NIK BUREAU

CHANDIGARH:

Amidst media reports pertaining to possibility of early elections for the state assembly, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance was ever prepared fully to face hustings at any moment.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Lambi Assembly Segment at Bhai Ka Kera (Sri Muktsar Sahib), he said that in a democratic set up political parties were always ready for elections and the  Shiromani Akali Dal was not an exception to it. He said that they were ever ready to face the elections any point of time.

Asked to comment on former Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s entry in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Chief Minister said that it was hardly any issue as it did not  make any difference whether Mr. Khaira joined AAP or remained in Congress. He said that Mr. Khaira would have in any case contested election either on Congress or now on AAP’s ticket.

However,the SAD-BJP candidate from Bhoolath assembly segment would remain the same, he added.

Refuting the allegations of Congress regarding anti-democratic decisions of his regime, the Chief Minister said that these were totally baseless and irrational. Mr. Badal said that the opposition was criticizing the State Government just for the sake of criticism.

Replying to another query, he asserted that his regime was committed to firmly deal with any incident involving law and order in Punjab adding that in Abohar incident also the state Government was taking every step to deliver justice to the victims.Almost all the main accused involved in this heinous crime had been nabbed and law was taking its own course in the case. “Our government has always acted swiftly to deal with such cases and nobody will be allowed to take the law in their hand”, he reiterated.

Later addressing public gatherings in village Dabwali Malko Ki, Kangan Khera, Mahni Khera, Rasulpur and Bhai Ka kera, the Chief Minister said that his regime had taken several historic initiatives for the well being of the people. Punjab was the only state which had initiated pro – poor schemes like Atta – Dal and Shagun. Likewise, the state government was providing free power to farmers at a cost of Rs. 5,000 crore every year.