Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has declared that the party's upcoming political conference at the historic Maghi Mela will mark the beginning of the countdown for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. He launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, holding him responsible for what he termed a "total collapse" of law and order in the state.
Maghi Mela Conference Set as Political Launchpad
Presiding over a series of meetings with party workers from constituencies including Muktsar, Balluana, Fazilka, Abohar, Jalalabad, Sahnewal, and Kotkapura, Badal finalised preparations for the annual Maghi conference. The event is scheduled to be held in Badal village, Muktsar, on January 14. Badal asserted that the conference would witness a massive outpouring of support for the Akali Dal and called upon his cadre to ensure its grand success.
"The conference will set the tone for the SAD’s success in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections," Badal stated, framing the mela gathering as a crucial juncture for the party's revival. He expressed confidence that Punjabis, disillusioned with the current administration, are seeking a strong regional alternative.
Sharp Criticism on Law & Order and Governance
In his critique, the SAD chief accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of being engrossed in "divisive and vendetta politics" while allowing what he compared to the "loot of Punjab by the Delhi gang of the AAP in the manner the East India Company had done." Badal claimed that the state is suffering on multiple fronts, including a severe farmer crisis, rampant unemployment, and the stoppage of social welfare benefits.
"Even as the state is on the verge of bankruptcy, the chief minister is spending thousands of crores on his publicity," Badal alleged, questioning the government's financial priorities amidst public distress.
String of Recent Crimes Highlighted
To underscore his point about deteriorating security, Badal listed a series of violent incidents that have rocked Punjab in the first week of January. He cited specific cases to build his argument:
- On January 2: A woman was gunned down in a targeted attack at her home in Kapurthala.
- On January 3: A panchayat member was shot dead in Moga.
- On January 4: A sarpanch was killed at a wedding function in Amritsar.
- On January 5: A former kabaddi player was murdered in Jagraon.
- On January 9 (Tuesday): Masked men opened fire at a shop in Ludhiana after making ransom calls to its owner.
According to Badal, these incidents prove that "no one is safe in the state" and that the law and order machinery has slipped out of the government's control. "Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann does not deserve to stay in office for even one more day," he concluded, demanding immediate accountability.
Looking ahead, Sukhbir Singh Badal promised a drastic change if the SAD returns to power. "I assure them that gangsters will be eradicated from Punjab immediately after the formation of the SAD government," he vowed, positioning his party as the sole force capable of restoring peace and stability in Punjab.
