CM Amarinder Singh: 'SAD leaders obstructing coordination with SGPC'

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, has accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, Harsimrat Badal and Sukhbir Badal, for obstructing coordination between the State Government and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). They were accused of intervening in the facilitation of Parkash Purb celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. CM Amarinder Singh said that three cabinet ministers met SGPC officials on Tuesday and had a friendly and polite discussion on the organisation of the festival. He rebutted opposition’s claims about the State Government not delivering on its promises. 

CM Amarinder Singh on SAD leaders 

"Sukhbir and Harsimrat Badal are trying to scuttle an amicable settlement of the issue at every step for their political gains, what kind of Akalis are these? Definitely not the Taksali Akalis of the founding party," said the Chief Minister while campaigning for Congress candidate Captain Sandeep Sandhu in the upcoming by-election. 

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‘Promises being fullfilled’ 

The Punjab CM added, "All the promises are being fulfilled in stages and the remaining would also be implemented as the fiscal situation of the state improves. We are 101% confident of sweeping all the four by-polls. The mood was in favour of the Congress as the people want development, which our government is delivering to them." CM Amarinder Singh also called out Pakistan for imposing a 20% fee on the visit of Indian pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. "How will the poor pilgrims pay this amount? The Sikh religion propounds 'Khulle Darshan' - an ideology that Pakistan seems bent on violating".

Read | Amarinder Singh criticises Pak for charging tax on Kartarpur pilgrims

‘Kejriwal diverting blame’ 

Speaking about Arvind Kejriwal’s claims that the stubble burning in Punjab was causing air pollution in Delhi, Amarinder Singh said, “Though the stubble being burnt in Pakistan and the northern states were carrying pollutants to the national capital due to the westerly winds, it is only a small part of the problem Kejriwal is trying to divert blame to the other States to hide his own failures. Our government is taking all possible steps to ensure that the few farmers who are still burning paddy straw in Punjab also put an end to the damaging practice.” 

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(With ANI Inputs)