Parkash Singh Badal to be CM if SAD-BJP win polls: Sukhbir

Chandigarh, February 25

Parkash Singh Badal will head a SAD-BJP government if the alliance is voted to power in the 2017 Assembly election, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has said.

"If the people of Punjab gives SAD-BJP coalition the responsibility of forming the next government, Badal would be the chief minister again," he said.

Under the leadership of Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab government has implemented historic decisions to improve the cultural-socio-economic face of the state, Sukhbir said while interacting with NRIs from the USA, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Australia at his residence last night.

Urging the NRIs to be wary of the alleged anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh propaganda being spread by Opposition parties, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "We will go to the people with our development agenda."

He urged Punjabis worldwide to counter forces indulging in defaming and denigrating the image of state by dubbing the Punjab as "bankrupt" and Punjabis as "drug addicts".

Sukhbir said the state's gross domestic product during the previous Congress rule was Rs 5,04,937 crore while during 2007-12, it rose to Rs 1,09,874 crore and from 2012 till today it stands at Rs 13,51,348 crore.

Regarding revenue in VAT collection, he said from 2002-07, the state gained Rs 19,960 crore while during 2007-12, it rose to Rs 44,209 crore and from 2012 till now, the figure stands at Rs 62,706 crore.

Speaking about revenue receipts, the Deputy Chief Minister said the previous Congress government in its 5 year rule yielded only Rs 36,000 crore whereas during 2007-12, this figure was Rs 68,757 crore which rose to Rs 99,741 crore since 2012 till now.

He said Punjab has become power surplus state due to persistent efforts of present regime. In 2011, the power board stood at lowly 17th rank whereas in 2015 it was conferred 'best power utility' award.

The state has spent Rs 30,000 crore to achieve the power surplus status by adding 6,100 MW in power generation, Sukhbir added. — PTI