Sukhbir Badal visits flood-affected areas

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal visited a number of flood-affected villages of the district today. He said it was shocking that while Punjabis were battling floods across the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was holidaying with his family in Chennai.

The SAD president said it was extremely distressing that Bhagwant Mann had abandoned the people of the state when they needed him most. “The Chief Minister should have been here, leading the relief operations himself. This is also one reason why the relief work is not being expedited, with farmers complaining that drainage department officials are doing nothing to drain water from their fields. Additionally, no efforts were made to strengthen ‘bandhs’ in advance, especially when reports of heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh were available with the state authorities.”

He said the SAD would not let down Punjabis and announced that he would immediately provide 20,000 litres of diesel for relief works in the district. He also announced that the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) would take on the “sewa” of providing tractors and sand bags to strengthen bandhs. “I also urge Akali workers to fan out in flood-affected areas and provide humanitarian aid wherever necessary,” Badal said.

Interacting with the affected residents at Mundapind and Gharka villages of the Khadoor Sahib constituency, Badal assured that once the SAD government was formed it would create concrete bandhs which are essential to control flood waters. He also assured them that the senior leadership of the district, along with the youth cadre, would be available round-the-clock in case of any exigency. He also requested the Shiromani Committee to depute teams of doctors in flood-affected areas besides running ‘langar’ and distributing food packets where necessary.

Senior party leaders Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Ravinder Brahmpura and Iqbal Singh Sandhu accompanied the SAD president during his visit.