CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Reacting to the ‘Paani Bachao, Punjab Bachao’ rally held by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Moga on December 8, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee’s head Captain Amarinder Singh dubbed it as a ‘Badal Bachao Rally’. He said that the rally was just a cry by Badals as they have lost credibility due to their 10 years of misrule in Punjab.
In a press note shared with Sikh24, the PPCC Chief said that the Badals were forcefully ushering in members of the public into their rally.
“Notwithstanding hired workers and crowds, lured or coerced into coming to the rally, it was evident that the SAD was bereft of any issues and were on the defensive in the face of imminent defeat in the polls”, said the press note.
Blaming the Badals for raising the SYL-Canal dispute to such an extent, Captain Amarinder Singh said that the Punjab masses were aware that the Badals were enacting a drama, in view of the Punjab assembly polls, due in 2017.
It has come to fore that the ruling SAD used state’s resources and administration to transport masses into the rally. DTO’s (District Traffic Officers) were reportedly instructed to facilitate Buses who in turn forced the transporters to make their buses available for the rally by threatening to cancel route permits.
In a separate media addressing, the PPCC’s Vice Chief and its Spokesperson MLA Sunil Jakhar termed the rally as a flop. He said that hundreds of Police contingents in civil dress were made to sit front rows of audience gallery to hide the voice of revolt by the public.
Mocking Sukhbir Badal’s claims of promoting sports in Punjab, Jakhar alleged that the sports stadiums in small towns and villages were completely ignored by the ruling SAD during its 10 years long tenure.