Punjab govt realised its mistake: SAD Deputy President on decision to dissolve Panchayats

Aug 31, 2023

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], August 31 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Deputy President Daljit Singh Cheema said that the decision taken by the Punjab government to withdraw its notification on the dissolution of panchayats is a win for democracy and the government has realised its mistake.
"The government knew that the High Court would decision against this decision. So even before the court ruled on this, the government withdrew its decision to dissolve all the Panchayats of Punjab. This was an anti-democratic step because the time left for all the Panchayats was still six months," Daljit Singh Cheema said.
The Akali Dal Deputy President said that the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Punjab government took this step because the panchayats are dominated by people from other parties. 
"This decision to dissolve panchayat was taken because the government believed that all the panchayats were dominated by people from other parties. The government does not like that any other party should come to Punjab. By withdrawing its decision today, it has saved itself from being in trouble," Daljit Singh Cheema said.
Speaking on the decision taken by Patwaris in Punjab to go on strike, Daljit Singh Cheema said that the Patwaris strictly said that they will not work in revenue circles, where patwaris’ posts are lying vacant and will remain confined to doing only flood-related work of the patwar circle they are posted in. This will pose a big challenge for the government because more than 3,000 posts are vacant, the SAD leader said. 
"The way the Patwaris have won over the government by holding a press conference that they are no one other than the Patwari and they will not work otherwise is a big challenge for the government," Daljit Singh Cheema said.
In an attack on the AAP government, the SAD leader said, "More than 3000 posts are still vacant which have not been filled by the government, they should be filled first. This government came to power through a movement, by the power of the agitators. However, it is working against those who are agitating."
In a reaction to the INDIA alliance meeting in Mumbai, Daljit Singh Cheema said that the participants in the alliance are taking such a step for the sake of "vote bank politics".
"Today in Mumbai, all the party leaders who have gathered against the Bharatiya Janata Party said that the parties are doing it only for vote bank politics and to solve their own issues. They have no relation with the people," he said.
Speaking about the SAD joining any alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he said, "This is why we are neither supporting the NDA nor the other group. We do not have any decision as of now. We are in an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party till no one approaches us."