The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal has termed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal a dictator and said that the advance announcement of tickets in view of the 2017 assembly elections would give rise to the factionalism, revolt and infighting in the party which would consequently spell doom for AAP even before the polls.Interacting with media persons here today on the occasion of distribution of financial benefits to the beneficiaries by the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and Labour Department, S. Badal said that the advance declaration of tickets by AAP would not make the slightest of difference to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP but this ticket distribution would surely bring to fore the internal factionalism of AAP. He further said that the AAP leaders are openly alleging bias and dictatorial methods in the distribution of tickets which makes it crystal clear that only those people matter in the AAP who pander to the every whim and fancy of kejriwal with the common worker getting neglected.The Deputy Chief Minister welcomed the passage of G.S.T. bill in the Rajya Sabha and said that the G.S.T. system of taxation would not only spell golden days for industrial and commercial sectors in the country but the common masses also would get respite from the various kinds of taxes thereby giving impetus to the economic progress and generation of new avenues of employment.
Earlier addressing the function to distribute the financial benefits worth Rs. 3.25 crore to the 2080 beneficiaries, S. Badal said that the Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board has implemented a lot of welfare centric plans for the construction workers. Disclosing more, he said that the board has evolved a ‘Balri Janam Tohfa Scheme’ in accordance with which an FDR worth Rs. 51000 would be made at the birth of a girl child and the same would be encashed during the time of marriage of the girl. Similarly, under the General Surgery Scheme for injury treatment the amount of monetary benefit has been increased from Rs. 20000 to Rs. 50000. Under Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna 1.32 lakh cards of the construction workers have been made.Divulging more about the developmental initiatives of the state government, S. Badal said that 250 skill training centers are being established in which 1 lakh youth would be provided professional & skill oriented training in order to make them economically self-dependent. Mentioning atta-dal acheme, shagan scheme, pension scheme, free power to the farmers, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the pace of development has got acceleration during previous 9 years. He also announced the widening of Malout to Ferozepur road via Sri Muktsar Sahib and said that all the major cities of the state are being connected with the 4 and 6 laned roads. He expressed strong hope that this development of infrastructure would take Punjab to further heights of development and glory.
Exuding confidence about the formation of SAD-BJP government in the state for the third consecutive time, S. Badal said that congress did nothing for the development of the state during its tenure whereas the state has witnessed record progress and advancement in every sector in previous 9 years. He also said that the people have made up their mind to again vote for SAD-BJP the third time. Disclosing path breaking measures in the Governance Reforms sector, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the sewa kendars would be operational this month itself after which the people would not need to visit the government offices for getting done the routine works and would get all the government services at these centers.
Earlier, the MLA Harpreet Singh welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and appreciated the efforts of the state government for ensuring overall development of the area.Among those present on the occasion were Principal Secretary Labour Department Roshan Sunkaria, Labour Commissioner Punjab Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, Deputy Commissioner Sumit Jarangal, Chairman Co-operative bank Tejinder Singh Middhukhera, President Municipal Council Ram Singh, District BJP President Rajesh Pathela and Mandal President Harish Grover.