1510 PACKETS OF SUB-STANDARD PESTICIDES
SEIZED
CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 27, 2008
In order to provide better quality of pesticides and insecticides
to farmers of the State, a Flying Squad has been set-up under the
supervision of Mr. Gurdev Singh, Joint Director Agriculture as per
the directions of S. Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister, Punjab,
who conducted raids and seized 1510 packets of sub standard pesticides
out of which 700 packets of sulfa-sulphron, manufactured by M/s
Hydrabad Chemical Limited, from Gupta Kisan Khad Agency, Phagwara
and after testing it was found that W.U.G was 71.16 percent instead
of 75 percent. 200 packets of Topic medicine was also seized which
was also less in specification, and found that instead of 15 percent
it was only 11.88 percent.
Mr. Gurdev Singh, Said that similarly raid was conducted on Sri
Ram Chemical Pvt. Ltd. of Ludhiana and 610 packets of pesticides
were seized and on testing the contents were 71.41 percent instead
of 75 percent. From the unauthorized godown of same company 6860
litrers of Allwin medicine was seized which do not even have licence.
The medicine has been taken into possession with the permission
of Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana.
Action would be taken against these firms under Fertilizer Controll
Act 1985 for keeping sub-standard and unauthorized medicines, said
the incharge of the flying squad.
SAD-BJP ALLIANCE TO FIGHT LOK SABHA ELECTIONS
ON POLL PLANK OF DEVELOPMENT – BADAL
JAGRAON/MULLANPUR DAKHA/LATALA (LUDHIANA) DECEMBER 27, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today categorically
said that SAD-BJP alliance would contest the coming Lok Sabha elections
only on the poll plank of development and performance because the
unprecedented overall development and progress witnessed in the
state in just 21 months of Party's regime had put the Congress in
the tight spot as it was bereft of any political agenda to pursue
during its elections campaign.
Addressing a series of massive public rallies at Jagraon, Mullanpur
Dakha and Latala as a part of his development tour which entered
in the Malwa belt attracted heavy turn out of people despite inclement
weather due to sever cold and dense fog, Mr. Badal slammed that
the state Congress leadership for their myopic and self-centered
approach restricted to personal gains and petty politics. He blamed
the Congress party for its dubious role to scuttle the efforts of
the SAD-BJP government to ensure overall and balanced growth in
the state. He pointed out that the frustration building up in the
rank and file of the Congress party day in and day out due to the
over whelming response of the people to the SAD-BJP's programme
"Trakki De Lehar – Pind Pind Shehar Shehar" to take
governance at the door steps of the people and elicit their participation
in the development process of the state thereby depicting the model
of 'inclusive growth' to ensure the development and prosperity of
urban and rural sector.
Mr. Badal declared an electoral war against the Congress party
and asserted that nobody could deter the SAD-BJP alliance from capturing
all the 13 parliamentary seats in the state because the upbeat mood
of the people in favour of SAD-BJP alliance, which had also been
recently acknowledged by the tremendous response given by them during
his development tour. He said that Congress party had none of any
significant achievement to its credit in the last tenure of full
5 years to face electorate in the Lok Sabha polls except indulging
in criticism on one count and another. "We are committed to
the development of the Punjab and welfare of its people because
we have come to power due to their mandate and are equally confident
that the people of Punjab would firmly stand by us to ensure landslide
victory of all SAD-BJP candidates in order to install NDA government
at Centre so that the legitimate rights of the state could be safeguarded
and the aspirations of the people be cherished because the Congress
government during its rule of over 45 years in Centre, since Independence
had ignored the state's interests and virtually exploited the people
of Punjab and in one way or the other".
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 for justified
demands and grants. He said that states had virtually no powers
with them and were dependent on the Center even for petty matters.
He pointed out that Centre had always betrayed Punjab on every front,
be it agriculture, industry and even on the infrastructure development.
He said that Central policies were inimical for the interests of
Punjab and they deliberately devised stringent parameters for the
eligibility criterion of the centrally sponsored schemes and grants.
