Akalis encouraged ‘chitta’, BJP brought anti-farmer laws: Mann

Fatehgarh Sahib: Amid growing speculation over a possible revival of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said both parties had repeatedly failed Punjab and were now attempting to return to power through an opportunistic arrangement.Addressing a Lok Milni programme in Shamaspur village, Mann said the proposed alliance was driven by political compulsions rather than ideology or public welfare."Punjabis have already rejected traditional parties and will not allow them to return through opportunistic political arrangements that serve neither ideology nor public welfare," he said.On the possibility of a SAD-BJP tie-up, Mann remarked: "The Akali Dal-BJP alliance will prove fatal for both parties because it is not based on any ideology or concern for public welfare. Its sole objective is to grab power in Punjab."Targeting the BJP, he said, "More than 700 farmers laid down their lives during the struggle against the anti-farmer laws imposed by the BJP. The party has consistently treated Punjab unfairly and is now trying to divide people in the name of religion."Mann also accused the Centre of misusing central agencies. "These agencies are increasingly functioning as extensions of the BJP and are being used to pressure and intimidate people into supporting the saffron party," he alleged.Launching a sharp attack on the Akali Dal, the chief minister said the party should be held accountable for both the drug menace and incidents of sacrilege during its tenure."The Akalis sought votes in the name of Gurbani but failed to uphold its sanctity," he said, adding that the party must answer for incidents such as Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan.He further alleged that the Akali leadership had "ruined generations because the drug trade flourished under its patronage during its long misrule."Cong has more CM aspirants than workersTaking a swipe at the Congress, Mann said, "Every Congress leader wants to become chief minister. They have more chief ministerial aspirants than workers. Congress leaders continue to dream about returning to power, but the party is deeply divided and consumed by infighting. They have no vision for Punjab and their only objective is to gain power."He added, "Congress leaders are daydreaming about assuming power in Punjab. The party is a divided house that will collapse like a house of cards because of its internal feuds. Their only objective is to gain control of Punjab's resources and the people are fully aware of their intentions."