Exhorting the people to be prepared for making supreme sacrifices for safeguarding the waters of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were jointly hatching a conspiracy to turn the state into 'desert' by snatching our river waters. Addressing the gatherings during Sangat Darshan program in various wards of Sri Muktsar Sahib assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that these parties were inimical to the development of the state and prosperity of its people due to which they were now constantly weaving plans to deprive the Punjabis of their river waters. Cautioning the people to not fell prey to malicious propaganda of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, he said that both these parties were hell bent upon ruining the state. Soliciting the support of people for saving the water of state for coming generations, Mr. Badal said, “all of us will have to struggle relentlessly to ensure that not even a single drop of water is taken away from us”.
Coming down heavily on the Congress party, the Chief Minister said that this party had signed various agreements to deprive the state of its river water. He said that states like Haryana, Rajasthan and others were illegally given water from the state's share by the Congress despite of the fact that they had no right on it. Mr. Badal reminded the people that state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh had enthusiastically welcomed the then Prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi to perform ground breaking ceremony of Satluj Yamuna Link canal, which aims at giving Punjab's water to Haryana. "No Punjabi can ever forgive Congress for depriving state of its Capital, Punjabi speaking areas and tormenting our psyche by attacking the highly revered Sri Harmandir Sahib" added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister further said that even Mr. Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party was suffering from same anti-Punjab syndrome as Congress. Terming the fresh affidavit by Delhi government in Supreme Court on SYL issue as a political stunt, he said that Kejriwal 's anti - Punjab mindset has already been exposed in its earlier affidavit which had termed Punjab' s stand on issue as unconstitutional and anti - national. Mr. Badal said that Kejriwal government had submitted in the court that this stance of Punjab could disintegrate the nation adding that Delhi government had also warned Punjabis of dire consequences for taking this stand.
The Chief Minister said that as Mr. Arvind Kejriwal hailed from Haryana so he was naturally inclined towards safeguarding the interests of his parent state and nothing good for Punjab could be expected from him. He said that Mr. Kejriwal has no affection with Punjab or its people and his sole intention was to vest political power in the state. Mr. Badal said that the love of Delhi Chief Minister was confined only upto attaining political power whereas in reality he was pursuing the agenda of securing the interests of his native state on SYL issue.
The Chief Minister said that the anti - Punjab face of both these parties have been exposed time and again adding that people of state must remember that only Shiromani Akali Dal was a true sympathizer of the state. He said that both these parties want to plunder the wealth of the state but as a true custodian of state we would never allow this. Later on Interacting with the media persons at the residence of senior Akali leader Mr. Meharban Singh, the Chief Minister said that all the commissions, eye witnesses and even the media reports pertaining to 1984 Sikh Carnage had indicted the Congress party for planning a conspiracy to butcher the innocent Sikhs. He said that Congress leaders could not escape of their moral responsibility of being associated with the party whose hands were soaked with blood of thousands of innocent Sikhs. “Every Congress leader is responsible for being associated with the party responsible for such heinous crime”, added Mr. Badal.
Referring to another query regarding wrong portrayal of iconic martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh in some books, the Chief Minister termed it as most unfortunate and miserable. He said that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was the most revered freedom fighter in the country as he sacrificed his life at the altar of national freedom struggle at a young age, which was unprecedented in recent world history. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the procurement in the state was going on in a smooth and hassle free manner. He said that state government has made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth, hassle free and prompt procurement of wheat crop in mandis adding that concerned officers have been directed to issue payment to the farmers at earliest adding that the entire process was going on in a smooth manner. Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP alliance government was committed for ensuring the well being of the farming community and every step was being taken to safeguard their interests.
Meanwhile, giving a major boost to development of Sri Muktsar Sahib assembly segment, the Chief Minister announced nearly Rs 25 crore for up gradation and revamp of Power Infra Structure, Rs 38.42 crore for project of Water Supply and Rs10.46 crore for sewerage system of the city. The Chief Minister was accompanied by President of Youth Akali Dal Mr. Kanwarjeet Singh Rozy Barkandi, Chairman Punjab Agro Jathedar Dyal Singh Kolianwali, Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, senior Akali leaders Mr. Mitt Singh Brar and Mr. Manjeet Singh Barkandi, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumit Jaranghal.