Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has said he has no desire to become the next President of India if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is voted to power at the Centre.
"I have no desire to become President. I am very much happy with what I have achieved in life, as people of Punjab and the country have given me a lot of respect and love," said Badal, when asked if he wants to become President if the NDA is voted to power.
Badal who was here to address a public rally in support of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, the SAD candidate from Sangrur parliamentary constituency, accused the Congress of doing 'injustice' with the 1984 riots victims.
"History tells that the Congress-led governments at the Centre never gave any benefit to Punjab," Badal said. He recalled late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's statement: "Jab ek bada ped girta hai to aap-paas ki dharti hilti hi hai (When a big tree falls the earth shakes)" on the 1984 riots.
He also slammed the Congress for depriving Punjab of its legitimate right on Chandigarh, saying that, "The Congress government at the Centre had never resolved the issue of Chandigarh as it is the capital of Punjab and it is part of Punjab."
{{/usCountry}}He also slammed the Congress for depriving Punjab of its legitimate right on Chandigarh, saying that, "The Congress government at the Centre had never resolved the issue of Chandigarh as it is the capital of Punjab and it is part of Punjab."
{{/usCountry}}Badal also blamed the central government for imposition of property tax in Punjab and said, "The UPA government at the Centre ignored Punjab and we have to impose taxes to run the government."
He also targeted People's Party of Punjab leader Manpreet Badal and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann for making false promises to people. "At the launch of the PPP, they (Manpreet and Bhagwant Mann) had visited Shaheed Bhagat Singh's village and took an oath to fight corruption, but now both have left the PPP and joined other political parties for the own interests," Badal said.
The chief minister said, "As Bhagwant Mann is an entertainer, he is here to entertain you but he cannot win the election."
Badal also slammed Congress candidate Vijay Inder Singla for making false announcements about setting up of a cancer hospital in Sangrur. "Cancer hospital at Sangrur is only an announcement, as the Congress-led UPA government has failed to start the construction of the hospital as their account was closed on March 31," Badal said.