Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday launched the “Punjab Bachao, Sukhbir Singh Badal Liyao” campaign from Qadian, signalling the start of the party’s election push for the 2027 Assembly polls. Addressing a massive gathering, Badal outlined his roadmap for Punjab and urged voters to give him five years to steer the state towards peace, progress and prosperity.
Calling the rally the beginning of a political wave against “Delhi based parties,” Badal said the momentum would intensify in the coming weeks as the party plans 40 consecutive rallies before Baisakhi. He thanked party workers, local leadership and supporters for turning up in large numbers, asserting that the response reflected a growing desire among Punjabis for a change in government.
Launching a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the SAD chief alleged corruption and claimed the state government was preparing to compromise Punjab’s river waters. He said his party would strongly oppose any move to divert water to Haryana through the SYL canal. Badal also accused the Aam Aadmi Party of failing to safeguard Punjab’s interests at the Centre and alleged that Rajya Sabha seats had been given to wealthy outsiders.
Detailing his vision, Badal promised wide ranging measures for farmers, youth and weaker sections. He said all pending tubewell connections would be cleared within a week of an SAD government taking office and announced plans to construct permanent embankments along rivers to prevent floods. He also assured land rights for those deprived of ownership and free partition of jointly held land.
For the underprivileged, Badal pledged to strengthen existing welfare programmes and introduce new ones. He said the atta daal scheme would be revived with subsidised flour at Rs 4 per kg and pulses at Rs 20 per kg. Among other promises were Rs one lakh as wedding assistance for poor families and an increase in old age pension to Rs 3,100 per month.
Focusing on employment, the SAD leader said new industries would be required to reserve 75 per cent of jobs for Punjabi youth, while government positions would be offered only to state residents. He also proposed an interest free loan of Rs 10 lakh for young entrepreneurs, repayable over ten years, and 50 per cent reservation for meritorious school students in government and private engineering and medical colleges.
Badal further vowed to eliminate gangster culture and the drug trade, stating that stricter laws would be enacted to deny bail for up to ten years and that properties of offenders would be confiscated. He also promised to revive the World Kabaddi Cup, introduce a Kushti Cup, promote cattle fairs and develop a racecourse for Marwari horses.
Earlier, Qadian constituency in charge Guriqbal Singh Mahal highlighted local demands, including strengthening the Dhussi bundh, reopening Government College Ladhupur as a degree college and improving road connectivity to the bridge at Dhanoa. Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema and Youth Akali Dal president Sarabjit Singh Jhinjher also addressed the gathering.
