DEFEDERALISATION RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC WOES:
BADAL FOR POLITICS OF CONSESUS AND CONCILIATION: "NO TIME
TO WASTED ON VENDETTA". DISCUSSION ON GUV ADDRESS CONCLUDES
CHANDIGARH MARCH 11, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today blamed the
Congress party for what he called " the systematic de-federalization
of polity' by the Congress party for widespread poverty, illiteracy
and lop sided development in the country.
"Successive Congress governments at the centre, with willing
and liberal support of their ruling units in different states,
have persistently distorted the Constitution to drain it of every
drop of federal energy and turn it into a unitary monolith. The
result has been not only the complete disconnect between the Union
government and the masses it is supposed to represent but also
the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor in the country
and the alarming specter of unemployment and poverty," said
Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister called for "politics of consensus and
conciliation" in Punjab so that the political and economic
synergy is not dissipated in petty personal vendetta. "The
state and the government does not have even a minute to waste
on revengeful and personalized politics. People have not voted
for us top settle out street fights but to prepare and implement
a comprehensive agenda for the bright future of the state,"
said the Chief Minister. He declared that his government would
focus entirely on development, eradication of poverty, unemployment
and illiteracy. "We are taking path-breaking measures to
turn Punjab into highly developed zone with a network of Super
Highways, expressways, over bridges, fly-overs, and a chain of
domestic and international airports, alongwith flying clubs with
provisions for pilot, flight engineers and cabin crew training.
We are determined also to completely revamp education through
Adarsh School scheme and an initiave to upgrade every existing
school to the level of a fully equipped and functional unit. 351
schools were being upgraded this year alone," declared the
Chief Minister.
Summing up the debate on the Governor address in the Punjab
Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister asked the opposition Congress
party in the state to come out of its "overly defensive mould
which had forced it to pivot its political philosophy and strategy
around the vendetta slogan', and asked it to play a pro-active
role in the development of the state. He said that 'healthy and
constructive criticism' was always welcome as it helped the ruling
party to keep its nose closer to the ground and spin and pursue
practical governmental schemes for growth and development. "The
role of the Opposition and its leader is as important as that
of the Leader of the House or the ruling party. A government that
turns a completely deaf ear to the voice of Opposition does so
at its own peril and at the cost of the priorities of the people
of the state who have elected both sides for different roles,"
said the Chief Minister. He warned the youth brigade in both sides
to beware of politicking for cheap personal glory.
Mr. Badal further said that Congress had ruled at the centre
and in several states for more than five decades . It had no excuse
to wash its hands of its responsibility for the shocking poverty,
social disparities and the lack of elementary basic amenities
like clean drinking water in vast areas of the country, especially
in the villages.
He lamented that Congress governments in Punjab had always acted
as "approvers against their home state" and sided with
the anti-Punjab policies of their governments at the centre. "They
have always acted as if demanding justice for their state was
a traitorous and anti-national act. In fact, the Congress at the
centre had always behaved in manner that painted the meeting of
any just demand of the state as " a concession to the enemy.
This had thrown the people of the state out of the national mainstream
for a long time. . "For example, whenever Shiromani Akali
Dal put forth the case of autonomy for the state, we were dubbed
as anti-national because we demanded a fair distribution of taxes
collected by the Centre from the states", said Mr.Badal.
On vendetta, Mr.Badal quoted extensively from records and media
reports to show that almost all the cases against Congressmen
had either been registered or recommended for "deeper probe"
by the previous Amarinder Singh regime. No case had been registered
against any Congress leader, including Amarinder and Mrs. Rajinder
Kaur Bhathal by the present government. This is a matter of record
and I am willing to share official records with anyone who thinks
otherwise," said Mr. Badal. On the contrary, he quoted more
figures to prove that not even the children and women from SAD-BJP
families were spared harassment and humiliation by the previous
regime. "But we are determined to put the past behind us
and move ahead to make Punjab the number global destination. Much
of this mission would be completed before the end of our present
term."
On vendetta, Mr.Badal said that it was the tradition started
by the Congress Party during last tenure under the Chief Ministership
of Capt. Amarinder Singh. The Chief Minister categorically said
that we have not registered a single case against any Congress
MLA or party worker out of vendetta whereas SAD-BJP MLAs were
not only humiliated, arrested even the women and the children
were also not spared what to talk of moral dignity and value system
claimed by the President PPCC Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Mr.
