Terming that in any eventuality of Indo-Pak war both the East and West Punjab across international border would be the worst sufferers, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the national government of Pakistan to refrain from pushing both the countries to war through their nefarious acts. Interacting with the media persons on sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Lambi assembly segment, the Chief Minister said that Punjab on both sides of border would have to bear the brunt in case of an outbreak of war between both the countries. He said that Pakistan must understand that it was on record that both East and West Punjab would be the worst affected by the war and should try to diffuse the situation at the earliest. “The national leadership of Pakistan is also aware of this fact and they must try to normalize the situation” added Mr. Badal. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that Government of India (GoI) was fully competent and wise enough to take an appropriate call on the issue of Indus water Agreement. He said that every decision taken by GoI would be in the interest of the country and would aim at protecting the unity and integrity of the country. Mr. Badal said that the matured and visionary leadership of the country was absolutely capable of taking decisions to safeguard the interests of the country. On another query, the Chief Minister said that the fronts mushrooming up in the state would have no effect on the state polity. He said that the SAD-BJP alliance was not at all worried about these fronts as the people of the state were solidly behind the pro-people and development oriented policies of alliance.
Mr. Badal said that every front and every person was welcome to test their waters in the ensuing state assembly polls. The Chief Minister totally refuted the allegations leveled by state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh regarding possibility of tempering with Electronic Voting Machines in the state. He said that EVMs were handled and managed by the Election Commission of India and there was not even remotest possibility of their tempering by state or even the Union government. However, Mr. Badal said that they hardly have any problem if the Election Commission brings the EVMs from other states.Earlier addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan in village Bhullarwala, Bitiwala, Kakhaanwali, Middukhera and others, the Chief Minister said that unprecedented development works have taken place in the state during the last around one decade of SAD-BJP alliance government. He said that the state has witnessed complete facelift in each and every sector due to the concerted efforts of the alliance government. Mr. Badal said that the net result of the policies and programs of alliance was that Punjab was today a front ranking state across the country.
Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that the state government was providing free power to farmers worth Rs 5000 crore every year. He further said that the alliance government has decided to double the pensions given to people under the social security schemes besides hiking the honorarium of the Nambardars. Mr. Badal said that the state government has started first of its kind scheme to provide interest free crop loans worth Rs 50000 to the farmers. The Chief Minister further said that in another historic decision it has been decided that all the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs.50,000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family. He further said that Punjab was the only state in the country to provide Atta-Dal scheme to the weaker sections adding that it was also the only state to ensure free treatment for fatal diseases like Cancer and Hepatitis C.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chairman Mr. Tejinder Singh Middukhera, Chairman Block Samiti Mr. Gurbakshish Singh Middukhera, District Coordinator Mr. Avtar Singh Vanwala, Chairman Puncofed Mr. Kulwinder Singh Bhai Ka Kera, SGPC Member Jathedar Bikar Singh Channu, Director Punjab State Tube Well Corporation Mr. Harmesh Singh Khudian, Member Punjab State Women Commission Bibi Veerpal Kaur Tarmala, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumit Jaranghal and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Gurpreet Singh.