Taking a dig at his arch rival — Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said that he was “trying to replicate” him by launching mass outreach campaign in the hope of becoming Chief Minister but his dream will “never be fulfilled”.
Badal said that Capt Amarinder was “promising moon” to everyone, knowing very well that he “could not form” the Government when he faces the Assembly polls next year.
“Former Chief Minister is trying to replicate me. The most inaccessible Captain is now sweating out in scorching heat in the hope of becoming the Chief Minister of State,” said five-time Chief Minister on the sidelines of 'Sangat Darshan' programme in Nakodar Assembly segment.
Badal was taking a swipe at Capt Amarinder's recently-launched six-month mass outreach campaign ‘Halke Vich Captain’, under which the Punjab Congress chief will spend a day in each of all 117 Assembly constituencies to establish a direct contact with voters.
In this campaign, Amarinder, an MP from Amritsar, is hearing out grievances of people, and promising to set up Special Task Force within 100 days if Congress forms Government for redressing public grievances.
Through this campaign, Amarinder aims to reach out to two crore people, which has been designed by I-PAC, team of poll strategist Prashant Kishor.
Badal has been holding 'Sangat Darshan' (meeting people) programme, whereby he listens to problems of people and tries to solve them on the spot.
“This dream of Captain (of becoming the Chief Minister) can never be fulfilled as people of State are solidly with the SAD-BJP alliance. The 'darbars' of Captain are totally a futile exercise as Captain neither has the intention nor the will power to ensure welfare of people" Badal said.
Slamming the Congress leaders for shedding “crocodile tears” on the emotive issue of Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal, the Chief Minister said that they should not forget that they were a "part and parcel of this grave conspiracy to snatch the waters of State".
He said that every Congress leader, who is creating hue and cry over this issue, should know that it was Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who laid the foundation of this canal to "ruin" the State.
likewise, he said that at that time, every big or small Congress leader, including the present state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh had welcomed Indira Gandhi to perform ground breaking ceremony for depriving Punjab of its share in water.
“Congress leaders have no moral right to question the integrity of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has waged relentless battle to oppose this move from day one,” he said.
Chief Minister said that he could for see the danger looming large on the State as both AAP and Congress were conniving with each other to deprive the Punjabis of every single drop of water.
Coming down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party leadership for misleading the people, Badal said that just to divert people’s attention, AAP leadership in the State was every now and then raising an issue.
“Most of its leaders are either fugitives or entertainers who are not having any concern with the State and their sole intention is to grab power in the State at any cost” added Badal.