HALWARA (Ludhiana), Dec 10: Arvind Kejriwal could not even “differentiate between wheat and paddy” as AAP national convener was not aware of the basics of the agrarian state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said.
Badal said Kejriwal’s repeated utterances that SAD and Congress being hand-in-glove “reflects that he not only has scant knowledge about Punjab’s geology and topography but also about state’s polity.”
“Every Punjabi knows that Congress was sworn enemy of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Any compromise (by SAD for the polls) with Congress is unimaginable,” Badal told reporters in Raikot here on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme.
The 89-year-old Chief Minister alleged AAP was also suffering from the anti-Punjab syndrome which has been exposed by the policies pursued by the Kejriwal government in Delhi.
“AAP government in Delhi discontinued teaching of Punjabi language in schools, didn’t observe a holiday on sacred Baisakhi festival, demolished the ‘Piau’ outside Gurdwara Sisganjh Sahib and above all have submitted an affidavit against the state in Supreme Court on SYL issue. Disguised in robe of Aam Aadmi (common man), these people were working overtime against the interests of the state.” he said.
Badal alleged that Congress was solely responsible for ruining the state by “meddling” in its social, economic, political and even religious affairs and no Punjabi could ever forgive it for these “sins”.
“While it is on record that Akali leadership was put behind the bars by successive Congress governments, everyone also knows that Kejriwal became Delhi’s Chief Minister first time from Congress’ support. He is just trying to mislead the people by making frivolous statements.
“However, wise people of Punjab will not get swayed away by tantrums of Delhi Chief Minister as they know well that Congress and AAP are two sides of the same coin,” he said.
Notably, AAP is eyeing to wrest the power from SAD-BJP combine in Punjab in the upcoming Assembly polls early next year.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the demonetisation move of the BJP-led NDA government was in the larger interest of the country.
He said the decision was aimed at “eliminating parallel economy propelled by the black money.”
“Any good step does have initial problems but in the long run country will be immensely benefited by this visionary step taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the five-time CM said.
Asked about some SAD leaders including a few sitting MLAs switching loyalties just before the assembly polls, Badal said it was some disgruntled and over ambitious people who failed to get ticket for the elections or the positions desired by them because of which they deserted the party.
Earlier, addressing the gatherings during ‘Sangat Darshan’ in villages Sudhar, Halwara, Barhundi and Raikot, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Congress and AAP were just raising “hollow slogans and false promises” with a single aim of assuming power in the state.
He said both the parties were trying to “mislead the people by unleashing malicious propaganda.”
The Punjab CM said both Congress and AAP were least bothered about the interests of the state and its people. (PTI)
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