Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today asked Congress led UPA government at Center to link the Minimum Support Price of wheat crop with the price index since the rates of agri-inputs have been increased manifolds and the farming sector has become an uneconomical profession. Answering media queries after holding Sangat Darshan here for villages Gill Patti, Goniana Khurd, Nahianwala, the Deputy CM said that the rates of fertilizers, diesel and other agri-inputs have increased several times in few months resulting increase in cost of production of wheat and other crop. He said that it was the call of the hour to link MSP for Wheat with Price Index as per the recommendations of Swaminathan commission. While answering a query regarding rates of sand/gravel, Mr. Badal said Punjab Government has already finalised to make available sand and gravel to the common people at affordable rates from February 1. He said sand and gravel would be available through Mandi Board at all district levels with a record reduction in existing rates so as to provide a big relief to the common masses.
When asked about the announcement of candidates for ensuing general elections, Deputy CM said SAD-BJP will take lead in fielding the candidates in the state immediate after the announcement of elections. On opinion polls, Mr. Badal said SAD-BJP will register record margin victories on all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab while NDA would touch the figure of 300 at national level. He said Congress would have to face the wrath of electorates for its ill-deeds with a crushing defeat on all 13 seats.Holding Congress led UPA government responsible for prevailing drug smuggling in states, Mr. Badal said Punjab was the most suffered state due to absence of uniform policy on national level. Quoting the example of Rajasthan as the poppy husk and opium farming was under license system there, the Deputy CM assured it would be the top priority of SAD-BJP to enact a uniform policy on drugs with stringent provisions against cross border smuggling, if NDA comes to power. “Punjab would witness highest scale of investment besides extreme level of development after formation of NDA Government at Center,” said he adding there was single solution to save the country from all menaces and diseases of scams that was to wipe out Congress from the national political scene.
Announcing to develop world class ‘Children Entertainment Park’ at Bathinda, Mr. Badal said the process in this regard has been initiated. He said houseboats, waterfall and other world class entertainment features would be installed in the Entertainment Park. The Deputy CM informed Bathinda residents that Bathinda-Malout and Bathinda-Dabwali ROBs have been approved and the construction would be started soon. Answering a query regarding the promise of SAD-BJP to provide laptops to higher secondary students, Mr. Badal said the promise would be fulfilled immediate after starting of 4G connectivity in the state. He said that within 6-7 months all the villages of Punjab would connect with 4G services. While presiding over the Sangat Darshan, Mr. Badal informed Powercom would release all tube well connections with 15 days to the pre-2007 applicants. He said under this drive more than 70000 connections would be released while the remaining connections would be given in next one year.
He also announced Rs. 25 lakh for construction of Sports Stadium at Nahinwala, Water Works for Gill Patti at the cost of Rs. 1.25 crore besides RO system at the cost of Rs. 12 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh for cemented streets. He also gave away Utensils for common use to the panchayat of Gill Patti village.Meanwhile Mr. Badal also inaugurated state-of-the-art Short Stay Home for the attendants of Cancer patients with a cost of Rs. 3.15 crore and World Class Girls Hostel in Giani Zail Singh PTU Campus, Bathinda at the cost of Rs. 6.30 crore. The Deputy CM also laid the foundation stone of Sewerage system for Sanjay Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar and Bangi Nagar localities in Bathinda.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion, Mr. Sarup Chand Singla, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Balkar Singh, Youth Akali Dal district president, Mr. Kamal Kishor Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Harjinder Sidhu, Assistant Media Advisor to Deputy CM.