The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today welcomed the PPCC Vice-President and former MLA Surinderpal Singh Sibia who today came into the SAD fold along with many of his supporters. On the occasion, S. Badal declared Surinderpal Singh Sibia as the SAD-BJP candidate from Barnala for the upcoming assembly elections.Equating Congress with the sinking ship while interacting with the media-persons, S. Badal said that Mr. Sibia joining SAD clearly signifies that the honest and dedicated leaders have no place in Congress party which is engaged neck deep in sycophancy and where factionalism rules the roost and selling of tickets is the order of the day. The Deputy Chief Minister further said that Congress bastions in Sangrur and Barnala apart from Sunam, Bhadaur and Mehal Kalan are sure to crumble and fall.Calling Congress a divided house, the Deputy Chief Minister said that internal fighting has reached such a level in the party that everybody aspires to be the Chief Minister and nobody wants to see PPCC President Captain Amarinder Singh as the Chief Minister and lobbying and plotting is on the rise.
The Deputy Chief Minister also took a dig at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and said that the congress scion is like a self destructive gun who is out to damage the prospects of his party with his actions and utterances. S. Badal further added that it surely seems that the so called strategist roped in by the Congress, Prashant Kishore (P.K.) is the ultimate authority about deciding the ticket distribution as reports emerge of his differences with state congress leadership on the issue.Calling Mr. Sibia, a leader of the masses the Deputy Chief Minister expressed strong hope that the SAD would emerge even more stronger with his entry.On the occasion, Mr. Sibia while thanking the Deputy Chief Minister said that he reposes full faith in the policies and programmes of the SAD and would fulfill every duty assigned to him by the party with full devotion. He along with his supporters including Paramjit Singh Mann General Secretary PPCC & former District President, Nirantak Singh Balian Block Congress President Sangrur Rural, Sandeep Bansal Secretary PPCC, Jagmel Singh Jaggi General Secretary district Congress Committee Sangrur, Rachpal Singh TIppu Block Congress vice President Sangrur, Rajinderpal Singh Bhallu trade union leader and many more were honoured with the siropas and welcomed into the SAD by the Deputy Chief Minister.Among others present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha Member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Adviser to the Deputy Chief Minister-Manjinder Singh Sirsa, OSD to the Deputy Chief Minister-Charanjit Singh Brar and Media Adviser to the Deputy Chief Minister- Jangveer Singh.