The Punjab Congress has expressed utter disdain at the launch of the Punjab Harike Water Cruise by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, accusing the SAD leader of making a mockery of the people of the state at a time when they were deprived of even basic essentials needed for their survival.Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders Harminder Gill, Dr. Dharamveer Agnihotri and Sukhpal Singh Bhullar ridiculed the move as reflective of the shameful apathy of the Badals towards the plight of the people and Sukhbir’s total disconnect with the ground realities of the state.The people of Punjab, reeling as they are under the multiple burdens of demonetisation, economic crisis, industrial and agricultural downfall, mafias etc, do not need resorts and cruises, said the PPCC leaders, referring to the recent inauguration of Sukhvilas Resorts, in which Sukhbir and his wife have majority stake.Only self-centred and greedy people like the Badals can even think of initiating such idiotic and useless schemes at this juncture, when the people of the state are struggling to make both ends meet, said the PPCC leaders.
And the Badals have even gone all out to rub salt in the wounds of the people by terming the amphibian bus service at Harike as a water cruise, the Punjab Congress leaders pointed out, asking, “Does Sukhbir seriously believe the people of the state have money to spend on resorts and cruises?” The PPCC leaders pointed out that even the social media had scorned the Sukhbir’s much-touted cruise, accusing the deputy chief minister of trying to prove a point with its launch, since he had announced the launch two years ago and wanted to show that it was feasible.The launch of both these projects just weeks ahead of the Assembly polls shows that the move had been motivated by personal interests of the Badals, who were not willing to miss out on even a single opportunity to loot and plunder the state for their personal gains in the last leg of their misrule.It is evident that the Badals have absolutely no connect with the people, whom the they have left to the mercy of mafias and goons operating across the state under the patronage of the Akali leaders.