CM Pays Glowing Tributes To Satwant Singh Kaleke

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5 Dariya News

Duggal (Patiala) , 12 Sep 2012

Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal today impressed upon the Govt. of India to come forward for ensuring the safety and security of Indians living in the different countries across the globe through exploiting all the diplomatic channels.Addressing the media persons on the sidelines of the ‘Shardanjli Samaroh’ organized in the memory of late S.Satwant Singh Kaleke here at his native village, who was killed in the unfortunate shoot out incident at Oak Creek Gurdwara in Wisconsin (USA) last month, Mr.Badal said that the sudden spurt in the incidents of hate crime against Indians in different parts of the world was a matter of grave concern.  He described these incidents as the ‘most tragic and unfortunate’ which must be condemned by one and all.  At the same time, Mr. Badal said that the Central government should take up this crucial issue at the highest level with the concerned governments of the foreign countries inhabited by the Indians.   Referring to the Oak Creek incident, Mr. Badal said that the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a letter conveyed to him that the latter had already taken up the issue to ensure safety and security of the Indians with the US President  Barack Obama.  Expressing satisfaction, Mr.Badal appreciated the way the US administration had handled the situation in assuaging the feelings of the Sikh community in this hour of crisis by instilling a sense of confidence and security amongst the Sikhs settled in USA. On the Animal Husbandry Minister  Gulzar Singh Ranike issue, the Chief Minister categorically said that law would take its own course.   He said at present SSP had been asked to inquire into the matter, if the need be the entire matter would be thoroughly probed by the higher authorities expeditiously to get at the bottom of the case.To another query regarding possibility of alliance of PPP with the Congress in the state, Mr. Badal said that it was up to PPP President Manpreet Singh Badal and PPCC President Amarinder Singh to decide whether to have such alliance or not and preferred not to make any further comment on this issue. On the question of appointment of Mayors in the Municipal Corporations, Mr. Badal in an affirmative reply said that they would be appointed in due course of time. Asked to comment on the flight of industry from the state to Gujarat in wake of lucrative incentives offered by the Gujarat Chief Minister  Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister negated it saying none was leaving Punjab as the state government had already created an investor friendly congenial atmosphere in Punjab coupled with the facilities like cheap power, excellent infrastructure and abundant skilled manpower. On the possibility of SAD joining with the third front likely to floated by the Samajwadi Party President  Mullayam Singh Yadav, Mr. Badal said: “Our ties with BJP are everlasting and we don’t believe in politics of bargaining”. Reacting sharply to the criticism of Amarinder Singh regarding the financial emergency like situation in the state, Mr. Badal dismissed these accusations saying he was just resorting to cheap gimmicks to pert the attention of public from the core issues of development rather he advised him to concentrate solely to save his post.  He said that SAD-BJP alliance had achieved overall development and growth fifty times more what it was during the tenure of Amarinder.  He said he was not personally against Amarinder, Bhattal or anyone else but he was opposed to the policies of Congress government which was entirely responsible to ruin our country and for lagging it far behind than other nations in terms of development and prosperity. He pointed out problems of poverty, inflation, hunger, illiteracy and unemployment were the major achievements of the Congress government. On the issue of drug trafficking, Mr. Badal blamed the Center for its wrong policies which had been miserably failed in checking the drug menace.  He asked the Center to frame a fool proof policy to eradicate the problem of drug smuggling by intensifying the patrolling at the international borders.  Citing the example of Rajasthan, Mr. Badal said poppy husk was freely available there and in Punjab it was legally banned which resulted in smuggling of poppy husk from Rajasthan to neighbouring states including Punjab.  He said that Center should also evolve a strategy to ensure stringent and punitive measures to check the inter-state smuggling of drugs.Earlier, paying glorious tributes to Mr. Kaleke, the Chief Minister eulogized his supreme sacrifice, who laid down his life while fighting bravely alone with the assassin during the Oak Creek Gurdwara tragedy.  Mr. Badal announced to install a statue of late Kaleke at his native village Duggal, name the government senior secondary school after his name, a grant of Rs.20 lakh for the execution of development works and construction of stadium.  Besides a liberary and a purchase center would also be opened in the memory of great late Kaleke, the land for these would be provided by the village panchayat.  On the occasion, a specially abled youth Mr. Jagwinder Singh from Pattran presented a Mr. Badal’s sketch to him, which he prepared with his feet.  The Chief Minister also released a souvenir on the life and achievements of  Satwant Singh Kaleke.  Prominent amongst others who attended the samaroh included Rural Development Minister  Surjit Singh Rakhra, former President SGPC Prof.Kirpal Singh Baduangr, MLA Shutrana Mrs.Vaninder Kaur Loomba, SAD General Secretary Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, senior akali leaders  Mohinder Singh Lalwa and  Nirmal Singh Hariyoo and former chairman SSS Board  Tajinderpal Singh Sandhu, Capt.Amarjit Singh Kaleke the brother of late Mr. Kaleke.