The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today cautioned the people to beware of the nefarious designs and false propaganda unleashed by the state Congress leadership out of sheer frustration and asked them to do soul searching before exercising their franchise in favor of a particular candidate during the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the state. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating 30-bedded Community Health Centre here at a cost of Rs. 4.33 crore, the Chief Minister advised the people to take this decision very carefully because it was directly related to their destiny linked with the overall development of area and the prosperity of its people. Mr. Badal said that the Congress led UPA government has failed to deliver goods to the common man in a right perspective being a votary of ‘Aam Aadmi’ who was feeling disenchanted by the false promises made by it during the last Lok Sabha polls. He said sky rocketing prices of essential commodities have broken the back bone of the common man coupled with wide spread corruption and mal administration at galore adding he rated it as world’s most inefficient and corrupt government. He said SAD-BJP government had been taking up the issue from day one that Centre-State relations should be recast with the thrust on true federal structure rather the UPA government has gradually diluted nation’s federal character to unitary one thereby encroaching upon the jurisdiction and powers of the states. He said the states have been merely relegated to the dignified municipalities who have to look upon Centre for their petty demands because enormous powers in terms of economic and financial were vested in Union government.
Appealing the people for the change of guard at Centre, the Chief Minister asked them to oust Congress and pave a way for the installation of BJP led NDA government so that Punjab could seek more funds and get big projects sanctioned for the state which was not feasible in the present scenario due to Centre’s step motherly treatment towards Punjab. He said it was all the more important to have NDA government at Centre because it would not only ensure complete homogeneity but also get our rightful share from Central funds to hasten up the speed of development projects.Training guns at the state Congress leadership who was habitual of criticizing the SAD-BJP government for trivial matters, Mr. Badal said he knew that criticism has become a fashion now-a-days and the Congress was indulging heftily in it just to gain cheap popularity in media. The Chief Minister said he was fully seized of Congress psyche as it was bereft of any agenda and thus resorting to mudslinging to air out its negativity. He pointed out healthy criticism was always welcomed but criticism just for the sake of criticism was not only deplorable but also unacceptable.
Later talking to the media persons on the issue of Exit Polls, the Chief Minister said that any constituent, ally or a party could have its own opinion which does not tantamount to having difference of opinion within a particular group or a party. Vindicating his stand, he said even the members of a same family have a difference of opinion over an issue which doesn’t mean that there was no harmony. He said we should not infer conclusions instantly on such issues moreover the exit polls were just imaginary, illusive and unrealistic. He cited an example that SAD-BJP alliance was projected to be looser and Congress a winner in the State Assembly polls, 2012 through exit polls where as the actual picture was completely different and we were voted to power consecutively for the second record term.
Replying to another query regarding the involvement of Youth Akali workers in wake of heavy seizure of drugs and narcotics in the state, Mr. Badal said that how come the party could be blamed for the unscrupulous activities and misdeeds of any inpidual or a person associated with the party. He categorically said that anyone involved in such anti-social and unlawful activities howsoever high or mighty, he may be, would not be spared at any cost. Mr. Badal further said that law would take its own course to bring the guilty to the book as state government was firmly committed towards zero tolerance on the issue of drug trafficking. At the same time, he squarely blamed the Centre for showing complacency on its part in checking the menace of cross border drug trafficking effectively because all these international borders were exclusively manned by the Central agencies and Para-military forces.
Later, the Chief Minister accompanied by former Cabinet Minister and senior Akali leader Dr. Upinder jit Kaur paid obeisance at the historic Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib associated with first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji on his Parkash Purb.Earlier, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the bridge at village Nanakpur at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crore on the Kapurthala-Fattudhinga road. The Chief Minister announced a two kilometer road to be constructed to link the GNDU regional campus, newly constructed CHC and grain market in Fattudhinga village.
Badal also gave away the prizes to the winners of Kabaddi tournament at Sultanpur Lodhi.Prominent among other who were present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Som Parkash, Chairman Markfed Mr. Jarnail Singh Wahad, Advisor to the Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains, SGPC member Gurpreet Kaur, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Ajoy Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Mr. DS Mangat.