SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal seeks CM's and panchayati raj minister's resignation for dissolving panchayats

GURDASPUR: Throwing his weight behind the two IAS officers who were suspended over the dissolution of panchayats in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has sought the resignation of chief minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann and panchayati raj minister Laljit Bhullar.
While addressing a gathering in Gurdaspur district on Friday, SAD president Sukhbir Badal attributed the premature dissolution of the panchayats, six months prior to their scheduled completion of term, to both Mann and Bhullar.
The accountability should be directed towards the CM and his minister rather than the IAS officers who were reportedly coerced into endorsing the documents, said Sukhbir Badal.
The SAD president, who was attending Chhinj Mela, said “the file on this issue was moved by hand with the director, panchayati raj and the financial commissioner, being asked to sign the order dissolving the panchayats on August 3 and 4, following which the panchayati raj minister as well as the CM signed the file on August 7. It is clear that all this was pre-planned with the aim of usurping Rs 1,000 crore worth panchayati raj funds,” alleged Sukhbir.
He further alleged that, “The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers like Lalchand Kataruchak and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal are accused of blatant acts of corruption but no action is being taken against them. But poor panchayat members are being targeted for no fault of theirs,”
The SAD president had already demanded the invocation of ESMA against the CM for allegedly abandoning Punjab when it was ravaged by the recent floods.
Meanwhile, Former alliance partner of the BJP, SAD president welcomed and supported the One Nation One Election proposal. He said there was a need for evolving a nationwide consensus on this issue.
“The idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections will provide much needed stability besides curbing wasteful expenditure. In the present system, the govt machinery remains busy in election mode which affects smooth governance and development” said Sukhbir.