Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that he would have preferred to resign rather than facing a major humiliation as confronted by the Prime Minister on the issue of the recent ordinance to reverse Supreme Court ruling on convicted leaders. Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of a function organized by Sri Ram Navami Utsav Committee here today, the Chief Minister said that if he was faced with the situation in which his any of his party office bearer had belittled him on a decision taken by whole cabinet then he would have preferred to step down rather than face embarrassment. He further said that by using derogatory language against the ordinance the Vice President of Congress Mr. Rahul Gandhi has expressed no confidence in the Prime Minister and the Cabinet adding that it was imperative for the Cabinet to submit its resignation. Mr. Badal said that it was the blatant insult of the office of the Prime Minister, which was very unfortunate. The Chief Minister further said that he was highly concerned about the authority of the Cabinet being eroded and even a fool could understand that Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Rahul Gandhi were privy to the passage of Ordinance in the Cabinet twice and now they could not feign their ignorance. Mr. Badal said that though the managers of Mr. Rahul Gandhi might have tried to enhance his image by indulging in such cheap tactics but this step has given as severe blow to both te Cabinet and Prime Minister.
When asked to comment on the letter written by Union Home Minister Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde to the state governments regarding the imprisonment of innocent Muslims in Jails, the Chief Minister said that there was hardly any need for this letter. He said that every government at the Centre or the state must be secular adding that they must rise above their vested political interests and channelize their energy for the well being of people. The Chief Minister said that UPA has failed to perform its duty in safeguarding the life and property of the citizens. He said that recent twin attacks on Police and Army in Jammu region were direct challenge to the sovereignty of the country. He said that if the government that could not protect its armed forces and Police, what the common citizens could expect from it. Mr. Badal said that country needs a decisive and strong Prime Minister to give a stern message to such forces. Describing state Congress President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa’s daily outbursts on the performance of the state government as a sign of frustration, the Chief Minister said that it was for the first time since independence that opposition party was totally clueless and agenda less. Mr. Badal said that he was surprised that opposition instead of performing its constructive role was approaching each and every Union Minister to scuttle the legitimate grant to the state.
He said that they forget the point that centre was not doing any favor to the state by sanctioning such grants as it was their legitimate and constitutional right to receive their share in the central taxes. The Chief Minister said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had been advocating fair devolution of taxes along with strong federal system just because Congress led UPA government has reduced states into begging Municipalities. Mr. Badal said that he was surprised that even for sanction of village link roads, they have to send the file to the Union government for clearance. Earlier addressing the gathering the Chief Minister lauded the role of Sri Ram Utsav Committee under the leadership of Editor of Hind Samachar Group Padamshree Mr. Vijay Chopra for carrying out a large number of social and philanthropic works. He said that the distribution of free scholarship amongst the students by the Committee was a noble cause which would go a long way in spreading the message of Education amongst the poor and needy students besides ensuring the progress of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was making concerted efforts for the promotion of Education in the state adding that due to all these efforts the state was leading the country in the field of education. He said that in order to give further fillip to the education, the state government has embarked a major scheme of Dr. Hargobind Khurana Scholarship scheme in which the meritorious students would be granted a scholarship of Rs 30000 per annum. Likewise Mr. Badal said that special school were being opened in the six districts across the state in which free boarding and lodging facilities would be provided to the students securing 80% or marks. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr. Anil Joshi, Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar and Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, state BJP President Mr. Kamal Sharma, his Advisor Mr. Tikshan Sud, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. KD Bhandari, MLA Mr. Manoranjan Kalia and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.