The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal to practice what he preaches and tell Punjabis under what emergency he had used the State helicopter on Baisakhi.In a statement here, senior SAD leader and mp Balwinder Singh Bhundur said a statement from Manpreet on this issue would be in the fitness of things. “Manpreet who authored the Congress election manifesto had stated that the chief minister and ministers would be barred from using the State helicopter except for emergency situations. “What could the emergency be in attending the Congress Baisakhi conference at Talwandi Sabo? Everyone knew the chief minister would not be able to attend the conference due to a foot injury. Why didn’t Manpreet plan accordingly and station himself closer to Talwandi?” the veteran leader asked.
Stating that preaching something and making tall claims and implementing the same were a completely difference thing, Mr Bhundur said Manpreet was in the habit of making grandiose claims. “He has promised to bring in development in Bathinda but has not even made a whimper of a protest against shutting down of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Technical University in Bathinda. Is Manpreet only concerned about issues like removal of red lights? Doesn’t his heart bleed for the thousands of youth who would have a better career in case the Bathinda technical university is retained in Bathinda?”, he asked.Bhundur also asked Manpreet Badal to spell out what he would do for Bathinda as well as the Malwa region as finance minister. “People rightfully have a lot of expectations from you as their representative in government. They expect you to deliver and not preach ideals which you have never followed yourself in real life”, he added.