Congress keen to disturb peace in Punjab, says CM Parkash Singh Badal

Punjab: Accusing Congress of “hatching a conspiracy” to derail the process of development and peace in Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday said the presence of its leaders in Sikh congregation Sarbat Khalsa’ has exposed the party’s plan to push the state back to turbulent times. On the sidelines of Sangat Darshan programme in Khadoor Sahib assembly constituency here, he said the Congress was “hobnobbing with the separatist forces” to disturb the hard earned, peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state. He said the worst thing was that despite being aware of the development, the state Congress leadership refused to take any action against its leaders including former Khadoor Sahib MLA Ramanjeet Singh Sikki, who had attended the 10 November ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ in Amritsar, from where talks of destabilising peace and progress of the state were made.  “This has vindicated our stand that the Congress was wary of a peaceful and prosperous Punjab just for its vested political interests,” added Badal. He said Punjab has scripted a new success story of development, peace and communal harmony during the regime of SAD-BJP alliance. He said that former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh does not have a single contribution to his credit for development of the state. Badal said that during the tenure of the SAD-BJP alliance, the state had initiated a large number of development projects, which were several times more than that of the Congress dispensation. He said that state government has made stupendous efforts to curb the drug menace in Punjab. Not even a single ounce of drug was produced in the state but it was smuggled into the state from across the borders. Efforts are being made by the state to cut the supply line of drugs by taking stringent action against those found guilty in this heinous crime, the chief minister said. PTI