Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today urged the party rank and file to take up flood protection measures in all flood prone areas under the “Apna Punjab Aapan Bachaiye” drive of the party under which he visited both these constituencies to inspect vulnerable sites.
Addressing party workers at Ajnala, the SAD president said it was a matter of great concern that the Aam Aadmi Party government had not learnt any lesson from last year’s devastating floods which had damaged the paddy crop across several lakh acres of land.
“During my interaction with farmers here I have learnt that no flood protection work has been taken up in the run up to the monsoon reason. Instead of strengthening embankments, at many places they have been weakened by illegal mining being done under the patronage of the Aam Aadmi Party”.
Mr Badal also visited Dera Baba Nanak constituency today during the course of which he reviewed the embankments close to the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. He said it was a matter of concern that required earth filling had also not been done where required.
The situation may take a turn for the worst in case of heavy rains in the forthcoming days”, he said while urging party workers not to rely on the government and take the matter in their own hands and undertake the required works.
At both Ajnala and Dera Baba Nanak, party halka incharges Jodh Singh Samra and Sucha Singh Langah assured the party president that they would undertake the required works in consultation with the people of the area. Mr Badal, while urging the party leaders to use their good offices to volunteer tractors for this task, said he would provide the entire diesel fuel needed to undertake the works.
He said the SAD had identified fifteen constituencies in the State who were prone to flooding and that the party rank and file would assist in strengthening ‘bandhs’ at all strategic locations where needed.The SAD president also gave a clarion call for unity in the Panthic ranks on the occasion.
Appealing to all Akalis to unite under the banner of the SAD, Mr Badal said “you may be angry against any individual but there cannot be any anger against our mother party for which our forefathers have made tremendous sacrifices”.
He said while the Delhi based parties wanted to capture everything and were working assiduously to wrest control of gurdwara managements across the country, “agencies” were also propping up Akali outfits to weaken the SAD.
Urging the people to see through these conspiracies, he said the SAD alone could safeguard the interests of Punjab and Punjabis.Senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia also accompanied the SAD president on the occasion.