Unearth Badals' black money in 2 months, else we will: Kejriwal to Modi

Nihal Singh Wala: AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unearth the "ill-gotten" wealth of the Badals in two-months time, failing which AAP would do so after forming the government in Punjab.

"We give two-months time to Modi to unveil the black money stashed by the Badals in Punjab and abroad, failing which AAP will not let them go scot-free once it forms the next government in Punjab," he said at a rally.

The Delhi Chief Minister, who is on an 11-day tour of the poll-bound state, said if Modi was serious to bring out the "ill-gotten" money amassed by bigwig politicians and business tycoons, then he "must let loose his agencies on the Badal family".

"Badals during the last 10 years of misrule amassed huge wealth due to their control on almost all businesses, including transport, cable, mining, liquor etc," he said.

Kejriwal said the time was ripe for Modi to prove his credentials that he was actually after the "black sheeps", instead of harassing the common man through demonetisation.

Promising a "better future" for Punjab that goes to polls in 2017, he said contracts of mining and bus permits, which Badals obtained through "misuse of power", would be taken back and distributed to unemployed youth, once AAP was voted to power.

The AAP leader also asked Modi to "go after Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and his family, who have opened bank accounts in Swiss bank to stash away their black money."

Kejriwal also criticised both SAD-BJP and Congress for not doing enough to improve the health infrastructure of the state.

"During the last 15 years, be it SAD-BJP or Congress, none of them actually worked to improve the health system in the state, which has not only been deteriorated but of late been completely collapsed.

"I have learnt that there is lack of medical facilities for cancer patients in the state, especially those in Malwa region, who have to go all the way to Bikaner to get treatment," he said.

Kejriwal promised opening of a Cancer Hospital in the region, so that people do not have to travel to other states for treatment, adding that the AAP government would provide free and fair cancer treatment in the state.

Kejriwal also ridiculed the Congress' plan to roll out free smart phones for the youth of the state.

"Captain Amarinder Singh has no right to bribe people of Punjab in its bid to come to power. We will make a drug free society and provide employment to the youth, who can buy hundreds of such smart phones with their hard earned money," he said.

The AAP leader was reacting to Amarinder's recent announcement of giving 50 lakh smart phones with one year of free data and calling to the youth in the state, once Congress came to power.

He said Congress was giving "false hopes" to the people by promising to fight drugs menace and corruption in the state.

"The Manmohan Singh government was at the Centre for 10 years with simultaneous rule of Badals in Punjab, but Congress never acted against then Cabinet minister Bikram Majithia, who has been operating multi-crore drug racket in the state," he said.

Kejriwal added that after forming the government in Punjab, AAP would break the supply chain of drugs within one month, and drug-addicted youth would be rehabilitated by opening rehabilitation centres at a war-footing within six months and giving them employment.