He cited an example how Punjab was excluded from the schemes of
construction of link roads, rural electrification and even the recruitment
in the Armed forces.
On the occasion, Mr. Badal disbursed Rs.6.86 crore for the various
development projects in Jagraon assembly constituency, out of this
Rs.3 crore had been earmarked for the development of Jagraon city
and Rs.3.36 crore for the development of 80 villages in this constituency.
Besides, he also announced a development grant of Rs.25 lakh each
for the construction of sub-tehsil complex at Sidhwan Bet and tehsil
complex at Jagraon and in addition to this he also announced a grant
of Rs.7.15 crore for the repair of 114 KMs of road and Rs.2.45 crore
for the construction of 17 KMs of new roads in Jagraon.
The Chief Minister also announced a development grant of Rs.45
crore for the development of Dakha constituency including Rs.24
crore for grain market, Rs.7.27 crore for water supply schemes,
Rs.8 crore for repair of roads and Rs.1.70 crore for constructions
of new link roads. He also laid the foundation stone of new grain
and vegetable market.
Later addressing the media persons, Mr. Badal said that he didn't
harbor any personal grudge against Amarinder Singh and Mrs. Rajinder
Kaur Bhattal but was opposed to the Congress party's due to its
anti-Punjab policies. He pointed out that Congress party during
its regime be it in State or it Centre had adopted a discriminatory
and apathetic treatment against the Punjab and Punjabis for the
last 60 years since Independence. He categorically said that Shiromani
Akali Dal could never compromise with Congress party on the contrary
he ruled out of any possibility of breaking its alliance with Bhartiya
Janta Party, saying there was no question of any fissures in its
strong ties.
Speaking on the occasion, Local government and industries Minister
Mr. Manoranjan Kalia said that SAD-BJP government was a true votary
of the rights of the people of Punjab while Congress and its leaders
never bothered for the development of the state and its people.
He urged the people to vote and support for the SAD-BJP candidates
in the forthcoming parliamentary elections to form the NDA government
at Centre so that the interests of Punjab could be safeguarded in
the right earnest. He said that our government had disbursed development
grants worth Rs.2000 crore in just 21 months whereas Congress distributed
merely Rs.1200 crore during its entire regime of five years. He
also mentioned not even a single penny was given for the urban development
of Jagroan assembly constituency by the Congress government while
our government had given Rs.3 crore in just 21 months. Mr. Badal
also presented ownership certificates to 51 SC and Vimukt Jattis
families for their houses constructed on panchayati land in five
villages. At Latala the Chief Minister sanctioned grants worth Rs.30
crore and disbursed cheques of Rs.5 crore amongst village panchayats
for the development works in Qila Raipur constituency.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Tourism
Minister Hira Singh Gabria, former President SGPC Jathedar Jagdev
Singh Talwandi, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Ajmer Singh Lakhowal,
MLA Dakha Darshan Singh Shivalik, MLA Samrala Jagjeewan Singh Khirnia,
Senior Vice President SAD Gurdev Singh Badal, Member Parliament
from Ludhiana Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chairman District Planning
Committee Ludhiana Bhag Singh Malha, Chairman Zila Prishad Manpreet
Singh Ayali, former Ministers Jagdish Singh Garcha & Maheshinder
Singh Grewal and senior Akali leader Gurcharan Singh Grewal. Senior
leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of SGPC also attended
these rallies.
PUNJAB TO SET UP ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION:BADAL
Chandigarh, Dec.,27, 2008
The Punjab government has decided to set up a "State Administrative
Reforms Commission" to rationalize official procedure and to
simplify and speed up delivery service in government offices at
the cutting edge. The move , "a major step towards revolutionizing
administrative system in order to officialdom genuinely a servant
of the people, would be the first endeavour of its kind in the state
since independence."
In a statement here, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh
Badalsaid that the Commission would submit its report within three
months of its formation. The report would be implemented within
forty five days of its receipt with the government. Once implemented,
the report would put the onus of delivery on the officers or officials
concerned. This was aimed at eliminating any possible excuse for
delays both in meeting legitimate requirements of the public at
as also in implementation of people friendly policies of the government.
