Arvind Kejriwal has reduced Bhagwant Mann to rubber stamp: Bikram Singh Majithia
Ludhiana: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader,
, claimed on Sunday that chief minister
had been "reduced to a rubber stamp" with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener
announcing that Sanjeev Arora would be made a minister in case he won the bypoll.
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Addressing a press conference with Sikandar Singh Maluka, whose return he welcomed, he said that it was a sign that Akali leaders were uniting to raise their voice for Punjab. Senior leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon was also present on the occasion.
Asserting that Kejriwal's announcement was a clear indication that Bhagwant Mann was a mere figurehead now, Majithia said, "It is also a sign of desperation. The announcement was made because AAP realises that Sanjeev Arora is losing the election and therefore, Kejriwal's chances of entering the Rajya Sabha are thinning."
Majithia said that AAP was losing because Punjabis realised that the Delhi model had failed. "The state incurred a record Rs one lakh crore debt under the AAP government, pushing the total debt to Rs four lakh crore. The state is witnessing a financial emergency with the government calling back all funds from various departments to save itself from defaulting on loans. This resulted in a complete halt to all development work.
"
Majithia said that the industrial sector was also becoming unviable, with power being given to this sector being the most expensive in the country. "The culture of extortion and targeted killing, along with a state of lawlessness, is resulting in home-grown industrialists shifting to other states." Majithia alleged that people felt cheated by the AAP government. "Government employees were promised the Own Pension Scheme (OPS), and a notification was also issued in this regard, but it is still to be implemented.
The promise of Rs 1,000 per month allowance to women has not been implemented for four years," the SAD leader added.
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