Terming that transfer of Sikh prisoners from other states would hardly pose any threat to peace and harmony in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that each and every decision of the state government was aimed at preserving the hard earned peace, communal harmony and amity in the state. Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Phagwara assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance government has always accorded top priority to preserve the peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state and its every decision was aimed at promoting these values. He said that the state governments across the country have been following the policy of transferring prisoners from one to another and Punjab was hardly an exception to it. Moreover, Mr. Badal further said that the state government was duty bound for maintaining peace, law and order of the state at every cost. Slamming the Congress party misleading the people of state by raising the bogey of terrorism, the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders owe an answer to the people as to how militancy could revive with the transfer of indisposed person like Prof. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar in the state. He said that Prof. Bhullar’s family had been pleading with the Centre and state governments to transfer him in jail of state so as to facilitate them to frequently meet him.
“The apprehensions regarding revive of militancy in the state with this decision are totally baseless and the Congress leaders are just creating a fuss over the issue to score brownie points before the media” added Mr. Badal. Replying to another query, the Chief Minster said that Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi had accepted his personal invitation to attend the celebrations to mark 350th foundation day of Sri Anandpur Sahib and assured him that he would be part of the glorious mega event. He said that extending invitation to the Prime Minister for such a mega event was a prerogative of every Chief Minister. Mr. Badal further said that the joint committee of the leaders of SAD-BJP alliance had invited national BJP Chief Mr. Amit Shah, several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of various states who were likely to take part in this mega event.Reiterating that every decision to govern the state was taken by SAD-BJP alliance unanimously, the Chief Minister said that both the alliance partners have complete understanding on all the issues and they take the decisions pertaining to the state collectively. He further said that the alliance was everlasting and firm as both the alliance partners have complete faith and confidence on each other. Mr. Badal said that the alliance takes all the decisions collectively for ensuring the progress of state and welfare of its people.
Asked to comment on the Land Acquisition Bill, the Chief Minister said that the Shiromani Akali Dal has categorically made its stand clear to the Union government by submitting a detailed document.
Badal said that Punjab model of land acquisition was the best in the country and it should be replicated at the national level. He said that the clauses of consent, adequate compensation and rehabilitation of the farmers were must so as to devise any pro-farmer land acquisition bill. The Chief Minister further said that in a short span of NDA’s rule, Punjab has been immensely benefitted from it. He said that the Union government has given several key projects to the state, which would be instrumental in putting the state further on high growth trajectory. He hailed the NDA government for allocating prestigious projects like All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Post Graduate Horticulture Research and Educational Institute. Later, the Chief Minister while addressing the public gatherings at village Maanak, Lakhpur and Khalyan said that the Sangat Darshan program was a boon for understanding the problem of every village in an apt manner, for its early resolution. Mr. Badal said that rather than sitting in office he has always preferred to go amongst the people to listen to their grievances and solve them on the spot. He said that in Sangat Darshans the people do not face any sort of harassment in getting their day-to-day works done. Earlier the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of 66KV power sub station at village Narangshahpur and inaugurated newly constructed Bibi Surinder Kaur Badal block at Government Girls ITI Polytechnic College in Phagwara. He also inaugurated 66 KV Power Sub-station at village Maanak. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Som Parkash, Chairman Markfed Mr. Jarnail Singh Waahid, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) Member Jathedar Sarwan Singh Kular, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mr. Kunwar Vijay Pratap.