AAP is "band of fugitives": Badal

In a stinging attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today described it as a "band of fugitives" and "anti-Punjab elements" and asked people of the state not to fall pray to its "misleading propaganda".
"AAP has no definite agenda for the overall development of the state and welfare of its people. However, their sole agenda is to rule Punjab by hook or crook just to satiate their lust for power," said Badal who was here to pay tributes to the Panth Rattan late Gurcharan Singh Tohra on his 12th death anniversary at his native village.

He described AAP as "band of fugitives and anti-Punjab elements" and asked people of the state to beware of their "nefarious designs and narrow political vested interests".
Badal asked people not to fall prey to the AAP's "misleading propaganda", saying otherwise they would be left with no option but to repent for this "remorseful act" for the rest of their life.
With the state slated to have Assembly polls in about a year from now, he exhorted people of Punjab to give another opportunity to the SAD-BJP alliance to serve them and ensure "sustained pace of all-round development and prosperity of all sections of society".

Badal said "inexperienced and novice" leadership of AAP would certainly "land you in soup" rather than extending a helping hand, "which is evident from its Delhi model of governance".

On the other hand, he said the SAD-BJP alliance is a "trusted and time-tested brand because of which people reposed unflinching faith and confidence in its policies and programmes".
Badal asked, "how can you expect a new political entity to do justice, when it is not aware of the hardships faced by the people at grass roots level?"
The Akali Dal leader accused AAP of "fiddling" with the sentiments of innocent people of Punjab and said this was not only deplorable but also highly unethical.

"Any political outfit indulging in such gimmicks just to befool to fulfill their political ambitions should refrain from it," he said.
Training guns on Congress, Badal said the opposition party has surpassed "all records of betraying the people of Punjab on every issue, be it social, political, economic or religious."
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Referring to the river water dispute with Haryana, the Chief Minister asserted that Punjab will not share even a "single drop" of water with anyone and asked people to be prepared for any sacrifice to save the river waters.
Badal said even he or his party would not hesitate to make any supreme sacrifice to save the precious natural resource - water.

Listing initiatives of his government for the welfare of peasantry, Badal mentioned that SAD-BJP alliance government has so far given free power in agriculture sector worth Rs 48,000 crore, interest free crop loan worth Rs.50,000 and cashless health insurance of Rs.50,000, besides insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case of accidental death or in case of incapacitation of the head of the family.