Budhlada, December 23
Former Union Minister and general secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, while accusing a former Governor of Punjab, Mr B.K.N. Chhibber, of shielding ministers of the previous Congress government after they had been indicted by the Lokpal, said the time had come when the people would not allow the Congress to come to power in the state again.

Mr Sukhbir Badal, while addressing a party rally here, said people had come to know that Mr Chhibber had gained an entry into the Congress after exonerating the Congress ministers of corruption charges for which they were indicted.

He said the SAD would release the first list of about 40 candidates for the coming Assembly elections within three days while the second list would be released within one week after the release of the first list of candidates. Only those who remained sincere and loyal to the party and worked for the betterment of society would be allotted party tickets.

Mr Sukhbir Badal, who was the main speaker at the rally attended by Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, Mr Jaswant Singh Pahpre Bhai Ke and Mr Sikander Singh, pointed out that this was the first government which had created history by implementing its poll manifesto in toto.

Lashing out at the Congress and various Akali factions, he said there was a secret deal between the Congress and the Panthic Morcha to defeat the SAD-BJP alliance so that an era of corruption, police atrocities and dictatorship could be brought back. He added that whenever the Congress ruled Punjab or the country, it always divided people on the basis of caste and religion to remain in power. It had been doing the same to grab power.

“The setting up of an international airport at Amritsar, the oil refinery in Bathinda district, cement plants in various parts of the state, medical and technical universities at Faridkot and Jalandhar, respectively, science city at Kapurthala, hassle-free procurement of wheat and paddy, free power to the agriculture sector, free houses for the poor sections of society, simplification of sales tax and abolition of octroi were the landmark achievements of the SAD-BJP government during the past about five years,” he said.

He pointed out that even the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, a voluntary organisation being run by the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, had declared the Punjab Government the second best in the country in terms of economic development and an environment-friendly approach.

On the other hand, the previous Congress governments had done nothing for Punjab and instead of bringing industrial units to the state, Congress leaders bartered away the interests of the state for their narrow political ends.

All district level leaders of the SAD and BJP were present at the rally with their supporters.

Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Rural Development Minister, Punjab, urged the people to think before exercising their franchise. He added that the choice before them was between a development-oriented government and a bunch of politicians who were trying to grab power to mint money.