SAD President Sukhbir Badal Alleges Political Pressure Behind Congress U-Turn on CBI Probe
In a fiery address during the Shiromani Akali Dal's 'Punjab Bachao' campaign rally in Amloh, Fatehgarh Sahib district, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal launched a scathing attack on Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Badal asserted that Warring dramatically reversed the Congress party's position demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa following what he described as a "single reprimand" from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Congress Stance Reversal Raises Eyebrows
Sukhbir Badal expressed astonishment at the sudden shift in Warring's stance, noting that Congress Members of Parliament from Punjab had previously written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah formally requesting a CBI investigation into Randhawa's death. "It is astonishing that Raja Warring started opposing the stand taken by his own party's MPs," Badal declared to the assembled crowd, with senior Akali leader Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna in attendance.
The SAD chief elaborated that Chief Minister Mann allegedly compelled Warring's compliance by referencing a sensitive case involving the Congress leader and his brother-in-law Dimpy Vinayak. According to Badal, Mann pointed out that this particular case, which involved allegations of forcing a Faridkot businessman to commit suicide, had similarly not been referred to the CBI for investigation.
Corruption Allegations and Political Fitness Questioned
Badal further intensified his criticism by alleging that Bhagwant Mann consistently brandishes a file detailing what he termed a "Rs 100-crore scam" involving Raja Warring. The accusation centers on Warring's tenure as Transport Minister in 2021-22, during which Badal claims 814 buses were fabricated in Rajasthan despite lower quotes being available from Punjab-based fabricators.
"Raja Warring's complete cave-in on the CBI probe issue makes it abundantly clear that he is not fit to serve as Punjab Congress president," Badal asserted. "His actions will ultimately ruin the party. Punjab deserves leadership that can restore peace and development, not politicians who buckle under pressure."
Contrasting Governance Records and Future Promises
Emphasizing the need for stable regional leadership, Sukhbir Badal urged voters to reject what he called "experimentation" with both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. He highlighted the SAD's historical achievements during previous administrations, including:
- Implementation of free power facilities for farmers
- Transformation of Punjab into a power-surplus state
- Introduction of old-age pensions and innovative social welfare schemes
- Establishment of the Aata-Dal scheme, Shagun scheme, and SC scholarships
Badal criticized the current AAP government for allegedly allowing these programs to falter and for betraying farmers through unfulfilled procurement promises for moong (green gram) and inadequate compensation for flood-related crop losses last year.
Comprehensive Development Agenda for Punjab
Outlining his vision for Punjab's future, the SAD president announced several key policy initiatives that would be implemented if his party returns to power:
- Environmental Protection: Strict measures to prevent industrial and sewage effluents from contaminating the Sutlej and Beas rivers, with stern action against violators to address cancer concerns in the Malwa region.
- Economic Relief: Exemption of motorcycles from road tax and provision of Rs 10-lakh interest-free loans for youth.
- Social Welfare Expansion: Restarting an enhanced Aata Dal scheme, increasing old age pension to Rs 3,100 monthly, and raising the Shagun allowance to Rs 1 lakh.
- Agricultural Support: Providing tube-well connections to farmers currently without access and implementing free 'takseem' for joint land ownership.
- Business Reform: Reintroduction of the single-point tax 'Rahat' scheme to eliminate what Badal termed "tax terrorism" against traders under the current administration.
Badal also pledged that a SAD government would direct state agencies to intervene in cases of forced distress sales of agricultural commodities, specifically mentioning current potato market challenges. "I assure farmers that we will ensure procurement of all food commodities during distress sales," he promised.
The rally concluded with Badal's appeal for voters to "repose faith in your regional party and its leadership to put Punjab back on the path of progress and prosperity," positioning the Shiromani Akali Dal as the alternative to both national parties and the incumbent AAP government.
