Sukhbir Badal offers assistance to Sarhali sect head

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal offered Rs 2 lakh to Baba Sukha Singh, head of Sarhali sect, on Tuesday at Ghullewal village where he was himself busy strengthening the embankment on Beas river.

It is worth noting that in the morning on Tuesday, Baba Sukha Singh was on way to Ghonewal (Ramdass) along with 200 followers and was informed by the Sangat of Ghullewal village near Harike to save the embankment that was facing a breach. Baba Sukha Singh returned towards Ghullewal, filled up bags with earth and sand to plug the breach, and then moved to Ghonewal.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal who met Baba Sukha Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance the financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore announced for Punjab during a visit to flood-affected areas in Gurdaspur, even as he expressed shock that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had refused to spend from the Rs 12,000 crore lying with it under the Disaster Management Fund to provide timely help to lakhs of flood- affected farmers.

The SAD president also requested the Prime Minister to consider a one-time loan waiver in flood-affected areas, saying it would take two to three years for farmers to get back on their feet and that they should be supported in this endeavour.

“Crops in lakhs of acres have been submerged. Thousands of houses have been damaged. During his visit to flood- affected villages in Khemkaran, the SAD president said 30,000 quintals of wheat would be distributed in affected areas besides fogging machines to counter malaria and other diseases,” Badal said.