Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today emphatically said that law and order in the state would be maintained at all costs and none would be allowed to take law in his own hands. Interacting with media persons here on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan program at village Uggi in Nakodar assembly constituency, the Chief Minister said the state government was fully seized of the matter and he was personally keeping a close tab over the current situation.Asked to comment on the progress made so far in the case related to an alleged attempt on the life of the Sikh preacher Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, Mr. Badal said 14 persons have been nabbed till now and thorough investigations were on. He preferred not to say anything beyond this citing the reason that it would be highly unethical or improper on his part to divulge any detail on this crucial stage which could either influence or hamper the enquiry.Rebuking his bête noir PPCC President Capt. Amarinder Singh for playing unwarranted politics on the issue, Mr. Badal said leaders like him should refrain from issuing provocative statements on such sensitive matter, which could otherwise be detrimental to the peaceful and congenial atmosphere in the state.
Making his party’s stand clear on the SYL Canal issue, Mr. Badal said that he was ready to sacrifice even his government not once but for ten times in defence of state’s legitimate right over its share in river waters. Without mincing any words, the Chief Minister said that both Congress and AAP were hand in glove with each other to desperately convert our prosperous state into desert. He asked the people to be prepared for making any supreme sacrifice in the near future to safeguard our river waters otherwise our future generations would never forgive us. However, Mr. Badal said that the Shiromani Akali Dal would never allow such anti - Punjab forces to succeed in their nefarious designs. He reiterated that the SAD would never ever allow water to flow through SYL, as we didn’t have a single drop of spare water to share with anyone. Mr. Badal avowed to protect and safeguard the river water –the life line of state’s economy at every cost adding he said that the SAD-BJP government had neither accepted in the past nor would accept now nor ever in future any decision taken by anyone to take away our vital river waters from Punjab in brazen violation of our rights under the Riparian Principle."
Addressing the people during his Sangat Darshan program in various villages of Nakodar Assembly Segment this morning, the Chief Minister said that Aam Aadmi Party (APP), alike Congress had the least concern for Punjab and its people as their sole motive was to wrest political power in the state. Mr. Badal said that the dual character of APP Supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was exposed the moment when he changed his stance on the contentious SYL issue by filing afresh affidavit in the apex court just to secure the interests of his native state Haryana, that meant a ‘leopard can’t change his spots’.Strongly taking the State Congress leadership to task, the Chief Minister said that it was an open secret that the Congress party was prime intriguer to script this black chapter in the history of Punjab thus depriving Punjabis from their legitimate share in river waters in defiance of the internationally accepted Riparian principles. He said that it was highly paradoxical that the State Congress Chief Capt. Amarinder Singh, who was now shedding crocodile tears over this issue had welcomed the then Prime Minister late Smt. Indira Gandhi to lay foundation stone for the construction of SYL. On the contrary, the Shiromani Akali Dal from the day one had opposed this anti- Punjab decision firmly through organizing morchas during which thousands of party leaders and workers were court arrested and imprisoned.
Referring to the issue of grant of Post-Matric SC Scholarship, the Chief Minister said that the state government had already taken up this case with the GoI for early release of the funds for making payment to these beneficiaries.Highlighting the significance of the Sangat Darshan program, the chief minister said that this two way direct communication system between the people and administration was not only very effective and responsive but also result oriented for prompt redrerssal of the grievances. He also directed the top brass of the district administration and field staff to attend work for three days in their offices and at least dedicate two days for the visit in field to understand the basic problems and issues at the grass root level. Mr. Badal asked the officers to change their mindset to serve the people with utmost sincerity, dedication and missionary zeal. The Chief Minister further said that he would now hold Sangat Darshan program at for four days in a week.Earlier Chief Minister hold Sangat Darshan at Noorpur, Kangna, Khanpur Dhadha, Gill, Talwandi Bharo villages and Nakodar city where he has listen the problems of more than 24 villages.Prominent amongst present on the occasion included CPS Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Deputy Commissioner K.K.Yadav, Joint Special principal secretary to CM Kumar Amit and ADC Girish Dyalan.