Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today thanked the people for their overwhelming support to the SAD-BJP alliance in the run up to the elections and urged them to repose trust in S Parkash Singh Badal for speedy development as well as peace and communal harmony in Punjab.The SAD President in a statement here on the eve of polling in Punjab, said "I would also like to thank the Akali workers for standing like a rock behind the party. I have travelled to every nook and corner in Punjab. I have never before seen so much enthusiasm among the Akali rank and file. Your commitment towards the party and Punjab will hold the party and the alliance in good stead tomorrow".Stating that the SAD- BJP alliance stood for Punjab and Punjab only, Mr Badal cautioned the people that some outsiders were trying to destroy the hard won peace in the State as well as create communal tension. "Don't let them succeed in their endeavours", he said adding people needed to be specially aware of the activities of AAP and its Convenor Arvind Kejriwal who had aligned with radical elements. I appeal to you to reject both AAP as well as the Congress party whom you can never forgive for sending tanks and artillery into the Harmandar Sahab and being involved in the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi in 1984".
Stating that the promises made to the people by Sardar Badal were edicts written in stone, the SAD president said "we have fulfilled each and every promise made to the people earlier be it giving free power to farmers or starting innovative welfare schemes like 'shagun' and 'aata -daal'. We will fulfil all the promises made in our manifesto be it waiving farm loans, giving Rs 100 bonus on wheat and paddy, providing pucca houses to everyone and giving sugar and ghee at subsidised rates to the under privileged".Stating that a vote for the SAD- BJP alliance was a vote for development, the SAD president said "we alone have told you what we have done be it making the State power surplus to creating world class roads to building airports. We have also come out with a road map of what we will do in the next five years including providing clean drinking water, sewerage and solar lights in all 12,000 villages in the State. Our opponents have nothing to show. The Congress party under Mr Amarinder Singh's tenure as chief minister withdrew the free power facility extended to farmers by Badal Sahab, stopped welfare schemes and banned government recruitment. Mr Arvind Kejriwal has already shown his colours by betraying farmers on the issue of SYL, disrespecting Sikh religion and institutions and aligning with radicals to spoil communal harmony in Punjab".Mr Badal said in such a situation the choice was clear - "only Badal Sahab can give capable leadership to Punjab in conjunction with the centre in which the SAD is a partner. Voting for AAP will result in getting into a conflict with the centre and result in uncertainty of procurement of food grains. Voting for Congress will mean wasting your vote as the party has become irrelevant as a political force", he added.