Amidst talks of Punjab going for early elections, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said that the SAD-BJP alliance was ever prepared fully to face hustings at any moment.
“In a democratic set up, political parties are always ready for elections and Shiromani Akali Dal is not an exception to it. We are ever ready to face the elections any point of time,” said Badal, interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of sangat darshan program in lambi assembly segment.
Refuting the Congress’ allegations regarding government’s anti-democratic decisions, the Chief Minister said that these were “totally baseless and irrational”. “The opposition was criticizing the state government just for the sake of criticism. There is hardly any ground of allegations levelled by the opposition,” he said.
Badal stated that the state government is committed to dealing with incidents of law and order in the state firmly.
“In Abohar murder case, the State Government is taking every step to provide justice to the victims. Almost all main accused involved in the heinous crime have been nabbed and law is taking its own course,” he said.
Badal said: “Our Government has always acted swiftly to deal with such cases and nobody will be allowed to take law in their hands.”
Earlier, addressing public gatherings at Dabwali Malko Ki, Kangan Khera, Mahni Khera, Rasulpur and Bhai Ka Khera villages, Badal said that Punjab is the only state that had initiated pro-poor schemes, like the Atta-Dal and Shagun.
The State Government is providing free power to farmers of the State at a cost of `5,000 crore every year, he said.
The Chief Minister also exhorted the people to take full benefit of the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra scheme for free pilgrimage to Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Katra and Ajmer Sharif.
“Under this scheme the State Government would organise free trains to these cities for the people from Punjab and also provide other logistic facilities to pilgrims,” he said.
KHAIRA’S ENTRY IN AAP HARDlY ANY ISSUE
Reacting to Congress former MlA Sukhpal Singh Khaira joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Badal said that it would not make a difference to the SAD-BJP alliance.
“It is hardly an issue for us whether Khaira joined the AAP or remained in the Congress. Khaira, in any case, would have contested the election either on Congress or now on AAP’s ticket. However, the SAD-BJP candidate from Bholath assembly segment would remain the same,” Badal said.