PETROLEUM PRICE HIKE
- MAJITHIA SEEKS RESIGNATION OF SONIA, PM, FM FOR FAILURE TO REIGN
IN INFLATION
Chandigarh June 4, 2008
Mr.
Bikram Singh Majithia, Patron Youth Akali Dal and Public Relations
Minister today demanded the resignation of economist duo Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Mr. P.
Chidambaram for their stark failure to reign in spiraling inflation.
He also demanded the resignation of Sonia Gandhi from Lok Sabha
for her failure to check price rise.
Condemning the steep hike in the prices of petrol, diesel and
LPG hitting the common man and farmers alike, Mr. Majithia said
that it was unfortunate that this hike in petro price is aimed
to benefit few handful multinational companies. He said that it
was a matter of regret that whole issue of petro price hike campaign
was organized by Union Government to favour few companies ignoring
the hardship of crores of Indian citizens who were already reeling
under the impact of record inflation. He also questioned the silence
of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the critical issue of price
hike.
Questioning the rationale of fixing the price of petro products
in line with global price of crude, Mr. Majithia said that when
the UPA government can not provide MSP of wheat and paddy at par
with global rates, it has no right to charge diesel at global
rates. He said that with the price hike of petrol and LPG, common
citizens would be hit hardest whereas diesel price hike would
have maximum impact on farmers and transporters who are already
neck deep in debt.
Mr. Majithia further said that so called economist Prime Minister
and Finance Minister have shattered the hopes of Indian citizens
and they have ruined the economy of the country beyond repair.
Mr. Majithia recalled that NDA government of which Shiromani
Akali Dal was a partner, was able to bring inflation below 2%
as then Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee used to monitor
prices on daily basis. On the other hand Dr. Manmohan Singh is
busy in marking his presence at 10, Janpath seeking lifeline for
his office daily.
Seeking early dissolution of Lok Sabha and imposition of Financial
Emergency on an early date Mr. Majithia said that a government
that can not protect the interests of the masses has no right
to continue in office.
PETRO PRICE HIKE -U.P.A. HAS MORTGAGED INDIAN ECONOMY TO M.N.CS.
-TIKSHAN SUD.
Chandigarh, June 4 : Senior B.J.P.Leader and Medical Education
Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud today alleged that by steeply hiking
the rate of Petrol, Diesel and L.P.G., U.P.A. Government has fulfilled
the agenda of multinational companies like Reliance and Craine
India mortgaging the Indian Economy in their hands.
In a statement issued here today Mr. Sud said that it was saddest
day in the history of India that so called economist Prime Minister
and Union Finance Minister have failed to protect the interest
of common man and are following the road map set by World Bank
and multinational companies. He said that common man was already
reeling under the pressure of unprecedented price rise of all
essential commodities with inflation touching the all time high
figure but Dr. Manmohan Singh has dealt a another deathly blow
to the common man by steeply hiking the rates of petro products.
Mr. Sud regretted that Union Government instead of bringing
excise duty and Sales Tax on Petrol, Diesel and L.P.G. to zero
level, to save the common man from price hike, was transferring
total load to the common man.
Seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
and Finance Minister Mr.P.Chidambram for failing reign in inflation,
Mr. Sud said that time has come that U.P.A. Government should
seek fresh mandate from the people of India.
Mr.Sud reminded that N.D.A. Government under the leadership
of Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee had brought inflation at 2% and cushioned
the common man from any price rise. He said that people of India
are now itching to bring back B.J.P. to power by electing Mr.
Lal Krishan Advani as next Prime Minister of India.
HIKE IN FUEL PRICES IS SUICIDAL -KALIA
Chandigarh June 4, 2008
Reacting sharply on hike in fuel prices Mr. Manornajan Kalia,
Industry & Commerce Minister Punjab said that the UPA Government
has failed to check the inflation.
He said that the spiraling prices and an economic slowdown were
going hand in hand during the present regime of the United Progressive
Alliance.
Squarely blaming the Centre Government for hike in fuel prices
of petrol by Rs. 5 per liter, diesel by Rs. 3 per liter and LPG
by Rs. 50 per cylinder would break the backbone of the consumer.
Mr. Kalia said that with this hike the prices of petroleum products
would also shoot up and put heavy burden on the house hold budget
of the common man.
Mr. Kalia said the decision of Centre Government to hike the fuel
prices was suicidal and highly unjustified.
