Beaming with the success of recently concluded Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that in order to give impetus to the agro based economy of the state, the SAD-BJP government would hold Mega Agriculture Summit in state on February 23-24, 2014.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of a state level function to pay tributes to Sant Baba Fateh Singh here today, the Chief Minister said that in this summit the state government would invite the progressive farmers, agriculture experts and leading agriculture companies from across the globe for having detailed deliberations for chalking out the strategy to bail out the farmers of the state from the current agrarian crisis. He said that as Punjab was basically an agrarian economy so due focus needs to be given for the development of agriculture, for which this upcoming summit would act as a main catalyst. Mr. Badal said that along with the industrial development of the state thrust should also be given for the development of agriculture for ensuring the holistic development of all the sections of society.
The Chief Minister further said that the recently concluded Industrial summit in the state has scripted a new chapter in industrial development of the state as due to the concerted efforts of the state government an investment of more than Rs 65000 crore would soon come up in Punjab. Mr. Badal said that he had learnt many new things from this summit due to which he was also mulling to hold separate summits in the field of Healthcare and Education so as to impart quality services to the residents of the state. He also said that with the firming up of huge investments in the Food Processing sector the farmers of the state would be immensely benefitted from it.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that due to the stupendous efforts of the state government, Punjab has now become a Power surplus state but then also they were making all out efforts to tap the huge potential of Solar and Biomass energy in the state. Mr. Badal said that he would soon undertake meetings for checking out the feasibility of using Paddy straw for producing the power in the state. He said that this would not only help in check the environmental pollution caused due to the burning of the straw but would also supplement the income of the farmers.
Earlier addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister, while paying floral tributes to Sant Baba Fateh Singh, said that he was true patriot and a votary of communal harmony and brotherhood, who dedicated his entire life for the cause of people. He said that Sant Baba Fateh Singh not only rendered social and religious services to the people but on the political front also he fought relentlessly for cherishing the dream of ‘Punjabi Suba’. Mr. Badal announced that the state government would organize a state level function every year on the death anniversary of Sant Baba Fateh Singh to perpetuate his rich legacy. Launching a frontal attack on the Congress led UPA government at the centre, the Chief Minister said that the due to the wrong policies of the Union government the beleaguered peasantry of the state was on the verge of economic disaster. He said that though the farmers of the state had played a vanguard role in making the country self reliant in food production by exploiting the only available natural resources of the state but the Union government has left no stone unturned to ruin them. Mr. Badal said that due to the exorbitant hike in agriculture inputs coupled with the non remunerative MSP, agriculture was no longer a profitable preposition.
The Chief Minister said that the countrymen were fed up from the anti-people policies of the Union government and they were eagerly waiting to show them a door in the coming Lok Sabha polls. He said that the results of four states in recently concluded polls were reflective of the simmering anger of people against the ‘misrule’ of UPA government. Mr. Badal said that NDA wave was blowing in the nation adding that the people would form the NDA government at centre after the ensuing general elections. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Senior Akali leader Mr. Amarjeet Singh Sidhu, former MLA Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh and his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu.