Sukhbir has proved his mettle as SAD president: Badal

A day ahead of the party's delegate session, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said SAD president and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has efficaciously proved his mettle as head of the party by passing every "litmus test".
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will elect its party chief during its delegate session slated to be held tomorrow in Amritsar.
Interacting with reporters here on the sidelines of the third and concluding day of Sangat Darshan programme in Qadian Assembly segment, Badal said the most difficult test for any political leader as head of a party, was the performance of his party in elections.

"By ensuring the second consecutive win of SAD in the Assembly elections, besides successfully leading the party to a thumping victory in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee elections and bye-elections held in the state, Sukhbir has proved his ability as the party chief," he said.
Refusing to speculate on the future SAD president, Badal said SAD was a democratic party and its president would be elected by its delegates.
Replying to a question, the Chief Minister categorically said the state government was not mortgaging any property of the state to avail loans for meeting its routine administrative expenses.

The state government was committed towards ensuring overall welfare of the state, but no step would be taken against the interest of Punjab, he said.

"The phenomenon of developmental loans was being adopted by almost every country and there was hardly any harm in pursuing the motto of people's well being," Badal said.
SAD has no objection on whether political parties were covered under the ambit of Right to Information Act or not, adding that the Centre was to take a decision on this matter, the Chief Minister said.
Punjab government was spending Rs 1,700 crore in order to upgrade and strengthen the rural road network in the state, he added.