( Chief Minister's Press Conference )
CONTROL OR QUIT, BADAL TELLS UPA: SAYS THE
COUNTRY IS BURNING: DEMANDS AGRICULTURAL 'SEZ' STATUS FOR THE
ENTIRE STATE: WARNS OF "OMINOUS NAXALITE THREAT": LASHES
OUT AT UNION FM'S REMARK ABOUT INFLATION GOING EVEN HIGHER
Ludhiana August 15 – The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash
Singh Badal today pulling all stops in an all-out attack against
the Congress-led UPA government at the centre, asking it to either
"control or quit." In a scathing broadside, Mr. Badal
said that the present government at the centre had brought the
country to an "explosively dangerous" stage. "India
is burning and the UPA government is sleeping smugly," said
the Chief Minister.
Mr. Badal was addressing media persons after presiding over
the state level Independence Day function here this afternoon.
Mr. Badal also demanded that the entire Punjab state be treated
as a "Special Econmic Zone" (SEZ) for agriculture and
asked the centre to bear the cost of free electricity to farmers
and of canal rejuvenation in Punjab as the country was meeting
almost seventy percent of its food requirements from the food
grain produced by Punjabi farmers.
The Chief Minister said that things were really spiraling out
of centre control and the country was faced with the specter of
being at war with itself. "There is virtually a siege within
and India is being apart with communal and class conflicts and
the centre was busy dishing out figures on its achievements. "Every
nook and corner of the country is in flames. The centre has failed
to address itself to a solution to even one of the communally
troubled spots, with Jammu and Kashmir standing out as a crying
testimony to the failure of the UPA government to operationalise
political processes to resolve the tangle which was the creation
of its own opportunistic approach in the first place," said
Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister warned against what he described as "the
ominous drift of the country towards Naxalite violence. He said
that the government was not even trying to get to the roots of
he problem, let alone removing those. The roots, he said, lay
in economic disparities, burgeoning unemployment and utter poverty
among the overwhelming segment of the population and the failure
of he system to put in place avenues for constructive release
of youth energy.'
Taking a strong exception to the amazing utterances of Union
Finance Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram related to the soaring inflation
which had already crossed 13% mark, Mr. Badal said that it was
amazing that the Finance Minister was still talking of inflation
and price rise going even higher. Mr. Badal said that the spiraling
inflation is the direct out come of the Centre's failure to evolve
and implement people oriented policies.
Asked to comment on the implementation of the fifth Punjab Pay
Commission Report in the wake of the acceptation of 6th Central
Pay Commission's recommendations by the GoI, Mr. Badal said that
whenever our commission's report was ready we would also implement
the same with in no time. He reiterated that the interests of
the employees would be safeguarded on the top priority as they
all were loved ones to us. He pointed out that it was always during
the tenure of SAD-BJP government as for as the implementation
of the new scales to its employees was concerned. He also mentioned
that if the need be the state government could ask the commission
to submit its report earlier.
Referring to the unprecedented rains in the state over past
few days, Mr. Badal said that all the Commissioners and Deputy
Commissioners besides the drainage wing of the irrigation department
had been directed to make all out efforts to effectively to fight
out the situation like floods. He ridiculed Centre for its policy
on the compensation for natural calamities as its stringent norms
did not encompass the beneficiaries who had suffered substantial
damage to their shops in the Hoshiarpur city where furniture and
grocery items worth Rs.lacs had been vanished but they were eligible
merely for Rs.2000 as relief according to GoI's norms.
BADAL PAYS GLOWING TRIBUTES TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND PATRIOTS ON
INDEPENDENCE DAY
ANNOUNCES HIKE IN MINIMUM WAGES AND OWNERSHIP RIGHTS
TO VIMUKAT JATIS
LUDHIANA AUGUST 15, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced
to confer ownership rights on the members of the 'Vimukat Jatis'
(scheduled tribes) who had constructed houses on the village common
land (Shamlat land) on or before 15th August 2008. This decision
would benefit 30,000 beneficiaries belonging to Vimukat Jatis
including Bazigar, Sansi, Barare, Gandhilay, Natt, Bangale and
Bauria.
