Chandigarh: The Senior Congress leader and the Jail & Cooperation Minister, Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership for backstabbing Punjab instead of raising their voice in favour of demanding just rights of the state.
Castigating the SAD leadership especially its President Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for acting contrary to the interests of the state, S. Randhawa said that the SAD invited Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the Malout rally and conveniently choose to forget that it was the same Haryana Chief Minister who had demanded Chandigarh but his claim was rejected in clear cut manner by the Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh. S. Randhawa questioned that how could SAD leaders forget that the Haryana Chief Minister has also been demanding completion of SYL canal which would rob Punjab of its precious water thus turning Punjab into a barren land.
Randhawa reminded Sukhbir Singh Badal that being alliance partner of the BJP, he must use his leverage on Modi to resolve the issue of Chandigarh which could be done by transferring it to Punjab. The Congress leader also said that former Chief Minister Parkash Badal had passed several resolutions with regard to protecting Punjab’s interests on river water and Chandigarh issues and used these issues only to garner votes and befool the people of Punjab.
Cautioning the SAD leadership to come clean on both the vexed issues, S. Randhawa warned that the people of Punjab have seen through the devious game plan of SAD and would not pardon SAD for its betrayal of honouring those who had never acted or done anything even remotely favourable to Punjab.