The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted the people to rout the Congress from the power at centre for achieving the set targets of the New Year and to further boost the development of the state. Addressing the gathering during Sangat Darshan of the Talwandi Sabo assemble segment here today, the Chief Minister said that the Congress party was the ‘mother of all the social maladies’ confronted by the country whether it was unemployment, corruption, illiteracy or poverty. He said that owing to the misrule of the Congress party the nation has lagged behind in various sectors. Mr. Badal said that the only solution to get rid of all these problems was to wipe out the Congress from the country by giving a crushing defeat to it in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Lashing out at the Congress, the Chief Minister said that it was ironical that through the Congress had always claimed itself to be votary of the common man and the poor whereas in reality it has worked for safeguarding the interest of the rich. He said that all the policies of the Congress were aimed at benefiting the affluent class, whether directly or indirectly, that too at the cost of common man. Mr. Badal said that the Congress has made it difficult for the common man to survive due to which the people were feeling insecure. “The Congress party has miserably failed on all the fronts due to which the internal and external sovereignty of the country was in deep peril” he added.
Impressing upon the people to give a crushing defeat to the Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, the Chief Minister said that the general elections play a vanguard role in the development of any state because the Union government provides economic assistance for development to every state. However he said that the incumbent UPA government at the centre was stalling the projects of the state and was not even giving its legitimate share in the taxes. So Mr. Badal said that to give major fillip to the development of the state the UPA government must be shown a door by forming NDA government at the centre. “If Mr. Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister of the country than it will benefit Punjab in a big way” he added.The Chief Minister further said that rather than solving the problems faced by countrymen, the Congress has always lingered on such vital issues. He said that the Congress leaders frame the policies while sitting in cozy rooms which were far away from the ground realities. On the contrary, Mr. Badal said that, he himself interacts with the people to draft policies which suit their need.The Chief Minister said that it was on record that the Congress has always pursued the agenda of ‘pide and rule’ whereas the SAD-BJP alliance has worked hard to ensure the development of all the sections of the state. He said that in order to perpetuate the rich legacy of the state, their government has erected world class memorials like that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial, Chotta Ghalughara and Wadda Ghalughara memorials and Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that the state government would soon construct memorials in memory of Bhai Jaita Ji, Baba Moti Ram Mehra and Guru Ravidass Ji besides constructing Jang-e-Azaadi memorial at Kartarpur near Jalandhar.
The Chief Minister said that their government has always implemented pro-poor agenda by formulating a number of welfare schemes like Atta-Dal, Mai Bhago Istri Vidya, Dr. Hargobind Khurana scholarship, Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima and others. He said that the state government would soon double the beneficiaries of Atta-Dal scheme from existing 15 lakh to 30 lakh. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that in order to impart quality education to the bright students of rural areas six special schools were being constructed by it where these students would be given free boarding and lodging facilities. In her address Lok Sabha MP from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the Union government has ditched the countrymen due to which the electorate has made up their mind to defeat this anti-people party in the Lok Sabha polls. She said that the Congress Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi was not aware of the problems faced by the people as he had never gone amongst them. Mrs. Badal said that even the attendance of Nehru-Gandhi scion in the Lok Sabha was below 50% adding that if a person can’t attend the sessions of the Parliament then how could he solve the problems of people.
Badal said that it was writing on the wall that the NDA would form the next government at the centre and nobody could stop it. She avowed that no stone would be left unturned to provide better civic amenities to the residents of Talwandi Sabo adding that till now Rs 250 crore have been spent on the development of this historic town.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Akali leader Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Media Advisor of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Harjinder Sidhu, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav.Later on paying floral tributes to former Union Minister Mr. Dhanna Singh Gulshan, the Chief Minister described him as a great philanthropist and an educationist who played a pivotal role in spreading education amongst the weaker and disadvantaged sections of the society in the region. He said that Mr. Gulshan rendered selfless service to uplift the poor sections of the region besides being a disciplined and committed soldier of the party. Mr. Badal also lauded Lok Sabha MP Mrs. Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan for carrying forward the legacy of her great father by serving the people.