Taking strong exception to the heinous incident of custodial killing of seven Sikhs in Pilibhit Jail in 1994, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that he would soon take up this matter with his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh Mr. Akhilesh Yadav seeking his personal and direct intervention to ensure speedy justice to the victims besides punishing the erring jail staff responsible for this atrocious and inhuman act. Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the Sangat Darshan program in Sri Muktsar Sahib Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister said that he would soon write a letter to his Uttar Pradesh CM to impress upon him to take appropriate steps for prompt dispensation of justice to the victims besides ensuring stringent punishment to the culprits responsible for this dastardly act. Answering a query about describing Punjab as a state of drug addicts by AAP and Congress, the Chief Minister said that both these parties were hell bent upon to defame our state. He said that Punjab has won several accolades in various fields including Agriculture and one could never expect of a drug addict to do such miracles and achieving rare feats. Terming both AAP and Congress as the major enemies of the state, the Chief Minister said that they were making every last ditch effort to dent its credibility and image. He said that Punjabis represented a valiant community and such illogical accusations hold no ground.
Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance will contest the 2017 Assembly Elections on the plank of peace, harmony and development. Mr. Badal said that their government had ever accorded the top priority to these issues and ensured overall development and welfare of all sections of the society during the past nine years of its regime. The state government has recently embarked upon an ambitious program to spruce up overall development and growth in the rural and urban areas at a cost of Rs.12, 000 crore. Referring to the law and order situation in the state, the Chief Minister said that he was keeping a close tab over the situation and none would be allowed to take law in his own hands. He said that the Police administration had been instructed not to be complacent in this regard and must ensure the security and safety of each and every citizen of the state at all cost.
Addressing a Sangat Darshan program, the Chief Minister said that the hardships being faced by the people on different counts was a manifestation of misrule of Congress led successive governments at Centre. He categorically stated that Congress has ever remained indifferent to Punjab and Punjabis, which was evident from the fact that it denied our state from its Capital, legitimate share in river waters and transfer of Punjabi speaking areas. On the contrary, the U-turn taken by the fledging AAP party in the Supreme Court on the river waters has exposed Kejriwal's dubious character adding Mr. Badal said that Kejriwal's affinity for Haryana would ever prove to be a stumbling block in making out his stand clear on Punjab issues. He also appealed the people to get ready for making any supreme sacrifice to protect the river waters- the only natural resource of the state. Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included Member Parliament Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Chairman Punjab Agro Mr. Dyal Singh Kolianwali, President Youth Akali Dal Malwa Zone Mr. Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi, District Planning Committee Chairman Mr. Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, Chairman Market Committee Bariwala Mr. Manjinder Singh Bittu, Joint Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumit Jarangal and SSP Mr. Gurpreet Singh Gill.