AAP is a party of defectors: Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today launched a no holds barred attack on AAP, alleging that it was a party of "defectors" and was bereft of any ideology for public welfare.
The veteran Akali leader was addressing public gatherings in villages of Guradaspur district during the government's 'sangat darshan' programme.
"The turncoat leaders who had been rejected by the people time and again were joining AAP, which was a clear indication that party was not having any concrete ideology or programme for welfare of state and its people," he said.
Badal said that contrary to that the Shiromani Akali Dal has a history of relentlessly struggle for the cause of Punjab and its people.

Taking on AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Badal alleged that he ran away from the promises he made to people.
Badal reminded people that his Delhi counterpart had announced to hold 'Janta Darbar' to address public grievances.

"However, instead of keeping his words, the Delhi Chief Minister abandoned his well publicised programme," Badal said.
The Chief Minister said that it was on record that Punjab was the only state where government comes at doorstep of people through sangat darshan programme.
Badal said that this pro-people initiative, extensively aimed at the welfare of people, was a flagship program of SAD-BJP alliance government.

Badal said that no other chief minister of any other state undertakes such an exercise to redress the grievances of people in such an elaborate manner.
Coming down heavily on former president of state Congress Pratap Singh Bajwa for issuing "baseless statements" against state government, Badal said that it would be better that Bajwa focuses more on his party affairs.
Slamming the state Congress leadership foropposing his sangat darshan programmes "tooth and nail", the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders were envious of the state's overall development and prosperity of its people.
Badal said that besides giving a major fillip to the overall development of the state, the sangat darshan programmes have also been instrumental in mitigating the woes of common people.

"The sangat darshan helps us to evaluate the performance
of the officers, which further facilitates us to provide effective, accountable and transparent governance to the people," he added.
Badal said thatRs540crorearrears has been paid to sugarcane growers by the government besides arranging Rs 200croreloan to private sugar mills for sugarcane arrears.
The Punjab Government has also decided to give Rs 295 per quintal for sugar cane against Rs 220 fixed by the Centre.