Punjab: Sukhbir flays AAP for ‘selling govt bonds' for land acquisition
He said the move was a multi-hundred crore scam. While talking to newsmen here, the SAD president said, 'While the taxpayer will pay exorbitant interest on the ₹1,000 crore being borrowed to fund the land acquisition, the AAP will use the acquisition process to make money. It is promising change of land use in back dates to property dealers and land sharks in exchange for bribes.'
Asserting this was the reason why the chief minister had turned a blind eye to the plight of thousands of farmers whose fertile lands would be 'snatched', Sukhbir said, 'The SAD is committed to saving this farm land. We are also committed to exposing this scam and bringing those responsible for these corrupt practices to book once the SAD forms the government in the state.'
Asserting that the AAP government was bankrupting the state, the SAD chief said, 'The state's debt has crossed ₹4 lakh crore. Out of this, ₹1 lakh crore has been borrowed by the AAP government in the last three years. At this rate, the debt burden will increase by another ₹50,000 crore by the time the tenure of this government ends.'
He said despite such big borrowings, the AAP government had nothing to show by way of development. 'Look around. Do you see any development work? In fact, the condition of roads, lights and sewerage is in its worst ever phase. All development work from bridges, flyovers to extension of the road network has been done during the previous SAD governments.'
'The social benefits have been drastically reduced or completely stopped, be it the aata daal or the Shagun scheme,' he added.
CM Bhagwant Mann has already asserted that the government is not resorting to forceful acquisition of land but seeking the consent of farmers for sustainable urban development projects.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Sikh woman barred from exam over kirpan, Takht, SGPC fume
(Blurb) It's violation of Constitution, say Akal Takht, SGPC and SAD A Sikh woman candidate was reportedly not allowed to enter an examination hall in Rajasthan's Jaipur as she was allegedly asked to remove her religious articles, including a kirpan. The candidate, Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Pheloke village in Tarn Taran district, had to appear in the Rajasthan Judicial Services examination. The episode has drawn condemnation from the Akal Takht, the SGPC and the SAD. The Akal Takht secretariat issued a video of Gurpreet Kaur in which she is seen protesting over being denied entry to the examination hall. She was seen asking the authorities to show the instructions regarding ban on the kakars (five articles of Sikh faith). In a statement, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj termed the incident a grave violation of the Constitution and an act of discrimination. Questioning the BJP-led Rajasthan government, he said Amritdhari Sikhs wear kirpan as a mandatory article of faith. 'Similar instances occurred during the same recruitment process last year in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Despite a written communication from the SGPC and other Sikh bodies to the state government, the same episode has been repeated,' he mentioned. He referred to Article 25 (Explanation I) of the Constitution that affirms the right of Sikhs to wear the kirpan. 'While the country is commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadar who sacrificed his life for religious freedom and human rights, the Sikh symbols are simultaneously being questioned,' Giani Gargaj pointed out. He directed the Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC to immediately form a high-level joint delegation to meet with the Prime Minister, home minister, Rajasthan chief minister and the registrar of the Rajasthan high court to register a strong protest and ensure a permanent resolution. If necessary, he added, the SGPC should consider filing a petition in the Rajasthan high court. An official of Akal Takht secretariat also shared details of the case with the ex-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and senior BJP leader Iqbal Singh Lalpura. 'Lalpura, as a Sikh, has a primary duty of talking to the BJP leadership to ensure that no Sikh faces such discrimination in any part of the country. Lalpura shall hold meetings with the Prime Minister and the home minister and submit a detailed report of the efforts made for a permanent resolution to Sri Akal Takht Sahib,' the Akal Takht secretariat stated. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said strict action must be taken against the officials at the exam centre. He recalled that a similar incident had taken place in Rajasthan with some Sikh candidates last year. At that time, an SGPC delegation had met with the administration there and urged them to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future. Terming the Jaipur episode as a 'discrimination', Dhami said an SGPC delegation would soon be sent to meet with the Rajasthan government to demand strict action against the responsible individuals. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal sought the Prime Minister's intervention to ensure such events do not recur. 'It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the Constitution. The central government should issue or, if necessary, re-issue clear cut guidelines to all states and union territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith,' said Badal in his letter to the PM. Sukhbir Badal also urged the Rajasthan high court to provide Gurpreet Kaur a special opportunity to appear for the RJS examination. He also asked Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal to take strict action against the responsible officials. AAP MLA seeks special chance for candidate AAP MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who also heads the Chief Khalsa Diwan, said every individual has the right to live according to their religion and wear religious symbols. 'The incident is a direct violation of religious and constitutional rights,' he said. Seeking a chance for the student to reappear under special arrangements, he appealed to the central government to ensure that Sikh students are allowed to appear in examinations while wearing their religious symbols.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Rift widens, Sukhbir faction turns down rebels' invite for party polls
