Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Government of India (GoI) to treat Punjab frontier at par with Jammu-Kashmir for deployment of more contingents of Border Security force to check infiltration from across the border.
Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program at Rajasansi assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that he had asked the Union Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh to deploy adequate number of BSF personnel keeping in view the density of border in the state. He said that in wake of recent terror attacks at the Dinanagar and Pathankot the need of the hour was to replicate the formula which was applicable in J&K in Punjab also to intensify vigil on the border. “Punjab is a national frontier and concerted efforts must be made to beef its security for the sake of protecting unity and integrity of the nation”, he added.
Earlier addressing the gatherings at village Boparai Baaj Singh, Khiala Kalan and Tapiala, the Chief Minister said that state Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh was a ‘fair weather politician’ who was available to the people only during the season of elections. He said that apart from elections this scion of Patiala Royal family was busy in his aristocratic lifestyle. Mr. Badal said that while discharging the duties as Chief Minister of the state he was visiting every village of state for welfare of people whereas Captain had remained inaccessible to masses during his stint as Chief Minister from 2002-2007.
The Chief Minister said that it was on record that not only common people but Amarinder Singh was not also available for the ministers of his own Cabinet. Citing another example of inaccessibility of state Congress Chief, Mr. Badal asked the gathering, which was a part of Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, whether they have ever seen their Member Parliament, who was elected from this prestigious seat in 2014. He said that after winning the seat Captain had insulted the brave people of this region by not even visiting the area, even for thanks giving. “It is strange that Captain is dreaming to become Chief Minister of state by remaining aloof in four walls of his palace” added Mr. Badal.
Lashing out at Captain Amarinder Singh and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Mr. Sucha Singh Chottepur for spitting venom against Akali Dal, the Chief Minister said that these leaders were once sworn Akalis but have changed sides for the sake of power. He said that these leaders have dejected their mother party for the sake of vested interests, so people could never rely on them. Mr. Badal further said that people of the state would never forgive these politicians who have changed the party just for their personal motives.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that due to the ever escalating costs of agriculture inputs and squeezing margins of profit farming was no longer a profitable venture. He impressed upon the farmers to adopt allied agriculture activities like dairying, fishery, piggery, goatery, apiary and others so as to supplement their income. Mr. Badal also asked them to curtail their inputs costs by avoiding heavy expenditure on farm equipments by borrowing them from Cooperative Societies on custom hiring basis as the state government was giving heavy subsidies to these societies for purchasing these equipments.
Taking the Congress party to the cudgels, the Chief Minister reminded the people that this party has done lot of injustice with the state by snatching its capital, legitimate share in river waters and Punjabi speaking areas. He said that the Congress party had inflicted a deep wound on Sikh psyche by attacking the Golden Temple and by killing thousands of innocent Sikhs during 1984 Sikh carnage. Mr. Badal said that Congress was solely responsible for the plight of agriculture and industry in the state.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chairman of District Planning Committee Mr. Veer Singh Lopoke, Youth Akali leader Mr. Ranbhir Singh Lopoke, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ravi Bhagat and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Jasdeep Singh.