On centenary, SAD promises crop cover, pension, education sops

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Moga, December 14

If voted to power, the SAD-BSP government will pay for education of children belonging to poor families in professional colleges, said Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal while addressing an event to mark 100 years of party’s foundation, at Killi Chehalan village today.

Always delivered

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We don’t make false promises like others. We have always delivered what we promised like Atta Dal and Shagun schemes. — Sukhbir Badal, SAD Chief

“Children from the underprivileged sections can’t afford higher studies and thus fail to make a decent living. We will help them out,” he said.

Sukhbir highlighted the party’s commitment towards a federal structure in the country. He said on coming to power, they would give farmers an insurance cover of Rs 50,000 per acre for crop damage. “We will revive the pre-2004 pension scheme for the government staff and waive electricity bills of all religious places,” he said.

The event was organised in an area spread over more than 100 acres. The elaborately spruced up stage had pictures of all former SAD presidents, besides those of important events concerning the party, including “Saka Punja Sahib”, “Jaiton Da Morcha” and “Dharam Yudh Morcha” among others.

Sukhbir said, “We don’t make false promises like the Congress, AAP and BJP. We have always delivered what we promised such as Atta Dal, Shagun and scholarship schemes. Only we stand for Punjabiat. Other parties don’t even respect their own leaders.” The Moga conference passed a resolution condemning the Congress government’s “attempts to register false cases” against SAD-BSP alliance leaders. It warned CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu against pursuing “vendetta politics”.

BSP senior vice president Satish Mishra claimed the alliance was set to win the elections by securing at least 100 seats. BSP Punjab in-charge Randhir Beniwal and state president Jasbir Singh Garhi also spoke on the occasion.

Senior SAD leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Hira Singh Gabria and Jagmeet Brar and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also addressed the gathering.