Citing a whopping amount of rupees being spent by the SAD-BJP alliance government for unprecedented development works and number of public welfare schemes in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the opposition to refrain from spreading canards regarding the poor fiscal condition of the state.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program of Khadoor Sahib assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that before issuing baseless statements regarding debt on the state, the opposition parties must verify the facts about massive development going on in every nook and corner of the state. He said that an era of unparalleled development has been heralded in the state during the alliance government and a complete facelift of villages and cities of Punjab was on cards, which could never have turned into reality in case of any paucity of funds. “So just get yourself acquainted with the ground realities rather than making vague statements for opposing the government for the sake of opposition” Mr. Badal advised the opposition leaders.
Coming down heavily on state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh for issuing statements regarding routing of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from political scene of the state, the Chief Minister termed it as a mere ‘figment of imagination’ of the Congress leader. He said that before making such tall claims the state Congress President must recall that how the people of state have rejected him and his party time and again. Mr. Badal also said that Captain was issuing baseless statements on series of sacrilege incidents in the state, just to hog limelight.Asked to comment on the motive of holding Sadbhawna Rallies in the state, the Chief Minister said that its sole aim was to emerge Punjab as a ‘peaceful and prosperous’ state. He said that these rallies were being organized to promote the ethos of peace and amity besides cementing the age old bond of communal harmony and brotherhood in the state. “These rallies are aimed at giving a stern message to the divisive forces that no one will be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace of the state” added Mr. Badal.Earlier addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan in village Daaleke, Bugga, Chutaala and Sanghe, the Chief Minister exhorted the people to spare their single day for attending the Sadbhawna Rallies, so as to spread message of peace and tranquility across the state. Mr. Badal said that another Sadbhwana Rally of Majha region would be held at Sri Goindwal Sahib on December 14 after tomorrow’s rally at Gurdaspur and that in Jalandhar on December 4. He said that the massive response to Sadbhawana rallies at Bathinda and Moga have proved that people of Punjab want peace and progress in the state and there was no space for divisive agenda in the state. “People of the state in general and that of Majha region in particular had suffered a lot during black days of militancy, so we need to unite for thwarting the attempts of some forces to bring those turbulent times back in the state” he added.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Sangat Darshan 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 no other state government in the country undertakes such a comprehensive exercise for welfare of the public.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP Jathedar Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Chairman District Planning Committee Mr. Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap and Deputy Commissioner Mr. BS Dhaliwal.