The Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the Punjab government will demand sensitive status for Punjab’s international border on the lines of Jammu-Kashmir. He batted for providing thick security cover on Punjab international borders, the way it has been done for the Jammu-Kashmir international borders.Deputy CM said this while interacting with media persons after flagging off a train from Raman Mandi to Sri Nanded Sahib and four buses to Salasar Dham in Rajasthan under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra Yojana. Talking to the media persons the Deputy CM said that in order to strengthen security along the international borders of Punjab lying in Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts, state will demand from center government deployment of more battalions of BSF. He added that Punjab government was also chalking out a strategy to prepare second in line of defence security cover on Pakistan borders.
Answering a media query he said that Punjab police played bravado role in the episode of terrorist attack on Pathankot air base and for strengthening its borders, the Punjab government will deputy DIG level officer. Responding to a question, the Union Minister for Food Processing Industry Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi had convened a high level review meeting of the Pathankot episode and all steps were being taken to safeguard the country. She said that the union government will step up vigil on the international borders and the terrorists will be given befitting reply.Earlier, at Raman Mandi, the Deputy CM flagged off train to Sri Nanded Sahib. He said that as per the demand of pilgrims the number of trains, buses and their trips will be increased to ensure that maximum people are able to visit their respective places of worship.
He said that there was immense enthusiasm in the people of Punjab regarding Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra Yojana and as per the need the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal will be consulted on increasing the number of trains, buses and their trips. He said that trains will also be run for Ajmer Sharif and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal also talked to the pilgrims sitting in train. 65 years old pilgrim Gurdev Singh said that this initiative of Punjab government was indeed appreciable and due to this scheme he would be able to visit Sri Huzoor Sahib for the first time ever. Another elderly pilgrim Mr Hardev Singh said that he was going to the holy place with his wife for the first time and blessed the Chief Minister for enabling this journey through the scheme. He added that this initiative of Punjab was worth appreciation.
Later at Bathinda, before flagging off buses for the Salasar Dham, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal paid obeisance at Baglawali Dharamshala, Sri Hanuman Mandir. Around 200 pilgrims are travelling in these buses. A large number of women were also present amongst the pilgrims bound for Salasar Dham. A pilgrim Deepika Bansal said that she was planning to visit Salasar Dham since long. As soon as she came to know about the scheme for yatra, she contacted the persons concerned and was today travelling with her two children.CPS Mr Sarup Chand Singla, MLA Talwandi Sabo Mr Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, principal secretary Transport Department Mr R Venkatratnam, Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Dr Basant Garg, SSP Bathinda Mr Swapan Sharma, ADC (D) Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma, ADC (G) Mr Sumit Kumar Jarangal, SDM Talwandi Sabo Mr Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM Bathinda Mr Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, SAD press secretary Dr Om Prakash Sharma, Ranjit Lambi, Manjit Lalbai and others were also present.