SAD to field candidates in Delhi polls

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) would field candidates in the coming Delhi Assembly polls and would fight the elections along with BJP.
Responding to questions after an oath administering ceremony of newly elected panchayat samiti and zilla parishad members here, Badal told reporters that after SAD's performance in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee elections, the party has consolidated its vote bank and was ready to expand its activity beyond the geographical limits of Punjab.
SAD may also field its candidates for Lok Sabha polls from Haryana and Delhi but no final decision has been taken yet, he said.

Going by the eroding credibility of the Congress-led UPA government, there was every possibility of general elections before December, he stressed.
When asked about continuing power cuts in the state's industrial sector, Badal said situation would continue to remain same as Central Grid was not allowing Punjab to purchase more than 5,300 MW of power.
After December, every sector will have round-the-clock power supply with the state's own generation capacity set to touch 13,000 MW against the present demand of 6,200 MW, he said.

Replying to a question on frequent traffic disruption due to dharnas, the deputy chief minister said he has already issued directions to all Deputy Commissioners to identify separate dharna sites in each district headquarter so that people could exercise their democratic rights without causing harassment to people.

On the question of FDI, he said investment should be allowed keeping in view the requirement of each sector and blanket permission for FDI should not be allowed.
Badal said he expected massive investment from companies like Tata Sons as they were impressed by the Chief Minister's vision and the state's Industrial Policy, reform measures and development initiatives and added, change in the state's investment scenario will be visible within one month.
On the issue of illegal colonies in the state, he clarified that no illegal colonies will be allowed in future and a pro-people policy was envisaged to help people get their illegal colonies regularised.