Badal accuses Cong of playing divisive politics
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday claimed that the Congress has always pursued divisive politics, but refused to term it as an anti-national party.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday claimed that the Congress has always pursued divisive politics, but refused to term it as an anti-national party.
Interestingly, in his meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, Badal’s deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal had dubbed the Congress as an anti-national party and accused it of fomenting trouble in Punjab by encouraging secessionist forces.
Interacting with mediapersons after paying tributes to Subedar Bapu Kartar Singh Dhaliwal, father of cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, on his 19thdeath anniversary, Badal claimed he wasn’t aware of Sukhbir’s statement. “I am not aware of Sukhbir’s statement and neither I’ve ever said something like this (Congress being an anti-national party)”, said Badal, as he faced a volley of question.
It’s not for the first time that CM Badal and Sukhbir have made different statements on key issues.
Earlier, chief minister had said he ready to apologies over sacrilege incidents, while Sukhbir had termed it as handiwork of the ISI and the Congress.
The chief minister said the Congress has always pursued divisive politics for political gains in Punjab. “The Congress has proved that a ‘leopard can’t change its spots’ by resorting to its age-old policy of ‘divide and rule’ by creating wedge between Hindus and Sikhs in the state,” claimed Badal.
Badal said that massive efforts were being made to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the state with a sole objective of weakening the SAD. Without naming any Congress leader, Badal said: “Everyone knows that the war of political one-upmanship between two Congress leaders is on.”
“The forces that had pushed Punjab back into black days for almost two decades have become active once again,” the chief minister added.
When asked about the financial outlay required for creating 1.14 lakh jobs, Badal said the government will arrange all funds.
Earlier, Badal recalled the outstanding services rendered by Subedar Bapu Kartar Singh Dhaliwal to the country.