BATHINDA, April 26 -- Lauding the Centre government's decision to open Parkash Singh Badal Skill India Centre, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Friday that the SAD patriarch was a true mass leader with a futuristic vision.

Addressing a gathering on an event to mark the second death anniversary of the late chief minister at his native place in Muktsar's Badal village, Sukhbir said: "It was during the Badal saab tenure when Punjab became the first state in India to start a skill development push. Later, it was adopted by the Union government to empower youth with the skills to meet the diverse demands of different industries."

According to Sandeep Kaura, adviser, national skill development corporation, the u...