Raghvir Happy , Barnala, October 8
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today challenged chief minister Bhagwant Mann to a debate to discuss his treachery on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in the Supreme Court as well as the conspiracy he had hatched with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal to hand over Punjab’s river waters to Haryana on October 10. 
Addressing a massive enthusiastic gathering of youth at a Youth Milni programme organised by Youth Akali Dal (YAD) president Sarabjit Singh Jhinjher here, the SAD president said “the party is going to take out a protest march to the chief minister’s house in Chandigarh on October 10. I challenge the chief minister to discuss his government’s treachery on the SYL canal with me on the occasion”. He said Punjabis were shocked at the manner Bhagwant Mann had succumbed under the pressure of his “aaka” Arvind Kejriwal and sold out Punjab’s interests on the SYL to Haryana. “They also want to listen as to what Mann has to say on this and since he has already given a call for a debate on November 1 he should not shy away from preponing the debate to October 10. “The chief minister should not make excuses and wriggle out of this debate. Instead he should show courage and come out of his residence to meet me. I am ready to discuss all emergent issues of the State, particularly the SYL canal issue, with him. Media should also be invited to the debate so that Punjabis can form their own view after listening to both speakers”.
Mr Sukhbir Badal also asserted that the “real” chief minister of Punjab – Arvind Kejriwal should also participate in the debate as the latter was taking all decisions concerning the State. “ Punjabis are keen to know why Kejriwal has taken an anti- Punjab stance despite the fact that they had given his party an overwhelming majority in the State”.
The SAD president said Punjabis also wanted to know why no development was taking place in the State but hundreds of crores were being spent on advertisements and bankrolling aircraft travels of Kejriwal across the country on the Punjab exchequer’s cost. He said the AAP government had taken an unprecedented loan of Rs 50,000 crore since it had taken over the reins of the State but had nothing to show by way of infrastructure projects. “Expenditure on infrastructure projects is only Rs 1200 crore in the last five months as per the Controller and Auditor General of India. This shows that money meant for development is being misused to spread the wings of AAP to other States in the country”.
YAD president Sarabjit Jhinjher highlighted how the AAP government had betrayed youth by recruiting outsiders from Haryana and Rajasthan to government jobs. “Even those who have a rightful claim to government jobs are being lathi charged or forced to climb water tanks and Elecricity towers. Contractual employees are not being regularised despite assurances given to them”. Mr Jhinjher also highlighted how each and every section of society had been betrayed by the AAP government. SAD Barnala Halqa incharge Kulwant Singh Keetu also spoke on the occasion. EOM
