Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, October 3
Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday made a comeback to the political stage in Punjab after a long time in a SAD protest rally organised at Thermal ground here against the widespread damage of cotton crop due to pink bollworm attack in the Malwa region.
Parkash Singh Badal had last addressed a rally in the state during 2019 Lok Sabha election at Bathinda.
Badal raked up 1984 Sikh riots and attack on Golden Temple to target Congress and Gandhi family.
He said, “Now some say we have done sacrilege, but all this propaganda against us is false as we are the one who run on the principles of gods.”
The former chief minister said, “Attack on Golden Temple was the third ghalughara which was done by the Congress and the entire sarovar was red with the blood as Army attacked when there was huge rush in the parikarma of Golden Temple and many Sikhs were killed in this attack.”
Further, he said, “At the time of 1984 Sikh riots, both Sikhs Giani Zail Singh and Buta Singh were president and home minister respectively, but they did not give their resignation, whereas I want to thank Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who resigned from the Union Cabinet when she came to know that the three farm laws, which Union government is bringing in the Lok Sabha, are bad for the farmers.”
He also said all Opposition MPs, including Congress, walked out of the House when voting on these Bills were held, which indirectly supported and helped the Bills to get passed, whereas only two MPs of
SAD — Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Badal — strongly opposed and voted against it.
Speaking on the damaged cotton crop, Parkash Badal said, “Farmers have been hit hard due to the cotton crop damaged by the pink worm, but the state government is fighting for their seats and power, so we are today putting pressure on the government to announce compensation for their damaged crop.”
He also claimed that farming is not a profitable business these days and input cost is quite high and you don’t get good returns on it.
The Union government controls all the items used by farmers and diesel prices are all time high. Even prices of other items have also gone high, he said.
At the end of his address, Parkash Badal said, “Today I have come out in public after a long time, I want to say my health is not well as my age is also increasing, but for Punjab, wherever I am needed, I am ready to go.”
Further, he said that by coming to this meeting, I have increased my age by 2-3 years and if the SAD-BSP government is formed then I have definitely completed my century.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal also addressed the meeting and they listed out their achievements during SAD government.
They also warned the government and gave an ultimatum to announce compensation for farmers whose cotton crop has been damaged within a week, or else SAD would gehrao the house of the chief minister.
- SAD makes a political pitch at a farmers protest rally here at Bathinda on Sunday.
- In a slip of tongue, Parkash Singh Badal at the start of his address said SAD-BJP workers instead of SAD-BSP workers.
- Parkash Badal targets Congress, Gandhi family over 1984 riots and Operation Bluestar.
- Former CM also highlighted the achievements of SAD government and claims that SAD is the only party which preserved the history of Punjab.
Former CM Parkash Singh Badal makes comeback to political stage during protest rally in Bathinda
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