Slamming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal for misleading the Punjabis by building 'castles in air', the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today dared his Delhi counterpart to clear his stand on Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue. Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Fatehgarh Churian assembly segment, the Chief Minister said that Mr. Kejriwal accompanied by some political fugitives and entertainers from state was misleading the people with his political gimmicks whereas on issue of SYL his government has submitted affidavit against the interests of state. He said that it was a stark reality that Delhi government headed by Mr. Kejriwal has adopted a hostile posture against the state on the emotive issue of SYL canal, which could not be tolerated at any cost. Mr. Badal said that the Delhi Chief Minister owes an explanation to people of state to clarify his party’s stand on SYL. "Kejriwal aspires to form government in state despite of robbing our share of water” he added.
The Chief Minister said that water was the lifeline of state and SAD-BJP alliance government was duty-bound to protect every single drop of water in the state. He said they were ready to make every sacrifice for protecting the waters of the state at every cost. "I pledge that our government will not allow the anti Punjab forces to deprive us of our legitimate share in river waters" he added.The Chief Minister said that AAP and Congress were two faces of same coin and both of them don’t have any sympathy with Punjab or Punjabis. He said that both the parties just want to plunder the wealth of state for their vested political interests. Mr. Badal reiterated that only Shiromani Akali Dal was true sympathizer of Punjab adding that they were duty-bound to safeguard the interests of the state at any cost.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the alliance government has fulfilled the aspirations of every strata of society and no stone has been left unturned to ensure its all round development. Moreover, he said that the biggest achievement of alliance government was to strengthen the ethos of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state.Asked to comment on sacrilege incident in Malerkotla, the Chief Minister said that some forces envy of the state were repeatedly making attempts to disturb the hard earned peace and amity in the state. However, he said that the state government was committed to crush the ugly head of such forces. “An enquiry has already been in progress to probe into the matter” added Mr. Badal.Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said during the past over nine years of SAD-BJP the state was on pinnacle of its glory as it has witnessed unprecedented development in every sphere. He said that the unparalleled progress in state has surpassed that in even many advanced nations in the world. Mr. Badal said that due to concerted efforts of the state government Punjab was today the only power surplus state in the country adding that Punjab was today having robust Road infrastructure besides being a front ranking state in education and health care sector.Earlier addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan at Batala and Ball village, 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 sharing 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 known fact that both these parties were hell bent upon ruining the state.
Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that due to concerted efforts of alliance government, Punjab was the today only power surplus state in the country. He further said that under various pro-poor and pro-people social security schemes the alliance government has decided to double the pensions given to people. Mr. Badal said that the state government has started first of its kind scheme to provide interest free crop loans worth Rs 50,000 to the farmers. He further said that in another historic decision it has been decided 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.The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Cabinet Minister Mr. Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Chairman Punjab State Tube Well Corporation Mr. Ravi Inder Singh Kahlon, his Joint Special Principal Secretary Mr. Kumar Amit, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Pardeep Sabharwal and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Diljinder Singh Dhillon.