SAD-BJP regime involved in illegal activities: Sonia Gandhi

BARNALA: Launching a scathing attack on Akali-BJP government, Sonia Gandhi today charged ruling regime in Punjab with involvement in illegal activities like drug smuggling.

" BJP Akalis are filling their pockets. They are now indulging in every illegal work like drug smuggling, sand mining, goond tax," she said while campaigning for Congress candidate Vijay Inder Singla from Sangrur seat.

Accusing the ruling regime in Punjab of failing in curbing growing drug menace in the state, she said, "youths in Punjab have become addicted to drugs. Your government is not concerned about it at all."

Combative Gandhi also chastised Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for not taking adequate steps to contain this menace.

"Yeh Badal sahib Garajna jaante hain barasna nahin jante (Badal knows how to talk loud but does not deliver)," she said adding, "They (SAD-BJP) forget everything after securing power".

Congress President also accused ruling party of its misrule which led the state on the verge of facing bankruptcy.

"Punjab has now turned bankrupt under Akali-BJP regime. This government cannot pay salary for three months. Old age persons are not getting pensions," she alleged.

Congress led UPA government implemented sixth pay commission and even constituted seventh pay commission for government employees, while listing out Centre's achievements.

Gandhi also described SAD-BJP regime having completely failed in initiating welfare programmes for Dalits in the state.

"In Punjab, Akali BJP has not filled even reserved posts for Dalits. A little amount has been earmarked in Punjab's plan budget for Dalits welfare and even that could not be spent," she said.

"Now, you can imagine, how much BJP Akali regime is serious about Dalit welfare," she said.

Centre had enacted a law for curbing atrocities against Dalits, she said.

Gandhi also tore into the claims of SAD-BJP regime, which claims giving free power to farmers.

"They (SAD-BJP) had promised free power to you. But I was told that there is no power in the state. When there is no power, then what is the advantage of giving free power" she said.

She also said wheat growers are facing problems in selling their produce in grain markets and SAD-BJP government is least concerned about the same.

Describing Punjab as bread basket of the country, Gandhi said that UPA government had gave adequate rise in MSP of food grain crops.

She also said Congress led government implemented One rank one pension for soldiers.