The chances of reconciliation between Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the rebel faction appear to have diminished, with the Sukhbir camp making it clear that it will not participate in the upcoming election of office-bearers scheduled for August 11. Senior SAD leader Daljit Cheema The Sukhbir faction has emphasised that the election, already held on April 13 for the recast of the party, renders the new election unnecessary. Recently, the rebel faction extended an invitation to Sukhbir to join the election process for new office-bearers, with Manpreet Singh Ayali, one of the rebel leaders, stating that the election was being held to 'overhaul the party and make it a stronger regional force.' Ayali added that they were acting under the guidance of the Akal Takht, which had called for unity within the party. Senior SAD leader Daljit Cheema, however, dismissed the rebel faction's efforts, calling the membership drive a 'farce.' He questioned the legitimacy of the five-member committee, which claimed to have inducted 26 lakh new members, given the resignation of two key figures. Cheema flayed the rebel faction for their attempts to seek participation in the election process, stating that those sending invitations to join had never been members of the party. 'The members they inducted have no meaning, as the party they joined doesn't exist anymore,' Cheema said. He further clarified that the membership drive, which had been a point of contention, was conducted with permission from the Akal Takht, and followed procedures set by the Sikh temporal seat. The tension began to escalate in June last year when a group of party leaders, dissatisfied with Sukhbir's leadership, launched the 'Akali Dal Bachao Lehar' and demanded his removal as party president. The rebel faction, which included Gurpartap Singh Wadala, convener of the Sudhar Leher, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Kiranjot Kaur, Manjit Singh, Surinder Bhullewal, Charanjit Singh Brar, Harinder Pal Tohra and Gaganjit Singh Barnala, has been critical of Sukhbir's role during his tenure as deputy chief minister in the SAD-BJP coalition government from 2007 to 2017. They also sought an apology from Sukhbir for alleged mistakes committed by his government. On December 2, 2024, the Akal Takht imposed a 'tankha' (religious punishment) on Sukhbir and other SAD leaders for their actions during the previous SAD-led government. This move came after a complaint filed by the rebel faction, accusing Sukhbir of damaging Sikh interests and the party's reputation. The Akal Takht also called for his resignation and directed the formation of a new seven-member committee to carry out a membership drive and elect new office-bearers within six months. The five Sikh high priests also directed both factions to bury the hatchet and forge unity for Panth's cause. Following this, the rebel leaders on December 3 last year announced to dissolve their group and discontinue the 'Sudhar Lehar'. The Akal Takht-appointed committee faced challenges when its coordinator, Harjinder Singh Dhami, and another key member, Kirpal Singh Badungar, resigned, leaving the group with only five members. Despite this, the Sukhbir faction continued its own recruitment drive, asserting its legal position. On April 12, Sukhbir was re-elected as the party's president. The SAD's electoral graph has been falling since 2017. In the 2022 state assembly elections, the party could win only three seats and in recently held Lok Sabha polls, the party won only one seat (Bathinda) and its candidates lost deposits on 10 seats. 'Never pushed for an alliance with BJP' Reacting to the recent remarks by newly appointed BJP's Punjab working president Ashwani Sharma who ruled out any alliance with the SAD, Daljit Singh Cheema said the Akali Dal never pushed for an alliance with the BJP. He pointed out that the party contested the 2022 Punjab assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls solo. Sharma's statement came in the backdrop of Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar making a strong pitch for re-stitching the alliance with the Akali Dal, claiming it to be the need of the hour. 'We have never pushed for an alliance with the BJP nor have we spoken in public forums. In case there are speculations from certain quarters, we cannot help,' said Cheema. The party had cut ties of 24 years with the BJP in 2020 feeling the pressure from the state peasantry, which was protesting against the three farm laws. BJP's political fortunes are on a downward slide as it went solo in the 2022 state and 2024 Lok Sabha polls but failed to make a significant mark. While the SAD faced a drubbing in the assembly polls, winning just three seats, the BJP won two. In parliamentary polls, the SAD could only win the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, while the BJP failed to open its account. 'We are not in hurry of a re-alliance with the BJP,' said another leader, adding that party leaders are working hard and the party would witness a turnaround..
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Property fraud: 2 booked for cheating NRI woman
Police have lodged an FIR against sitting Congress councillor Sameer Dutta and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Amarbir Singh Sandhu following the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana high court for allegedly duping an NRI woman and fraudulently selling her property. On Saturday, the police registered the FIR at Civil Lines police station, under Sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 82 of the Registration Act against the accused. The complainant, Manpreet Kaur Sandhu, a Canadian citizen, said she had lodged a complaint in connection with the case in 2022 but no action was taken by police at that time. On Saturday, the police registered the FIR at Civil Lines police station, under Sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 82 of the Registration Act against the accused. 'My brother-in-law Amarbir Singh Sandhu and his associate Sameer Dutta fraudulently took possession of my property after the death of my husband, who died of brain cancer in 2021, and sold parts of it without my consent. When I learnt about it, I came to India and filed a police complaint against them. Despite repeated appeals, no action was taken by police. Finally, I approached the high court, which directed the police to register the FIR.' Sarabjit Singh Verka, Sandhu's legal counsel, said, 'Registration of the FIR is a relief for the NRI widow who was victimised by the accused.'
