CM Parkash Singh Badal accuses Arvind Kejriwal of taking politics to lowest ebb with alleged involvement of its MLAs in scandal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of taking the politics at a lowest ebb following alleged involvement of its MLAs and party workers in scandals.

He said he, for the first time, has seen such “indecent and undemocratic” acts by the leaders of any political party during his political career.

Kejriwal should apologise to them for the indecent behaviour of his party colleagues towards women, Badal told reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in-ceremony of the newly appointed Information Commissioners and members of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) here.

“It is very unfortunate and painful that AAP volunteers are indulging in hooliganism, throwing all the norms of political expediency to the wind,” he said.

Asked to comment on Kejriwal’s plan to purchase a house in Punjab, Badal took a jibe at his Delhi counterpart saying, “It is immaterial whether he settles here or at Delhi. But one thing I must say, that first of all he should put his own house (AAP) in order and teach the basic lesson of morality and its relevance in value based politics to the entire rank and file of his party.”

To a query on the prospects of fourth front in Punjab, he said it was a pack of disgruntled and rejected politicians who are vying to grab power in the state by hook or by crook.

He said the front would hardly have any impact on the SAD BJP alliance as they are determined to fight the upcoming Assembly polls exclusively on the plank of development.

The Chief Minister said as the elections come, many such outfits or fronts mushroom but eventually vanish once the poll process was over.

The sole objective of these “opportunistic” leaders was to pursue their personal agenda than to serve the masses with commitment, he added.

Stressing that only those political parties would survive which have a glorious past to serve the mankind with devotion and commitment, Badal said Shiromani Akali Dal would cherish the aspiration of people.

Attacking Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh for staging dharna in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office in Bathinda on farmers’ issues, Badal said he was fond of playing gallery to the people and now he was indulging in these gimmicks just to woo the farmers.

He said Amarinder should go soul searching to find what he had done for the welfare of farmers during his regime from 2002 to 2007 as Chief Minister.

“Amarinder took the lead to discontinue free power to the farmers and other anti-farmer decisions...just to satisfy his ego,” Badal said, adding on the other hand SAD-BJP government, during its near a decade long regime (2007-2016), had taken several decisions for the well being of peasants.

The decisions included paying near Rs 5000 crore annually as subsidy to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on account of free power to the farm sector and initiating a scheme to provide interest free loans up to Rs 50,000.