Sukhbir puts Congress on mat for descriminating with Punjab

No one will be allowed to disturb peace
CHANDIGARH: Deputy Chief Minister  Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday lashed out at Congress led UPA Government at the Centre for “continuous neglect, discrimination and injustice against Punjab.”



Concluding the debate on thanks motion on Governor’s address on behalf of Chief Minister in Punjab Vidhan Sahba, Sukhbir Singh Badal also called for setting up of a genuine federal structure in the country, demanding greater political and fiscal autonomy to the States. The Deputy Chief Minister also declared that the Year 2010 would be the year of sweeping governance reforms in all 324 public dealing services of the government, making the life of ordinary citizens easier.

Coming down heavily at Congress for continuous discrimination of Punjab during in its 47 year rule, Mr. Badal said that it was only Punjab that despite being parent state was denied the sole right of Chandigarh as capital. It was Punjab alone that was denied Riparian Rights on its waters. He said that it is Punjab only that despite contributing 75.3% wheat and 50% paddy in central pool, is given a meager 1.3% share in the central taxes.  He said that Shiromani Akali Dal would continue to fight for more fiscal autonomy to the States till Punjab’s share in the central taxes is raised to 50% from exiting 1.3%. He also lashed at UPA for making Punjab highly taxed island surrounding it by tax holiday enjoying hill states, to destroy the industrial base in the State. Congress led UPA was also lashed by him for neglecting Punjab in debt waiver scheme.   

Taking Congress led UPA Government to task for giving free rope to Sajjan Kumar and Tytler, the main architects of 84 anti Sikh carnage, Mr. Badal said that CBI forgetting its role did not arrested Sajjan Kumar for 15 days, making mockery of law of the land. Criticizing the leader of opposition for proposing ‘forget and forgive policy’ in 84 riot case, Mr. Badal said that the brutal killings of thousands of innocent Sikhs would never be forgiven by any right thinking citizen of this country, till all those responsible for these killings were given exemplary punishment. “ We will neither forget nor let any one forgive till all those responsible for this carnage are put behind the bars and given exemplary punishments”, Mr. Badal declared.

Reiterating his commitment to maintain peace and law and order in the State at every cost,  Badal equivocally declared that “Punjab Government was fully alive to its responsibility to maintain peace and amity in the state and no one would be allowed to disturb peace in the state”. Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government has taken certain historic decisions including introduction of Commissionerate System in three major cities, constitution of Special Security Group on the pattern of NSG, separate cadre for Intelligence wing, 18 SWAT (special weapon and tactics) teams at Range levels, Rs. 100 crore for modernization of police force and most importantly launching a war against drug lords in the state. Mr. Badal said that SSG and SWAT were being constituted so that government may not be caught nappingm, as Maharashtra kept on waiting NSG when Mumbai was under attack by terrorists. Mr. Badal said that state was enacting a new act so that those damaging public and private property during protests were made to pay for loss.

Badal said that SAD BJP Government was moving with a commitment to strengthen infrastructure including power, road and air connectivity in the State to attract investment in the state. He said that against total installed capacity of 6800 MW achieved in 62 years, during last three years alone three major thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo, Goindwal and Rajpura besides 29 mini bio mass power plants are set to generate 4540 MW power with a combined investment of Rs. 22000 crore. He said that Punjab would be only state in the country having distinction of three International Airports out of total 16 in the country besides two upcoming domestic airports at Ludhiana and Bathinda. Speaking about industrial progress Mr. Badal said that besides Bathinda refinery coming up at the cost of Rs. 19000 crores,  65 Mega Projects including two SEZs with combined investment 37000 crore are set to change the face of Punjab’s economy. “This whole industrial progress has been achieved despite UPA making Punjab highly taxed island surrounded by tax free hill states,” Mr. Badal pointed out.

Unveiling the achievements of last three years Mr. Badal said that rejuvenation of 125 year old canal system at the cost of Rs. 960 crores, relining the distributaries / minors at the cost of Rs. 1200 crore, Mr. Badal also came down heavily on congress led UPA for not compensating Punjab’s farmers who contributed record paddy despite 50% deficient rain in the State. He also criticized UPA for keeping Punjab out of ambit of Rs. 400 crore 2nd green revolution push. He pointed out that when whole of the country was reeling under sky rocketing prices of essential commodities, SAD BJP government was taking care of 14.5 Lac families by supplying them Atta at Rs. 4 per kg and Dal at Rs. 20 per kg.     

Giving details of record revenue generation during last three years Mr. Badal said that against Rs. 5136 crore generated in last 60 years, Punjab could touch Rs. 8000 crore in three years alone and promised to cross Rs. 10000 crores in next two years. He said that in excise collection also against Rs. 118 crore total increases in Congress regime, SAD BJP government registered Rs. 1000 crore increase in first four years alone.

Revealing the steps taken to improve urban infrastructure, Mr. Badal said that government has drawn Rs. 3380 crore plan for urban renewal out of which Rs. 1282 crore had already been spent against total Rs. 760 crore spent by Congress in its full tenure. He said that this does not include Rs. 180 crore spent for slum development programs.

Unfolding the progress made in education sector Mr. Badal said that besides opening of world renowned IIT in Ropar and ISB in Mohali, SAD BJP Government filled 32000 vacant posts of the teachers in the State. 

Reiterating the commitment of Punjab Government to supply potable water to all 14000 habitations of the State, Mr. Badal said that present government has already covered 4271 habitations in three years against 2000 covered by Congress in five years. He said that all difficult areas are set to get RO system in next two years.

Declaring the year 2010 as year of governance reforms Mr. Badal said that besides doing away with cumbersome affidavits, Punjab would become first state to allow self attestation of documents instead of attestation by gazetted officers/ notary / executive magistrate/ SDM.

Badal said that Congress was actually worried about massive scale of development being witnessed by the State during last three years. “ They are worried for the fact that with this pace, SAD BJP alliance would rule for next 20-25 years and by that time most of the opposition MLA’s would have retired from active politics.”

Later the house passed with voice vote the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address that was proposed by Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, MLA (SAD) and seconded by Mr. Surjit Kumar Jyani (BJP).