Change feudal mindset: Badal to Amarinder

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh to change his "feudal mindset" and consider himself a part of the general public in a democratic setup rather than treating them as "subjects in his so-called kingdom".
At a Sangat Darshan programme in Bassi Pathana Assembly segment here, Badal said he is a servant of the people of Punjab and Amarinder is a "king who is not connected to the people at the ground level".
He alleged that Amarinder feels "belittled" to go to the people while on the contrary it was an honour for him to be in their company.

The Chief Minister said his vision of democracy had always been different from that of the state Congress chief who had a "royal and monarchical approach to governance."
"Kings live in palaces, I live among the people," Badal said, adding "Amarinder is even inaccessible to his party's MLAs".
Reminding Amarinder of his "anti-people stance" as Chief Minister, he alleged, "He had discontinued free power to farmers, levied 'abiana' on canal water and imposed a blanket ban on government jobs immediately after assuming office."

"However, the SAD-BJP government after coming to power not only resumed these initiatives but also started new pro-poor schemes like Atta-Dal and a health insurance scheme for all," Badal said.

Asking people to beware of the "dubious role" of Amarinder in bartering away the interests of Punjab, he alleged, "The Congress leadership has divested the state of its capital, river waters and also shattered it on all fronts, be it political, economic or religious."
On being asked on a notice served by the Enforcement Directorate to Amarinder's family for allegedly stashing illegal money in foreign banks, Badal said only Amarinder can clarify this issue.