Patiala, April 5 SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday attacked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, warning that he and his officials will not be allowed to escape from the state after the 2027 Assembly elections and will be held accountable for their "corrupt actions."
Addressing a gathering during a 'Save Punjab' rally here, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president said, "These corrupt individuals think they can run away to Canada and Australia and other countries where they have stashed their illegal wealth. I want to tell them that they will be held accountable."
He emphasized that even if they try to escape, they will be brought back to face the law for their crimes.
Noting that Mann's attempts to use "kiklis" (traditional folk sequences) to target him would be ineffective, Badal stated that no matter how many "kiklis" he invents, it will not save him from the wrath of the Punjabis, who want to hold him accountable for "betraying" them in every possible manner.
"I challenge Mann to visit any village in Punjab without his entourage of 500 police personnel and security apparatus, which imposes a lockdown wherever he goes, as it did in Jaito today. Once he does this, the Punjabis will make him forget his cheap 'kiklis' once and for all," he said.
Regarding estranged Akalis returning to the party, Badal urged every Punjabi to set aside their differences and unite under the banner of Punjab's only regional party. "Together, we must protect Punjab from the looters in Delhi and reclaim the pride and prosperity of our state," he said.
Badal also criticised the Congress party, stating that they have "repeatedly betrayed" the people of Punjab and have nothing to show for their 25 years in power in the state.
"Amarinder Singh, who had remained chief minister for ten years, had not cared to visit one ward or village in Patiala Rural while former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had held 'Sangat Darshan' programmes in all its villages," said Badal.
Additionally, Badal called for "Panthic" unity and encouraged all Akalis to return to the party.