With AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal set to begin his five-day visit to Punjab tomorrow, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that in 'poll season' many 'seasonal birds' would visit the state, but claimed it would hardly have any effect as SAD-BJP alliance will win the 2017 assembly polls.
Interacting with the media persons after inaugurating the newly constructed Municipal Bhawan here, Badal said that in democracy every leader was free to visit any state and he welcomes Arvind Kejriwal on his upcoming visit to the state.
Speaking in a lighter vein, Badal said that many "seasonal birds" would visit the State during the poll season.
However, he added "it will hardly have any effect on state's polity as SAD-BJP alliance is serving the people with utmost dedication and commitment."
Further talking about AAP leader's visit, the 88-year-old five-time CM said, "they will come and go back but due to our pro-people and development oriented policies, the SAD-BJP alliance will again form government in 2017".
"Kejriwal will try to cover the length and breadth of the state comprising the Malwa, Majha and Doaba regions. He will begin from Sangrur and Bathinda districts," an AAP spokesman said here.
Kejriwal had addressed a major AAP rally last month at the Maghi fair in Muktsar.
Badal claimed that during almost nine years of the SAD-BJP rule "the state has witnessed unprecedented development in all the sectors".
Badal said SAD-BJP alliance would again seek the mandate of people solely on the plank of communal harmony, peace and development.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister advocated the need of having a national debate on the "ongoing agrarian crisis in the country."
He said that problems of the food growers of the country need to be given immediate attention, so as to bail them out from the crisis.
Badal said that due to low income and high agricultural inputs coupled with decrease in land holdings agriculture was no longer a remunerative profession, so efforts must be made to make this profession financially viable and economically sustainable.
He said to provide world class civic amenities to residents of the cities across the state, the Punjab government has embarked a major scheme providing the facility of water supply, sewerage, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), Streetlights, Roads and parks in all towns at a cost of Rs 6500 crore.
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Badal said the Congress leaders have "no moral right" to question the integrity of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has "waged relentless battle" from day one to oppose the move on SYL canal.
The Chief Minister said after "ruining the state", the Congress leaders were trying now to "mislead the people by indulging in political mimicking".
He asked Congress leaders to tell the people why "they remained mum when their high command was looting the rights of state".
Badal said none of the Congressmen could ever escape the responsibility of committing this "grave crime aimed at ruining the state".
The Chief Minister said he could foresee the "danger looming large" on the state as both AAP and Congress were "conniving with each other to deprive the Punjabis of every single drop of water."
He said it was the bounden duty of every Punjabi to be ready for a struggle to save the waters of state. Badal said that he was fully committed to safeguard the interests of the state in every possible way.
Coming down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party leadership, he said they are "misleading" the people as the position taken by its government in Delhi on SYL issue during its hearing in the Supreme Court has clearly exposed that they were having an "anti-Punjab mindset".
He said just to divert the attention of people, the AAP leadership in the state was now raising some or other issue.
"Most of its leaders are either fugitives or entertainers who are not having any concern with the state and their sole intention is to grab power in the state at any cost," alleged Badal.
