Major relaxation to Sheller industry with increase of damaged rice to 3.5%.

Chandigarh, December, 23 : Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Food & Supplies, Minister was today successful in securing major relief for the 3600 Sheller industries of the State as Union Govt. today acceded to the request of Punjab Govt. to relax refraction of damaged/slightly damaged grains including pin-point damaged grains from existing 3% to 3.5%.

Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution today communicated to the Punjab Govt. that Union Govt. has decided to give relaxation in uniform specification of raw rice for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2008-09 in Punjab and the relaxed limit would be damaged/slightly damaged grains 3% + 0.5% pin-point damaged grains. It has been communicated that this relaxation has been given in the interest of the food security and expeditious milling of paddy procured by the State Agencies of Punjab and also to avoid milling losses. It was also pointed out that above relaxation would be applicable for only custom milled rice (CMR) without any value cut.

It may be mentioned have that 131.42 lac M.T. tonnes of paddy was procured out of which 120.74 lac M.T. tonnes were procured by Govt. agencies. This year procurement by the Govt. agencies was over 18 lac tonnes more than that of last year.

Badal urges BKU to withdraw agitation on Cotton Procurement

Chandigarh, December 23

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today appealed to the BKU (Ugrahan) group leaders to withdraw their call for proposed Rasta Roko agitation on December 25th.

In a press released issued here, a spokesperson for the Government informed that the State Chief Minister had raised the issue with the Union Government of farmers being forced by Cotton Corporation of India to bring copies of their jamabandi and girdawaris at the time of procurement of their cotton crop. He stated that unfortunately this was a national-level policy for which Mr. Badal had personally spoken to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and written to the Union Textile Minister urging its immediate withdrawal. The State Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh had also taken up the issue with the Union Textile Secretary and the State Government was hopeful that this condition would be withdrawn soon, said the spokesperson.

In view of the efforts being made by the State Government, the spokesperson stated that the Chief Minister had appealed to the leaders to withdraw the call given for their proposed Rasta Roko agitation.

SAD-BJP ALLIANCE TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE AS LOK SABHA POLL PLANK - BADAL

SULTANPUR LODHI/KAPURTHALA DECEMBER 23, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today declared that SAD-BJP government would seek the mandate of people in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls exclusively on the poll plank of development and performance.

Addressing massive public rallies at Sultanpur Lodhi and Kapurthala as a part of his development tour to cover all the assembly constituencies in the state with in the next 30 days, Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP alliance government had vowed to transform the entire Punjab so that none of any part of the state remained under developed and the masses need not to approach the government for their genuine demands rather it was the bounden duty of the government to redress their grievances which was an integral part of the good governance and clean administration. He said: "If any political party adopt this pro-people attitude then it need not to go in the court of people to justify their actions and achievements during its tenure at the time of elections, rather people will come forward to support and vote them voluntarily for the sake of development".

The Chief Minister categorically said that the SAD-BJP government was committed to ensure overall development and welfare of all sections of the society in the state without any sort of discrimination or prejudice. He lambasted at the Congress especially the former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Leader of Congress Legislative Party Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal for the gross neglect of the development of this region. He said that Amarinder Singh laid down the foundation stone of many projects at the fake end of his tenure along with Mrs.Bhattal just to woo the voters without preparing any blue print and making provision for the funds. He said; "I have asked my ministers not to lay any foundation stone without obtaining prior sanction of funds and finalization of bidding process for the execution of development projects. Even I also never lay any foundation stone before verifying all these facts because such actions taken in haste not only bring disgrace to the government but also play havoc with the sentiments of the people".

The Chief Minister also lambasted the Congress led UPA government at Centre for its failure of intelligence agencies that resulted in recent terror strikes in Mumbai and asked it to owe moral responsibility because the entire security and integrity of the nation had been jeopardized. He said: "Had Congress government at least concerned for nation's integrity and harmony it should had resigned en-mass including the Prime Minister alongwith his entire Cabinet". The resignations of Union Home Minister, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharastra, who had been made scapegoat to cover the failure of Centre was nothing but a shameful act, added Mr. Badal.

Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Mrs. Upinderjit Kaur said that a wave of development had been initiated by the Chief Minister with his visionary approach had put the state's economy in high trajectory and Punjab would soon regained its lost glory by capturing No.1 position in the country as it was relegated to No.7 by the previous government due to its callous and self-centric approach. She said that a special programme had been envisaged to save the life and property of the people of the Kapurthala district from the fury of floods with the special efforts of Mr. Badal which had been now posed to Centre for its approval and requisite funds.

