Sukhbir Badal to CM Mann: Spending Rs 500 crore on hoardings to proclaim you are honest can’t wash away your corrupt deeds
Sukhbir Badal Attacks Mann Over Hoardings, Seeks ED Probe Into Alleged Illegal Mining
Babushahi Bureau
Chabbewal (Hoshiarpur), October 2, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over government spending on publicity hoardings and demanded an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into what he alleged was an illegal mining racket in the state.
Addressing a Punjab Bachao rally at Chabbewal, Badal claimed that around Rs 500 crore was being spent on hoardings portraying the Chief Minister as honest.
“Spending Rs 500 crore on hoardings proclaiming you are ‘imaandar’ cannot wash away your corrupt deeds,” Badal said, adding that those who are honest do not need to spend public money to establish their credibility.
He also levelled allegations against the Chief Minister’s Office and other individuals, claiming that the ED had raised questions over alleged collection of money through postings and transfers. He further alleged that Mann’s OSD was implicated in the matter and made a separate allegation against the Chief Minister’s wife, Gurpreet Kaur Mann.
These allegations were made by Badal at the rally and were not independently established in the statement.
On illegal mining, the SAD president alleged that a large-scale racket was operating in Punjab and demanded an ED investigation into the matter. He alleged that the proceeds were being routed to senior AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Bhagwant Mann.
Badal also announced several proposals for the Kandi region if the SAD returned to power. These included setting up a Kandi Area Development Ministry, constructing an expressway connecting Pathankot with Chandigarh, and introducing a special industrial package for the Kandi belt.
He said the proposed industrial package would include incentives such as cheaper power for new investors. He also announced plans for lift pumps and deep tube wells to address irrigation requirements in the region.
Badal further announced that a memorial institution dedicated to Sant Hari Singh and Raja Saheb would be established under an SAD government.
On employment, he said the party would establish a World Skill University and claimed that three lakh vacant government posts would be filled within one year if the SAD formed the government.
Badal also criticised the political rivals of the SAD and accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of attempting to divide the Panthic vote through Waris Punjab De (WPD). He raised questions about Amritpal Singh and his family while making allegations regarding the organisation’s activities.
The SAD president also claimed that previous SAD governments were responsible for several major infrastructure projects in Punjab, including thermal plants, expressways, airports and irrigation channels.
During his address, Badal appealed to voters to support SAD candidate Harminder Singh Sandhu from the Chabbewal constituency in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Several senior SAD leaders, including Hira Singh Gabria, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Sohan Singh Thandal, Lalli Bajwa, Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan and Sanjeev Talwar, were among those present at the rally.