The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Punjab Congress dream of ruling Punjab through proxy by imposing President Rule would not be realized, at least in the 21st Century and advised them to come out of self created illusions.
Speaking to media persons after laying the foundation stone of 100 bed Multi-specialty hospital besides dedicated various projects worth Rs. 152 crore to the people of Punjab, Mr. Badal said that Congress should accept the reality that people of Punjab have overwhelmingly dumped them in the electoral battle just a year ago and they can not inject strength in their party cadre by promising them moon. Mr. Badal said that Congress led UPA Government was itself in minority and passage of Union Budget in the Parliament was also doubtful. He said that with Mulayam breathing down their neck, the brain dead UPA Government in coma can be given death certificate any time and Bajwa instead of dreaming of President Rule should prepare his party to accept the another shock of forfeiture of deposit of their candidates in all 13 Lok Sabha seats from Punjab. He said that he could not understand the joke that PPCC President, who has no power to appoint Secretary of his office and a Spokesperson of Congress Party who was sacked within hours of appointment, was seeking President Rule in the State.When asked about proposed agitation of Congress Party on imposition of Property Tax in the state, Mr. Badal said that instead of agitating in the state, they should stage dharna before 10 Janpath and Prime Minister Office for arm-twisting the states to impose this tax. He said that we had fought tooth and nail against center for not forcing this tax on the people but Center Government forfeited our legitimate Urban Development Grants of Rs. 1408 crore and laid a condition to impose property tax for releasing any Urban Development Grant to the state. He said that let Bajwa first force Union Government to withdraw draconian clause and ensure 50 percent share to Punjab in the Central Taxes from the state; we would not impose any tax on the people of Punjab.
When asked about Anna’s Jantantar Yatra, Mr. Badal said that we have a common goal to eliminate corruption from the state and we are striking at the genesis of corruption by Governance Reforms and Right to Service Act. He said that Center Government forced by Public pressure had to replicate Punjab Right to Service Act in the Center for few services.
Promising to develop Jalalabad as Basmati Hub of India, the Deputy Chief Minister promised that in next four years this would be the top export zone of Basmati from the country. He said that he would lay the foundation stone of 100 acre special rice zone next month in which measuring 5 acre each would be provided to ultramodern rice units. He promised accelerated development in the state and said that he was envisioning Jalalabad better than Capital city Chandigarh.
Announcing to construct concrete roads in all 131 villages of Jalalabad constituency in coming three years, Mr. Badal said that in the current year 40 villages would be covered and he had laid foundation stones for these projects in two villages today. He also announced to set up a 50-100 acre PUDA colony in the city to showcase the urban development model of state for all town and cities of the state. He said that Rs.40 crore would be spent for constructing houses for poor people of the city and promised to provide these houses in a record time of one year.
Reiterating his commitment to ensure world class infrastructure through out the state in coming three years with connectivity of each town and city with 4/6 lane road network, Mr. Badal informed that an ambitious project of Rs.20,000 crore has been launched for this purpose. He also promised to provide uninterrupted power supply with in one year for all domestic as well as commercial purposes and announced that after one year the power tariffs would be lowered in the state with surplus power.
It may be mentioned here that on the first day of his 2-day whirlwind visit of Fazilka district to launch various development works of worth Rs.152 crore, the Deputy Chief Minister today fulfilled the long cherished demand of the people of Jalalabad City and surrounding areas for quality health services by laying the foundation stone of 100 bedded Hospital and Nursing College of worth Rs.20 crore. He also inaugurated an ultramodern building constructed at the cost of Rs.1.86 crore of Municipal Council, Jalalabad. The Deputy Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for the construction of rehabilitation of Kalewala Rajbaha System and Trobri Rajbaha System besides expansion of Suhalewala Rajbaha System at the cost of Rs.17 crore thereby ensuring sufficient water for irrigation to 40 villages. Mr. Badal also laid the foundation stones of Concrete flooring, a unique project in 2 villages namely, Kathgarh and Dhandi Kadim. Besides this, he also laid the foundation stones of upgradation of link roads Sukhera Bodla to Jodhewala, Sukhera Bodla-Jodhewala to Dhani Amar Singh, Baghe Ke Uttar to Dhani Inder Singh, State Highway-20 to Peere Ke Uttar, Jalalabad-Lakhewala road and a bridge on Jalalabad main drain on Jalalabad-Lakhewali Road of joint cost of Rs.11.50 crore. Later on he laid the foundation stone of a Rs.46 lac Primary Health Centre at Village Chak Janisar. The Deputy Chief Minister also inaugurated the Ghubaya College of Engineering & Technology at Village Sukhera Bodla.
Prominent amongst other who were present on these occasions included Mr. Surjit Kumar Jyani, Cabinet Minister, Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Member Parliament, Mr. Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, MLA, Dr. S.S. Shergill, Vice- Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Mr. Prem Kumar Valecha, President District Planning Committee, Fazilka, Mr. Vardev Singh Maan, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Basant Garg and SSP Mr. S.S. Kahlon.