'FARM AND HERITAGE TOURISM TO BECOME PRIORITY
SECTORS'
State to hire branding agency
PUNJAB GOVT, UN BODY TO JOINTLY PUT THE STATE
ON GLOBAL RADAR
CHANDIGARH JUNE 4, 2008
The Punjab Government and United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) would jointly promote Punjab as a global destination for
religio-heritage and farm tourism. The granary of India would
be put on the international tourism map through preservation and
renovation of heritage and historical sites of spiritual significance
as well by preparing an awareness-cum-facilitation package for
tourists from all across the world.
A decision to this effect was taken here today at a high level
meeting the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had
with the UNWTO team leader Mr. Richard Batchelor who had been
entrusted with the task of finalizing the master plan of state
tourism.
The Chief Minister also agreed in principle to the proposal for
engaging the a professional agency to create and promote a brand
image for the state on the international tourist circuit. Senior
Punjab Ministers, Mr. Monranjan Kalia and Mr. Hira Singh Gabria
also attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains later
told newsmen that a 10-member UNWTO team went around the state,
visiting potential sites of tourism, heritage and cultural interest.
After a detailed statewide survey spread over several months,
the team submitted a preliminary report to the Chief Minister
based on their observations along with recommendations on the
formation of an inclusive and long-term policy to show-case Punjab
as a front runner as a premier tourist destination not only on
the national but also on the international circuit. A final report
of the UNWTO team was likely to be submitted by early September,
2008.
Mr. Batchelor briefed the Chief Minister on the latest concept
of Farm Tourism which was fast catching up in countries like Romania,
Bulgaria and Hungry where lacs of tourists from United Kingdom
and Germany visit every year. This was one of the major sources
of revenue and foreign exchange for farm tourist destinations.
Mr. Badal asked the UN team to prepare a blue print for the
development of Wagha- Attari border as a major tourist spot in
the sub-continent. "So much history, heritage, culture and
economy is associated with this place that it can hardly fail
to attract tourists from all over the world, especially those
with an interest in the pre-independence history of the region.
It is also close to the holy city of Amritsar where approximately
10000 tourists visit daily to pay obeisance at Sri Harimandir
Sahib (Golden temple).
Mr. Badal also urged the UNWTO team to explore the potential
of around Chandigarh as destinations for leisure and village tourism.
"Punjab has a rich and glorious cultural heritage which could
be packaged in a from the tourist angle through blending its cultural
legacy into the modern concept of tourism", said Mr. Badal.
Mr. Batchelor informed the Chief Minister that Punjab Tourism
was primarily based on business travel, the diaspora visiting
friends and relatives and rediscovering their homeland, religious
tourism and cultural heritage based tourism. All of these sectors
have excellent growth potential. There are also many other potential
niche sectors such as golf, activity tourism, medical tourism
and eco-tourism which the state could profitably encourage and
develop. The heritage towns like Patiala, Kapurthala, Bathinda,
Sultanpur Lodhi, Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib
with magnificent architectural value, rich heritage and fascinating
history had 'amazing' but unexploited tourism potential. "The
living heritage of these places is epitomized in a full calendar
of festivals and bhangra music, handicrafts and Punjabi cuisine,
areas whose possibilities as tourist attraction are largely ignored
at the moment," said Mr. Batchelor.
The team also underlined the need for new comprehensive tourism
legislation aimed at providing organizational structure, registration
of tourism enterprises, provision for consumer protection besides
setting up of a tourism office with private sector involvement
and a degree of administrative freedom to expand the role of the
Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting the
state Chief Secretary RI Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister
DS Guru, Principal Finance DS Kalha, Principal Secretary Tourism
Geetika Kalha, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS
Cheema, Managing Director PIDB SS Sandhu, Director Tourism DP
Reddy, National Project Coordinator UNWTO SK Sharma.
The other members of UNWTO team included Environmental Expert
Jay Blakney, Weland Expert Dr.CL Trisal, Human Resource Expert
SC Bagri, Economist/Investment expert Jim Fletcher, Urban Resort
Planner Rod Hamilton, Orgnization & Legislation Expert Jim
Hannery, Cultural & Heritage Tourims Expert Hilary Ducros,
Human Resource Expert Walter Schuller and Transport & Infrastructure
expert Sam Sapuey.
