Chandigarh, July 10 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's decision to sleep overnight in government school buildings in villages as part of his public durbar programmes has evoked a sharp reaction from the opposition Congress, which wants him to "wake up" to the real problems of people.

Former Punjab chief minister and state Congress president Amarinder Singh has asked Badal to wake up as "sleeping in villages was not going to solve the villagers' problems".

"Better be awake for a while with them than spend a full night sleeping in their villages," Amarinder Singh advised Badal.

Government schools, which are mostly in dilapidated buildings in the villages of south Punjab are getting an overnight makeover from government agencies to make the stay of the chief minister comfortable before his arrival to sleep overnight in these villages "to connect with the rural people".

Congress leaders, terming Badal's new found love for rural areas as a political gimmick, said that government agencies were ensuring air-conditioned rooms for him with an attached luxury bathroom.

Badal, 84, told a Punjabi news channel: "I have announced that in future, during my public durbar (Sangat Darshan) programmes, I will stay in the village where the meeting is held in the evening. I will spend the night in rural areas to know the problems of the villagers. I am used to simple life so staying in a school is no discomfort."

Badal stayed in the 'made-over' building of the government school in Kot Bhai area of Muktsar district last week. He later stayed in government schools in other villages too.

Congress leaders said that Badal's actions, even in the lap of luxury, were inspired by the success of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's overnight stays in the homes of villagers and Dalits.

Congress leaders also alleged that Badal's stopovers in schools were disturbing the studies of students.

"The students are being asked to keep away from schools as Badal carries a huge security paraphernalia. In some schools, students are being forced to serve meals and other things to Badal and others," said a Congress leader from Muktsar.

Taking a dig at Badal, Amarinder Singh said: "It is surprising that Badal, after having spent seven decades in politics still does not know how it feels like being in a village. If you could not get the feel in 70 years of your political career, you can't get it now."

Amarinder Singh also criticised Badal for upsetting the routine of school children.

On classrooms being converted into air-conditioned bedrooms and toilets, Amarinder Singh said: "This is quite disgusting and shameful that for his own convenience, Badal does not mind getting the sanctity of the schools desecrated."

"If Badal is really sincere to experience what it means to spend a night in a village, he should have spent it like an ordinary villager and not as a medieval monarch who moves his durbar along with him," he said.