Tarn Taran (Pb): Launching a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today described it as a “disarrayed force” which “lacks” development-oriented ideology. “AAP is a disarrayed force and is bereft of any pro-people or development-oriented ideology,” Badal said during a Sangat Darshan programme in Khadoor Sahib constituency here.
The Chief Minister also questioned the “qualification and strategy” of AAP. “Antecedents and future planning of these people who claim themselves to be common man were not known to anybody,” he said referring to the AAP leaders.
He also criticised the AAP government at Delhi and attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “The Delhi Chief Minister had announced to hold ‘Janta Darbars’ for redressing the grievances of people, but this never turned into a reality,” he alleged.
This interactive programme could be successfully held only by those public representatives, who know the problems of the masses, not by those who don’t, he said.
The strong criticism of AAP from Badal comes days after after Kejriwal had on December 5 exuded confidence that his party would sweep the next Punjab Assembly election. Badal also took on his party’s arch-rival the state, Congress, saying its leaders were also “averse” to the idea of meeting with the people and that is why they had “never” come out of their “posh” residences to interact with them.
These leaders used the mandate just for enjoying fruits of power rather than working for the development of the state and prosperity of its people, he said. Highlighting the significance of the Sangat Darshan programme, the CM said it was a flagship programme of his government from the day he assumed office.
This programme helps quick resolution of public problems on one hand and also judges the performance of the government officials on the other, he added.
Replying to the Congress’s criticism of the Sangat Darshan programme, the Chief Minister charged that this was “criticism just for the sake of it” by those who had done “nothing” for the welfare of the state. He said that the criticism would hardly deter him from carrying out this exercise of “immense public importance” and he would continue to serve the people through this initiative.
Speaking of the Sadbhawna Rallies, Badal said, they were being held to promote the ethos of peace and amity and were not aimed at scoring any political points. These rallies are also aimed at giving a stern message to the divisive forces that no one will be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace of the state, he said.
Badal further said not only SAD-BJP alliance but every person of the state should vow to protect the peace by attending these rallies. Mourning the death of a 12-year old girl in a road accident at Lambi yesterday, the Chief Minister described it as an unfortunate incident. Law would take its own course in this matter, he said.
