EVEN THE SHADOW OF CONGRESS AND AAP WAS BAD FOR STATE- CM BADAL SLAMS BOTH PARTIES FOR THEIR ANTI-PUNJAB STANCE , EXHORTS PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE CAREFULLY
Chapaar (Ludhiana), September 16 – Slamming the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for their anti-Punjab stance, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that even the shadow of these parties was bad for the state. Addressing the gathering during political conference to mark Chapaar fair here today, the Chief Minister said both these parties were inimical to the interests of state and its people. He said that these people don't have any sympathy with the people of state and were hostile to the interests of Punjab. Mr. Badal cautioned the people to beware of the nefarious designs of these parties who were hell bent upon ruining the state. The Chief Minister said that the upcoming polls would be decisive for state as it would make or mar the future of state as the fight was between SAD and the enemies of state like AAP and Congress. He said that if pro people force like SAD-BJP alliance was voted to power again then state's development would get a major fillip but God forbid if anti-Punjab forces like Congress and Aam Aadmi Party get a chance then the situation would be worst beyond anyone’s imagination. Mr. Badal called upon the people to be extra cautious during the electoral battle this time and they would have to choose between enemies and friends of the state. Reminding the people about the notorious past of Congress, the Chief Minister the Chief Minister said that Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state. He further bemoaned that the Congress governments at the centre had deliberately denied the state of Punjabi speaking areas, its capital Chandigarh and even its legitimate share in river waters. Mr. Badal said that no sincere Punjabi could ever forgive Congress for sins like Operation Blue Star and the killing of innocents in 1984 anti-Sikh carnage. The Chief Minister said that Congress party was the perpetrator of a deep rooted conspiracy to deprive the state of its waters by constructing the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Mr. Badal said that this canal was aimed at ruining the state by snatching its only available natural resources from the state. He said that despite of immense contribution of Punjabis in national freedom struggle, successive wars in post independence era and even in making the country self reliant in food production, the successive Congress governments have meted out step motherly treatment to the state. Coming down heavily on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Chief Minister said that the anti-Punjab affidavit submitted by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal Government in Delhi in Supreme Court on SYL issue has exposed the anti-Punjab mindset of AAP. He said that as Kejriwal hailed from Haryana so he was naturally inclined towards his native state and the anti-Punjab stand taken by his government in Apex court has proved it. Mr. Badal as the AAP leadership believed in politics of confrontation so if they were voted to power the grains of farmers of the state would not be lifted as they would indulge in fight with the centre government. The Chief Minister further said that AAP was like a ‘house of cards’ that was likely to collapse even before the state assembly polls. He said that the AAP leadership neither had any character nor they were having any ideology and their sole motive was to capture power by hook or crook for plundering the state. Mr. Badal said that the strings of this party was being managed by the non-Punjabis who were resorting to ‘use and throw’ policy towards the local leaders. Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that the alliance government has supplied free power to the farmers of the state at a cost of Rs 50000 crore in last ten years to bail them out from agrarian crisis. He further said that Punjab was the only state in the country to provide Atta-Dal scheme to the weaker sections adding that it was also the only state to ensure free treatment for fatal diseases like Cancer and Hepatitis C. Mr. Badal said that the state government has started first of its kind scheme to provide interest free crop loans worth Rs 50000 to the farmers. He further said that in another historic decision it has been decided that all the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs.50,000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family. Later on interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said that it was justified to name International Airport as Mohali International Airport because it was built on land in Mohali. He said that there was complete justification for naming it as Mohali International Airport and no questions should be raised on it. Mr. Badal said that the state government has been taking this stand continuously and there was no change in its stand. Assailing the AAP leadership for giving frivolous statements, the Chief Minister said that this was quite natural on part of these leaders who were not aware of the basic topography of state. He said that the statement of AAP leader equating their leadership with Panj Piyaras reflects that they have scant respect for high ideals of Sikh religion. Mr. Badal the acts like pasting their election symbol on picture of Sri Darbar Sahib and others show have tormented the psyche of every human being. Condemning the shameless acts of Congress MLAs in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said that these leaders have insulted the democratic norms. He said that the use of unparliamentary language by Congress legislatures was a condemnable act. Mr. Badal said that these acts might have helped the Congress leaders in making headlines but had disgraced the democracy. The Chief Minister further said that in a short span of BJP led NDA government’s rule at centre, Punjab has been immensely benefitted from it. He said that the Union government has given several key projects to the state, which would be instrumental in putting the state further on high growth trajectory. He hailed the NDA government for allocating prestigious projects like All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Post Graduate Horticulture Research and Educational Institute and other major projects. Earlier during their address MLAs Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali and Mr. SR Kaler welcomed the Chief Minister on the occasion. Both the leaders also lauded the pro-people and visionary approach of Mr. Badal to serve the people. Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included MLAs Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr. SR Kaler, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik and Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Chairman Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board Mr. Santa Singh Umdepuri, former MP Jathedar Amrik Singh Aliwal, former MLAs Mr. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa and Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia, SGPC Members Mr. Jagjit Singh Talwandi, Mr. Charan Singh Alamgir and Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ravi Bhagat and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Upinderjit Singh Ghuman.
