Support SAD, Sukhbir appeals to electorate

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal today appealed to the electorate of Ludhiana West to support the party in the forthcoming byelection to pave the way for the end of gangster culture, drug menace and terrorism.

Addressing the mediapersons at the residence of SAD candidate Parupkar Singh Ghumman, the SAD president said, “The people of the state have experimented with both Congress and AAP. Punjab has witnessed a steep decline in all parameters and now the situation has become such that even the common man is not safe. The state needs a decisive government like the SAD, which will eradicate gangsters and drug traffickers, besides bringing back peace and ensuring communal harmony.”

Sukhbir also attacked the AAP leadership in Delhi for taking over the Punjab government. “Right now, Kejriwal and his team, including Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, have distributed all ministries between themselves. Right from the Chief Minister’s Office to the state secretariat, all files are routed through them. They are not only seeing the files, but also taking decisions on these, which is illegal and is a violation of the Officials Secret Act. Due action should be taken against them,” Sukhbir said.

Asserting that the SAD alone could safeguard the rights of Punjabis, he said, “We are the true heirs of the state, unlike the fly-by-night operators in other parties. If Punjab goes down, the loss is ours. I appeal to you to strengthen the party in the forthcoming byelection to lay the foundation for the next SAD government in 2027.” He said in the forthcoming byelection the party would focus on its past record of speedy development, catering to each and every section of society, including farmers, labourers, youth, women and trade and industry. “The SAD is known for introducing unique social welfare schemes to help the underprivileged, besides creating world-class facilities, which resulted in the advent of investment in the state”.

When questioned about the suspension of Punjab Vigilance Chief SPS Parmar and two other senior officers recently on alleged corruption charges, he said, “The AAP government has made it a habit to register cases against officers, besides going in for arbitrary postings and transfers in case the officers refused to toe their line. This has happened earlier also and we have witnessed rapid changes at the top level because the officers concerned did not obey illegal orders of the AAP establishment. This is why a number of officers have chosen to take transfers out of Punjab.”

Talking about corruption, the SAD president said the real corruption was being done by Delhi AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who were virtually looting Punjab to fill the party’s coffers in Delhi. He said the SAD and its candidate Parupkar Ghumman would take all these issues to the people in the forthcoming byelection.

In answer to another query as to whether the rebel Akalis would be taken back into the SAD fold, Sukhbir said, “If they want to come back with a clear heart and work to strengthen the party and follow its principles, they will be welcomed back into the party.”

Meanwhile, Neelam Kohli, president, women wing, Waris Punjab De, along with her supporters, AAP youth wing district joint secretary, Sachin Arora, along with his workers, and Kamaljit Singh Sethi, circle president, BJP, along with his team also joined the SAD today, besides many Akali workers.

Ludhiana