Thaindian News

Chandigarh, March 21 (IANS) All set to launch his political party in Punjab, former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal said Monday it will be secular in character and focus on the development of the state’s human resources.

“The biggest shortcoming in the state, at present, is the lack of vocational skills in our children,” he told reporters here.

“A majority of them are incapable of taking up good job opportunities available in different parts of the country,” he said.

Manpreet, nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the cousin of Deputy Chief Minister and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, left the government last October following differences over governance issues.

The former finance minister, who was expelled from the party last year and is presently an unattached legislator, is expected to announce his new political party Sunday (March 27) at Khatkar Kalan, the native village of well-known freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

“Over the last 64 years since India’s independence, Punjab’s development has been declining consistently. The existing political parties are not bothered about redressing the problems of the common people,” Manpreet said.

He declined to comment upon the possibility of an alliance with the Congress.

Regarding his boycott of the Punjab assembly’s budget session which concludes Friday, he said: “If I had attended the sessions, I would have been subdued by the ruling party members.”

Punjabi comedian Bhagwant Mann, who accompanied Manpreet, said he will join the latter’s party.