SAD Announces Statewide Rally Campaign Starting February
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has declared its intention to organize political rallies across every assembly constituency in Punjab commencing from the month of February. This strategic decision was finalized during a crucial meeting presided over by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal at the SAD headquarters in Chandigarh.
Preparing for the 2027 Electoral Battle
Senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema elaborated that these rallies are designed to communicate the party's historical contributions to Punjab's development and articulate its future vision directly to the electorate. "Sukhbir Singh Badal emphasized at the meeting that the successive SAD governments had carried out unprecedented development in the state," Cheema stated, highlighting achievements such as achieving power surplus status, extensive four-lane road connectivity, and significant rural infrastructure upgrades.
In contrast, the party leadership criticized both the previous Congress administration and the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for what they termed a failure in creating new infrastructure, alleging this has caused substantial suffering across the state.
Launching a People's Movement
Cheema announced that the SAD plans to initiate a comprehensive people's movement opposing what it describes as the AAP government's "anti-Punjab policies and decisions." The party has committed to a renewed focus on development, law and order, peace, communal harmony, and job creation through increased investment.
"We assure Punjabis that we will take the state out of the lawlessness, ensure peace and communal harmony, and bring investment to create jobs for our youth," Cheema affirmed during the meeting.
Organizational Restructuring and Allegations
The meeting also set an ambitious deadline of February 10 for completing the party's entire organizational framework. This includes establishing booth-level committees and constituting all party wings, such as:
- Youth Akali Dal
- Istri Akali Dal
- Scheduled Caste wing
- Backward Caste wing
- Trade wings
Significantly, leaders who demonstrated effectiveness in recent Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections are slated to receive prominent roles within this new structure.
Controversial Claims Against AAP Government
The SAD leadership leveled serious allegations against the ruling AAP government, particularly concerning the Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana health insurance scheme. Cheema accused the government of engaging in political gimmickry, making grand announcements without adequate funding for implementation.
More controversially, the senior leader asserted that the scheme is being exploited as a "ploy to collect data for the AAP to use in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections." This claim adds a significant dimension to the ongoing political discourse in Punjab.
Additional Resolutions and Condemnations
The meeting addressed several other pressing issues:
- Panchayat Financial Pressure: Strong objection was raised against the alleged coercion of Panchayats to pay pending Tubewell Corporation bills using funds earmarked for essential services like roads, sanitation, and drinking water.
- Gurdwara Board Elections: The party condemned the registration of eight percent non-Sikh voters for the upcoming Patna Sahib Gurdwara Board elections.
- Religious Remarks: A demand was made for an independent investigation into derogatory comments allegedly made by Delhi AAP leader Atishi against the Guru Sahiban.
The meeting saw participation from prominent SAD figures including Amarjit Singh Chawla, Arshdeep Singh Kler, and Bikram Singh Allahbaksh, signaling broad-based support for these initiatives within the party leadership.
