Sukhbir blames Centre for paddy procurement delay

The Deputy Chief Minister said that in the coming assembly elections,development would be the main issue. “We have come up with many development projects in a short span,which the Congress could not do even in 40 years. So we will come forward with our works for the public” he said.

Trying to evade an answer to a query on whether there will be a one-to-one fight in the coming elections,as Captain Amrinder Singh has been appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president,he said,“For me it does not matter who is the Congress president. We are concentrating on our work and there are many works which are yet to be completed. We are concentrating on airports,road networks and telecommunication. Soon there will be three international airports and in Ludhiana,we are trying to purchase one acre land near Sahnewal Airport,so that night facilities can be added there. We are also going to start 125 Aadarsh Schools in Punjab from next month. Rs 7 crore has been spent on each school to provide world class facilities to the 2.5 lakh students. Out of these,five schools will be started in collaboration with the Bharti Mittal Foundation.”

Describing the Congress as no match for the SAD,Badal said that “air-condition loving,photo op and road show Tamasha leaders who cannot stand in sun the continuously for 10 minutes” can never match the rejuvenated and committed cadre of the SAD,who have built up the party by spending years in jail and working tirelessly for the welfare of the Aam Admi. He said that if the Captain was sincere to the farmers,why did he shy away from free power in the first four years of his tenure and allow it in the election year. He pointed out that in contrast Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal allowed free power to the farm sector from the day he took over the reins of power.

Talking about the financial health of the state,Sukhbir said,“It is far far better from the time when we came to power. Last year we collected VAT of Rs 5,000 crore,which increased to rupees 10,000 crore this year. We have a target of collecting VAT of Rs 13,000 crore next year.”

Later addressing a gathering at Mullanpur,Malaud and Payal,after kickstarting 100 per cent water supply and sewerage coverage projects worth Rs 32 crore,he said that he would not budge from the principled stands. Terming the controversy on fulfilling the promise on subsidies to the poor and farmers a farce,Badal said that “it is not a personal fight with my younger cousin but a fight of principles”.

When we make promises to the people to win elections,we would not backtrack from the promises after winning elections,Badal thundered. He said that backtracking from promises was Congress culture and unfortunately my cousin was playing into their hands .