The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal today disclosed that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates for the 2017 assembly elections would be announced soon in due time and the SAD team is working dedicatedly to ensure proper representation to every strata of society in the ticket allotment as is the tradition in the party.Interacting with the media persons here on the occasion of first day of the sangat darshan of village panchayats falling under the jurisdiction of the balachaur constituency, the Deputy Chief Minister said that neither Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nor Congress stands even fraction of a chance against the SAD-BJP combine as the SAD-BJP government has undertaken vast number of pro-people and welfare oriented measures which cannot be matched by any other party.Replying to a query about AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal reportedly planning to approach Hon'ble Supreme Court regarding the judgement of Hon'ble Delhi High Court saying that Lieutenant Governor is Delhi's administrative head and not bound by the advice of council of ministers, the Deputy Chief Minister said that every individual has the right to approach the Supreme Court concerning any issue.
Reiterating the stand of Punjab Government on crucial SYL issue, S. Badal said that the state government would not allow even a single drop of state's river waters to flow out of the state. He also said that Punjab doesn't have even a single drop of water to spare and also that the Chief Minister, S. Parkash Singh Badal had taken a clear stand in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that river water interests of the state would be protected.
Elaborating on the development oriented initiatives promulgated by the SAD-BJP government, S. Badal said that a well laid out network of roads is a perfect testimony to the success saga of the SAD-BJP government as development of road infrastructure is pre-requisite to the prosperity of any region. Divulging more, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has spent Rs. 7000 crore in order to ensure the full development of rural areas of the state. Listing the payment of Rs. 6000 crore to the farming sector of the state in lieu of power subsidy and free 200 units of power to SC households as game changers, S. Badal said that till now, more than 35000 people have been benefited by the free health insurance scheme. He also declared that 5 lakh more blue cards would be issued very shortly.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister conducted sangat darshan of 74 village panchayats falling under balachaur constituency and 13 wards coming under the jurisdiction of Municipal Council Balachaur and distributed development grants worth more than Rs. 4 crore. Besides this, he handed over a cheque worth Rs. 5.40 crore to the XEN Mandi Board for the upgradation of roads network in the balachaur constituency. He also disbursed 150 bicycles to the girl students under Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme apart from distributing 10 letters of old age pensions and 10 new blue cards to the beneficiaries.On the occasion, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal, Special Principal Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister Rahul Tewari, Ex-MLA Mohan Lal Banga, Chairman Central Co-operative Bank Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Ashok Kumar Dhiani, Chairman Markfed Jarnail Singh Wahid, President Youth Akali Dal Doaba Zone Sarbjot Singh Sabi, DIG S.K. Kalia, Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujjjwal, SSP Snehdeep Sharma and others leaders and administrative officials were also present.