The main objective of the exercise, he said, was to remove cumbersome
procedural bottlenecks even in deliver of public service in key
areas such as revenue records including registration land and other
properties, police, transport, excise and taxation, health services,
official verifications and certification of various documentations
etc. He said that common people faced a lot of harassment and painful
delays because of unnecessary and long-winded procedures even in
day to day service areas, such as the procuring of a birth and death
certificate, driving or armed license, land records (farads etc.)
registration of marriages, police identification verification, poverty
line or scheduled caste or scheduled tribes status, character certification
etc.
The chief Minister also declared that the development package
of Rs. 555 crore during the on-going "Development Wave for
Better Punjab" would be completed in just 28 days and was apart
from the total government plans entailing thousand of crores of
projects for removing the genuine grievances of the people in their
day to day living. All this, he said, in addition to the mega development
projects such as the Rs. 40,000 crore initiative to set up four
Thermal Plants to add 12,444 MWs addition power to the existing
generation capacity or the International Airport Mohali and similar
other projects aimed at putting Punjab on the global development
map.
He said he was grateful to those of critics who described his
current development campaign as "Lohri Festivities, because
I am determined to make every day a development Lohri for the people
of Punjab, with projects being showered on them day in and day out."
SUB-STANDARD PESTICIDES SEIZED BY FLYING
SQUAD OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 26, 2008
In order to provide better quality of pesticides and insecticides
to farmers of the State, a Flying Squad has been set-up under the
supervision of Mr. Gurdev Singh, Joint Director as per the directions
of S. Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister, Punjab, who conducted
raids and seized 700 packets of sulfa-sulphron, manufactured by
M/s Hydrabad Chemical Limited, from Gupta Kisan Khad Agency, Phagwara
and after testing it was found that W.U.G was 71.16 percent instead
of 75 percent. 200 packets of Topic medicine was also seized which
was also less in specification, and found that instead of 15 percent
it was only 11.88 percent.
Mr. Gurdev Singh, Said that similarly raid was conducted on Sri
Ram Chemical Pvt. Ltd. of Ludhiana and 610 packets of pesticides
were seized and on testing the contents were 71.41 percent instead
of 75 percent. From the unauthorized godown of same company 6860
litrers of Allwin medicine was seized which do not even have licence.
The medicine has been taken into possession with the permission
of Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana.
Action would be taken against these firms under Fertilizer Controll
Act 1985 for keeping sub-standard and unauthorized medicines, said
the incharge of the flying squad.
4 APPOINTMENTS MADE ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS
IN PUNJAB Technical Education Department
Chandigarh December 26, 2008
Social Security and Technical Education Minister Ch. Swarna Ram
heretoday handed over the appointment letter to four candidates
appointed on compassionate grounds in the Technical Education &
Industrial Training Department Punjab.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister said that these clerical
appointments were made as per the rules and regulations of the Punjab
Government. He appealed to the newly appointees to work with dedication,
devotion and sincerity.
The Minister gave directions to clear the backlog of compassionate
cases at the earliest.
Prominent among others who were also present on the occasion Mr.
G.Ramesh Kumar, Director Technical Education & Industrial Training
and other senior officers of the department..
PUNJAB TO SET UP ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION
BADAL's VIKAS WAVE SWEEPS DOABA
JALANDHAR / BHOGPUR DECEMBER 26:
In a major step towards revolutionizing administrative system,
the Punjab government today decided to set up a "State Administrative
Reforms Commission" to rationalize official procedure and to
simplify and speed up delivery service in government offices at
the cutting edge.
This was announced by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh
Badal while addressing massive Vikas Rallies as part of his statewide
"Better Punjab" campaign. He said that the move would
make administration genuinely a servant of the people. The Campaign,
officially called "Tarraki di Lehar, Pind Pind Shehar Shehar,
has seen the Chief Minister riding a surge of popular enthusiasm
in Majha and Doaba and will move into the Malwa from tomorrow.
