Bathinda, May 29:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday slammed the Akali leaders and Kisan Unions for misleading the people of the state by spreading canards for securing their vested interests.
Taking the farmers union to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that farmers and unions are different entities as these people have opened their shops in the name of securing the interests of farmers. He said that the office bearers of Kisan unions have acquired huge chunks of properties by minting money illegally and have even put shares in hotels and hospitals in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann dared the Kisan Unions to have live discussions with him on the various issues pertaining to agrarian crisis.
The Chief Minister also questioned the silence of the Kisan Unions over the issue of snatching of water by BBMB and Haryana adding that they have not even issued a single statement in this regard. He said that they were merely running their shops by staging road and rail blockades on frivolous issues but remained mum over this major issue concerning the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann quipped that these leaders are least bothered about the farmers or their interests as they have their own interests in everything adding that the farmer unions take fees from the agriculturalists in the name of securing their rights.
The Chief Minister said that all was not well in the Badal-Majithia family as Akali leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia were not in speaking terms with each other. He said that the dispute has probably arisen due to division of the money plundered by them during their tenure and has created rift in the family now. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that after his revelation the family members may unite now but the fact is that these leaders have harmed the interests of the state for their vested ones.
The Chief Minister said that the Akali leaders have been using the SGPC and Sri Akal Takht Sahib for their vested political interests adding that Akalis misuse religion for their parochial interests. Citing an example, he said that the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib are being twisted to suit their political interests and befool the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha will be re-inducted the Akali Dal and even the Faqr-e-Qaum title will be restored to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
