Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Amritsar/October 29: Former Speaker and senior Majha leader Nirmal Singh Kahlon today rejected SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s offer to resign from the presidentship of the party and said the party rank and file was solidly behind him.
In a statement here, Sardar Kahlon said the SAD was in safe hands under the leadership of S. Sukhbir Singh Badal who had steered it to the victory consecutively for two terms in the assembly elections. “The Party has full confidence in Sukhbir Badal’s political vision. He commands great respect among party workers and people of Punjab for doing big things for the state with a steely resolve. He never gives up that is what people appreciate in their leaders” he added.
Advising the disappointed leaders to stay in high spirits as facing of ups and downs is a routine affair in the politics; he said the SAD was fortunate to have a brilliant, visionary, hardworking and steel headed person like Sukhbir Badal as its head. “As president, Sukhbir Badal made history by leading the party to power for two consecutive terms.
Stating that Mr Sukhbir Badal was only elevated to the post of party president in 2008 after evaluating his impressive and decisive role in making the party victorious in 2007 elections, the SAD leader said that senior party leader S. Ranjit Singh Brahampura had proposed Mr Badal’s name for the party president’s post which was seconded by S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa also. “The presidentship was not passed on to him as any family asset as it was being propagated by mischievous elements. He earned it through his utter dedication, innovative thinking and hard work for the party” he added.
Appreciating the vision of Sukhbir Badal for putting Punjab on the road of growth and prosperity, S. Kahlon said that after taking reins of the state, he planned for inclusive development in the state. “He made Punjab a power-surplus state by increasing the power-generation capacity of existing power plants as well as establishing new plants. He built an ultra modern road network with a series of flyovers and bridges across the state. He upgraded the air connectivity by developing domestic and international airports. Apart from it to preserve our rich heritage and culture the Heritage Street at Golden Temple and the war memorials were built. Administrative reforms were implemented to provide hassle-free essential services to the people at their doorsteps. Many social welfare benefits were provided to Dalits and under privileged people though many pro-poor schemes besides free power and other facilities were given to the farmers. It was all planned and implemented under the visionary leadership of Sukhbir Badal, which kept the SAD vote bank completely intact” he added.
S. Kahlon said that S. Sukhbir Singh Badal had also strengthened the secular image of the party by taking steps towards maintaining the social fabric of the society. “There is no question of change of guard in the SAD as the party has full confidence in the ability of its president Sukhbir Badal”,’he added.
