Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the phenomenal victory achieved by Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in Dhuri Vidhan Sabha by-election spoke volumes about the development oriented performance of the SAD-BJP government. In an informal interaction with media at information office in Golden Temple early in the morning, Mr Badal said despite all out efforts by the Congress and other parties in the fray, the electorate had rejected the negative propaganda and given a thumping majority in favour of the SAD.
After having paid obeisance at Golden Temple and thereafter partaking in the Bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib along with his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal Union Cabinet Minister for Food Processing Industry, Deputy Chief Minister answered the media queries on various issues.It was brought into his notice by the media that Shiv Sena leader from Gurdaspur who was a victim of a recent shootout, was having issues in connection with the payment of his medical bills. The Deputy CM assured that he would direct the Deputy Commissioner to look into the issue and resolve it.DCM categorically denied statement of former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Joginder Singh Vedanti of any political intervention in religious matters and added that matters of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib are governed totally by the Singh Sahibaan.
When questioned about Rahul Gandhi's ascension as President of the Congress party, Mr Badal said more people were opposing Rahul's appointment than those supporting such a move. He said the truth was that there was total confusion in the Congress with workers having forgotten about his ascension and asking questions like "Where is he?’, ‘When will he come back?’ and ‘is he going to come back at all ?" In context of allegations leveled by Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar about diversion of disaster response funds, Mr. Badal said Congress leaders including Jakhar were accustomed to flagging baseless issues. "They raise an issue without doing their homework and once they are shown the true picture their own gun back fires at them. Their sole motive has always been to make their presence felt in the media in one way or the other", he added.