Terming that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in Delhi by misleading the electorate, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that AAP government has not fulfilled any of its promise and has failed to deliver anything to the people. Addressing the gatherings in village Jonsh Muhaal, Othian, Kot Sidhu and Cheena Karam Singh during Sangat Darshan program of Rajasansi assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that it was a fact that AAP was a mirage, which attained power in Delhi by showing green pastures to people. However, he said that AAP has been badly exposed before the people as it has failed to fulfill any promise made to them. Mr. Badal said that AAP was now squabbling to grab power in Punjab but the wise people of Punjab would not fell prey to its tactics. “Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is only party committed for overall development of Punjab and prosperity of its people whereas the opposition is interested only in plundering the state” he added.
The Chief Minister said that it was on record that AAP was just a ‘bunch of opportunists and defectors’ who have left one party or another to acquire power adding that when doors of all the parties were closed for them they had now joined AAP. He said that the sole aim of these people was just to vest political power in the state. “These defectors, who have been rejected by people time and again, have been frequently changing sides to suit their interests and they are least bothered about the state or its people”, added Mr. Badal. Recalling the glorious legacy of Shiromani Akali Dal, the Chief Minister reminded the people that the party had relentlessly worked for safeguarding the interests of the state. He said that each and every worker of SAD was committed for the cause of state due to which they had even suffered many hardships. Mr. Badal categorically said that in contrast to other political parties, who have harmed the interests of the state for their own motives, the SAD has diligently worked for the welfare of the state and its people. Exhorting the people to make a right choice while giving their mandate, the Chief Minister said that their verdict could make or mar the future of the state. He said that people must verify the antecedents of every political party before giving their vote. “Every single vote of yours matter for development and prosperity of the state so I urge you to exercise you franchise with utmost care, so that only those who care for you are elected”, he added.
Highlighting the significance of Sangat Darshan, the Chief Minister said that it was a flagship program of the state, whose sole motive was to give boost to development in the state by virtually bringing the government at the doorsteps of people. He said that there was no political agenda of this program as it was totally aimed at the welfare of the people. Mr. Badal said that Sangat Darshan has proved to be a boon for people by solving their long pending problems.Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that the alliance government has decided to double the pensions given to people under the social security schemes besides hiking the honorarium of the Nambardars. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that in a pro-poor initiative to provide far better health care services to economically weaker sections of the society to further improve their quality of life, the state government has decided to enhance the existing limit of free treatment in government and private hospitals to nearly 28.50 lakh blue card holders from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 annually under ‘Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna’.
The Chief Minister further said that apart from this in case of accidental death or incapacitation of a head of registered family under this scheme, the affected family would get compensation of Rs.5 lakh. Mr. Badal said that all the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs.50,000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family. He said that a novel scheme ‘Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme’ for providing free pilgrimage to sacred cities of Sri Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi) and Ajmer Sharif has been started under which state government would organize free trains to these cities for the people from Punjab and also provide other logistic facilities to pilgrims. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chairman of District Planning Committee Mr. Veer Singh Lopoke, Youth Akali leader Mr. Ranbhir Singh Lopoke, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ravi Bhagat and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Jasdeep Singh.