Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday accused the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of inciting communal tension in the State ahead of the Assembly polls next year.
“Congress has been a pursuer of the divide and rule policy and AAP is no exception. Because of their lust to capture power in the State, they are trying to incite communal passions,” said Badal while interacting with the mediapersons on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme in Fatehgarh Churian Assembly segment. Badal added that any attack on unity and integrity of the nation would be given a befitting reply.
He alleged, “Congress has a poor track record of fueling communal hatred for votes and now AAP is following suit.”
Badal also alleged that AAP was suffering from an “anti-Punjab syndrome” as it discontinued teaching of Punjabi language in schools in Delhi, did not observe a holiday on the occasion of Baisakhi, demolished a water kiosk outside Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and submitted an affidavit in the Apex Court against the state on the SYl issue.
He said that his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal has “failed miserably” to deliver on the promises he made to the people in the national capital and was now trying to “befool” voters in Punjab.
Asked if Punjab was facing any terror threat, he said that the state police was fully vigilant and capable of thwarting terror attacks.
The Punjab Police Director General of Police (DGP) has been directed to enhance vigil in the state and his government was fully committed to protect the borders, he said.
Badal also urged the Centre to deploy more Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Punjab’s border with Pakistan.
“Punjab shares international border with Pakistan. Concerted efforts must be made to strengthened security in the state,” he said.
Attacking Congress’ state unit chief Capt Amarinder Singh, Badal said that he harbours false hope of forming government in the state and is holding “darbars”.
He said that the former Chief Minister had tried to imitate him by carrying out an exercise to meet people to shed the most inaccessible tag, “but it is of no use for general public”.
“The aristocratic psyche of Captain is reflective from the name of this meet the people program…Darbars are held only by Maharajas whereas the servants of people undertake pro-people exercise like Sangat Darshan,” added Badal.
In a reply to another query, the Chief Minister said that the state government has started a major recruitment drive to fill up more than one lakh posts in its various departments.