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50. Sukhbir Frequent Overseas
Trips Represent Nil Return for Punjab
Ludhiana, Sep. 24, 2009
Yesterday, a Special Court
sanctioned another overseas trip for Sukhbir
Badal, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, although
the State remains in the dark as to the why.
Everyone recalls his one month world tour after
the Parliamentary elections – when Sukhbir
headed for the skies ignoring the power
problems, farmer suicides and the families
denied their atta dal.
Why does our Deputy Chief
Minister spend so much time overseas? More
curious: what does he do there? His family is
here. His heart is allegedly here. His work is
most definitely here. Yet, time and again, he
trots off to Dubai (and other places) without
explanation. Is he an ardent collector of
frequent flier miles?
Dubai, for most of us, is a
transit city, or one to visit for a day or two
to see what the fuss is about. What it is,
sadly, better known as is a global hub for money
laundering, for housing ill-gotten gains, no
questions asked. It is curious that it appears
to be the favourite destination of our Deputy
CM.
Does he take his private
jet? Why is he so secretive? Why are his trips
not official and scheduled? I demand that in
future Sukbir announce his detailed travel
agendas and file his report publicly on return.
Why does Sukhbir not use
his trips to engage with the NRI community? In
the USA last year he failed to attend a single
Punjabi community function. As Minister for NRI
Affairs he should use these trips to engage with
the NRI community, but instead he hides from
them. And why does he refuse to visit Canada?
Why has he not announced his NRI agenda? What
has he achieved for Punjab with these numerous
overseas visits?
I challenge Sukhbir to
publish his travel details for the last year.
Where he stayed, what he did when he was there,
and how he travelled and who paid for the trips.
Let’s also ask him to show us the flight log
from his private jet(s). Let’s see what our
Secretive Sukhbir is up to beyond our shores.
Jassi Khangura, MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur
24 September 2009 |