Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed the people of state to vote on the performance of SAD-BJP combine in the next assembly elections in 2017 and assured that State will witness a complete transformation in urban and rural infrastructure besides basic amenities.Speaking during the state level function here to distribute the enhanced pensions to beneficiaries, Mr. Badal said the Mr. Parkash Singh Badal led Punjab Government had given utmost priority to inclusive development and maintain communal harmony in the state. He exhorted the people to use their franchise by comparing the SAD-BJP and other governments.Deputy CM also informed that the recently a study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi has shown the mirror to the anti-Punjab forces who were indulged in defaming the state by declaring 70% youth as druggists. The study shows that out of the total 2.77 crore population in the state, only 0.06% were found using drugs, which is least percentage across the nation adding he said the an anti-Punjab deliberate campaign was launched by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who declared Punjabi youth as druggist by distorting the facts.Replying to a question while interacting with media to bear the expenses occurred onto neutralize the terrorists at Pathankot, the Deputy Chief Minister said the defence of the Indian territory falls under the Union Government and centre should bear the expenses.
He also said the prime duty of the governments was to safeguard the interests of poor and needy people and Punjab Government has initiated several pro-poor welfare schemes in this regard. He also announced that all types of pensions would be distributed to the beneficiaries before 15th of every month. It may be mentioned here that State Government had reserved Rs. 1,000 crore for timely disbursal of all pensions which would facilitate more than 17 lakh beneficiaries.Mr. Badal added that in addition to implementing social welfare schemes for all sections of society, the Punjab Government has created best infrastructure for power generation, health, education and road connectivity. Achieving power surplus status is also one of the major achievements of the SAD-BJP government, he added.
Daring Captain Amrinder Singh to list a single achievement during his tenure, he said all major roads including Jalandhar-Hoshirpur, Jalandhar-Moga-Barnala, Jalandhar-Chandigarh, Bathinda-Amritsar would be 4 lane in next 2 years at a cost of Rs. 22,000 crore. He announced that all villages would be connected with 4G net connectivity till May 2016. Announcing Rs. 400 crore for development works in Jalandhar city, the Deputy CM said the city would witnessed total facelift in next year. Earlier the Mr Badal has also signed the pledge form under Swachh Bharat Mission.Prominent among others present o the occasion included CPS K.D.Bhandari and Avinash Chandar, former ministers Manoranjan Kalia and Sarwan Singh Phillaur, MLA Pargat Singh, Chairman district planning board Gurcharan Singh Channi, divisional commissioner Harbhupinder Singh Nanda, deputy commissioner K.K.Yadav and police commissioner Yurinder Singh Hair.