Patiala: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said if his party comes to power in 2027, they would establish a Kandi development ministry and build a four-lane expressway from Pathankot to Ropar to boost development in Punjab’s sub-mountainous region.Addressing a news conference at Balachaur in SBS Nagar district, Sukhbir questioned chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s claim of providing 12-hour daytime electricity supply.He alleged that residents were facing power cuts of up to 10 hours daily and promised to make Punjab power-surplus if the SAD returns to office.The Akali Dal chief said deep tubewells would be provided to meet irrigation needs, facilities through the Kandi canal would be augmented, and drip-irrigation systems and underground pipelines would carry water to fields.He also promised a medical college in Nawansheher and a veterinary college in Balachaur.The event was a part of the SAD’s ‘Punjab Bachao’ campaign.With Honey Tonsa by his side, Sukhbir accused the Aam Aadmi Party govt of corruption. He alleged that clean chits were being given to people accused of rape, gangsters and drug traffickers in return for money.The SAD chief alleged that CM Mann’s wife, Gurpreet Kaur Mann, had negotiated a Rs 5-crore deal to secure freedom for a person accused of serial rape. He also alleged corruption in official postings and transfers, change-of-land-use cases and contracts, saying these issues were highlighted by the Enforcement Directorate in the high court.Sukhbir further alleged that gangster Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, who faced 50 criminal cases, had been inducted into the AAP and appointed its Zira constituency in charge.Referring to the alleged torture of anti-drug activist Mohanjit Singh Sheron after he showed a black flag to the chief minister, Sukhbir accused the Mann govt of suppressing dissent.He also cited the alleged intimidation and subsequent suicide of Gulzar Singh, who had questioned finance minister Harpal Cheema over the unchecked sale of synthetic drugs.Sukhbir claimed some forces sought to push Punjab back into the unrest of the 1980s and were attacking him because he stood for peace and communal harmony. He said the SAD believed in “sarbat da bhala” and had worked for every community, citing Heritage Street near Darbar Sahib and the beautification of Sri Durgiana Mandir and Ram Teerath Sthal.Outlining the SAD’s welfare plans, Sukhbir said beneficiaries would receive 50 kg of wheat at Rs 4/kg under the Aata-Daal scheme. He also promised to raise Shagun assistance to Rs 1 lakh and old-age pension to Rs 3,100 a month, revive the SC Scholarship scheme and provide a 75% subsidy for animal-husbandry projects.He also promised interest-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh for young entrepreneurs and a minimum support price for milk.
