Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today described the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a party of defectors which was bereft of any ideology for public welfare.Addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan program at village Sathiali, Gunnopur and Bhaini Mian Khan here today, the Chief Minister said that the turncoat leaders who had been rejected by the people time and again were joining AAP, which was a clear indication that party was not having any concrete ideology or program for welfare of state and its people. He said that contrary to that the Shiromani Akali Dal has a glorious history of relentlessly struggle for the cause of Punjab and its people.Quipping at AAP Chief and Delhi Chief Minister, Mr. Badal said that he has ran away from the promises made to people. Citing an example, the Chief Minister reminded the people that his Delhi counterpart had announced to hold Janta Darbar for resolving the issues of public.
However, he said that instead of keeping his words the Delhi Chief Minister abandon his well publicized program.The Chief Minister said that it was on record that Punjab was the only state where government comes at doorstep of people through Sangat Darshan. He said that this pro - people initiative extensively aimed at welfare of people was a flagship program of SAD-BJP alliance government. Mr. Badal said that no other Chief Minister of any other state undertakes such exercise to redress the grievances of people in such an elaborate manner.Coming down heavily on former President of state Congress Mr. Pratap Singh Bajwa for issuing baseless statements against state government, the Chief Minister said that it would be better that Mr. Bajwa should focus more on his party affairs. He said that rather than wasting his energy on posing question to state government Mr. Bajwa should seek answers from his party Chief Captain Amarinder Singh.
Slamming the state Congress leadership for opposing his Sangat Darshan programs ‘tooth and nail’, the Chief Minister said that the state Congress leaders were envious of the state’s overall development and prosperity of its people. Mr. Badal said that it was on record that besides giving a major fillip to the overall development of the state, the Sangat Darshan programs has also been instrumental in mitigating the woes of common people. He further said that the concept of Sangat Darshan was an integral part of state’s governance as it virtually brought the government at the doorsteps of people thereby bridging the communication gap between the masses and the administration, which normally hindered the process of progress. The Chief Minister said that besides acting as a catalyst for redressing the grievances of people, the Sangat Darshan programs were also helpful for the state government to adjudge the working of officers of the various departments. He said that nobody including the Congress leaders could deter him for holding Sangat Darshans to ensure the well being of people. “The Sangat Darshan helps us to evaluate the performance of the officers which further facilitates us to provide effective, accountable and transparent governance to the people” he added.
Meanwhile, in a major reprieve for the people of the region, the Chief Minister announced to start a major drive for cleaning of the drains in the chambh area.Interacting with a delegation of cane growers from the region at village Gunnopur, the Chief Minister assured them that the state government was firmly committed to bail out the farming community from any sort of problem. He said that Rs 540 Crore arrears has been already paid to sugarcane growers by Government besides arranging Rs 200 Crore loan to Private Sugar Mills for sugarcane arrears. Likewise, he said that Punjab Government has also decided to give Rs 295 per quintal for sugar cane against Rs 220 fixed by the Centre.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included former Cabinet Minister and Chairman Punjab State Technical Education and Industrial Training Board Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Youth Akali leader Mr. Jagroop Singh Sekhwan, his Special Principal Secretary Dr. S Karunaraju and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Abhinav Trikha.