On the occasion, Mr. Badal disbursed cheques of development grants of Rs. 10.40 crore, out of which Rs.5.56 crore and Rs.4.84 crore earmarked for the execution of various development works in 264 villages of Sultanpur Lodhi and Kapurthala respectively. Besides the Chief Minister also sanctioned development grants for projects worth Rs.8.43 crore including computerization of revenue record (Rs.27.63 lac), repair of drains and streets (Rs.1.89 crore), repair of school buildings (Rs.78.71 lac) and repair of 24 link roads (Rs.5.47 lac) for Sultanpur Lodhi assembly constituency. Likewise, Mr. Badal also sanctioned development grants for projects to the tune of Rs.5.03 crore including computerization of revenue record (Rs.23.02 lac), repair of school buildings and constructions of compound walls damaged due to recent floods (Rs.17.47 lac) and repair of 5 planned roads damaged due to recent floods (Rs.462.77 lac) for Kapurthala assembly constituency. Apart from this the Chief Minister also disbursed cheques of Rs.2 crore and Rs.3 crore to the Municipal Councils of Sultanpur Lodhi and Kapurthala for the execution of various development works.

Earlier the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the parking lot in the new grain market at Sultanpur Lodhi at a cost of Rs.1.90 crore.

Nominee of the SAD-BJP from Khadoor Sahib Parliamentary constituency Dr.Rattan Singh Ajnala made his firm resolves that the party was in up beat mood which would give a crushing defeat to the Congress in the forthcoming polls. He thanked Mr. Badal for reposing faith in him and doling out unprecedented grants for the development of newly created Parliamentary constituency of Khadur Sahib.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included former SGPC President & Chairperson Kapurthala District Planning Committee Bibi Jagir Kaur and former Minister Raghbir Singh. The rally was also attended by Advisor to Chief Minister Dr.Daljit Singh Cheema, Media Advisor Mr.Harcharan Bains besides senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of the SGPC.

BADAL CALLS FOR OUSTER OF UPA GOVERNMENT TO USHER AN ERA OF OVERALL DEVELOPMENT IN PUNJAB

ZIRA/MAKHU DECEMBER 23, 2008

On the 2nd day of Development tour Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the people of Punjab to oust Congress in order to pave a way for the BJP led National Democratic Alliance government at Centre for seeking justice and equity for the long pending demands of the state be it economic, agriculture, industry, inter-state issues etc. which had been blatantly ignored by the Congress for its apathetic attitude prejudicial towards the legitimate rights of the state.

Addressing two separate massive public rallies at Zira and Makhu in Ferozepur district, Mr. Badal said that the people of Punjab had lot of expectations from the UPA government but they were completely dejected due to the step motherly treatment meted out to our state. He cited the example how Punjab was completely ignored in the Centre's debt waiver scheme of Rs.71000 crore where it could managed to get just 1% and likewise hardly 1% was allotted to the state out of Central grant of Rs.3125 crore earmarked for the development of agriculture in all the states despite our significant contributions of 60% of food grain in the national pool.

On agriculture front, Mr. Badal pleaded that states should not beg for remunerative MSP for the crops rather Centre should evolve a permanent solution either linking it with the consumer price index or MSP should be equal to the cost of production plus 50% as recommended by an eminent farm economist Dr.MS Swaminathan. He said that agriculture was no more a profitable occupation due to the negligible returns out of it due to non remunerative and stagnant minimum support price (MSP) for which Centre had always adopted a negative posture. He said that our farmers even after exhausting all its natural resources in terms of ground water and soil texture had contributed significantly towards the national food pool but what we got in return except penury, humiliation and depression which had forced our farmers to end their lives by committing suicide.

Blaming the Congress for 1984, Mr. Badal said that none on this earth could forget this in human incident which exposed the much hyped 'secular image' of the party besides leaving a blot permanently. He also held Congress responsible for the meddling in the religious affairs of Sikhs and even criticized its role in the attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib.

Lashing at the Congress for instigating people for disturbing peace in the state and its indulgence in divisive politics, Mr.Badal said that the people had already realized that Congress's policy of 'divide and rule' which it has adopted not only in Centre but in the states too pursue its political agenda. Mr.Badal lamented that after 60 years of freedom, Congress government during its successive terms in Centre and even in Punjab had not been able to provide the basic civic amenities to the common man. He said that poor and lower strata of the society had been completely ignored by the Congress because it was least concerned about their welfare. He said that our government was committed for the overall development of the state and its people. He said that SAD being a party of a common man sensitized to the problems of the people at the grass root level was committed to serve them in the right earnest.

