Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh badal today hit out at Congress for having remained "inimcable" to the interests of Punjab and the Sikhs and suggested the party shunned making claims of safeguarding the interests of the state.
Addressing the fifth 'Sadbhawna rally' on the occasion of the 95th Foundation Day of Shiromani Akali Dal, the SAD patron alleged that the Congress always "bartered away" with the interests of state for its "narrow political motives".
The Chief Minister categorically said Congress had "ruined" the state economically, socially, politically and had even gone to the extent of "destroying" the glorious traditions of Sikh Panth through direct interference in its religious affairs.
Sikhs could never imagine of pardoning the Congress and its dubious leadership which "perpetrated genocide" of Sikhs in 1984 post the then prime minister Indira Gandhi's death, Badal said.
"Likewise, we the Punjabis can never forget how our most sacred Sri Harmandar Sahib was desecrated by the Indian troops and attacked by tanks and canons on the orders of the then Congress leadership at helm of affairs, where several innocent devotes including women and children were massacred," he said.
Noting that Punjabis and Sikhs have made "outstanding contributions" in the Defence Forces, the 88-year-old leader alleged, "But, it was the irony of fate that their holiest of holy shrine Sri Darbar Sahib was attacked by the Indian Army at the behest of the then Congress Government."
"How can we forget these gloomy events as they have been deeply etched in our memories," he added.
Alleging that the Congress has always "ditched" Punjab, Badal said the state was deprived of its rights including capital, legitimate shares in river waters besides transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas to it.
"All this has created a sense of disgust, anger, hatred and agony amongst us, which could never get away from our minds," asserted Badal as he cautioned people not get "misled" by the "propaganda" of the Congress.
Enthused with the turn out at the rally, the Chief
Minister emphasised that such rallies across the state were part of the government's endeavour to connect with people.
On the occasion, Badal also asked the people "not to get emotionally blackmailed by sheer provocation in the name of religion.
"We have already suffered a lot for these political gimmicks and cannot suffer anymore as, unfortunately, we had been deprived of our religious shrines viz Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib and Sri Panja Sahib now in Pakistan," he said.
In his address, SAD president and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that it is a historic day for the party, as it was holding its biggest rally on its 95th foundation anniversary.
Recalling the rich legacy of SAD, the deputy CM said that since its origin the grand old Akali organisation had always stood against the injustice in the form of 'Gurdwara sudhaar lahar', Independence struggle and fight against Emergency.
The whole world admires South African leader Nelson Mandela as a hero for fighting against injustice by spending 27 years in jail but lakhs of SAD workers have also spent time in jails for unity, brotherhood and communal harmony, he said.
Taking a dig at the Gandhi family for their "anti-Punjab" agenda, the SAD president alleged that they have always "played with the sentiments of Sikhs to garner political mileage" and this time too they implemented the same agenda through hard core elements by holding congregation at Chabba.
Further, in a major announcement, the Deputy CM announced that Rs 2,000 crore would be spent on the development of holy city Amritsar. He also announced to provide power connections to all deras/dhanis and construction of 'pucca' roads with Rs 400 crore in coming months.
Announcing social welfare schemes to be launched by the Punjab government, Badal said the enhanced old age pension from Rs 250 to Rs 500, Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna with free treatment up to Rs 50,000 would be implemented from January 2016.
The deputy chief minister also mentioned that during the SAD-BJP rule Punjab has achieved a power surplus status, international airports and 4/6 lane road connectivity to all major cities.
He also announced to provide grants of Rs 25 crore each for development works in each constituency.
Terming the AAP leaders and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal a
"biggest fraudulent", Badal said "they come in power in Delhi with the slogan of simplicity but now they have started to loot the public exchequer by increasing the monthly salaries of their MLAs to Rs 2.50 lakh, even more than PM."
In his speech, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said Punjab was the only state in the country which was providing free Atta-Dal to nearly 1.5 crore people out of total population of 2.5 crore people.
Speaking on the occasion, Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Badal was credited with ushering in an era of overall development and prosperity in the Majha region, which Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh did not "bother" about during his stint as chief minister.
Making a frontal attack on the Aam Adami Party MP Bhagwant Mann, the Cabinet Minister said that Mann had thrown the glorious traditions of Sikh 'Rehat Maryada' (religious code of ethics) to winds.
Deploring Mann, Majithia alleged how he (Mann) in an inebriated condition dared to enter the enclosure at Bargari.
In his address, National BJP General Secretary Tarun Chug felicitated the Shiromani Akali Dal on 95th Anniversary of its inception and described it was a party of masses in true sense which have ever safeguarded the interests of common man.
He exuded confidence that SAD-BJP alliance will make a hat-trick by winning the forthcoming Assembly Elections in 2017.
Castigating former Chief Minister and President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Amarinder Singh for his "autocratic" style of functioning, Chug said he was a "Chief Minister from 11 am to 5 pm" whereas Badal was accessible to people from "5 am till 11 pm.
