NEITHER PUNJAB NOR PUNJABIS WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY VERDICT AGAINST STATE’S INTEREST ON RIVER WATER- CM BADAL
Amritsar, November 1- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal unequivocally said that neither Punjab nor Punjabis would not accept any verdict against state’s interest on river waters and were ever ready to make any sacrifice to safeguard the legitimate share of river waters. Addressing the massive public gathering on the momentous occasion of 50th year of Punjabi Suba celebrations, the Chief Minister said that the successive Congress governments at the centre have subjected our state and its people to sheer exploitation by denying its rightful share in river waters. Without mincing any words, Mr. Badal, while soliciting the personal attention of Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley and National BJP President Mr. Amit Shah, categorically stated that now the people were making sarcastic remarks for not getting these territorial issues resolved through the intervention of NDA government at the centre, in which Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was an ally. He said that the inter-state issues including denial of capital to Punjab, transfer of Punjabi speaking areas and resolving river water issues within the ambit internationally accepted Riperian Principle were hanging in fire since long due to apathetic attitude of the Congress governments at centre. However, the Chief Minister said that with the installation of NDA government at centre the Punjabis have atleast seen a light at the end of the tunnel and were eagerly awaiting resolution of these issues on the top priority. Mr. Badal urged both the national leaders to deliver prompt justice rather than making any favor to us, without any further delay. He said that the Congress leadership was well known for betrayal with Punjab since the times of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, who had promised to create Punjabi Suba on linguistic lines on which they later backtracked. Paying homage to the great heroes who made unique sacrifices for the formation of Punjabi suba, Mr. Badal said that every Punjabi was indebted to these sons of soil who made this distant dream a reality. He said that it was on record that nearly 59000 people were imprisoned and 43 attained martyrdom during this struggle. Sharing the tragic saga of Partition of the country, the Chief Minister termed it as one of the darkest chapters of the India’s history as nearly nearly two crore people were displaced and as many as five lakh of them lost their lives during the migration of populace between India and Pakistan. He said that Punjab being a border and most prosperous state of the country faced the maximum brunt of partition, the wounds of which were still afresh in the memories of people who had witnessed that moment. The Chief Minister recalled the enormous contribution of Punjabis in making the country self sufficient in food grains besides acting as sword arm of the country. He recalled the gallantry deeds of great Punjabi soldiers like Naik Karam Singh, Major Somnath Sharma, Air Commodore Baba Mehar Singh and several others who brought laurels and glory for the country through their rarest of rare heroic deeds. However, Mr. Badal said that the successive centre governments led by Congress has not recognized the immense contribution of Punjabis and inflicted a severe blow to economy of state by meting out step motherly treatment to the state. Taking the Congress party to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that the Punjabis could never forgive the Congress party for its sins against Punjab. 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. “How can any true Punjabi forget and forgive Operation Blue Star and the killing of innocents in 1984 anti-Sikh carnage” questioned Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister reminded the people about unprecedented development in the state during the current tenure of SAD-BJP regime which entirely focused on development adding that with your unstinted support and cooperation if our alliance was again voted to power it would dedicate the next regime towards the economic prosperity of every section of society be it farmer, labour or entrepreneur thereby enhancing their income manifold. Mr. Badal described the SAD-BJP alliance as a everlasting and firm because it was based on principles not meant for power sharing and said that it would last till eternity. The Chief Minister further said that in a short span of BJP led NDA government’s rule at centre under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi, Punjab has been immensely benefitted. 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. Mr. Badal 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. In his address Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley said that this was a joyous occasion for every Punjabi across the globe when the state was commemorating its golden jubilee since its formation on November 1, 1966. He said that there were few instances when alliance partners were in power both in state and centre because such relationships witnessed unparallel development due to synergy between both the governments. Mr. Jaitley said that the rule of alliance in state was far better than that of the previous Congress regimes. The Union Minister said that Punjab pioneered Green Revolution, defended the borders on forefront besides ensuring security, safety and sovereignty of the country. He said that even when democracy of country was under threat during Emergency the alliance opposed it tooth and nail. He said that terrorism in state was an outcome of wrong doings of the then Congress government, which tormented the state beyond anyone’s imagination. The Union Minister said that whenever history would be written 1984 would be remembered as ‘year of destruction’ and current era would be best remembered as ‘year of reconstruction’ by one and all. He said that slur of 1984 Sikh Carnage, frequent dismissal of democratically elected governments, menace of terrorism and several other misdeeds by the Congress spoke volumes of its dubious character. Mr. Jaitley said that even during such times Mr. Badal stood like a rock as a custodian of state’s rights thereby thwarting the nefarious designs of Congress. The Union Minister said that the concerted efforts on part of Mr. Badal resulted in reviving Punjab’s pristine glory by way of preserving its glorious heritage coupled with unprecedented development and prosperity. He said that Punjab has witnessed complete transformation during the rule of the Chief Minister. Mr. Jaitley said that the alliance between SAD and BJP was pious and based on values of mutual love and trust. He reiterated Punjab would be at the pinnacle of all-round progress and lead the country to the path of prosperity if our alliance was voted back to power. The Union Minister said that if the countries inimical to our nation would do anything wrong we would give a befitting reply to them time and again. He said that our enemies must understand that there was all together a different type of government now in India, which would not be complacent on issue of security, dignity and sovereignty of our nation. Speaking on the occasion, National BJP President Mr. Amit Shah congratulated every Punjabi on this historic occasion and said, “I bow my head in reverence to great Gurus, saints and seers of this sacred land who have blessed it with an aura of