Mr. Badal, obviously enthused by the response of the ecstatic crowds
both in Adampur (Bhogpur) and Jalandhar Cantt. Constituencies in
the Doaba heartland, declared that the Commission would submit its
report within three months of its formation. The report would be
implemented within forty five days of its receipt with the government.
Once implemented, the report would put the onus of delivery on the
officers or officials concerned. This was aimed at eliminating any
possible excuse for delays both in meeting legitimate requirements
of the public at as also in implementation of people friendly policies
of the government.
The main objective of the exercise, he said, was to remove cumbersome
procedural bottlenecks even in deliver of public service in key
areas such as revenue records including registration land and other
properties, police, transport, excise and taxation, health services,
official verifications and certification of various documentations
etc. He said that common people faced a lot of harassment and painful
delays because of unnecessary and long-winded procedures even in
day to day service areas, such as the procuring of a birth and death
certificate, driving or armed license, land records (farads etc.)
registration of marriages, police identification verification, poverty
line or scheduled caste or scheduled tribes status, character certification
etc.
Mr. Badal's announcement drew instant accolades from the huge gathering
at the Jalandhar Cantt and the atmosphere reverberated with traditional
Akali slogans.
Mr. Badal also declared that the development package of Rs. 555
crore would be completed in just 28 days and was not a part of a
total plan entailing thousand of crores of projects for removing
the genuine grievances of the people in their day to day living.
This was quite apart from the mega development projects such as
the Rs. 40,000 crore initiative to set up four Thermal Plants to
add 12,444 MW addition power to the existing generation capacity
or the International Airport Mohali and similar other projects aimed
at putting Punjab on the global development map. He said that he
was grateful to those of critics who described his current development
campaign as "Lohri Festivities, because I am determined to
make every day a development Lohri for the people of Punjab, with
projects being showered on them day in and day out.
Mr. Badal reiterated his firm resolves that development and performance
would be the only poll plank during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections
because the unprecedented overall development and progress witnessed
in the state in just 21 months of SAD-BJP regime had put the Congress
in tight spot as it was bereft of any solid political agenda to
pursue its election campaign.
Mr. Badal slammed the state Congress leadership for their myopic
and self-centered approach restricted to petty politics for their
personal gains. He ridiculed the Congress party for its attempts
to scuttle the efforts of the SAD-BJP Government to ensure overall
and balanced growth of the State. He pointed out that frustration
was building up in the rank and file of the Congress due to the
pro-people development initiatives taken by SAD-BJP to put the state
on the fast growth trajectory.
Mr. Badal declared that the SAD-BJP alliance would capture all the
13 parliamentary seats in the state because they had a clear mandate
of the people which had been recently acknowledged by the tremendous
response received from them during his development tour across the
state.
Mr. Badal laid the foundation stones of bus stand at a cost of
Rs.1.05 crore and Sub-tehsil complex at Bhogpur. The Chief Minister
also disbursed grant of Rs.1 crore each for the municipal committees
of Adampur, Bhogpur and Alawalpur and Rs.2.43 crore fo the development
of 140 villages in Adampur constituency. Mr. Badal also disbursed
cheque Rs.2.28 crore for the development of Jalandhar Cantt assembly
constituency and Rs.1 crore for Jalandhar Cantt. Cantonment Board.
Mr. Badal announced that the prestigious Punjab Medical Institute
of Sciences would be made operational soon and all the modalities
for its opening had been chalked out. The institute would provide
medical and health care facilities to the patients on the pattern
of the PGI. Apart from this he also announced to construct a flyover
at a cost of Rs.20 crore at BMC Chowk. Jalandhar. He also announced
a grant of Rs.20 crore for the development of industrial focal points
at Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana. Mr. Badal also announced that
SAD-BJP government had already abolished Octroi in Jalandhar and
Ferozepur Cantonment areas.
