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 on Saturday said.
Badal said Kejriwal’s repeated utterances that the SAD and the 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 the Congress was sworn enemy of Punjab and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Any compromise (by SAD for the polls) with the Congress is unimaginable,” Badal told reporters in Raikot here on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme.
The 89-year-old Chief Minister alleged the 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 the 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 the Congress and the AAP are two sides of the same coin,” he said.
Notably, the AAP is eyeing to wrest the power from the 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.
BADALS, CONGRESS JOINED HANDS, BUT AAP WILL FORM GOVERNMENT: ARVIND KEJRIWAL
AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday reiterated his allegation that ruling SAD and opposition Congress have "joined hands" for the assembly elections slated to be held next year.
"The Badal family and Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh have planned to contest the state polls collectively.
But, their alliance will not be able to stop the revolution initiated by the people of Punjab. AAP will form government in the state with huge margin," he claimed in Adampur.
"Both the traditional parties are now afraid of public outrage and therefore they are helping each other. Badals are even sponsoring Amarinder Singh's hoardings and banners," Mr Kejriwal, who is currently touring Punjab ahead of the next year's polls, said here.
The Delhi Chief Minister again alleged that the entire family of Amarinder Singh has "stashed huge amount of ill-gotten money" in Swiss bank accounts when the latter was the Chief Minister of Punjab from 2002 to 2007.
Mr Singh had recently said the alleged account numbers, the AAP leader says are held by his family members, were the same old numbers which Mr Kejriwal's colleague Ashish Khetan had released in March this year "and it was a sham."
"Amarinder looted the money from Punjab and deposited it in Swiss banks, but (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and (Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh) Badal have taken no action against him," Mr Kejriwal alleged.
Accusing the Prime Minister of "harassing people in the name of fight against black money", Mr Kejriwal asked, "Why has he not taken any action against Amarinder despite having proofs of his Swiss accounts?"
Accusing the ruling Badals of committing atrocities against the Dalit community, he said if voted to power in Punjab, AAP will provide all facilities to the community and a representative from the Dalit community will be made the deputy chief minister of Punjab.
The social welfare schemes being run in the state will be further extended and Dalit families will get 400 units of electricity along with gas connections free of charge, Mr Kejriwal said.
"Like in Delhi, AAP will introduce Mohalla Clinic scheme in Punjab and the poor will get free treatment and medicines in these clinics," Mr Kejriwal said and also promised to provide better education in government schools of the state.
Speaking on the occasion, AAP Punjab Convener, Gurpreet Singh Waraich alleged that SAD, Congress and BJP have been "looting" Punjab for the last 70 years.
"The state's agriculture and youth have been ruined by these traditional parties," he alleged and appealed people to unite "for the cause of a new and better Punjab".
