Chandigarh, March 19 Former IAS officer Kanwaljeet Singh Cheema joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal here.
Cheema, an IAS officer from the 1993 batch in West Bengal, had served as a special principal secretary to former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on deputation for a considerable period. After inducting him into the party, Badal said Cheema's joining would further strengthen the SAD.
Addressing the media, Badal said Cheema possesses extensive administrative experience in both Punjab and West Bengal. He also mentioned that Cheema had served as a special principal secretary to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The SAD president said that when Cheema was posted with Parkash Singh Badal, he used to accompany him for 'Sangat Darshan' programs to resolve people's issues.
Lashing out at the AAP government, Badal claimed that the state received only Rs 2,600 crore in investments from 2022 to 2026, contrary to the Bhagwant Mann dispensation's claims of Rs 1.50 lakh crore. This government just "lies" to mislead people, alleged Badal.
He further criticised the state government over law and order, alleging "lawlessness" in the state where "gangsters are ruling the roost".