Don't expect anything good from Cong: Badal

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today cautioned people of the state against expecting public welfare work from Punjab Congress leaders having a "monarchial outlook".
Adressing a Sangat Darshan programme here, he launched a scathing attack on Congress, saying its leaders believed in enjoying the fruits of power and worked rarely for public welfare.
During the rule of Congress party, the country has confronted several social maladies like illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and others, he charged.
On the contrary, Badal said, whenever the SAD-BJP alliance has been given mandate, he had started measures like Sangat Darshan programme to redress the grievances of people.

He accused state Congress leaders of imitating him by holding similar programs, but said it was a futile attempt as no welfare measures could be ensured through them.
Touching on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, Badal said any attempt to divest the state of its legitimate share of water would not be tolerated.

He said the SAD-BJP alliance government would not share even a single drop of water with anybody, adding that construction of the canal would never be allowed as it was not a political but an emotive issue for the state.
When state Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh was welcoming the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to lay foundation of the canal, thousands of Akalis had courted arrest, he said.

"It is unfortunate that now the Congress leaders are shedding crocodile tears to mislead the people on this issue" added Badal.