The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alliance will undertake a joint Punjab Bachao (save Punjab) programme from 17 March to 24 March “to mark the failure of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government on all fronts as well as betrayal of all promises made to Punjabis”.
Announcing this on Monday, SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said a decision to this effect had been taken under the leadership of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal following a meeting with constituency incharges’ as well as the senior BSP leadership.
Dr Cheema said the dharnas (sit-ins) would be held constituency wise across the state under the theme “AAP Sarkar Da Ikk Saal, Punjab Da Karta Bura Haal” (one year of AAP government has put Punjab in a bad state).
He said SAD- BSP workers would submit memorandums to sub divisional magistrates across the state as per the programme which would highlight the injustices meted out to Punjabis under AAP dispensation.
“We will expose the AAP government on the law and order front which has deteriorated to the lowest level ever. Similarly SAD workers will highlight how the gangster and extortion culture has resulted in the flight of industry from the state,” the SAD leader said.
Dr Cheema said the betrayal of promises made to the women and youth including providing Rs 1,000 per month to all women and ensuring jobs for youth would also be highlighted.
“So too will the discrimination being meted to scheduled castes and disruption of all social welfare benefits including the old age pension scheme and Shagun scheme as well as deletion of aata – daal cards would be taken up in the dharnas,” he said.
The SAD will also expose the AAP for trying to fool government employees with the promise of reviving the Old Pension Scheme but doing nothing to make it a reality.
Stating that the AAP government was taking Punjab towards bankruptcy, Dr Cheema said the jugglery of figures in the recent budget session proved the AAP government was not serious about resolving the problems of the people but instead was wasting public funds for the party’s hype.