Terming that Chandigarh was, is and will ever remain an integral part of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that any deviation from existing practice of appointing Punjab Governor as administrator of Chandigarh was not at all acceptable.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Lambi assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that though as per States Reorganization Act every parent state has sole right over its Capital city but grave injustice had been meted out to state by denying Chandigarh to the state. Mr. Badal said that Punjab has the sole right over its capital and it must be given to the state at every cost. He said that till Chandigarh was not given to the state around four decades old practice of appointing Punjab Governor as the administrator of Chandigarh should be continued.
Replying to another query the Chief Minister said Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Mr. Arvind Kejriwal was a chronic non - performer who had totally failed to fulfill even a single promise in Delhi. He said that it was a fact that Kejriwal was suffering from anti - Punjab syndrome and his stand on Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was contrary to the interests of the state. “Nothing good can be expected for the state from Kejriwal who has no sympathy with Punjab or its people”, he added.On another query, the Chief Minister said that the act of Congress party to remove posters of government from buses reflects the frustration of the Congress leaders. He said that this incident was highly unfortunate as it was totally against the ethos of democracy. Mr. Badal asked the Congress leaders to explain what benefit they would get by damaging government property. Earlier addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan in village Fatehpur Mania, Deon Khera, Tappa Khera, Mahuana, Aadhniyaan and others, the Chief Minister said that in around last one decade massive development has taken place in the state. He said that it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the state government has initiated a number of pro - poor welfare schemes. Mr. Badal said that Punjab was the only state in country to provide free Atta Dal to people and provide free world class treatment for fatal diseases like Cancer and Hepatitis C besides providing free power to the farmers at a cost of Rs 5000 crore annually.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that now the state government was providing interest free crop loan worth Rs 50000 to the farmers and free medical insurance for people. He said that due to concerted efforts of the state government the menace of water logging has been tamed to great extent in Southern Punjab, which has given major respite to the food growers in the region. “Only SAD-BJP alliance government was true sympathizer of people of state and we will leave no stone unturned for ensuring well being of people”, he added.Lashing out at Congress and AAP, the Chief Minister said that both these parties were conniving to turn state into desert by constructing SYL canal. He said that while the Congress had planned and executed plan to snatch water of the state, the AAP was now its toes to get SYL constructed at the earliest. He said that both these parties were enemies of the state and wanted to ruin it. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chairman Punjab Agro Jathedar Dyal Singh Kolianwali, Chairman Puncofed Mr. Kulwinder Singh Bhai Ka kera, Chairman Mr. Tejinder Singh Middukhera, district Coordinator SAD Mr. Avtar Singh Vanwalla, Mr. Satinderjit Singh Manta, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumit Jaranghal and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Gurpreet Singh.