Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections the choice before Punjabis was between those who had always lived and worked amidst them versus outsiders who only came to Punjab to loot and exploit.
The SAD president, who toured Sardulgarh and Talwandi Sabo constituencies as part of the Punjab Bachao Yatra along with senior leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundur and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, said: “It is a choice between apne and prayee”. He said the SAD was “apne ghar di party” even as he accused the Delhi-based parties of always indulging in conspiracies to create a wedge of misunderstandings between the Punjabis and their own social, religious and political “fauj”- the SAD. “This conspiracy, which was underway since the last two years now, stands fully exposed and Punjabis were ready to shun the ‘jhadoo’, ‘khooni panja’ and ‘kamal da phul’ and repose their faith in the ‘takdi’”.
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “once Punjabis decide to repose faith in the SAD all efforts to pit Punjabis against Punjabis by Delhi-based parties would fail”.
Asserting that the SAD was committed to maintaining the Panthic as well as regional character of the party, Badal said “We have a glorious heritage of safeguarding the Panth as well as the aspirations of Punjabis. Unlike Delhi-based parties, who can sacrifice anything for political motives, the SAD can never compromise on its core values and principles. This is why we did not get into any power game and chose to stand with Punjabis”.
Appealing to Punjabis to strengthen their regional party, Badal said “Delhi-based parties have ruined Punjab in the last seven years. Not only has the State been bankrupted but all development activity has come to a halt. I challenge both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to tell one major infrastructure project they have established in Punjab in the last seven years during their tenure in government. In contrast, the SAD is responsible for ensuring free power to farmers, unique social welfare schemes like aata-daal and shagun scheme to the underprivileged and old age pension. It is also responsible for all major infrastructure projects in the State be it the Bathinda refinery, thermal plants, AIIMS institute, Central University, four lane highways and airports".
