loan of Rs 10 lakh would be offered to youth. He promised to restart an expanded Atta-Dal scheme, raise old-age pension to Rs 3,100 per month, and increase the Shagun allowance to Rs 1 lakh. He further announced that all farmers without a tubewell connection would be provided one, along with a 12-hour daytime power supply.
Advertisement