Speaking on the occasion SAD President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal
unfolded the saga of overall development in the state saying whenever
SAD-BJP government came to power in the state it brought many prestigious
projects like Rs.18000 crore Bathinda Refinery, International Airport
at Amritsar and now another international Airport at Mohali. Not
only this, our government also introduced for the first time in
the country the schemes like old age pension, shagun schemes besides
free power in the farm sector and abolition of Abiayana. Likewise
SAD-BJP government was also first to initiate the scheme to provide
Atta & Dal at subsidized rates to the economically poor families.
In the education sector we also took a lead in setting up Adarsh
Schools in the all the blocks at a cost of Rs.400 crore to provide
quality education to the intelligent and poor nearly 2 lakh students.
On the power front SAD-BJP alliance made strides to make Punjab
self reliant in power
by setting up of four mega thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo, Goindwal
Sahib, Rajpura and Gidderbaha to generate an additional power capacity
of 8000 MW during next three years. He said: "What Congress
had done in the past need not to be over emphasized because every
body knows that Amarinder Singh only came out from his palace in
the last year of his tenure in a much hyped Vikas Yatra to woo the
voters whereas our Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal despite
the fact of his old age is regularly meeting people not only in
his office and residence at Chanidgarh but also approaching people
in the far flung villages, deras and dhanis of border, bet and kandi
area to redress their grievances on the spot". This was a difference
between the ideology of Congress and SAD-BJP government as former
believes in hollow slogans and tall claims while the later believed
in action, added Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal.
On the both the rallies Chief Minister Mr. Badal alongwith SAD President
Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal introduced the SAD-BJP nominee Mr.Hans Raj
Hans, a noted folk singer from Jalandhar Parliamentary constituency
and appealed to the people to vote and support Mr. Hans in the Lok
Sabha polls.
In his address Local Government & Industries Minister Manoranjan
Kalia said that the SAD-BJP government during its 21 months tenure
had disbursed Rs.2000 crore for the urban development while Congress
merely distributed Rs.1250 crore during its entire regime of five
years. He said that the SAD-BJP government was committed for the
overall development and progress of the state. He mentioned that
whenever our alliance came into power we had ensured balanced growth
of urban and rural areas. On the contrary Congress leaders neither
focused its attention on the development of urban nor on rural segment
except amassing wealth from ill-gotten means to pursue their personal
agenda.
Prominent amongst other who also spoke on the occasion included
Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, Mr.Swarn Singh Phillaur and Mr.Avinash
Chander (both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries) Mr. Sarbjit Singh
Makkar and Mr.Jagbir Singh Brar (both MLAs). Besides the senior
leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of SGPC also present
on the occasion.
China offers cooperation
to Punjab in Agriculure and Dairy farming Diplomat meets Cooperation
Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh
Chandigarh, December 26 : China today offered its technical expertise
to Punjab in the field of agriculture and dairy farming. This offer
was made by Chinese Ambassador to India Mr. Zhangyan, who called
on Punjab Coopertion Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh at his residence
today.
Mr. Zhangyan further offered the Cooperation Minister to lead a
delegation to China to witness the latest developments in the field
of agriculture and dairy farming. so that they could mutually benefitted
from each others expertise. He said that at a time when whole world
of reeling under the impact of economic meltdown India and China
can enhance mutual cooperation to reduce the impact on both the
nations.
He said that till now Chinal was offering cooperation in the fields
of power generation, Industrialisation, sciecne and technology which
could be further extended to the fields of agriculture and dairy
farming. He informed that at present 160 Indian Companies were operating
in China successfully in different fields. Similarly 60 Chinese
companies were also making a significant contribution in the economic
progress of India.
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh gave a brief outline of the Punjab's agriculture
economy and informed the Chinese Ambassdor that Punjab despite being
a two percent geographical area of the country was making 70 percent
contribution in the total foodgrains of the country and played a
significant role in making the country self sufficient in the field
of foodgrains.He further informed that the Punjab government was
going to introduce its new Industrial policy prepared by UNIDO and
besides ensuring diversification in agriculture by mobilising the
resources of various cooperatives in the state as the cooperatives
have a wider reach in the rural masses of the state.He said that
the state was encouraging dairy farming in a big was and in ths
field Milkfed was making a significant contribution as it was federation
of milk societies. He informed that in order to enhance Internation
Cooperation, state was setting up an Internation Airport at Mohali
at cost of Rs. 300 crore.
