Akalis are edgy, claims Manpreet

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 14

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal today attributed the reports of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal shifting to Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat to the fact that “the SAD is out of power and her victory margin had dipped drastically in the last elections”.

Talking to mediapersons here, Manpreet said, “When the SAD was in power, everyone from a patwari to the chief secretary and from a police inspector to the DGP was helping them. Despite that she could defeat me by just around 19,000 votes in 2014. Now, there is no one to help them out.”

On the possibility of his candidature from Bathinda, he said, “We will cross the bridge when we reach there. The matter of ticket distribution is with the screening committee.” He, however, added that one had to abide by the party orders. Earlier he had stated that neither he nor anyone from his family was keen to contest from Bathinda.

On alleged distribution of liquor at a SAD rally in Tarn Taran, the minister said, “An individual is in politics to serve the country and to earn the respect for his family by doing good work. During their rule, the Badals faced allegations of sacrilege, corruption, sheltering drug smugglers and maladministration. When one is not getting respect he should bid adieu to politics.”

Won’t contest if Harsimrat shifts seat: Khaira

Jalandhar: Punjab Ekta Party leader Sukhpal Khaira on Thursday said he would not contest LS polls if Bathinda MP and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal moved from her home constituency to Ferozepur. “I will contest only if Harsimrat is in fray from Bathinda. If she runs away, I will not follow her to Ferozepur. She will be labelled as a loser even before the polls and our purpose will be solved,” he said. TNS

Tells Sukhbir to share biz mantra

When asked whether the government will probe the “wealth amassed” by the SAD chief, Manpreet said, “He (Sukhbir) has earned so much money. We both are from the same family, but I have only four buses and he has got 200. Besides, he also has five-star hotels. The inference here is that either he has got his education from a foreign university or he has some business mantra, which he should share with the people of Punjab so that they also become rich.” He said government agencies like the I-T Department and ED were there to look into the matter, if needed, but the government was certainly not going for a witch-hunt.