Chandigarh, Feb 29 (IANS): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday ridiculed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal over his reaction to the government's budget, saying in the absence of any real cause for criticism he had once again resorted to making bizarre comments.

Finding absolutely no real cause to complain about the budget, the Akali chief had come out with one of his most ridiculous statements ever, said the Chief Minister, lashing out at him for his persistent attempts to mislead the people with unfounded remarks.

Referring to Sukhbir's comments calling Amarinder Singh a businessman, the Chief Minister said it was evident that the Akali President either had no clue about what a businessman really was or, as usual, was playing to the gallery by picking up some catchy word or phrase to make media headlines.

Frankly, said Amarinder Singh, considering the wide array of business interests in which the Badal family had involved itself during the 10 years of their rule, it was Sukhbir and his kin who were the real businessmen.

And like a petty businessman who does not want to share the fruits of his business with others, Sukhbir had never left his 'shop' for a second, said the Chief Minister in a statement, adding the SAD President was, even now, obsessively controlling his business interests with an iron hand to the detriment of his own party.

"Had Sukhbir shown even 10 per cent of this interest in the welfare of the state when his party was in power, Punjab's story would have been different today," added the Chief Minister.