Aam Aadmi Party leader and Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh strongly condemned the statement of Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal, in which he said that only a Chief Minister who uses the 'danda' can solve the people’s problems. Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana, Sondh said, “Our Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann uses the 'danda' against drug traffickers, land mafia, and gangsters, while Sukhbir Badal used it against common people."
Moreover, the current Chief Minister of Punjab takes action against anyone who attempts to disturb the law and order of Punjab, said Sondh.He added, “The Akali Dal has been reduced to just three seats, and even those seats are slipping away from them because the Akali Dal used the 'danda' against Sikh sangat seeking justice, against teachers, and against unemployed youth.”
Sondh questioned, “What was the fault of those people in Behbal Kalan who were shot during your regime? Was it not under your government that the sacrilege of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji happened? You admitted your mistakes at Shri Akal Takht Sahib.”
He continued, Sukhbir Badal spared nothing, he toyed with the faith of millions. People thought he had changed after apologizing, but he didn’t. To further his political gains, he removed capable Jathedar in the middle of the night at 2:00 a.m. and replaced them with their loyal ones.
Does Badal think Punjab’s people do not understand all this. Sondh said, “Such statements do not suit Sukhbir Badal. Unarmed Sikh Protesters were shot during your rule. Thousands of teachers and employees were beaten with batons.
Any businessperson running a roadside eatery or factory was under your watch. Even those who bought land were not spared.” He alleged that Sukhbir Badal stole Indo-Canadian bus from an NRI. He established a transport mafia, tickets worth ₹500–₹700 were sold for ₹5,000.
He demanded shares in factories. Even the owner of 'Haveli' was pressured to give him a share or face a flyover being built over his business. Sondh criticized, “No government has tormented people and hurt their sentiments as much as yours. You even tarnished your father’s legacy.
The title of ‘Fakhr-e-Qaum’ given to your father was also withdrawn because of you.” He concluded, “If you want the Akali Dal to recover, then immediately leave the party. Only then can the Akali Dal find its footing. As long as you are in charge, the Akali Dal cannot stand.”
Sondh asserted that people are very happy with the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. “The AAP government is waging a war against drugs and is undertaking unprecedented work for Punjab’s development.”
AAP’s Working President Amansher Singh Shery Kalsi, General Secretary Sunny Ahluwalia, Harchand Singh Barast, and AAP leader Neel Garg were also present at the press conference with Sondh.