Badal informed the house that the case against Capt. Amarinder
Singh in the City Centre Scam Ludhiana was not registered by the
present. "The Vigilance prober order Captain Singh had indicted
his government and all this had happened during his own tenure.Alosss
of Rs.1500 crore to the state exchequer had been detected by the
then Vigilance IG and it had been referred to the referred to
the Vigilance Department under the signed orders of Amaridner
Singh himself
The Congress benches sat mum when Mr.Badal pointed out that Capt.
Amarinder Singh had not spared even his detractors within the
party like Mrs.Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mr.Partap Singh Bajwa
"to keep their political ambitions in check."
Mr.Badal reeled off data on his government's performance in
different spheres. (MORE)
DEBATE ON GUV'S ADDRESS CONCLUDES
(TAKE TWO)
Negating the tall claims of the previous government for setting
up mega projects worth Rs.1,05,000 crore, Mr.Badal stated that
investments worth Rs.8500 crore were only on the ground which
was just 8% of the total fake investments projected by the then
Congress government. He also mentioned that the empowered committee
headed by the then Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh even cleared
145 such mega projects which did not have any land, project report
etc.
On the power sector, the Chief Minister said that the state government
was committed not only to ensure availability of quality and uninterrupted
supply of electricity to the people of Punjab but also make it
a power surplus state. Mr.Badal accused the previous government
for blatantly ignoring this crucial sector by not adding even
a single unit in the power generation. He said that there was
a deficit of 2800 MW which would be met by installing three thermal
plants at Goindwal Sahib (600 MW), Talwandi Sabo (1980 MW) and
Rajpura (320 MW). It may be mentioned that the total projected
demand was 9000 MW against the total installed capacity of 6200
MW.
Showing deep concern over the poor economic condition of the
farmers and mounting debt on them, Mr.Badal said that Punjabi
farmer had not got its due share from GoI as he contributed 50%
of the total wheat and rice for food security of the country during
the last four decades. They have even sacrifice their valueable
asset of groundwater and soil health for producing foodgrains
for the nation. He vehemently pleaded that MSP should be linked
with the consumer price index or be fixed 50% higher than the
calculated cost of production. He termed the loan waiver by Centre
for small and marginal farmers 'Too Little Too Late' and a misnomer.
He said that it was not a loan waiver but actually a partial debt
default readjustment scheme. He said that the entire loan liability
of Rs.31000 crore, of which Rs.19000 crore and Rs.12000 crore
was on account of institutional loan and informal sector loan
respectively should be waived off by the Centre. He said that
the existing loan waiver just touches the tip of the iceberg of
the present agricultural crisis. He suggested that centre should
take over the liability of loans taken by farmers from the informal
sector by directly paying to the lenders even those owning land
between 5 acre and 10 acres should be covered under the scheme.
The Chief Minister also stated that our government had taken a
massive rehabilitation and revamping of 125 years old irrigation
system in Punjab which resulted in 20% less intake capacity. He
said that Rs.1352 and Rs.1583 crore would be spent on rehabilitation
of canals and lining of water courses respectively. He said that
the entire programme would considerably improve the functioning
of canal system thereby ensuring the water at the tail ends especially
in southern Punjab.
Holding congress government responsible for the dismal financial
position in the state, Mr.Badal bemoaned when our government demitted
office in 2002 Punjab was at number one and now it was relegated
to number four when congress left the government. He said that
the mounting debt of Rs.48344 crore inherited from previous government
and recurring liability of Rs.4000 crore annually towards payment
of interest on this debt had further aggravated the financial
crisis. He said that out of the total share of 74% tax collected
by Centre, state's share was just 74% consequently we were left
with meager resources at our disposal while the centre was flushed
with funds and the states were always facing an acute resource
crunch. He advocated Punjab deserved a bigger share in the devolution
of Centre's funds because of factors viz. war of independence,
half of its population displaced in partition, lacs killed during
partition, being a border state and contribution of 50% to the
foodgrains. He opposed the per capita income criteria fixed by
centre for the devolution of the funds out of which Punjab only
gets 1.30% as per formula.
