Speaking at the party's conference on the occasion of Maghi Mela here, Mr Badal said Punjab had been leading on all fronts but now it was trailing behind all states of the country. He said that people of Punjab were hardworking and it were the government's policies that let the state down. He stated that during the Akali regime the state made a lot of progress. "Free power and water to farmers, house tax and octroi waiver, refinery project, Amritsar airport, work at Shahpur Kandi and on railway tracks and roads, were our major achievements," he added. Mr Badal said: "We consider ourselves servants of the people, but being a member of the royal family Amarinder considers himself to be your master."

He said that during the Akali regime, the state got its due share in every government scheme, but today despite the Congress government at the Centre the state was getting nothing. He said the state was even denied tax waiver on the

lines of Himachal Pradesh, which would lead to industries deserting the state at a fast pace. He said the state's farmers were already reeling under a financial crunch and now exodus of industries would leave thousands of people unemployed. He flayed the Central Government's proposed move to stop procurement of paddy and wheat saying that it would prove to be the death knell for the state's farmers. He said the SAD would oppose this move tooth and nail, as it would ruin the state's farmers. He said that his party would soon announce a major programme to sensitise people on these issues.

He alleged that the Punjab CM, Capt Amarinder Singh, was promoting "self-interest" by ignoring people. He alleged that the CM gave liquor contracts of the state to his favourite, Ponty Chadha, and did not allow any other contractor to bid during the auction. He further alleged that Punjab Tractors was also sold off at throwaway prices. Mr Badal lamented that the state government was indulging in wasteful expenditure and was not paying pension to the elderly, widows, and disabled.

Dwelling on religious issues, Mr Badal said the biggest challenge before the Sikh community was to check the rising drug menace among its youth and make them follow Sikh tenets.

Addressing the rally, SGPC president Jagir Kaur flayed the policies of the state government and said it had failed on all fronts. Ironically, Mrs Jagir Kaur, who is facing the charge of killing her pregnant daughter, raised the issue of female foeticide. She appealed to the people to curb this evil saying "So kyo manda akhiye jit jame rajan" (why to speak bad about someone who gives birth to a king).

MP Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the Amarinder Singh Government had let loose a reign of terror on Akali workers. He alleged that the Congress Government had looted the state's exchequer. Former Finance Minister, Captain Kanwaljeet Singh, warned Congressmen that the "score would be settled once the Akalis returned to power".

He said that officials involved in "harassment" of Akali workers would also be taken to task. He alleged that the state government waived excise worth Rs 200 crore of some liquor contractors, but it did not have money to pay pension to the elderly.