Sukhbir Badal accuses Centre of discriminating against Punjab

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today lashed out at the UPA accusing it of denying Punjab special packages extended to neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
    
"The Congress-led government at the Centre is giving special packages to Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, whereas Punjab has always been denied such packages. We are not opposing packages to other states but Punjab also has the right to such packages," the deputy CM said addressing a political conference on the eve of annual Maghi fair at Takhtupura in the district.
    
Criticising the Congress for its alleged interference in the religious affairs of Sikhs, Badal, who also heads the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, called upon members of the community not to be "misled" by people like Paramjit Singh Sarna whom he accused of indulging in false propaganda at the behest of the Congress.
    
Badal also held the party responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and claimed that it was the Akali Dal MPs who raised their voice against the riots in Parliament on various occasions.