NO CHANGE IN NORMS FOR ELECTION OF SARPANCHES
FROM RESERVED SEATS:BADAL
Chandigarh June 4, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today categorically
declared that there would be no change in the existing clauses
on the election of Sarpanches from reserved seats. No one would
be allowed to alter the provisions in this regard and wherever
reservation has been made, only those from reserved categories
would head Panchayats and other Panchayati Raj Institutions, said
Mr. Badal in a strongly worded statement here.
Mr. Badal was reacting to reports in a section of the press
which said that if the members of a particular Panchayat in the
reserved category express their willingness to head these institutions,
someone from the general category would be allowed to contest
for the post of a Sarpanch. This is totally incorrect, baseless
and misleading. The SAD-BJP is totally committed to safeguard
the rights of the socially and economically backward classes and
would not allow any compromise on their democratic rights
said the Chief Minister.
ERRING OFFICERS WILL BE SUSPENDED IF
ADVANCED PLANTATION OF PADDY NOT TILLED -LANGAH
Chandigarh: June 4:
Giving strict instruction to all the concerned officers of Agriculture
Department Punjab here today Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture
Minister Punjab said that erring officers would be suspended immediately
if the Paddy planted before June 15 was not tilled.
Keeping in view to check the further depletion of ground water
it has become necessary to check the early plantation of Paddy
in the state. The Minister said that Block Agriculture Officers
would be suitably rewarded who tilled the early planted Paddy
in their blocks.
Mr. Langah said that Block Agriculture officer would be held
responsible if he fails to bring into the notice of Chief Agriculture
officer regarding the advance plantation of Paddy in their respective
blocks.
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 4, 2008
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water
from 6 June to 13 June 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System
would run on priority basis from Bhatinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal,
Sidhwan Branch, Abohar Branch and Patiala feeder respectively.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department
said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line, in Group
'A' being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Ghaggar link and its off taking
channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking
from Harika and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. all the
direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in-group "A"
being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Abohar Branch off taking from
Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/minors in-group "B".
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper
Bari Doab Canal i.e. Main Branch Lower with its distributaries
being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus
water available would be utilised in Lahore Branch, Sabraon Branch,
Kasur Branch Lower and with its distributaries.
FIX PADDY MSP AT RS.1500 P.Q., Sukhbir
to PM
Chandigarh June 4, 2008
The Shiromani Akali Dal president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today
asked the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to ˜personally
intervene to get the Minimum Support Price for paddy at Rs.1500
per quintal.
In a letter to the Prime Minister today, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal
said, This is the minimum the center could do to sustain paddy
even at its present level of production and protect the poorest
among our countrymen from the fall-out of the vagaries of an increasingly
adverse global market. The international food scenario appears
to be rather grim and the only way to save the country from the
throes of a grave food crisis is to make farming a lucrative profession.
In this, the administrative pricing structure for the two principle
food grains, wheat and paddy, needs to be rationalized, said Mr.
Badal is letter.
Mr. Badal said that the centers proposed decision to hike paddy
price to just Rs.1000 p.q. was totally unrealistic and out of
sync with international market realities and domestic needs. This
marginal hike would be more than offset by the hike in the prices
of the petroleum products announced by the Government of India
today. If the Center does not adopt a more pragmatic pricing policy,
the country could soon be forced to import food grain at almost
the twice the price it is willing to pay its own farmers. From
both social and economic angles, the centers proposed decision
on paddy MSP is not only utterly insensitive to the problems being
faced by a beleaguered peasantry in the country, especially in
Punjab, but also reflects a poor economic vision, said the SAD
chief, adding that it always made much better economic sense to
encourage domestic production rather than pushing the farmers
to the brink of another crisis and filling the kitty of other
countries to fight a man made food crisis.
The SAD president further said that he would try to build a
national consensus on farming by meeting Members of Parliament
from other regional and national parties. He would also seek an
appointment with the Prime Minister to apprise him of the shocking
ground realities about the plight of farm sector in the country.
There are far too many misleading beliefs and perceptions going
around about the so-called prosperity among the farmers, said
Mr. Sukhbir Singh. He said that the farmers of Punjab had saved
the country from impending starvation by turning in stunning levels
of production. They needed to be given an incentive for a similar
show in paddy production. Such an approach would have been in
the overall interest of the country and not just the farmers who,
in any case, constitute more than sixty per cent of the population
of the country. I request you to bring the Paddy MSP in tune with
global market realities and link it with the spiraling costs of
production, said Mr. Badal.
