SAD-BJP ALLIANCE TO CONTEST ENSUING ASSEMBLY POLLS TOGETHER- CM BADAL
Mehal Kalan (Barnala), July 21- Terming the SAD-BJP alliance as firm and everlasting, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that the alliance would contest the upcoming polls together adding that the names of candidates would be announced at a suitable time. Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Mehal Kalan assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that there was still ample time for elections and the announcement of candidates would be made at an appropriate time. Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP alliance was a unique phenomenon in the history of Indian democracy which has given a new direction to our polity. He said that the people of state has reposed their faith in this alliance time and again adding that even there was hardly any instance of bickering between both the alliance partners. Replying to another query, the Chief Minster said that Sangat Darshan was totally a non-political program that was concerned with the well being of every strata of society. He said that this was one of its kind program in the country where people’s grievances were resolved by the government on the spot. To a query, the Chief Minister said that he had asked the Deputy Commissioners across the state to conduct special Girdwaris for assessing loss of crop of farmers. He said that every farmer would be duly compensated for the loss by the state government. Mr. Badal also said that he asked the officers/ officials to ensure proper utilization of development grants in villages so that development of the state could be further given a fillip. Earlier addressing the people during gatherings in village Mehal Kalan, Nihaaluwal, Kutba, Maangewal and others, the Chief Minister said that the state has been blessed with bounty of natural resources like river waters and fertile land. However, he said that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were now jointly conspiring to deprive the state and its people of their most precious resources-the river waters. Mr. Badal cautioned the people that if the river waters were robbed from state than its entire economy would be ruined. Exhorting the people to be prepared for struggle to save the waters of the state, the Chief Minister said Congress and AAP were inimical to the interests of the state and were hell bent upon depriving the state from its water. He said that every Punjabi would have to act as a 'custodian of waters’ to save every single drop of water as if AAP and Congress succeed in their nefarious designs then no one could save Punjab from becoming a desert. Mr. Badal reminded the people that while Congress had signed various water agreements to deprive state of its waters, the AAP was now trying its level best to ensure that these agreements were implemented at the earliest. Asserting that Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) would never become a reality, the Chief Minister today avowed to make every sacrifice to protect the river waters of the state. He said that SYL agreement was a grave injustice done by the successive Congress governments with the state. He said that Akali Dal was opposed to this agreement, which robbed the water of state, from day one adding that now also they were firm to their stand to not allow the construction of this canal at any cost. Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that due to concerted efforts of alliance government, Punjab was the today only power surplus state in the country. He further said that the alliance government has decided to double the pensions given to people under the social security schemes besides hiking the honorarium of the Nambardars. 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. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, former MLA Mr. Ajit Singh Shaant, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr S Karunaraju, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Balkar Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Bhupinder Singh Rai and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Gurpreet Singh.
