Badal slams Congress, justifies sangat programmes

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon people to give a befitting reply to Congress for its alleged ongoing "divisive and anti-Punjab agenda", even as he also hit out at the opposition party which has chided him over holding sangat darshan programmes.
"Attempts of Congress to stall the development projects of Punjab will not be tolerated and state's development will be accelerated further," he said while redressing public grievances on the concluding day of his sangat darshan programme here, an official release said.
Reacting to some Punjab Congress leaders, including Amarinder Singh, chiding him over holding Sangat Darshan programmes by stating that it was his (CM's) favourite pass-time, the 87-year-old five-time Chief Minister alleged that neither the Congress leaders have anything to do with the development of the state nor they were aware about law of the land.

"Sorting out public grievances by reaching their doorsteps is my foremost duty and I am committed to all round development of the state besides ensuring delivery of basic amenities at ground level to uplift the living standard of common masses," he said.
Later, talking to reporters, Badal, while commenting upon the Congress' opposition to Sangat Darshan programmes, said "our opponents advocate policies of divisiveness and sectarian interests besides mocking our social and pro-people agenda".
He said after well understanding the "anti Punjab and anti-development stance of Congress, the people of the state had shown them the door in previous assembly polls (in 2012)".

"Now, the Congress party (in Punjab) is facing severe infighting... On the other hand the SAD-BJP is fully committed to take state to the new heights of success," he said.

Answering a query regarding not inviting AAP's Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann in sangat darshan programme in Benra village, Badal said he never invites anyone to such programme but he, himself, visits villages of Punjab to address public issues.
He said during Sangat Darshan anyone can come with their issues and Panchayats could get financial assistance for development purposes.
To a question regarding the next month's Delhi Assembly polls, the Chief Minister said SAD-BJP was contesting the elections in alliance.

"The alliance will definitely register unprecedented victory as the wave is in favour of SAD-BJP," he said.
When asked about the canvassing being initiated by former MP and BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in Delhi for his party, Badal said the saffron leader was like his son and he can canvass for SAD-BJP candidates anywhere in Delhi.