Nawanshahar: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday dared AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal to make his stand clear on the state’s territorial issues before the people.
Addressing the people on the last leg of three-day sangat darshan programme here, the Chief Minister categorically said that “Mr Kejriwal should desist from befooling innocent people of Punjab as his stoic silence on state releated issues was creating apprehensions in their minds about his so-called loyalty, sincerity and commitment for the development of state and welfare of its people.”
Badal unequivocally said Mr Kejriwal being a Haryanvi was tightlipped and not coming up openly to show his cards on safeguarding the rights of Punjab on several contentious issues like River Waters, Chandigarh as Capital and transfer of Punjabi speaking areas to the state.
These issues were hanging fire since long due to the apathetic attitude of the successive Congress-led governments at the Centre, he added.
He pointed out that Mr Kejriwal’s dubious character has been unmasked due to recent instance of his Delhi Government submitting an affidavit in the Apex court against the interests of Punjab on Sutlej Yamuna Link issue. Badal appealed the people to be judgmental enough to identify the political leadership which was sincerely working for the welfare of the state or others indulging in cheap politics like AAP and Congress with a sole motive to rule in state to satiate their lust for power.
He said diversionary tactics by AAP like C-voter fake survey would not help it any way rather it would gradually swept away AAP in the strong undercurrent of SAD-BJP’s popularity which has already declared development as its poll plank for 2017 assembly elections.
Exuberating confidence, Mr Badal said, “Mr Kejriwal and his handful of cronies would soon meet the same fate as the state Congress leadership was made to lick the dust by SAD-BJP alliance in 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections.” (PTI)
