In another pro - poor initiative aimed at extending helping hand to underprivileged sections of the society during the marriage of their daughters, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the state government would provide monetary assistance to the girls under Shagun scheme one month prior to their marriage. Interacting with the media persons here on the second day of Sangat Darshan program here today, the Chief Minister said that in order to facilitate the people on the solemn occasion of their daughter's marriage the state government has now decided to advance the time of this financial assistance, which was earlier given on the date of marriage. He said that the entire modalities in this regard have been worked out and people would be getting this facility soon, which would immensely help the poor sections of the society. "Its part of our endeavor to ensure the welfare of the poorest of the poor in the state", added Mr. Badal.
Urging the Union government to help the states especially those along with international border like Punjab to combat the menace of terrorism efficaciously, the Chief Minister said that Centre must generously allot funds to Border States for modernization of Police force.
Badal said that it was the high time that Union and state government must formulate a combined action plan to tackle this grave national problem. Batting for effective sealing of borders to check infiltration from across it, he said that the Union government must take necessary action in this regard.Appreciating the Punjab Police for showing exemplary courage to defend unity and integrity of the country, the Chief Minister said even the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister had lauded the state Police for this heroic deed. He said that every countryman today admires the state Police for its valiant action.Replying to another query, the Chief Minister categorically said that allegations pertaining to shifting of IIM at Amritsar were completely baseless and unwarranted. Mr. Badal said that it was a fact that neither he nor Cabinet Minister Mr. Anil Joshi had brought IIM to holy city but it was Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley, who gave this project to the city in his budgetary speech along with Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture research. However, he said these projects would give a big boost to development of the state.
Asked to comment on the outburst of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu against the SAD-BJP alliance, the Chief Minister said that alliance was everlasting and firm. Reiterating that Mrs. Sidhu was like his daughter, Mr. Badal said that he was a votary of morality in politics and would not like to comment on this issue. "Throughout my political career I had refrained from making any personal attack on somebody, as my conscience does not allow it" he added.
Addressing the gatherings during the Sangat Darshan in village Baba Bakala Sahib, Wadala Kalan, Sathiala and Butala, the Chief Minister said that Sangat Darshan was the flagship program of his government, which was aimed at mitigating the woes of the people by bringing all the organs of the state government on a single platform. He said that this program has proved to be a boon for the residents of the state as it has helped in solving their problems within few minutes. Mr. Badal further said that Punjab was the only state which has successfully carried on this pro-people program from last several years.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government was fully committed to provide the best civic amenities to the people both in the urban and rural areas. Mr. Badal asked the people to prioritize the development works in their villages to ensure optimum utilization of tax payer’s money on one hand and giving fillip to the development of the state on the other. He said that the state government would leave no stone unturned for the development of villages by providing them ultra modern civic amenities at par with the urban areas.The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Mr. Manjeet Singh Mianwind, Chairman Mr. Gurwinder Singh Ruby, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ravi Bhagat.