Addressing the state level 62nd Independence Day function after
unfurling the national tri-color and taking a salute during an
impressive march past by 25 contingents including Punjab Armed
Police, Bharat Scouts & Guides, NCC cadets and Ex-servicemen.
Mr. Badal also announced another significant decision of his government
to increase the minimum monthly wages of unskilled workers to
Rs.3200 from Rs.2620 (with a daily wage up from Rs.100 to Rs.123)
thereby benefiting as many as 15 lakh unskilled workers in the
state. Besides the Chief Minister also announced to transfer 42000
acre of cultivable land across the banks of the rivers in the
state to the tillers who had been tilling over past several years
on nominal charges of Rs.1200 per acre.
Paying rich tributes to the freedom fighters and patriots who
made supreme sacrifices during the Indian freedom struggle, Mr.
Badal said "It is a sad plight that the aspirations of our
freedom fighters had not yet been cherished because they dreamt
of an Independent India free from the maladies of illiteracy,
unemployment and starvation and still after 61 years of freedom
we have not been able to provide them with the basic amenities
of safe drinking water and electricity what to talk of tall claims
like high growth rate in terms of infrastructure, power, telecommunications
and civil aviation".
Mr.Badal asked the Centre and State governments to take pledge
on this solemn occasion to undertake programmes and schemes exclusively
for the development and welfare of a common man at the grass root
levels. "It will be a real tribute to our national heroes
and great martyrs who made supreme sacrifices for the independence
of our country", said Mr.Badal. He however, said that martyrs
were not merely restricted to any region, religion and faith rather
they belonged to one and all irrespective of caste, colour and
creed. He highlighted the immense contribution of Punjabis in
the freedom struggle and recalled that nearly 80 per cent of the
warriors who made great sacrifices during country's freedom struggle
belonged to Punjab. Not only this, Punjab being the border state
suffered the brunt of Partition in which lakhs of families faced
the wrath of marauders while others lost their dear ones. Mr.
Badal pointed out that the unique sacrifices made by our great
martyrs like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh,
Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha could not be over
looked rather these were a source of inspiration for the future
generations. He exhorted the youth to emulate the noble life and
philosophy of these great freedom fighters and patriots so that
the dignity and honour of the motherland could remain intact.
Lashing at the Centre for delaying the installation of the statue
of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh in the Parliament, Mr. Badal asked
our leaders: "where were they till today and were they not
aware of Bhagat Singh's unparalleled sacrifice for his motherland
even after 61 years of Independence.
Blaming the Central Government for meting out a step motherly
treatment to the state governments, Mr. Badal said that the remote
control was with Delhi and states had always to look upon them
even for their legitimate petty demands and grants. He said that
states had virtually no powers with them and were dependent on
the Center even for trivial matters. He underscored the need for
redefining the central state relations in the changed scenario
and casting a true federal structure to secure state's participation
in the national development process as now the prevalent system
had been virtually become a unitary one.
Mr. Badal outlined the major initiatives in the overall development
of the state and said that to make Punjab self reliant in the
power sector, the SAD-BJP Government had chalked out an ambitious
programme to generate additional power of more than 7500 MWs by
setting up four new thermal plants at Rajpura, Talwandi Sabo,
Gidderbaha and Goindwal Sahib.
On this occasion, Mr. Badal presented State Level Awards comprising
of a gold medal, a certificate, a shawl and a cheque of Rs.11000
to 33 prominent personalities for their outstanding contribution
in different fields. As a befitting tributes to the legendary
budding singer late Ishmeet Singh, Mr. Badal presented a state
award to him posthumously. The award consisted of a citation,
a special cash award of Rs.11 lakh as announced earlier and a
shawl that was received by his parents. The other awardees included
Pritam Singh Kumedan, Sardar Anjum, Dr.RC Sobti, Dr.Amarjit Aggarwal,
Dr.Manmohan Singh, Dr.KVS Sidhu, Dr.Randeep Singh, Bhupinder Singh,
Dr.Sanjiv Goyal, Vaid Jagjit Singh, Nachatar Singh, Hari Singh,
Dr.Harjit Singh Nerwal Singh, Dr.Parmpal Singh, Gurdarshan Singh,
Vejinder Singh, Bhag Singh, Sham Sunder Juneja, Surinder Kumar
Goyal, RP Luthra, Amarjit Kaur Dhillon, Dr.Dulcha Singh Brar,
Dr.Milkha Singh Aulkh, Harchand Singh, Dr.Darshan Singh Ashat,
Dr.Jaswinder Singh, Vinod Sharma, Dr.Kulwant Kaur, Rubina Shabnam,
Manjit Singh Jaggi, Jagwinder Singh and Agam Shingari.
