Photo Source: Babushahi Bureua
Sukhbir Badal accuses ‘Delhi Parties’ of historic injustices to Punjab, vows to protect state’s water and rights
Babushahi Bureau
Faridkot (Punjab), March 14, 2026: Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Friday accused national parties based in Delhi of inflicting historic injustices on Punjab, including denying the state its own capital, excluding Punjabi-speaking regions during reorganisation and diverting a significant share of its river waters to other states.
Addressing a large rally in Faridkot as part of the party’s Punjab Bachao movement, Badal said Punjab remains the only state in the country without its own capital, alleging that the Congress favoured Haryana during the reorganisation of the state. He also claimed that several Punjabi-speaking areas were left out when the state was reorganised on linguistic lines.
Badal further alleged that nearly half of Punjab’s river waters were allocated to Rajasthan in violation of the riparian principle, which states that states through which rivers flow have primary rights over their waters. Referring to the proposed Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal, he said parties at the Centre were still attempting to divert Punjab’s remaining water to Haryana and asserted that the canal project had not been completed due to the opposition of the SAD.
In an emotional appeal to the public, Badal urged Punjabis to support the SAD, stating that the party had always worked to safeguard the state’s interests. He warned against “experiments” in politics and claimed that certain political figures portraying themselves as more religious or “Panthic” were allegedly being used by agencies to weaken the SAD and influence Sikh institutions.
The SAD leader also credited his party for the development of the Malwa region, citing initiatives taken during the tenure of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said the establishment of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and measures to address waterlogging in the region had significantly improved healthcare and agriculture.
Criticising the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government, Badal alleged that it had misled voters during the 2022 Assembly elections and accused it of pushing Punjab into financial distress through excessive borrowing. He also criticised the government’s proposed financial assistance scheme for women, claiming it would increase the state’s debt burden.
Badal further alleged that both the previous Congress government and the current AAP administration had filed politically motivated cases against opponents. He announced that if SAD returns to power, a commission would be formed to review such cases and take action against those responsible.
Outlining his party’s future agenda, Badal promised measures including interest-free loans of ₹10 lakh for youth, revival of the Aata Dal welfare scheme, an increase in old-age pension to ₹3,100 per month and raising the Shagun assistance to ₹1 lakh. He also said farmers without tubewell connections would be provided the facility along with 12 hours of daytime electricity supply.
Several senior SAD leaders, including Parambans Singh Romana and others, were present at the rally and addressed the gathering.