No disagreement with ally BJP on law and order, Badal asserts

Days after BJP expressed concern over "deteriorating" law and order following an attack on an RSS leader, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asserted there was no disagreement between the allies saying the SAD-BJP ties are "absolutely cordial and everlasting".
He said the two alliance partners were on the same page to ensure peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state as it was their priority and "sacred duty".
On the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme in Hoshiarpur assembly segment, Badal said "the ties of SAD-BJP are absolutely cordial and everlasting."
He reaffirmed that there was no disagreement on the issue.

Delegations of BJP and RSS on August 8 had met Badal in Chandigarh and expressed concern over deteriorating law and order in the wake of attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja.
Referring to the attack, Badal asked people to beware of "conspiracies" hatched by anti-social elements to create panic and divide people on sectarian lines.

He said the state police was "pro-actively" working to nab the culprits.
Punjab is far better in maintaining law and order compared to other states in the country as the crime rate here has been lowest so far, the chief minister claimed.
Asked about the electoral prospects of AAP, Badal said its national convener Arvind Kejriwal was living in a "fool's paradise" because none could match SAD-BJP's popularity on the basis of development and welfare of all sections of society.

He said the SAD-BJP alliance believes in development while Congress and AAP were "eyeing to capture power to pursue their vested interests".
Badal said Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh boasted of becoming chief minister during last assembly polls but he had to "bite the dust" because his party had "neither any vision nor agenda" for the development of the state.
Queried about spurt in gang wars, Badal said the state government was fully sensitised to this problem and strict action was being taken against criminals.
Local residents had raised the issue of wine contractors running illegal liquor vends in their area. To that end, Badal directed SSP Hoshiarpur to nab the unscrupulous contractors and cancel their licenses.

The chief minister announced a development grant of Rs 49 crore for construction of roads, management of water supply, sewerage and street lighting in the Hoshiarpur city.