Ludhiana-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the breakdown of law and order and gangster culture under Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rule had sounded a death knell to Punjab’s industry, even as he announced that the SAD government once elected to power would eradicate gangsters and created an investor friendly climate in the State.
The SAD president, who was here to campaign in the city for party's candidate Ranjit Singh Dhillon, had a detailed interaction with industrialists, besides heading the Punjab Bachao Yatra in Khanna in favour of party’s Fatehgarh Sahib candidate Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, said “it is condemnable that home grown industrialists are leaving Punjab and investing in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh”. He said industrialists from the State had already invested Rs 20, 000 crore in other States which was a huge loss to the State’s economy.
Asserting that the AAP government and chief minister Bhagwant Mann was solely responsible for this state of affairs, Mr Sukhbir Badal said “industrialists told me that many of their compatriots had thought it fit to pay extortion amounts because the State government had failed to curb gangsters”. He also disclosed that industrialists had conveyed how they had not got a single concession from the AAP government and that their power bills had also been hiked making their business unviable. He said some industrialists also pointed out that they were facing problems in sourcing raw material as their counterparts were apprehensive about dealing with them in the current situation.
Taking a strong note of the deterioration in the investment climate in Punjab, the SAD was committed to eradicating gangster culture and drugs. “The SAD will adopt a zero tolerance policy on both issues”. He said simultaneously the Punjab Invest department established during the erstwhile SAD government would be revived and adequate concessions would be given to investors to make the State an attractive investment destination. He said a new policy would also be framed to encourage small scale industrial enterprises besides ensuring assured power was available at a very competitive price to the industry.
Asserting that peace and communal harmony was essential for progress, Mr Badal said “it is unfortunate that all national parties are bent on dividing the country on religion and caste lines instead of telling what they will do for trade and industry or farmers and the common man”. He also appealed to the people to check the credentials of all parties in the fray as well as their past track record. “I can proudly state that the SAD is the only party which has a proven track record of fulfilling its commitments while all others are indulged in propaganda alone”.
Mr Badal also urged Punjabis to join the Punjab Bachao Yatra to save the State. Those present included Ludhiana Lok Sabha candidate Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Hira Singh Gabria, Gurmeet Singh Kular, Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, Jaspal Singh Giaspura and Jagbir Singh Sokhi.
Earlier while participating in the Punjab Bachao Yatra which received a massive response in Khanna, the SAD president appealed to Punjabis to support their own regional party to usher in State specific development. Mr Badal also appealed to the people to wholeheartedly support the party’s Fatehgarh Sahib candidate Bikramjit Singh Khalsa besides congratulating senior leader Yadwinder Singh Yadu for successful organization of the Yatra. He was welcomed by all sections of society during the course of the Yatra with the Valmikhi community and social and religious organizations honouring him on the occasion.