Sukhbir in no hurry to step into CM fathers shoes

Chandigarh, July 17 (UNI) Denying reports that he was waiting to 'step into the shoes of his father and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal', Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhbir Singh Badal today said "it is for the party to decide".

" The SAD-BJP under Mr Parkash Singh Badal would continue to rule Punjab for the next 25 years", he said while addressing a meet-the-press programme at the Press Club here.

Answering questions on the economy of Punjab, the junior Badal claimed that the previous Congress government had no economic vision and made no efforts to rejuvinate the economy of the state. Not a single unit of power was added in the last five years, he said while pointing out that the SAD-BJP government had drawn-up a blueprint to make Punjab a surplus power state in the next three to five years.

He said that the main stress of the state government would be on improving the infra structure, attracting investment in the industrial sector and rejuvinating the agri sector. A major thrust will be on improving urban infrastructure, he added.

Refering to revival of the Vidhan Parishad, he said that the state government would be approaching the central government on this issue. Many persons who could not make it to the Vidhan Sabha could be adjusted in the Vidhan Parishad, he added.

Refering to the Presidential Election, Mr Badal maintained that Mrs Pratoba Patil was the wrong choice made by the UPA. "Never before has there been so much of mud slinging in a Presidential poll", he added.

UNI