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh expressed keen desire to import Aluminium
Phosphate through Markfed which was already producing other pesticides.
He also expressed desire to import paddy transplanter which could
held a lot to the state farmers.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at the meeting and expressed
willingness to continue mutual cooperation for properity of both
the sides. Chinese diplomat invited Capt. Kanwaljit Singh to lead
a delegation to China.
Chinese Ambassador was accompanied by his wife and officials of
Chinese embassy where as Narinder Singh Executive Director Markfed,
VK Singh MD Milkfed nad Dalip Sharma Regional Director PHD Chamber
of commerce and Industry was also present in the meeting
PUNJAB CM PAYS GLOWING TRIBUTES TO YOUNGER SAHIBZADAS
CALLS FOR CHANGE OF GUARD AT CENTRE
FATEHGARH SAHIB DECEMBER 25:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called for
immediate ouster of Congress led UPA government at Centre in order
to pave a way for installation of the BJP led National Democratic
Alliance government for seeking justice and equity for the long
pending demands and ensuring overall economic development of the
state be it agriculture, industry, inter-state issues etc., which
had been blatantly ignored by the Congress for its discriminatory
and apathetic attitude towards Punjab.
Paying glowing tributes to the younger Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar
Singh and Baba Fateh Singh of Tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh
ji at a Shaheedi conference organized here by the Shiromani Akali
Dal in observance of their 304th martyrdom day, Mr.Badal said that
Union government policies were inimical to the interests of Punjab
and Centre deliberately devised stringent parameters for the eligibility
of the centrally sponsored schemes and grants. He cited an example
how Punjab was excluded from the schemes like construction of link
roads and rural electrification. The Chief Minister further lamented
the callous attitude of Government of India for not even acknowledging
Punjab's record contribution in the National Food Pool.
Mr.Badal said that now it was the high time to alert Centre to
shun its indifferent attitude towards Punjab's farming community
and industry which had been badly hit due to its step motherly treatment.
. He however said that the Centre could not befool the people anymore
because they were wise enough to comprehend the ground reality.
'Had Congress serious to the core towards the farming community
of Punjab they had not been pushed deep into the vicious circle
of debt trap', said Mr.Badal. He said that agriculture was no more
a profitable occupation due to the negligible returns on it due
to non- remunerative and stagnant minimum support price for which
Centre had always adopted an approach of 'negativism'. Our Government
had been demanding the linking of MSP with consumer price index
since long but Centre always turned down our plea without any rhyme
or reason. He said that our farmer after exhausting even all its
natural resources in terms of ground water and soil texture had
contributed significantly towards the national food pool but what
he got in return except penury, humiliation and depression which
forced him into end his life by committing suicides.
Lashing at the previous Congress government, Mr. Badal said that
the Congress through its autocratic style of functioning was far
away from the hearts of the people because it never bothered for
the welfare of the people at the grass root levels whereas SAD-BJP
government was sensitize to their basic problems and could feel
their pulse. Mr. Badal slammed the Congress for instigating people
for disturbing peace in the state and its indulgence in divisive
politics, Mr.Badal said that now the people were well aware of Congress's
policy of 'divide and rule' which it has adopted not only in Centre
but in the states also to pursue its political agenda. Mr. Badal
bemoaned that after 61 years of freedom, Congress government during
its successive terms in Centre for nearly 45 years 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.
Unfolding the plans of his government for the all round development
and welfare, Mr. Badal asserted that each and every promise made
by SAD-BJP alliance during the assembly elections with the people
would be fulfilled at all costs. He said that SAD-BJP Government
believed in actions rather than hollow slogans and tall claims made
by the Amarinder Singh who was absolutely insensitive to the problems
of the people who frittered away his entire term as Chief Minister
in leisure and pleasure.
Earlier, the Chief Minister paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum
of Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib accompanied by local MLA Didar Singh
Bhatti and executive Member of SGPC Karnail Singh Panjoli, where
he was presented a siropa by the Head Granthi Giani Harpal Singh.
