Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today justified the need for change of guard at centre, as the incumbent Congress led UPA government has miserably failed at all fronts due to rampant corruption, administrative inability and for failure in combating external as well as internal aggression thereby putting the nation’s security in peril.The Chief Minister while talking to the media persons on the sidelines of inauguration of first of its kind Maize Dryer in the country installed here at a cost of Rs 9 crore, said that there was no harm to give a chance to the Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi projected by the BJP led NDA because, ‘change is always better’. He said Mr. Modi’s candidature as PM has been endorsed by the Shiromani Akali Dal being an alliance partner of the NDA. Mr. Badal chided the national Congress leadership at centre in blatantly failing to discharge their duties especially to maintain the law and order situation in the country adding he said the country was confronted with grave threats to its security both internally and externally.
Referring to an issue of withdrawal of ordinance for allowing tainted political leaders to contest elections, in haste and thus denigrating the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh by the Indian National Congress Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who called the ordinance sent to the President for his concurrence as nonsense and should be torn up, as unfortunate, the Chief Minister said that had the Congress leadership bit serious and sincere towards Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi should not have issued this statement publically which has not only belittled the importance of coveted post of Prime Minister but also brought disgrace to the Congress party.Referring to the issue of receiving no invitation for laying foundation stone of Cancer hospital at Sangrur, the Chief Minister said that he had already written a detailed letter to the Prime Minister conveying his displeasure on the issue. Mr. Badal said that not only he but the entire SAD-BJP leadership had been ignored on the issue. On the contrary the Chief Minister said that he always sought cooperation for opposition in getting the development projects through from the centre for instance recently he accompanied by leader of opposition in Vidhan sabha Mr. Sunil Jakhar called on Chairman of Planning Commission of India Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia for seeking Rs 3357 crore under the integrated plan to combat the menace of water logging in south western districts of Punjab.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that recently he presided over a function at Gurdaspur for inauguration of old age home on the personal invitation extended by former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Ashwani Kumar. Without mincing any words Mr. Badal said that he believes in the politics of consensus rather than that of confrontation and vendetta to seek whole hearted cooperation and support from opposition to ensure overall development of state and prosperity of its people. He however lamented that senior Congress leaders often confide in him that their colleagues in the state leadership were stalling the projects and development proposals for their petty narrow interests beyond anyone apprehensions. The Chief Minister said had he acted on their advise by not meeting the central ministers than he would not have been able to fetch funds for development schemes in the state.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Maize Dryer, the Chief Minister said that more such dryers would be installed in various mandis across the state in the districts which were producing huge quantity of Maize as a part of persification program. He also asked the Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal to make available to the farmers in consultation to the technocrats of PAU, indigenous Maize dryers on the pattern of small sized threshers for personal use. Mr. Badal said that the dried up crop with these dryers would fetch more profit of Rs 300-400 per quintal as compared to Maize with moisture content.
The Chief Minister called upon the centre to immediately introduce the mechanism of MSP on the pattern of wheat and paddy to motivate the farmers to cultivate Maize in a big way as a part of persification program because it was far more remunerative and less water intensive as compared to paddy. He also asked the farmers to grow crops like soyabean and basmati which also gave better returns to the farmers. Moreover our government had already abolished RDF and Market fee on the basmati which was sold in Mandis to ensure better return to the farmers.
Acceding to the demands of farmers of Kandi areas, the Chief Minister agreed to grant 50% subsidy on the fencing of meshed wire to protect their crop from the damaged caused by the wild animals and stray cattle as these animals were posing a great threat to the crops to the farmers. Mr. Badal also asked the farmers to make use of Solar pumps for irrigating their fields as the state government was providing 70% subsidy on them. He also called upon the farmers to go for agro forestry in the Kandi belt as this region was highly conducive for it. Our Government has already set up timber markets at Hoshiarpur, Garh Shankar and Dasuya for hassle free trade of poplar and eucalyptus as both have high demand in the plywood industry.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the SAD-BJP government was committed for the overall welfare of all sections of society. He said that the number of beneficiaries would be doubled from 15 lakh to 30 lakh under the Atta Dal scheme and a novel scheme namely Dr. Hargobind Khurana scholarship scheme to encourage poor and bright students by providing them a scholarship worth Rs 30000 has also been initiated.On the occasion the MLA Garhshankar and the SAD district President Mr. Surinder Singh Bhulleraathan put forth the demands of the region and urged the Chief Minister to immediately get 11 deep tube wells installed in the area. Likewise he also impressed Mr. Badal to instruct the water supply and sewerage board for laying of water supply and sewerage lines in Mahilpur and Garhshankar.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Rajya Saabha MP Mr. Avinash Rai Khanna, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud, former MP Mr. Varinder Singh Bajwa, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh and Chaudhary Nand Lal, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Vice Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Mr Ravinder Singh Cheema, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Deepinder Singh and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.