The Chief Minister also presented 15 sewing machines to the needy
widows and 15 Tricycles to the physically challenged persons and
honored 25 freedom fighters and their family members. During the
function, the school children from 60 schools presented an impressive
cultural program and mass PT show.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Media Advisor Mr. Harcharn
Bains.
Among others who were present on this occasion included Prof.
Rajinder Bhandari, President Punjab Unit, Jathedar Jagdev Singh
Talwandi former President SGPC, Mr.Mehesh Inder Singh Grewal,
Ex-Minister, Mr.NPS Aulkh, DGP Punjab Police, Mr. Inderjit Singh
Pardhan Chairman Punjab Small Industry Board, Mr.Satish Dhanda
Vice Chairman Medium Industry Board, Mr. Madan Lal Bagga Vice
Chairman Punjab Beopar Board, Mr. Sumer Singh Gurjar Deputy Commissioner,
Mr. Chander Shekhar, ADGP, Mr. Ishwar Singh DIG Ludhiana Range,
Mr. R K Jaiswal SSP Ludhiana, Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura and Mr.
GS Ghuman, Commissioner MC .
CHIEF JUSTICE UNFURLS NATIONAL FLAG
Chandigarh August 15, 2008
Hon'ble Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice
Mr. Tirath Singh Thakur today unfurled the National Flag on the
occasion of 62nd Independence Day function organized at Punjab
& Haryana High Court premises.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Justice said that this historic
day, apart from being a day of celebrations was also an occasion
for introspection and making assessment of our achievements of
last more than six decades. It was also a day to ponder over our
duties and responsibilities towards our Nation, he added.
Prominent amongst others who were present on this occasion included
Judges of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Advocate Generals &
Members of Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association.
CHIEF MINISTER'S OFFICE PUNJAB
Isru, Ludhiana , August 15, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon
the all the political parties to play a pro active role in maintaining
peace and communal harmony in the country.
Addressing the gathering at a State Level function organized
to commemorate the Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Master Karnail Singh
Isru who laid down his life in the in Goa Liberation Movement,
Mr. Badal said that Punjab had always remained in the front for
the protection and honor of the country. Referring to 80% sacrifices
made by the Punjabi in the National Independence struggle, Mr.
Badal said that even doing so the Central government had never
recognized the patriotic spirit of Punjab and always ignored its
legitimate rights.
Mr. Badal regretted that even after 61 years of the Independence
, the dreams of the martyrs could not be fulfilled and many social
problems like poverty, over population, unemployment, illiteracy,
poor health conditions remained unsolved. He said that for all
these ills, the wrong policies adopted by the Congress Government
at Center, which ruled country for the maximum duration and said
that his Govt. had chalked out a comprehensive plan to improve
the quality of these services. Presently Country was facing the
highest inflation @ 13% due to ill conceived policies of the congress
government at center, said Mr. Badal. He further added that SAD-
BJP government was fully committed to bring economic prosperity
to ensure welfare of all the sections of the society.
Paying tributes to great martyr, Cooperation Minister, Capt.
Kanwaljit Singh said that center had betrayed the Punjab 's farmers
on the issue of farm loan waiver, in fact it was a deliberate
attempt to settle the non performing assets of the banks .
Prominent amongst who spoke on this occasion included Mr. Balwinder
Singh Bhunder General Secretary SAD, Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal
former Minister Punjab and Mr. Bikram Jit Singh Khalsa CPSand
Santa Singh Umedpuri President District SAD.
On this occasion Mr. Badal Bibi Charanjit Kaur widow of Shaheed
Karnail Singh.
Earlier, Mr. Badal along with other leaders paid floral tributes
on the statue of shaheed Karnail Singh
