AAP, Cong will stop pro-poor schemes if voted to power: Prakash Singh Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday termed Congress and Aam Aadmi Party as "anti-poor" and alleged that if voted to power, these parties would "discontinue" several pro-people schemes and subsidies.

The SAD-BJP government has taken a number of pro-people initiatives like Atta-Dal, Pension, Shagun, Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme, Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna, he said.

Besides, the state government is also giving free electricity to farmers and weaker sections of the society, the Chief Minister said during 'Sangat Darshan' programme in Lambi Assembly segment.

Badal alleged that both Congress and AAP have a proven a track record of being "anti-poor and anti-Punjabi".

"God forbid, if in any case, these parties are voted to power, they will discontinue all these schemes thus leaving the beneficiaries in the lurch," he claimed.

"During his stint as the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh had discontinued free power to people and welfare schemes were a distant dream. The AAP government in Delhi led by Arvind Kejriwal has done nothing tangible on welfare front," Badal alleged.

Alleging the AAP leaders in Punjab are "insulting" the beneficiaries of pro-poor schemes by terming them as "beggars", he claimed, "They are virtually good for nothing and the future of people, especially those from the poor strata of the society, can never be safe in their hands."

Badal claimed not only Amarinder and Kejriwal but none of the Chief Ministers in the country ever visit every village to hold 'Sangat Darshans' for redressing people's grievances.

"So before casting your vote, carefully distinguish between your sympathisers and enemies so that your future is in safe hands," he told the gathering.

Interacting with mediapersons at Channu village the Chief Minister alleged the state Congress chief is lying on Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue to mislead people.

"Everyone is ware that the plan to construct SYL canal was conceived and executed by the then Congress government in the state, and the foundation of this sorrow of Punjab was laid by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi," Badal said.

On the new front formed by cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu along with former Indian Hockey captain Pargat Song among others ahead of next year's state election, he said people with no administrative experience, contribution and sympathy towards Punjab are forming such groups, which would hardly have any impact on the state's polity.

"Many such more groups will emerge before the polls but the electorate will outrightly reject them," Badal claimed.