The Chief Minister dared former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and CLP leader Smt. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to desist from cheap politics of the confrontation adding Mr. Badal said he was aware of their brewing resentment and frustration due to the upbeat mood of rank and file in SAD-BJP party due to overwhelming response of people in 'Vikas Rallies' in Majha region. Besides, Congress party was totally disunited and its so called leaders were harping on different tunes be it party president Mohinder Singh Kaypee who were befooling the voters, rather they should not forget that the people were wise enough to distinguish between the performance and antics. He reiterated that the development would be the sole agenda of the SAD-BJP government in the forthcoming elections.

On the occasion, Mr. Badal announced development grants worth Rs. 104 crore for the execution of various projects and schemes in Zira and Makhu areas. As a part of this massive development plan, he also announced Rs. 3.50 crore 30 bedded Community Health Centre and Rs.25 lakh for the construction of sub-tehsil at Makhu. Mr. Badal also disbursed cheque of Rs.2 crore and Rs.1 crore each for the development of Zira and Makhu on the occasion.

Later Mr. Badal laid the foundation stone of bridge on the Makhu-Lohian-Jalandhar road at Gidderwindi to be built at the cost of Rs.67 crore. This bridge would link the Malwa with Doaba region thereby reducing the distance by 40 KMs.

In his address Irrigation Minister Janmejha Singh Sekhon said that the remarkable progress made by SAD-BJP government in just 2 years had resulted frustration amongst the congress party as it was bereft of political agenda for the ensuing parliamentary elections.

Speaking on the occasion, sitting MP from Tarn Taran Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala and now SAD-BJP nominee from Khadur Sahib Parliamentary constituency thanked Mr. Badal for reposing faith in him and hoped he would come upto the expectations of the people in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls and solicited people's whole hearted support and cooperation to translate the dreams of inhabitants of Majha into reality.

Prominent amongst others who were spoke on the present on the occasion included former Minister and Vice President SAD Hari Singh Zira, Mr. Harmeet Singh Sandhu, Mr.Amarpal Singh Bonni, Mr.Inderpal Singh Bolaria (all MLAs), Youth SAD President Ferozepur Avtar Singh Zira besides senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of the SGPC.

SHIROMANI AKALI DAL-Sukhbir Singh Badal, today called upon the Union Government to address the problems being faced by the farmers in the Country.

NEW DELHI DECEMBER 23, 2008

Shiromani Akali Dal President and Member Parliament Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal, today called upon the Union Government to address the problems being faced by the farmers in the Country.
Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal who led a delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP Parliamentarians from Punjab to meet Union Agriculture Minister Mr.Sharad Pawar here today, demanded in particular that new condition imposed by Govt. of India to produce the land records girdwari etc. on the cotton grower farmers of the Punjab State while they are coming to sale their cotton in the market, be immediately removed. He said that this was carving immense problems to cotton grower's farmers in the state. He sought the personal intervention from the centre to immediately direct the Cotton Corporation of India
(CCI) to continue procurement of cotton without insisting upon production of revenue record and instead accept the certificate issued by village Sarpanch/Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) certifying the prospective seller to be an actual farmer.
The delegation also met Mr. Shankar Singh Vaghela to raise these issues with Govt. of India. He said that Punjab farmers contribute 70% in the central pool but centre did nothing to reward them with incentives. He said that farming was no longer a lucrative profession as the prices of farm inputs vastly out of proportion to the farm produce.
Both the Union Ministers Mr.Sharad Pawar and Mr.Shanker Singh Vaghela gave the patient hearing of the problems of farmers raised by Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal, before them and assured him to take the appropriate immediate action on it.
The delegation comprises Mr.Charanjit Singh Atwal,Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha, Mr.Naresh Gujral,Mr.Vinod Khanna, Mr.Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha, Mr.Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Mrs.Paramjit Kaur Gulshan,and Mr.Tarlochan Singh all M.Ps.
Mr.Amit Gosain BJP leader of Ludhiana, Mr.Balbir Singh Jangiara, General Secretary (SAD) Canada. Mr.Kikkar Singh Ex-M.P. and Mr. Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal Ex-MLA were also present.