Stop wasting Punjab’s money on expanding Kejriwal’s base in the country: Dr. Cheema
Chandigarh :
Shioromani Akali Dal today termed launch of Teerath Yatra scheme by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann as only a publicity stunt as the scheme was already launched in the state almost 8 years ago on January 1, 2016 even as party asked Bhagwant Mann9 to stop wasting Punjab’s money on expanding base of Kejriwal in the country on expense of the state.
In a statement released here today, Former Minister and senior SAD leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that this Mukhya Mantri Teerath Yatra Scheme was conceptualised by Akali Dal government led by S. Parkash Singh Badal in 2015 and it was launched on January 1, 2016 in Amritsar when first train carrying pilgrims was sent for Takht Sri Hazur Sahib. He said that this scheme was successfully running till March 2017 and after the formation of Congress government, it was stopped without any reason.
He said that now AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann was trying to befool Punjabis with relaunch of the scheme only as a publicity stunt and propaganda exercise of the AAP just to divert the attention of the people from complete failure of the Bhagwant Mann government. He also mocked on cap of 52 thousand people fixed for availing the benefit of the scheme and said that this government has launched scheme for three months only with an eye on Lok Sabha elections slated to be held in early 2024 whereas Badal government had run the scheme for more than one and a half years till full tenure of the government.
Dr. Cheema said that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann should not hold grand functions to launch schemes for short periods. “This only proves that the government is not sincere about running the scheme for five years but only wants to derive publicity with an eye to the parliamentary elections”. He also derided the manner in which Arvind Kejriwal was invited repeatedly to launch projects in the State belittling the post of the chief minister. “Mr Bhagwant Mann is solely responsible for this as he is functioning as a tour operator for Kejriwal by ferrying the latter to different States on Punjab government expense”.
