Sukhbir Badal’s event in Jalandhar Cantt segment turns out to be a dull affair

The event to lay foundation stone for an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal turned out to be a dull affair. The low turnout of people was not less than an embarrassment for the Akali Dal at state BJP chief Vijay Sampla’s native village, Sofi, which falls under the Jalandhar Cantonment assembly segment. Sampla, who started his political career as sarpanch of this village, was also present on the occasion.

The event to lay foundation stone for an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal turned out to be a dull affair. The low turnout of people was not less than an embarrassment for the Akali Dal at state BJP chief Vijay Sampla’s native village, Sofi, which falls under the Jalandhar Cantonment assembly segment. Sampla, who started his political career as sarpanch of this village, was also present on the occasion.

School students among the audience at the ITI inauguration by Sukhbir Badal at Sofi village on the outskirts of Jalandhar on Thursday, November 24. (Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo)

The event was aimed at giving fillip to Akali candidate, Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, from the seat. However, not more than 300 people turned up for the event even as seating arrangements were made for 1,800. A few minutes before the arrival of the SAD chief, government school students, ITI students from Bhogpur and Jalandhar were shifted to the venue.

Sukhbir Badal, Union minister Vijay Sampla and state minister Madan Mohan Mittal with others inaugurating the ITI.

Many local leaders, including SAD ‘s Jalandhar (urban) chief Gurcharan Channi, SGPC members Paramjit Raipur and Kulwant Manna and senior deputy mayor in Jalandhar civic body Kamaljeet Bhatia, had given a call to boycott the function. The said leaders had called Makkar a ‘land grabber.’

‘Makkar best candidate for Cantonment ’

In his speech, Sukhbir termed Makkar as the best available candidate for the seat, terming him leader with ‘guts and pushing skills’. “There were other leaders also, but I chose Makkar because as an MLA from Adampur, he was successful in carrying out developmental works. If he wins from Cantonment, I will send two trucks of money in the new currency for development,” Sukhbir said. Later, when asked about the ‘land grabbing’ charges levelled against Makkar by the SAD leaders, the deputy CM did not reply. “No, there is nothing like that. All the disgruntled leaders will be brought to the mainstream very soon,” he said.