Listing out some significant achievements, Mr.Badal said that
the state government had finally succeeded in getting the prestigious
Mohali International Airport from the GoI which would soon boost
the trade and commerce activity across the globe and Punjab in
particular. He said that the government had decided to transfer
42000 acre of rural evacuee land to the long time tillers at the
rate of Rs.12000 and Rs.15000 per acre to SCs/BCs and Non SCs/BCs
respectively. The entire amount would be recovered from the beneficiaries
in 6 monthly installments within 3 years. Likewise the rates of
compensation was also revised from Rs.700 to Rs.2000, Rs.1000
to Rs.3000 and Rs.2000 to Rs.5000 per acre incase of 26% to 50%,
51% to 75% and 76 and above on account of loss due to natural
calamities respectively.
Highlighting the major initiative taken by the government in
the school education sector, Mr.Badal said that 351 high/senior
secondary schools would be upgraded at a cost of Rs.142 crore.
Besides Rs.61 crore would be spent for the upgradation of primary/middle
schools during the current financial year whereas congress just
spent a paltry sum of Rs.684 crore during its regime of five years.
He said that the government would complete the recruitment process
for filling 14000 posts of teachers, of 10000 in primary schools
and 4000 in higher/senior secondary schools positively by 31st
March 2008, whereas congress only recruited 5435 teachers during
its tenure.
PUNJAB CM EXPRESS SHOCK OVER TRAGIC BUS
ACCIDENT
CHANDIGARH MARCH 11, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed
profound grief and sorrow over the tragic private bus accident
which overturned between Dhariwal and Naushera Majha Singh on
the Amritsar-Pathankot highway in district Gurdaspur this afternoon
in which 10 persons died and 15 injured, of them 5 seriously injured.
Mr. Badal also expressed his heart felt sympathies with the members
of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give strength
to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed
souls. He asked the Deputy Commissioner Gurdaspur to ensure the
free treatment to the injured persons.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Gurdaspur had directed the Additional
Deputy Commissioner (General) to hold an inquiry into the cause
of the accident.
PUNJAB EXCISE POLICY 2008-09-ROARING SUCCESS-CHIEF
MINISTER
Chandigarh, March 11, 2008
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab stated that
an overwhelming response from the liquor licensees has been received
to the allotment of liquor vends in the State of Punjab for the
year 2008-09.
The last date for the receipt of the applications was 10.03.2008
and a record number of about 57,000 applications were received
from all parts of the State as opposed to 47,291 applications
received last year. This means an increase of over ten thousand
applications. Thus, the State earned Rs.38.25 crores by way of
application fee alone, over Rs.10 crores as compared to the year
2007-08. The Chief Minister stated that this increase is despite
the fact that in the year 2008-09, rates for the application forms
had been considerably reduced. In the year 2008-09, a total of
6902 liquor vends will be opened in the State of Punjab.
Mr. Badal pointed out that the draw of lots for the allotment
of liquor vends will be held on 12.03.2008. The State Government
have directed the Deputy Commissioner of each district to be present
as an Observer to ensure transparent allotment of liquor vends.
The Chief Minister stated that directions have been issued to
the Department that no departmental officer would pick any application
from the draw. It has been decided that the DCs would invite people
from the audience to do so.
The Chief Minister stated that with this allotment, the State
Government has been able to dispose of 99% of the liquor vends
in the very first stage itself, whereas in the State of Haryana,
the first round sale was 90%. Thus, Government's expected excise
revenue receipts will be around Rs.1728 crores as opposed to Rs.1656
crores in the year 2007-08. Thus, there will be an increase of
Rs.72 crores over the last year. The un-allotted vends as on 12.03.2008
will be subject to a second draw of lots to be held on 17.03.2008,
for which the last date of submitting the applications will be
15.03.2008.
The Financial Commissioner, Excise & Taxation, Shri Shivinder
Singh Brar stated that this increase was possible because of a
well-thought out Excise Policy and the fact that the Department
had conducted a thorough survey to rationalize the quota of liquor
vends across the State. The quota of PML has been increased by
3% over the last year and there will be no increase in quota of
IMFL. With this, the quota for the year 2008-09 will be 618 lakh
PL for PML and 325 lakh PLs for IMFL.
