The Shiromani Akali Dal today expressed its "shock and disbelief" over the statement of AAP leader Bhagwant Mann which said that the government's help and facilities to the poor and Dalits was reducing them to the status of begggars.This statement, coming on the heels of Arvind Kejriwal's opposition to the reservation for dalits, SC, STs and backward classes shows that AAP is stricken by high caste cancer, said SAD."This man is drunk on high caste arrogance and desperately needs to be sent to to some rehabilitation center for cure of casteist intoxication. . He doesn't realise that it is the duty of every government to stand by every needy and poor person, especially those who are historically disadvantaged. The government is a trustee of people's money for the people. People don't become beggars by receiving help and facilities out of their own money.
We are shocked at the mind set of the AAP high ups.," said the SAD General Secretary and spokesperson Harcharan Singh Bains in a statement here.Bains declared that all pro-poor policies of the government would not only continue but would even be enhanced as per requirement despite AAP's opposition to it. " We will help the poorest of the poor with whatever help they need and we can offer. We are not going to be deterred by someone intoxicated with high caste attitude of looking down upon those who need and deserve help," said.The SAD spokesperson said that the party found it hard to believe the statement of AAP leader Bhagwant Mann in which he had said that by pursuing policies of access to free facilities for the poor, the SAD-BJP government was treating Punjabis as beggars. He said that this was indication of the mindeset of the AAP leadership.