Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today warned the officials in the police and administration against the discrimination against and the victimisation of the Congress workers.“It is matter of six months more when all those people responsible for persecuting Congress workers will face the justice”, he declared amidst thumping applause from the party workers, who had gathered to meet him here today.Listening to the workers problems at the ‘Halqe vich Captain’ programme here today, Capt Amarinder was told by a large number of party workers that not only were they discriminated against by the district and local administration, but were also being victimised by the police with false cases.“Just remember that I have taken an oath on Gutka Sahab and I am repeating it now, that I will not only cancel all the false FIRs against my party workers, but will also ensure that those responsible for registering false cases including the Akali leaders and the police officials will be taken to task with severe punishment”, he warned the officials.The party workers listed several instances as how they were being ignored while it came to distribution of development grants or issuing of the ‘blue cards’ for the below poverty line people. They alleged that the localities with Congress supporters were not even provided basic amenities like roads and drains.
Replying to a question on the problem of unemployment, Capt Amarinder said, he had already announced that his government will ensure ‘at least one job in one family’ with a decent and reasonable income enough to sustain it for a month.At the same time, he said, it will require lot of efforts and also building up the trust and goodwill of the private investors and industry. Because, he added, all the jobs cannot be provided by the government and it was important that industry and investments came to Punjab for generating jobs and revenue.The PCC president said, the healthcare and quality education for everyone will be the top most priority of his government. He also announced that the health insurance will be provided for all the economically weaker sections as he knew that many people cannot even afford basic treatment.The former Chief Minister, while replying to a question from a cancer patient, said, super-specialised cancer treatment hospital will be set up where treatment will be provided to the cancer patients free of cost. He expressed concern over the alarming rise in cancer cases and expressed surprise why Parkash Singh Badal had not done anything for their treatment.
On the education, he agreed with the complaint of one of the workers that the private educational institutions were not honouring the commitment of providing 25 percent reservation to the children from less privileged families. He said, he was seized of the matter and he will ensure that the private educational institutions honoured the guidelines.Replying to a complaint about the poor quality wheat and pulses supplied under the ‘aata-daal’ scheme, Capt Amarinder said, not only will he ensure that the scheme was continued, but will ensure that good quality aata-daal was provided to people. Besides, he added, the Congress government will also add other necessary items like sugar and tea in the list.Among others present on the occasion included local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Deputy CLP leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Avtar Henry, Gurdev Singh Lapran, Dr Amar Singh, Gurcharan Singh Boparai, Gurbachan Singh Brar and Mamta Dutta.