Punjab CM slams his nephew Manpreet

Muktsar (Punjab), Jan 14 (PTI) In a veiled attack on hisnephew Manpreet Singh Badal, who was sacked from the SAD lastyear, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal today saidtreating oneself wiser than the party is "ingratitude", whichis "unacceptable".

"Placing personal opinions above party''s view isunacceptable and one who considers himself wiser than theorganisation is ingratitude," Badal said at a public meetinghere, which he termed "unprecedented" in his political career.

Apparently referring to Manpreet, who was sacked fromthe post of Finance Minister after he blamed the government''spolicies for Punjab''s increasing debt, the Chief Ministersaid, "if one has too strong an ego to obey the partydiscipline, he or she should never join a party."

Manpreet had asked the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJPto do away with subsidies and freebies like free power tofarmers to wriggle the state out of a debt trap.

Badal said subsidies would continue for the weakersections of the society and farmers will get free power to"compensate them for apathetic attitude of the Centre," whichdoes not give them "remunerative" Minimum Support Price fortheir crops.

The Chief Minister also slammed Opposition Congressstate Chief Captain Amarinder Singh for "misleading" thegeneral public through his "political stunts."

Earlier in the day, Singh hit out at the governmentand said "I will hold you in the dock for all your (Badals)sins of omission and commission."

Attacking on Singh, Badal said he comes out of"hibernation" only at the time of Assembly elections and"blatantly lies" to woo voters during his "guest appearance".

He also slammed the UPA government at the Centre forspiralling food prices and corruption. Badal said during NDAregime the food inflation was 6-7 per cent but in this regimeit has climbed to 18.6 per cent.

"The Congress government is an utter failure indelivering the goods and is indulging in exploitation ofcommon people on contrary to its claim to be a votary of AamAadmi," he alleged.

He also accused the Centre for "blatant" corruptionand said it is involved in "the world''s biggest multi crorescams."

Speaking at the same function, deputy Chief MinisterSukhbir Singh Badal claimed "the SAD-BJP alliance would rulethe state not only for next term of five years but for atleast coming 25 years." PTI VJ