Campaigning for his party in the by-polls, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday said both of Congress and AAP chose to stay away from the polls because they knew they would face a humiliating defeat.
Addressing gatherings here at Khadoor Sahib, Goindwal Sahib, Fatehbad, Jamarai, Munda Pind and Chamba, the SAD president pointed out the hypocrisy of former Congress MlA Ramanjit Sikki for claiming that he had resigned from the Vidhan Sabha following sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.
“Sikki should tell the people why he had joined the Congress in the first place. How could he contest elections from a party which has demolished the Akal Takth and whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent Sikhs massacred in Delhi in 1984”, he said.
On PCC president Capt Amarinder Singh, he said “the Congress party claims he is a ‘babbar sher’. What kind of lion runs away from a battle”, he asked adding “you know what such people are called”.
On the AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal, the SAD president said one needed to understand Kejriwal’s personality. “This person first claimed he would not contest the elections. Then he swore on his son’s life that he would not form a post election alliance with the Congress. He also promised his MlA’s would not take any salary or facilities”.
Badal said Kejriwal had reneged on all his promises. “What will this man do in Punjab. With the obstructionist policies he follows he could come in the way of smooth wheat and paddy procurement in the State,” he added.
Badal said money had flowed into the rural economy in Punjab only during SAD- BJP rule. He said the Government was maintaining the policy of free power for the Agriculture sector by paying subsidy amount of `6,000 crore to the electricity utility. He said other unique schemes like Aata-Daal, Shagun and old age pension had also been introduced during SAD- BJP rule. The SAD President said in direct contrast the previous Congress Government had not introduced a single pro farmer, pro poor scheme.
SAD MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, SAD candidate Ravinder Brahmpura and senior leaders Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Dr Daljit Cheema also spoke on the occasion