Sharpening attack on Congress and AAP, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the two parties have shown "stiff resistance" to "pro-people" policies of the Akali government and asserted that if re-elected to power he would review "people-friendly" decisions like regularisation of employees.
"By announcing that they (opposition) will review the pro-people decisions taken by the state government like regularisation of employees and others, Amarinder Singh (of Congress) and AAP leaders have proved that if voted to power they will withdraw the subsidies and concessions like free power, Atta-Dal, Shagun and others being given to the people," he said.
The Chief Minister was addressing public gatherings in village Dhaler Kalan, Sandhaur, Sherwani Kot, Ferozepur Kothala and others during Sangat Darshan programme in Malerkotla assembly segment.
Congress state unit chief Amarinder Singh had earlier said that he would review all decisions taken by the SAD-BJP state government in the last three months, if hsi party comes to power.
Singh, however, yesterday clarified that his statement was twisted and affirmed that no government appointments would be subjected to any scrutiny.
Badal said that in last ten years, the SAD-BJP alliance had given free power to farmers at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore annually.
He said now in a historic initiative the state government has decided to regularise the services of 30,000 employees by passing the bill in the state assembly.
Badal said the SAD-BJP alliance has ensured the welfare of every strata of society by taking several "path-breaking initiatives" for providing jobs, quality health and education facilities and by starting several pro-poor schemes.
The veteran Akali leader said Punjabis can never forgive the Congress party for its "sins" against Punjab.
"Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state," he said, adding that the Congress governments at the Centre had deliberately denied the state of Punjabi speaking areas, its capital Chandigarh and even its legitimate share in river waters.
Badal said the financial burden on the state is a legacy
not of successive state governments- Congress or SAD-BJP.
"This mess was created under the central rule in long years of governor's rule during militancy in the state. It was not my fault and it is not the fault of Amaridner Singh or any of the state governments. The fault lies with successive Congress governments at the centre and their tragic mishandling of the Punjab situation," he alleged.
The veteran statesman said that all political parties in Punjab must pool their resources and fight together on issues that affect the people of the state.
Don't waste your energies on needlessly criticising each other, he said.
"The SAD-BJP alliance is committed to playing its role as constructive opposition. If the Chief Minister fights for the common cause of Punjab, he will represent us too.
"We will extend all help and cooperation. But the promises made by the Congress to the people were not made subject to the centre meeting its demands," he said.
