Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today “politely declined” the state government’s offer of a free government accommodation for him.
In a statement, he said it was very graceful of CM Capt Amarinder Singh to make this offer.
“I thank him from the core of my heart, but I am making my own arrangements for stay.”
Badal said he and his party would wholeheartedly and constructively support any decision of the Congress government which was in the larger interest of the people of Punjab. “The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) does not believe in confrontation or criticism for the sake of criticism,” he added.
The former CM said the new government could easily fulfil its promises, provided it had the will to do so. “Their manifesto was prepared and released by one of the finest economists in the world, Dr Manmohan Singhji, and he would not have made these promises if he thought that the state government’s treasury was empty. So, I expect the new government to fulfil its promises in the first month itself,” he said.
Badal said he was surprised over the setting up of a committee to study farmers’ debt: “All details are available in government records and various studies conducted by farm economists and university experts. All that is needed is for the new government to implement its promise.”
Commenting on the first decisions announced by the Council of Ministers, Badal said, “Quite honestly, I am surprised that the new government could think nothing beyond announcing the policies and decisions already implemented by the SAD-BJP alliance. Except a few cosmetic gestures, such as the removal of the red beacon, almost 95% of the announcements are either a repeat of old policies or mere empty rhetoric.”