Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today dared the Aam Adami Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal that his visit to Sri Harmandar Sahib on July 18 for performing ‘Sewa’ was merely a sham as it would not absolve him and his party in any case from the heinous sin committed by publishing the picture of Sri Darbar Sahib along with broom- their election symbol, on the party’s youth manifesto.While interacting with the media persons on the on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan program in Ropar Assembly Constituency, the Chief Minister said that Mr. Kejriwal and his party now stood fully exposed as their mind-set had clearly revealed their innermost psyche that how ‘scant respect they show towards the religious sentiments of other communities may be Sikh, Hindu or Muslim.’ He however said that anyone could offer prayer and perform ‘sewa’ at Sri Darbar Sahib as a true devotee who has a feeling of repentance but people like Kejriwal and his accomplices were only indulged in politicking as there was a world of difference between their words and actions. He further said that the proposed visit of AAP convener was nothing more than a political stunt to salvage his image and party’s swiftly falling graph of popularity. He categorically said that the sole aim of his party was to wrest power in Punjab by hook or crook to pursue their political ambitions, thereby throwing all the norms of decency and morality to winds.
Asked to comment on the issue of rising unemployment, the Chief Minister said that it was not feasible for any government to provide government jobs to the entire unemployed youth although we have already launched a massive recruitment drive to provide employment to our youth in Education, Health, Power and Police departments. Mr. Badal however said that the state government had already set up a skill development mission through which several skill development centres have been opened to impart vocational training to our youth in different trades so as to enable them to be gainfully employed in private sector or set up their own ventures.On the issue of regularization of illegal colonies across the state, the Chief Minister said that the state government was already committed to regularize all the colonies and the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) – the nodal agency had been directed to undertake the entire process of regularization of such colonies so as to ensure basic civic amenities to the residents of these colonies.
Referring to another issue for the management and maintenance of various historical memorials and monuments in the state, the Chief Minister said that the Cultural & Tourism department had already been asked to constitute special committees under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners for the proper upkeep and maintenance of these memorials in the concerned districts besides a cultural cess of 1 per cent was levied on infrastructure projects worth more than Rs.50 crore as contribution towards the Punjab Ancient, Historical Monuments, Archeological Sites and Cultural Heritage Maintenance Board Act-2013.Addressing the public gathering during his Sangat Darshan program here at local grain market, the Chief Minister announced the up-gradation of Rupnagar Municipal Council to accord Class-I status to it and said a formal decision to this effect would be taken soon in the next Cabinet meeting.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced development grants of Rs.3.30 crore for the execution of various development works and welfare schemes in Ropar city. Giving details of major development works, Mr. Badal said Rs.101.67 crore would be spent to prevent the flow of domestic sewage in to the Sutlej River and Sirhind Canal, Rs.35 lac for the construction of causeway on the mini bypass connecting Rupnagar-Nangal National Highway under railway track, Rs.33 lac for Senior Citizen Home, Rs. 26.94 lac for sewerage and water supply, Rs.26.64 lac for the renovation of Dr. BR Ambedkar Bhawan, Rs.10 lac for the Gaushala and Rs.10 lac for Press Club besides other miscellaneous works. The Chief Minister disbursed development grants worth Rs.1.07 crore to 18 villages Panchayats during today’s Sangat Darshan program at village Purkhali, Mianpur and Phool.Earlier, the Education Minister & MLA Ropar Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for giving liberal grants to ensure overall development and welfare of the people in the region.Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included; MLA Ropar & Education Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, SGPC Member from Ropar Mr. Ajmer Singh Khera, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. S Karunaraju, Deputy Commissioner Ropar Mr. Karnesh Sharma, DIG Ropar Range Mr. GS Sandhu, SSP Ropar Mr. Varinder Singh and Chief Engineer Water supply and Sanitation Mr. Daljeet Singh Cheema.