Badal defends finance minister’s sacking

CHANDIGARH - Defending his decision to sack Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Tuesday said that he tried his best to stop the minister, who is his nephew, from straying from the party line and giving “irresponsible statements” in the media.

Manpreet Badal was sacked from the council of ministers recently following controversy over his stand on a Rs.35,000 crore conditional debt waiver being offered by the central government to Punjab to tide over a mounting Rs.70,000 crore debt.

“I always care for Manpreet. Recently when he had fallen ill, then I cancelled an important meeting and straightaway went to meet him. Then I advised him to get admitted in the PGIMER (in Chandigarh) for the treatment of dengue,” Badal said.

“He then gave some irresponsible statements in the press. I again called him to tell him to stop this. Later when he called a press conference, at that time also I tried to stop him but he did not listen to me. I did my best whatever I could do,” he added.

“When it comes to Akali Dal then are not concerned about brother, son or nephew, it is only the interests of party that matter. We have to look after countless party workers who are working relentlessly for its welfare,” said Badal.

“My relations with my brother (Manpreet’s father) are very cordial. People said that we are just like Ram and Lakshman,” he said.