Out rightly rejecting the tall claims made by the Congress party with regard to immense contribution made by the party in the national freedom struggle, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that country attained freedom due to supreme sacrifices of great heroes like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Kartar Singh Sarabha Lala Lajpat Rai and not because of Congress.Addressing the gatherings in village Hansali, Badali Aala Singh, Mahaadian and Old Grain Market Sirhind, the Chief Minister said that more than 80% of the freedom fighters who were either exiled or attained martyrdom hailed from the state. Likewise, he said that Congress was in no way associated with watershed movements associated with the country’s freedom struggle like Kuka, Ghadar, Kamagata Maru, Agrarian, Gurdwara Reforms and Babbar Akali, which played an instrumental role in removing the shackles of foreign rule from our country. Mr. Badal said that rather it was the Shiromani Akali Dal which made countless sacrifices for the country during the Gurdwara Reform Movement and afterwards.The Chief Minister said that the Congress party and its leaders were habitual of self glorification due to which they mislead the people by boosting of their immense contribution in national freedom struggle. He called upon the people to beware of such dirty tantrums of the Congress party and not to get swayed away by their agenda.
Mr. Badal reminded the people that Congress party has bruised their psyche by irrelevantly meddling in the social, economic, political and as well as religious affairs of the state in general and Sikhs in particular.Taking the Congress party to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that the Punjabis could never forgive the Congress party for its sins against Punjab. He said that any true Punjabi would never forget Operation Blue Star and the killing of thousands of innocents in 1984 anti-Sikh carnage adding that Congress could never be forgiven for perpetrating these sinister moves. Mr. Badal said that now the Congress and AAP were conniving to deprive the state of its water by construction of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.Reiterating that Sangat Darshan was the most democratic program in the country, the Chief Minister categorically said that this flagship program of SAD-BJP government was acting as a catalyst to redress the grievances of the people in a time bound manner. Mr. Badal said it was a unique program that was being carried only in the state with the sole motive of ensuring the overall development of the state and welfare of its people.
Mr. Badal said that it was on record that besides giving a major fillip to the overall development of the state, the Sangat Darshan programs has also been instrumental in mitigating the woes of common people.Interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said that it was the bounden duty of the state government to protect peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state. He said that the state government was keeping a strict vigil over the entire situation none would be allowed to take law in their hands. Mr. Badal said that the state government was fully geared up for foiling any sort of attack on the peace and prosperity of the state.On another query, the Chief Minister said that the people who were the perpetrators of grave conspiracy to rob waters of Punjab by digging SYL now trying to attain status of martyr by merely shedding a drop of blood. He reminded the Congress leaders that their party had planned and executed the digging of this canal adding that the announcement of resignation by Congress MLAs after anti-Punjab verdict by Apex court was just a gimmick. He reminded the Congress leaders that at time when their present state Congress Chief along with other top leaders of Congress were welcoming Mrs. Gandhi for laying foundation stone of SYL in 1980’s the entire Akali leadership was courting arrest for safeguarding interests of state.
Asked to comment about the notification regarding regularization of 30000 contractual staff in the state, the Chief Minister said that the Cabinet has already gave consent in this regard and the notification would be issued shortly.
On another query, the Chief Minister said that the state government has already constituted the Sixth Pay Commission for the employees of the state government. He said that the Commission would submit its report after completing the entire work.Later the Chief Minister visited the plant of Pagro Frozen Foods and had detailed intercation with the management of the plant, progressive farmers and vegetable cultivators. Mr. Badal emphasized the need to adopt agriculture diversification with thrust on cultivation of fruits and vegetables, which were having huge demand across the globe. He said that this would help in bailing out the farmers from current agrarian crisis. Mr. Badal assured fulsome support and cooperation to the farmers for setting up such ventures.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Akali leader Mr. Deedar Singh Bhatti, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr S Karunraju, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Harcharan Singh Bhullar.