CHANDIGARH: Conceding to the demand of the Punjab Government, Union Defence Minister A.K Antony Thursday agreed in principle to set up another Sainik School in the state besides expeditiously clearing the decks for the establishment of Defence University at Patiala. 

An assurance to this effect was given by Antony to the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who met him at his residence this morning.  The Chief Minister apprised the Union Defence Minister that the Ministry of Defence had already running a Sainik School at Kapurthala.  He said that the state government had already sent a comprehensive proposal to convert the 120 acres Dasmesh Academy at Anandpur Sahib with excellent campus and infrastructure into a Sainik School. 

Badal also asked the Ministry of Defence to consider the proposal of the state government to set up a Defence Industrial unit may be a vehicle fabrication or ordinance factory in Punjab besides the construction and strengthening of the border roads through Border Roads Organization especially in the Gurdaspur district that was in dilapidated conditions.  

An official spokesman said that Antony assured the Chief Minister that he would certainly look into these demands sympathetically and said since Punjab was the sword arm of the nation and it deserved special attention.  He said he would depute the Chief of Army staff General JJ Singh to look into the modalities for setting up a Sainik School at Anandpur Sahib as proposed by the state government. 

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Vice Chairman Planning Commission Dr.JS Bjaja, Principal Secretary to Chief Minsiter DS Guru and Principal Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan Anjuly Chib Duggal.       

Meanwhile, Chief of the Army Staff General JJ Singh called on the Chief Minister here at Kapurthala House late last evening. Badal asked the Army Chief to logically pursue the case of bigger representation to Punjab into the armed forces proportional to the competence and aptitude of the people of the state for the national cause.