The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to sack all incompetent ministers including finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, saying if this was not done the financial and health situation of the State would worsen further.In a statement here, SAD Spokesman N K Sharma said it seemed the chief minister had finally realised after three and a half years that his finance minister was most incompetent. He said there was no other reason for the CM to appoint a panel of experts to decide on fiscal policies of the State as well as ways and means to revive the State's economy. "This apparently is the responsibility of the Finance minister but it seems Capt Amarinder Singh has realised that Manpreet Badal is not equal to this task and that it why he has now given this responsibility to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia. There cannot be a bigger indictment of any Finance minister. Mr Manpreet Badal should quit gracefully and allow some other capable person to steer's the State's economy in this troubled time", Mr Sharma added.
The former chief parliamentary secretary also said Health minister Balbir Sidhu should be sacked immediately. He said Punjab had the worst record in the country in tackling COVID under Balbir Sidhu's leadership. He said the State was recording the highest mortality rate of six per cent in direct contrast to its neighbour Haryana which had a mortality rate of only one per cent. "Instead of managing COVID, its seems the Health minister is only interested in restarting sale of liquor in the State. Mohali has emerged as the hub for the illegal sale of liquor in the State. It seems Balbir Sidhu is more interested in home delivery of liquor than tacking the COVID crisis", he added.Mr N K Sharma said Balbir Sidhu should be ashamed that he did nothing for fifteen days despite knowing that efforts were on to bring pilgrims back from Sri Hazur Sahib besides students from Kota in Rajasthan. He said orders were issued to quarantine and test pilgrims and students on April 27, two days after they had reached the State and even been sent to their homes. "It is these persons who are testing COVID positive now", he said adding Balbir Sidhu should be held responsible for this criminal negligence and be sacked immediately".