Nangal (Punjab), March 31 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday attacked SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders, claiming that people are aware of their "dubious character" and said the former deputy CM is "daydreaming" about returning to power, which will never happen.
Mann also targeted Congress leaders, alleging that they have no vision for Punjab and their only aim is to "loot" the state by coming to power.
The chief minister was addressing a gathering after announcing a sum of Rs 75 crore for development in Nangal, which includes north India's first glass bridge, a Rs 23 crore Centre of Excellence named after Kargil martyr Captain Amol Kalia, and major upgrades in education infrastructure.
Lashing out at the previous governments, Mann said those who presided over the rise of the drug trade and weakened Punjab's social fabric can never be forgiven.
Coming down heavily on the Akali leadership, he alleged that they are "opportunist" leaders who change their colours and stance like a chameleon as per their convenience and vested political interests.
"They have long fooled people by calling themselves farmers, but can they explain how any food grower acquires a huge fleet of buses and a lavish hotel in Gurgaon? All this has been accumulated by selling the interests of the state and its people for their vested political gains," he claimed.
Targeting Badal, Mann said that he has lost his base among the masses and "paid" workers are being used to show crowds in rallies.
"Bewildered by the unprecedented work done by the state government, he is making baseless and irrational statements. On the basis of such statements, the former deputy chief minister is daydreaming about returning to power, which will never be possible," he claimed.
The former deputy CM claims massive development during their regime but turns a blind eye to Kotakpura, Behbal Kalan and other places where 'beadbi' (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib took place and innocents were killed, he said.
SAD leaders have forgotten these 'beadbi' incidents and they believe that people will forget these incidents too, but the public will not forget, said Mann.
Referring to Badal's 'Punjab Bachao Yatra', the chief minister said it is actually a 'Parivar Bachao Yatra'."
After "looting" the state for 15 years, they must explain whom they are trying to save Punjab from, Mann said.
"People are well aware of the dubious character of the Akalis and the Badal family, so their theatrics will not work anymore. Those leaders at whose residences canals used to stop earlier never cared about it," said Mann.
Taking a swipe at Badal, he said had the former deputy CM been capable, his father Parkash Singh Badal would have made him the CM.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Mann said in the opposition party, every leader wants to become a CM.
"They have more chief ministerial faces than workers. That is why their top leader publicly snubbed them in a recent rally. The Congress is a divided house that will collapse due to infighting, even as its leaders continue to daydream about returning to power," he said.
"These leaders have no vision for Punjab. Their only aim is to loot the state's wealth by coming to power, but their dreams will never be fulfilled," he further said.
On the issue of water, Mann said for the first time, water resources are being channelised properly in the state.
The Bhakra canal has a capacity of 9,500 cusecs, but through our efforts, supply has been enhanced to 11,000 cusecs, he said.
In the state, Rs 6,500 crore has been spent to rejuvenate the canal system to ensure water reaches tail ends, and for the first time, 1,444 villages are receiving canal water, he added.
"We are committed to preserving every drop of Punjab's water and no other state can take it forcibly. Last year, Haryana attempted such mischief but was taught a lesson and is now using its share judiciously," he said, asserting that his government took a firm stand to protect Punjab's waters.