Outlining the vision of the state government for a strong Punjab from economic and social point of view, Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that only SAD-BJP government under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal has taken care of interests of all the sections of society including farmers, traders and weaker sections.Addressing a mammoth gathering here at anaj mandi today on the commencement of distribution of insurance cards to farmers under Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna, Deputy Chief Minister said only SAD-BJP government has cared to understand and mitigate the problems of farming community and chalking out welfare schemes like the present one for their betterment.Calling Congress a sworn enemy of Punjab and Sikhs, Mr Badal said this party cannot showcase even a single achievement or development initiative during its previous tenure and it has only done harm to the interests of the state.
Taking on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with an iron hand, Mr. Badal said the congress attacked Sri Darbar Sahib and now AAP government has also emulated the ways of congress by demolishing ‘Piau’ at Gurudwara Sri Sisganj Sahib in Delhi thereby causing immense hurt to the Sikhs world over. Further attacking AAP, Deputy CM said its convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal can surely be labeled as the master of double speak as is evident from his wavering stand on SYL issue. When in Punjab, Kejriwal appeared to be taking pro-Punjab stand whereas on landing in Delhi he started singing Haryana’s tune thereby stabbing Punjabi farmers in the back. He also said that Kejriwal, who has eyes on Punjab in view of state assembly elections next year, is no match for Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal. Asking people to distinguish between true well wishers and turncoats, he asserted that if SAD is strong then so is Sikh community.Earlier elaborating about the insurance scheme, he disclosed that under this scheme the farmers and their families would be eligible to avail cashless treatment up to Rs. 50000 per annum in the empanelled hospitals and in case of accidental death or disability, this scheme provides for Rs. 5 lakh insurance.
Throwing light on other people friendly and pro-development measures undertaken by the state government, Mr. Badal said tubewell bills of farmers had already been waived off, now farmers would be eligible of Rs. 50000 loan on single crop with no interest accruing, pension scheme for farmers, tubewell connections on priority to farmers with less than 2.5 acres of land, pension to the tune of Rs. 1000 for sangharshi yodhas who took part in emergency or Punjabi Suba morcha besides atta-dal, shagan scheme, dharamshalas for dalits and mukh mantra tirath darshan yatra. Divulging more on the development plank, S. Badal said that one skill center would be opened after every 3 or 4 villages where 1000 youth would be imparted training as per demands of the industry. He also elaborated that 2174 sewa kendars would be operational throughout the state in 3 months where people would get easy access to services under one roof.He also declared that development fund of Rs. 25-30 crore would be given to every constituency and no dearth of funds would be allowed to come in the way of all round progress of the state to make it a model one.On the occasion, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Virsa Singh Valtoha and Harmeet Singh Sandhu, MLA Khadoor Sahib Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, MLA Baba Bakala Manjit Singh Manna Mianwind were also present.