Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today putting all speculations to rest regarding seat swapping with its ally Bhartiya Janata Party and categorically said that SAD would extend strong support to anyone fielded by BJP for Amritsar in Lok Sabha polls.Talking to media persons after inaugurating newly constructed bridge at Kitchlu Nagar Chowk at the cost of Rs. 20 crore, Mr. Badal, accompanied by Punjab Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, said as per the existing terms of alliance between both parties Amristar Lok Sabha seat was with BJP and no discussion has taken place till date for seat swapping. He said SAD was firm to support any candidate of their alliance partner in ensuing general elections.Answering a query regarding Open Darbars being presided over by Aam Aadmi Party chief Mr. Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi, Mr. Badal reminded that it was the brainchild of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, who has been successfully organizing Sangat Darshan programs in Punjab for the last two decades. The Deputy CM said subsidized power and other welfare schemes new being followed by AAP were the pet projects of Punjab CM whether it was free power to peasantry and poverty stricken families etc. He said Sangat Darshan program of Mr. Badal was also an adequate mechanism to resolve the public grievances on the spot, which was recently introduced by AAP in national capital.
Talking about development projects of holy city Amritsar, Mr. Badal reiterated his commitment to develop Amritsar, a most beautiful and developed tourism center of Punjab. Responding to a query regarding POD systems, Mr. Badal said due to some technical problems the physical work in this regard could not take a start but the authorities concerned were working round the clock to passable solution in this regard.Giving details of City Bus Service to be launched in Amritsar, the Deputy CM said that the service was on anvil and it would be operational within few days for the facilitations of thousands of daily commuters. He also informed that the work of construction of new roads, upgradation and widening of roads inside the city would be completed in coming months besides upgrading the transmission and distribution of power system. He added that five new power stations were being installed to improve the distribution system at the cost of Rs. 137 crore. He also laid the foundation stone of 66 KV sub station at Sultanwind.Earlier Mr. Badal along with her wife and Member Parliament from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal paid obeisance at Golden Temple. Mrs. Badal gave a call to all Punjabis residing within the country and abroad to celebrate the Lohri of girls too for the betterment of the society.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Member Parliament, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, Punjab, Mr. Anil Joshi, Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and SAD-BJP leadership.