Taking a dig over ‘darbars’ being organized by the Congress leadership across the state in view of coming assembly polls, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked these leaders that why did they shy away from meeting the people during their own government. Addressing the gathering during Sangat Darshan in Nakodar assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders were most inaccessible when they were in power adding that these leaders were hardly available to people when they were given the mandate to serve them. However, he said that now when elections for the state assembly were a few months away these leaders were indulging in political tantrums to woo the voters. Mr. Badal said that the wise people of state were aware of intentions of every political leader in the state and they would not fell prey to such tactics. Terming the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance as the only sympathizer of Punjab and its people, the Chief Minister said that the alliance has always safeguarded the interests of state. He said that Punjab was the only state where Chief Minister visits every village to redress grievances of people even during scorching heat or spine chilling cold. Mr. Badal said that Sangat Darshan was a flagship program of alliance government because the alliance was fully committed for the welfare of people of state.
On the contrary, the Chief Minister said that whenever people had given verdict to Congress party its leaders have ignored the interests of state. Mr. Badal said that the Chief Ministers of Congress had remained mere puppets in hands of their high command adding that instead of safeguarding the interests of state these leaders had remained mum just to appease their party leaders. Citing the examples, he said that Congress Chief Ministers obediently obeyed their high command even when water of state was illegally given to Rajasthan and Haryana. "Even state Congress leaders overwhelmingly welcomed the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi when she performed ground breaking ceremony of SYL canal to deprive state of its legitimate share of water" added Mr Badal. The Chief Minister reiterated that both Congress and AAP were hobnobbing to snatch legitimate share of Punjab's water. He said that while Congress had signed various water agreements to deprive state of its waters, the AAP was now trying its level best to ensure that these agreements were implemented at the earliest. Mr Badal said that it was a know fact that both these parties were hell bent upon ruining the state.
Later on Interacting with the media persons after inaugurating the work of strengthening and widening of Jalandhar - Nakodar bye pass, the Chief Minister refuted the allegations regarding any sort of misappropriation in the Cash Credit Limit of the state. He said that all the accounts regarding it were crystal clear as state government merely purchased the food grains for the Union government. Mr. Badal said that all there was no irregularities in this entire operation. The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government of India must put in place a permanent mechanism for reimbursing the entire expenditure meted out by state in procuring the food grains for the country. He said that there was a vast difference between the expenses incurred by the state and price given by the central agencies. Mr. Badal said that he had met the Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister yesterday in national capital and urged them to find a permanent solution for this matter so that states do not face any sort of problem. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister held Sangat Darshan in Ghandran, Heiran, Sunner Kalan, Pharwala and other villages of Nakodar assembly segment. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Gurpratap Singh Wadala, his Joint Special Principal Secretary Mr. Kumar Amit, Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Rajinder Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Harmohan Singh.