Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today challenged Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal and chief minister Bhagwant Mann to register as many cases as they wanted against him adding a fresh effort had been initiated to implicate him in a false case at the hands of former Sri Akal Takht jathedar – Raghbir Singh.
Talking to the media here, the SAD president said “neither am I afraid of cases being registered against me or afraid to go to jail. The very fact that former Akal Takht Jathedar – Raghbir Singh is trying to implicate me in the Bargari sacrilege case indicates he is working like an active member of the Aam Aadmi Party”. He also asserted that such actions by the former Jathedar were against the ‘maryada’ of the Takht.
Mr Sukhbir Badal also took note of the abnormal increase in the water level of the Bhakra dam which had risen up to 1,578 feet, more than 21 feet higher than the level last year. He said it was condemnable that chief minister Bhagwant Mann had not taken note of the situation and had not coordinated for timely release of the water from the dam before the advent of the monsoon with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities.
Mr Badal said the AAP government’s failure to act and ensure timely release of water from the Bhakra dam last year had led to destruction of paddy crop across lakhs of acres in Punjab affecting the very livelihood of farmers. He said this year also a similar situation was developing and an above average monsoon could force the Bhakra dam authorities to release water suddenly which would flood various parts of the State.
“Since a large number of drains in the Malwa region have dried up the AAP government should take up the issue of timely release of water from the Bhakra dam. If this is not done chief minister Bhagwant Mann will be solely responsible for any untoward incident”, he added.
The SAD president also condemned the chief minister for doing fake publicity about the end of water cess in the State. He said this cess had been done away with by former chief minister S Parkash Singh Badal. He also condemned the inhuman and barbaric ‘lathi’ charge on apprentice linemen in Patiala, saying Punjabis would never tolerate such dictatorial actions and would teach AAP a befitting lesson in the 2027 assembly elections.
Mr Badal also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister of the country. He said the historic landmark was a testament to the years of dedicated public service put in by the Prime Minister.