Ferozepur: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the welfare of the poor was close to his heart and that he was committed to increasing the ‘shagun’ grant for a daughter’s marriage to Rs 1 lakh. He also promised to raise the old-age pension to Rs 3,100 and restart the ‘aata-daal’ scheme with additional commodities if voted to power.The SAD president received a rousing welcome in Zira town of Ferozepur district during the ‘Punjab Bachao’ rally organised by the ‘halqa (constituency)’ in-charge Harpreet Singh Hero. He said the resounding success of the rally proved that the Panthic constituency had made up its mind to support the SAD.Asserting that he had a vision for Punjab, unlike the “Delhi-based parties which were only interested in looting the state”, Sukhbir said, “At our core is the welfare of the ‘gareeb, kisan and mazdoor’. Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal paved the way by introducing a number of social welfare benefits for the weaker sections. We are committed to expanding these schemes by raising the ‘shagun’ benefit to Rs 1 lakh, besides raising the old age pension to Rs 3,100 per month and distributing ‘aata’ and ‘daal’ under the ‘aata-daal’ scheme at Rs 4 and Rs 20 per kg, respectively.” Stating that he would always uphold the pride and prestige of Punjab and the Panth, Sukhbir said, “The SAD stands for the rights and aspirations of Punjabis, unlike the Delhi-based parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP, who only come to rule.” Meanwhile, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, while addressing the rally in Zira constituency, condemned the AAP-led state govt, questioning the law and order situation and freedom of the press in Punjab. Majithia compared chief minister Bhagwant Mann with dictators like Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi, and said Punjab became a ‘police state’ instead of being democratic. He said the dream of ‘colourful Punjab’ that was shown to Punjabis had now turned into ‘bloody Punjab’, where there was no such thing as law and order. Majithia alleged that if any journalist or YouTube channel exposed the govt, a case was registered against them and they were locked up. “There is an emergency on the freedom of the press,” he said. MSID:: 128610121 413 |
