IEP Chandigarh, January 4:
Slamming the Shiromani Akali Dal for its proposed political gimmick in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said that real name of yatra must be ‘Akali Dal ton Punjab Bacha Lo Yatra’ as Akalis have mercilessly ruining the state during their 15 years old misrule.
In a statement issued here today, the Chief Minister said that for 15 years Akalis have plundered the state mercilessly besides bruising the psyche of Punjabis emotionally. He said that owing to this only the oldest political party of the state is today in dire straits and after ruling the state for the longest period they have been confined to three seats today. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people are well aware of the dubious character of the Akalis and Badal family due to which their theatricals won’t work now.
The Chief Minister reminded the Akalis that Punjab had lagged behind in every sphere during their long misrule. He said that apart from it Akalis can’t be absolved from the sins like desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and patronization of gangsters and drug mafia. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people won’t ever forget that when the entire Punjab had stood against the draconian farm laws at that time Akalis had shamelessly stood with the BJP led Union government for their vested political interests.
The Chief Minister said that the list of anti-Punjab stance of Akali Dal in general and Badal family is too long so the need of hour is to further send them into political oblivion. He dared the Akalis to list even a single achievement of their government during their long stint in power. Bhagwant Singh Mann quipped that even the two MPs of Akali Dal viz Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal have never bothered to raise any issue pertaining to interests of the state or its people in the Lok Sabha.
The Chief Minister said that the proposed yatra is nothing more than an exercise to mislead the people and score brownie points before the media. However, he said that the people of state are well aware of the anti-Punjab and anti-people character of Akalis and they will never forgive them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people of the state will never forget and forgive Akalis for sinister moves against Punjab.
