Fatehgarh Churian: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday warned the ruling AAP govt that investors would hesitate to commit to the state until the alleged atmosphere of crime and gangsterism was brought under control.Addressing a rally as part of its ‘Punjab Bachao’ campaign here on a day the state govt launched its Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, Badal said, “The AAP govt is showing investors airports, superior road connectivity, and power-surplus status, all of which were created by the erstwhile SAD govt,” But despite these assets, investors are wary of putting their money in Punjab due to the “gangster culture”, he alleged. According to him, the timing of the summit raises questions. Holding it at the fag end of the govt’s tenure rather than in its first year, he said, indicated that the event was largely a propaganda exercise. He also questioned why AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal was leading the summit, asking, “Is he the chief minister of Punjab?” The SAD president also criticised the AAP govt over what he described as attempts to mislead women voters in the state. “The AAP govt is taking a loan of Rs 52,000 crore this year, even as it took a total loan of Rs 2 lakh crore in the last four years. It is also selling govt properties. After indebting the entire state and its people, it is using part of these proceeds to purchase women’s votes. The women will see through this deceit and won’t support AAP ever,” he alleged. Outlining his party’s commitments, Badal said that if voted to power, the SAD would strengthen welfare measures for women. “We will raise the emoluments under the Shagun scheme to Rs 1 lakh for marriage of daughters of under-privileged sections of society, besides raising old age pension to Rs 3,100 per month and ensuring revival of the aata–dal scheme by giving flour at Rs 4 per kg and pulses at Rs 20 per kg to the beneficiaries.” Among those present at the rally were Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema, Sucha Singh Langah, Guriqbal Singh Mahal, Rajanbir Ghumann, Raman Sandhu, Naresh Mahajan, Kamaljeet Chawla, and Mandeep Singh Lodhinangal. MSID:: 129552263 413 |
