Badal resort row: If Tatas can get roads for investment, why not Badals, says Chandumajra

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary and Anandpur Sahib Member of Parliament Prem Singh Chandumajra has defended the ruling Badal family in the raging controversy over the construction of a road leading to a resort they own at Palanpur village in SAS Nagar district by saying that all states provide such infrastructure to investors. A 100-ft-wide and 1.3-km road is being constructed to Metro Eco Green Resorts in which deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and other members of the family own shares.

"All states provide infrastructure and facilities to big businesses like the Tatas, the Ambanis and others. There is no harm in providing facilities and infrastructure to such investment. After all, the Badals are also investing in Punjab," said Chandumajra on Saturday, while responding to media queries on whether there was any conflict of interest in the ruling family also running businesses. He was in town to hold a press conference on the completion of a year of the union government.

He added that he would not comment on the particular case as the matter was sub judice, but like any other citizen, the Badal family also has the right to run a business.

"Any state is duty-bound to provide facilities to investors by creating infrastructure. We do it for others, then why not the Badals who have also invested in Punjab," he added, claiming that the road would also serve other residents.

He added that the Badals had been into business for long and the recent controversies resulted as the Opposition parties aimed to score brownie points and revive their fortunes.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June 19 visit to Anandpur Sahib, he said the state had huge hopes from the visit.