Strongly rebutting the misinformation campaign by the opposition parties regarding financial condition of Punjab, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the state is in very sound financial position and had there been a financial crisis then all the development oriented works wouldn’t have been effected during the course of previous 9 years.Addressing a mammoth gathering after the inauguration of Malerkotla-Raikot railway bridge, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the sound financial health of Punjab can be gauged from the construction of 150 railway bridges during the previous 9 years of SAD-BJP rule. He also added that only 4 prominent spots in the state are now sans railway bridges and he has today laid the foundation stone of railway bridges at Faridkot, Kotkapura, Barnala and NH-64 Bathinda at a total cost of Rs. 332 crore.Elaborating on the developmental agenda, S. Badal said that apart from making the state power surplus the road infrastructure has been given a facelift by transforming all major roads into 4 and 6 laned roads. He also said that the better road infrastructure has resulted in reduced number of road mishaps. He also said that the SAD-BJP government is the only one caring to look after the interests of every section of society and the development has picked up momentum only under the leadership of S. Parkash Singh Badal.
He specifically mentioned the free health insurance scheme, atta-dal scheme, free power to farming sector, free 200 unit power to the SC/BC households, shagan scheme, pension scheme, mukh mantra tirath yatra and free distribution of bicycles to the school girls as the game changers in looking after the welfare of every section in the state. In a special measure for the muslim community, the Deputy Chief Minister announced that the state government has kept an outlay of more than Rs. 100 crore for the purpose of constructing graveyards throughout the state. He also said that inspite of the attempts by the opposition parties to foment trouble in Punjab, the state government has been successful in establishing communal harmony throughout the length and breadth of the state.Strongly castigating Congress and the AAP, S. Badal said that both these parties are anti-Punjab and the state would be strengthened when the SAD would be strengthened. He said that SAD is a party of the people and the main aim of the SAD-BJP government is to serve the masses. He disclosed that in comparison with the neighbouring states in terms of tubewell connections, Punjab has 14 Lakh such connections with 2 lakh new connections being released during the previous 2 months.
He also divulged that special attention is being paid to the development of rural & urban areas of the state and out of 160, more than 100 cities have seen sewerage and clean drinking water projects being completed. He also said that the target would be achieved 100 percent in next 6 months.Earlier, S. Badal dedicated to public the bridge constructed on Malekotla-Raikot railway line at a cost of Rs. 32 crore. He said that the bridge would be vital in ridding people of the menace of traffic jams. He announced to hold sangat darshan next month for the overall development of Malerkotla constituency.On the occasion, Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said that SAD-BJP government should be allowed a hattrick chance in order to continue the era of development & prosperity in the state. Earlier, Malerkotla MLA Bibi Farzana Alam welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and the local people also honoured him. Among those present on the occasion included MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan, Parkash Chand Garg, Former minister Nusrat Ikram Bagge Khan, Chaudhary Abdul Gaffar and Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Ex-DGP Izhar Alam, Chairman Zila Parishad Satgur Singh Namol, Chairman Improvement Trust Saraj Malik, President Municipal Council Muhammad Ismail, Deputy Commissioner Arshdeep Singh Thind, SSP Pritpal Singh Thind and other prominent SAD-BJP leaders.