Lambi/Chandigarh, February 17
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rally at Abohar in neighbouring Fazilka, barely 50 km away five-time CM Parkash Singh Badal and his son and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, too, held a parallel rally on their home turf Lambi. SAD leaders, however, did not speak a single word about the BJP, Centre or the PM and targeted the AAP and Congress.
Badal, 94, the oldest candidate in the fray, called upon the people not to elect those who would defect to other parties for personal gains once the elections are over.
“There are political opportunists in the fray who are eager to turn the state into an open political mandi,” said Badal, alleging 62 candidates of the AAP and Congressmen were defectors and they had neither commitment nor integrity. “If these candidates get elected, you will see Punjab turning into a haven for horse trading.”
He challenged both the Congress and the AAP leaders to name just one issue on which the SAD government did not fulfil the promises it had made to the people in the past.
The former CM said he had chosen to contest the elections mainly to stop outsiders from getting roots in Punjab and enslave its people. “I am here to ensure political stability in the state. Peace and communal harmony are the prerequisites for development.”
Playing an emotional card, he said: “This is not my election, but the election of your prestige. Earlier, I was unwilling to contest, but the party’s order is always supreme. Further, I did not want to cheat you as I am serving you for a long time and continue to serve till my last breath.”
Training his guns on the AAP and Congress, he said: “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is not a man of his words. He should clear his stand on the Punjab’s river waters, thermal plants, stubble burn, etc. Further, the Congress is responsible for anti-Sikh riots. It even cheated us on the important issues of state capital, Punjabi-speaking areas and river waters. Capt Amarinder last time became the CM after making false promises. Now, the Congress replaced him with Channi in an attempt to regain power. However, people have realised that Channi is a liar.”
Meanwhile, the SAD patron announced that the SAD-BSP government would give free power supply to water-lifting pumps at the tail end of canals. Sukhbir however could not speak due to a sore throat.
Sukhbir courts controversy
At Malout, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal courted a controversy when he said: “When we were in power, people did not pay the bills. In Jalalabad constituency, some also did not pay the road tax and still used their vehicles for five years.”
Singer promotes guns & liquor
Singer Mankirt Aulakh, who performed for 15 minutes at the rally, promoted gun culture with his song '8 raflaan' and liquor with another. The Mansa police had last year booked Mankirt for allegedly promoting gun culture.
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