divinity, spirituality and brotherhood”. He said that mention of Punjab always reminds us of great Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, whose 350 birth anniversary was being commemorated across the country. Mr. Shah said that the BJP would celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of tenth Master of Sikhs in every mandal and tehsil across the length and breadth of country to disseminate the ideology of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Highlighting the hard working nature of Punjabis, Mr. Shah said that the Punjab was heart of country which has a supreme legacy of self sacrifice, which was evident in every war be of 1962, 1965, 1971 or Kargil in which valiant Punjabi soldiers made us proud by making unparalleled sacrifices for the sake of their motherland. He paid homage to our great heroes like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai and others made supreme sacrifice during the national freedom struggle. Mr. Shah said that the credit of firm and everlasting alliance between SAD-BJP was due to vision of the Chief Minister and Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. He said towering personality of Mr. Badal earned respect from every one irrespective of political affiliations. He said country was in process of radical transformation, which was reflective from the fact of new schemes being unveiled by the NDA government from time to time. Mr. Shah said that Punjab has witnessed a complete facelift for which the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister deserve kudos. He said that the heritage façade given to ways leading to Sri Harmandir has added zing to this sacred place of all faiths. Training guns at opposition for defaming the hardworking and resilient youth of the state as drug addicts, Mr. Shah said that whereas the SAD-BJP alliance feels proud of Punjabi youth and their immense contribution, on contrary the opposition was seeking your mandate on this issue. He said that those people who were hell bent upon tarnish the image of Punjabis deserved no leniency at all, what to talk of casting votes in their favor rather they should be shown the door in ensuing polls. Exhorting the people of Punjab should raise to occasion, Mr. Shah asked them to vote for alliance to give a further fillip to ongoing development of state. Mr. Shah said that gone were the days when enemies would humiliate us by killing our brave soldiers. However, he said that now the Union government headed by Mr Modi was giving befitting reply to any such move. In his address, the President of Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that though every Punjabi was elated on this occasion but they were also peeved as the perpetrators of anti-Sikh Carnage that took place on this day were still scot free. He recalled the glorious role of Punjabis in national freedom struggle, making the country self sufficient in food grains and safeguarding the unity and sovereignty of the country. He said that that though after independence several states were carved out on linguistic basis but Punjab was an exception due to discriminatory attitude of the then Congress government. The Deputy Chief Minister said that though after relentless struggle by SAD the present day Punjab came into existence but still it was deprived of its capital, share in river waters and Punjabi speaking areas. He announced that the struggle for getting these issues addressed would continue till its logical end. The Deputy Chief Minister said that though Punjab faced acute power crisis during previous Congress regime but now it was power surplus due to concerted efforts of alliance government. Likewise, he said that Punjab was supplying cheapest power to its consumer. He said that the state government has taken several path breaking initiatives to ensure the well being of every strata of society. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has ensured smooth and hassle free procurement of food grains through network of grain markets. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that besides it free power to farmers was providing boon for agriculturalists of state. The Deputy Chief Minister reminded the people about the barbaric attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib and said that Congress party was inimical to interest of state. He said that while Congress has devastated the most revered holy place of Sikhs the SAD-BJP alliance has ensured the complete face-lift of such holy places. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government would soon set up network of 2500 shops for providing free medicines to people. Likewise, he said that massive steps have been taken to perpetuate the glorious heritage of state by constructing several memorials. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that though Congress has not given Job to a single person but the alliance government has given jobs to several lakh people. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Chief had dedicated his entire life for sake of people and the state. On the other hand, he said that some divisive forces were trying to incite communal tension to pursue their vested political interests. The Deputy Chief Minister said that though the UPA government had not given a single penny to the state but a new era of unprecedented development has taken place after the formation of NDA Government at centre. He said that the alliance government has given fillip to the development of state and this would continue only if alliance government was voted to power again in the state. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that if voted to power again the state especially the rural areas would witness unparalleled development that would bring the state in league with advanced nations. In his address Union Minister for state and state BJP Chief Mr. Vijay Sampla congratulated the people on this sacred occasion. He said that Punjab and its people had immensely served the country by making itself reliant in food production and ensuring its defence from foreign invaders. Mr Sampla said that though the state has passed through turbulent times but the Punjabis have always upheld the ethos of communal harmony and brotherhood. However, he said that some forces were hell bent upon disturbing the peace and prosperity of the state adding that wise people of state would give a befitting reply to such anti-Punjab forces. In their address Member of Parliaments Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Jathedar Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa recalled the immense contribution of the Shiromani Akali Dal in formation of Punjabi Suba. They said it was a matter of great pride that the SAD workers made supreme sacrifices for carving out of the present state. These Akali leaders also slammed the Congress party for meting step motherly treatment to the demand of Punjabi suba and even denying the state of its river waters, Punjabi speaking areas and even the capital. Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included Union Food Processing Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Speaker of state Assembly Dr Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Mr. Anil Joshi and Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, MP Mr. Shawet Malik, former BJP President Mr. Kamal Sharma, President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh, President DSGMC Mr. Manjeet Singh GK besides several MLAs, SGPC Members and workers of SAD-BJP alliance.
