Punjabis want to teach lesson to ahankari raja - Sukhbir Singh Badal
Say lukewarm response to Amarinder rallies in Doaba prove Dalits are boycotting him
5 Dariya News
Chandigarh , 26 Jan 2017
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the lukewarm response being received by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh at the onset of his campaign in Doaba today was reflective of the mood of Punjabis who wanted to teach a lesson to the "ahankari raja". Asserting that Amarinder was getting his just desserts, the SAD president said "Amarinder Singh did not come to meet the people of Doaba for the last five years. Now the people of Doaba are not coming out to meet him ".Stating that this was the difference between leaders who always stayed between the people and seasonal visitors like Amarinder, the SAD president said "see our rallies. They were packed to the brim even today despite heavy rain and inclement weather". He said in stark contrast Amarinder had to cut a sorry figure at Shahkot, Nakodar and Kartarpur today. He said Amarinder had tried to make scapegoats of the local organisers. "Instead of doing this you should introspect on your own actions. Why should people come to meet you when you have kept them at arms length always. You need to tell Punjabis where you were for the last five years - in Himachal Pradesh, Lahore or Dubai?
You certainly were not here in Punjab". Mr Badal said he had also visited Kartarpur two days back. "I addressed a mammoth gathering in favour of Seth Sat Pal. In direct contrast there were empty chairs when Amarinder reached there to address a rally today. Even those present got up after some time as they said they had been hired for two hours only". The SAD president said it seemed like the Dalit community had decided to boycott Amarinder. He said Dalits realised that Amarinder had stopped all welfare schemes when he became CM in 2002. He said in direct contrast Sardar Parkash Singh Badal had initiated the old age and shagun schemes in 1996 and the aata daal scheme in 2007. "Even now we are committed to increasing the ambit of our welfare schemes and have decided to give five kg sugar @Rs 10 per kg and two kg Ghee @ Rs 25 per kg to all blue card holders".Mr Badal said Dalits were boycotting Amarinder and reposing faith in the SAD- BJP alliance because they knew the alliance always delivered on its promises. He said in direct contrast Amarinder far from delivering on his promises was known to take back all welfare schemes when in power.