The party has decided to take up all the burning issues of Punjab and present its vision for the state during the mass contact programme.
File Photo: IANS
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday announced that it would launch a mass contact programme titled “Punjab Bachao – Sukhbir Singh Badal Liyao” from Qadian on February 17, marking the beginning of the party’s campaign for the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections.
The decision was taken by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal after consultations with the senior party leadership.
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Speaking on the occasion, Mr Badal said, “We will take up all the burning issues of Punjab and present our vision for the state. I am confident that Punjabis will rally around the SAD, which alone is capable of fulfilling their aspirations.”
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Disclosing details of the programme, senior leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it would include 40 rallies across the state and culminate on Baisakhi, April 13. He said 28 rallies would be held by March 31, and their schedule has already been finalised. “The remaining 12 rallies will be held in April,” he added.
Providing further details, Dr Cheema said the SAD has always practised ethical politics. “We have consistently stood by our promises. This time as well, we will present our comprehensive vision for the state, covering every section of society, with a special focus on maintaining peace and communal harmony.”
The SAD leader said the party would clearly spell out its stand on key issues and demonstrate its commitment to resolving them.
“These include the transfer of Punjab’s capital, Chandigarh, to the state and ending the discrimination against Punjab in the allocation of river waters.” He added that the party is also concerned about the erosion of the federal structure in the country and remains committed to defending it.
“The weakening of federalism has financially harmed Punjab, particularly in terms of the devolution of central funds and the states’ freedom to allocate them according to their priorities.”
Dr Cheema said the ongoing crisis in agriculture and the serious issues faced by farmers including indebtedness, suicides, and the lack of compensation for losses suffered during the 2025 floods would be highlighted during the rallies. He added that the demand to make the Minimum Support Price (MSP) a legal guarantee, concerns over the reduction in fertiliser subsidies, and the need to safeguard farmers’ interests in trade negotiations with the United States would also be key issues during the mass contact programme.
“The need for targeted programmes to ensure the welfare of the Scheduled Caste community, expanding employment opportunities for the youth, and exposing corruption, the failure to maintain law and order, and the alleged patronage extended to the drug mafia by the Aam Aadmi Party government will also be forcefully raised,” he said.
Dr Cheema further stated that the party would engage in detailed discussions on Panthic issues, particularly alleged attempts to weaken Sikh religious institutions. “We will expose those who are party to this conspiracy and appeal to the entire Panth to support the SAD, which has always stood as a bulwark for Sikh pride and prestige,” he added.
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