Paying homage to the great martyrs for their unprecedented self-sacrifice
in the annals of world history, SAD President Mr. Sukhbir Singh
Badal said that the Shiromani Akali Dal had a glorious past since
its inception in 1920 as it had produced many valiant leaders who
relentlessly fought for the cause of Sikh Panth and actively participated
in many struggles for the welfare of all sections of the society.
Bashing at the former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for completely
ignoring the interests of the every section of the society, Mr.
Sukhbir Singh Badal said that whenever SAD-BJP had come to power
it had always accorded top priority to the agenda of overall development
of the state and welfare of all sections of the society. He accused
Amarinder Singh for hardly sparing five minutes for these hapless
people during his tenure of five years. He said: "Whereas Mr.
Parkash Singh Badal despite his old age factor never misses an opportunity
to interact with the people through the medium of sangat darshan
to listen to their woes in general and beleaguered down trodden
in particular even in any of the remotest village, town or city.
Taking Centre to the task for showing apathetic attitude towards
Punjab farmers, Mr. Sukhbir Badal pointed out that it was a cruel
joke with the farmers that the Central government had fixed Rs 850
per quintal as MSP for paddy, which was even much below Rs.1000/-
per quintal recommended by Commission for Agriculture Costs and
Prices (CACP). He said: "Probably it is for the first time
in the history of agriculture economy that the Centre had fixed
the MSP of paddy below the recommendation of the CACP".
Making a strong plea for a change of guard at Centre and to ensure
the acceleration of speedy development and prosperity of the state,
Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal underscored the need to install a government
of like minded political parties at Centre by throwing out the UPA
government in the forth coming Lok Sabha polls.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh 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 8000 MWs with
in next two years by setting up four new thermal plants at Rajpura,
Talwandi Sabo, Gidderbaha and Goindwal Sahib, out of which construction
work had already begun at Talwandi Sabo and Goindwal Sahib. Apart
from this a massive programme of remodeling of century old canal
system had been started by SAD-BJP government at an investment of
Rs.3200 crore to enhance the intake capacity of canals by 25 to
30%.
After paying homage to the younger Sahibzadas on this historic
day, President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh mentioned that the programme
of 'Nanni Chaan' initiated by the SGPC with the support of Mrs.
Harsimrat Kaur had evoked an over whelming response to bring awareness
amongst the people about the significance of clean environment and
against the malady of female foeticide. He asked the youth to take
a vow on this solemn day to give up the habit of drug addiction
because its growing trend was posing a great threat to our youth.
In his address President of BJP Punjab state unit Prof. Rajinder
Bhandari said that the unparalleled sacrifices of younger Sahibzadas
would ever act as a source of inspiration for the future generations
to imbibe the spirit of self-esteem, righteousness and morality.
While paying homage to Baba Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh Local
Government Minister Manoranjan Kalia said that the unique sacrifice
of these martyrs would be ever remembered by one and all. He said
that SAD-BJP government during its 21 months tenure had disbursed
Rs.2000 crore for the urban development while Congress merely distributed
Rs.1250 crore during its regime of five years.
Speaking on the occasion, Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit
Singh 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.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Deputy
Speaker Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Attwal, Senior Vice President
SAD Gurdev Singh Badal, General Secretary SAD Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra,
former MP Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Ranjit Singh Libra, Rajbir Singh
Padiala (both Senior Akali Leaders), Member Fatehgarh Sahib Planning
Committee Amarinder Singh Libra, former MLA Balwant Singh Shahpur,
President SAD Patiala Ajaib Singh Mukhmelpur, President SAD Fatehgarh
Sahib Jagdeep Singh Cheema, District President Youth SAD Fatehgarh
Sahib Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, former Ministers Harmail Singh Tohra
and Tota Singh, Chairman District Planning Committee Patiala Surjit
Singh Rakhra, Member SC/BCs classes Commission Dalip Singh Pandhi
and former President SGPC Kirpal Singh Badungar.
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