Punjab minister criticizes Sukhbir Badal over land pooling scheme and past governance.
Ludhiana: Punjab minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh launched a blistering attack on
Shiromani Akali Dal
(SAD) president
Sukhbir Singh Badal
on Thursday, accusing the former deputy chief minister of corruption, arrogance, and misleading the public over the Bhagwant Mann govt's land-pooling scheme.
Speaking to reporters in the Ludhiana West constituency, Sondh dismissed Badal's recent remarks as "baseless" and claimed they revealed the Akali leader's "political and financial desperation." "Sukhbir Badal is not fighting for farmers," Sondh said. "He's defending his own interests and the land mafia nexus he built during his time in power. Every Punjabi knows that illegal construction in the state flourished under the Badal family's watch.
"
The minister said the Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt's land-pooling scheme posed no threat to farmers. Participation in the scheme, he said, is entirely voluntary and designed to increase land value by developing roads, lighting, sanitation, and other infrastructure. "Farmers who choose to participate will receive 1,000 square yards of residential and 200 square yards of commercial land per acre — a return that will multiply in value fivefold within a few years," he said.
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Sondh accused Badal of fearmongering and double standards. "The man who now claims to support farmers had earlier backed the Centre's three black farm laws. He only reversed his stance under public pressure," he said, adding that Sukhbir's wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, failed to deliver any meaningful development during her tenure as Union food processing minister.
The minister also targeted the SAD chief over the contentious Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, accusing him of compromising Punjab's interests for "personal economic gain." He criticised Badal for "disregarding" the authority of Akal Takht Sahib and treating Sikh institutions as "political tools." "Sukhbir Badal has no moral authority to speak on Punjab's issues," Sondh said. "His legacy is one of crime, corruption, and collusion with land mafias — not of service to the people.
" The Mann govt, he added, was committed to cleaning up Punjab's politics and eliminating drugs, corruption, and land-related exploitation.
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