Expressing surprise, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday lambasted Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for opting to “retire to the hills for his summer holidays”, giving the state he has been elected to serve a complete miss at a time when farmers of the state are battling scorching summer and the State is facing a spate of suicides and law and order situation has nosedived in the past six weeks.
“The Chief Minister is needed in Punjab, especially in the midst of a critical procurement season. His abandoning the state and preferring personal comfort and luxury speaks volumes about his distorted priorities,” said SAD general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder.
He said that Chief Minister is yet to visit Punjab or even his home constituency of Patiala after taking oath of office. “This has confirmed the charges that Capt Amarinder always chooses personal comfort and luxury above his sacred duties as chief minister of the State,” he said.
Bhunder said that Capt Amarinder should remember that the people expect, even the opposition MlAs or MPs, to remain available with and for them and that as Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder is expected to set an example for others in dedication and commitment to public service.
“Apart from well-known aristocratic mindset of Capt Singh, the CM may also be running away from the masses to escape accountability. The Chief Minister seems to be shying away from the electorate now because his Government is finding it difficult to face the people as it has not delivered on even one of its poll promises,” he said.
Bhunder said that committees are being made to delay decision making. “Excuses are being presented to prevent complete waiver of farm loans and other promises including raising social welfare pensions to
Rs 2,000 per month and giving an unemployment dole of Rs 2,500 per month,” he said adding that Punjabi’s faith in the new Government is eroding after only 45 days in power as they are finding it difficult to digest that the new Chief Minister is putting his holiday in the hills before them.
“It is unfortunate that Chief Minister had put his holiday in the hills before Punjab and Punjabis as he is yet to visit Punjab or even his home constituency of Patiala after taking oath of office,” said SAD MP and secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
Akali leader said that in direct contrast to the pro-people rule of Parkash Singh Badal, we now have a Government which is hiding its head from the people.
Asking the new chief minister to learn from his predecessor, the SAD leader said Badal always remained among the people as CM. “He had his ear to the ground. He always took feedback from the people and made them a part of the decision making process. He also interacted with the people through sangat darshan programmes and provided immediate succour and relief wherever needed,” Dhindsa added.