Attari (Punjab), February 21 Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to the people of Punjab on Saturday to stop experimenting and support their own regional party in the 2027 Assembly elections, saying his party alone is committed to the welfare of the state.
"We have to live and die here. All parties based in Delhi, whether it is the Congress, AAP, or the BJP, have no concern for the state. Their only interest is to gain power. This is why development only occurs under the SAD's tenure and stops immediately afterwards," Badal said, while addressing a 'Save Punjab' campaign rally.
The SAD president said that despite a plethora of Congress chief ministers, the party could not name one important landmark project or scheme it initiated.
"On the other hand, the SAD is responsible not only for providing free power to tube wells, irrigation channels, world-class roads and airports, mandis, and thermal plants, but also for launching innovative social welfare schemes like Atta-Daal, old age pension, and the Shagun scheme," he claimed.
Badal said that if his party forms the government in Punjab in 2027, it would reopen the Attari and Fazilka borders for trade with all Central Asian countries, and create a special industrial zone in the border belt.
"Business in the border belt has suffered immensely due to the closure of the border. Once elected, we will ensure that both the Attari and Fazilka borders are opened for the export of fruits and vegetables, as well as other commodities, to the Central Asian countries," he said.
"This export will go a long way in making Amritsar a hub for international trade and benefit the entire region," he added. He also mentioned the migration of industries to hill states due to concessions, which has been a major setback for the Punjab industry.
"The SAD is committed to establishing a special industrial zone in the border belt and will provide financial incentives to encourage investment in this zone. This will revitalize the entire economy of the area," he said.
Badal alleged that central agencies, after "defaming" the SAD and taking control of Sri Hazoor Sahib and Takht Patna Sahib, were striving to dislodge the Badal family in order to install an "amenable puppet."
The Akal Dal is also a target of the AAP government, he said.
"I am ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, but I will never compromise on the principles of the SAD," Badal said.
He said that his party, if it comes to power, will form a commission to investigate "false cases" against such party leaders as Bikram Singh Majithia and Tarn Taran leader Kanchanpreet Kaur.
The SAD is also committed to pursuing the "corrupt practices" of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he said.