Patiala, April 5 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal announced on Sunday that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his OSDs would be held accountable for alleged wrongdoing after the 2027 assembly elections.
Addressing a "Save Punjab" rally here, Badal said, "These corrupt individuals think they can flee to Canada and Australia, and other countries where they have stashed their illegal wealth. I want to tell them that they will all be held accountable. They will be brought back to face the law, even if they try to flee, and they will be held responsible for their crimes."
Responding to a media query later, Badal said that twisting "kiklis" (traditional folk sequences) to target him would not help Chief Minister Mann.
"He can create as many 'kiklis' as he wants, but this will not save him from the wrath of the Punjabis who want to hold him accountable for betraying them in every possible sphere," Badal said.
"I challenge Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to visit any village in Punjab without his security personnel, which imposes a lockdown and confiscates weapons wherever he goes, as happened in Jaito today. Once he does this, the Punjabis will make him forget his cheap 'kiklis' for good!"
In response to a query about estranged Akalis returning to the party, SAD President Badal said, "I appeal to 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 of Delhi and reclaim the pride and prosperity of our state."
Speaking about false cases being registered by the AAP government, Badal said, "Once a SAD government is formed, we will establish a committee headed by a sitting judge to investigate all the cases within three months. All false cases will be revoked, and strict action will be taken against political leaders and officers responsible for registering such cases."
Badal also spoke about how the Congress repeatedly betrayed Punjabis and had nothing to show despite remaining in power for 25 years in the state.
He said, "Captain Amarinder Singh, who had remained Chief Minister for 10 years, had not even bothered 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."
He also appealed for "panthic" unity on the occasion and urged all Akalis to return to the party.
Speaking about his vision for Punjab, Badal said, "Government jobs will be given to Punjabis only, unlike the AAP government, which had given such jobs to outsiders."
He said, "The next SAD government would welcome new investment but would put a condition that all new units should hire at least 75 per cent Punjabis."
He also announced that young people would be given a Rs 10 lakh interest-free loan, in addition to a 75 per cent subsidy to establish livestock farms.