The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Punjab is all set to announce new industrial policy in the state with the singular aim of attracting Rs.1 lac crore investment in the state. Talking to media persons after inducting Joginder Pal Singla, Treasurer of Punjab Congress Party and Hukam Chand Bansal in the Shiromani Akali Dal fold here today, Mr. Badal said that Punjab during last 5 years has focused on infrastructure development and with world class road and air connectivity even the world bank study has declared Punjab No.1 destination for investment. He said that Punjab is coming out with a new industry policy and besides new industrial policy we have initiated series of reforms in the industry department to provide single window hassle free service to the entrepreneurs. He said that Punjab has decided to create land bank to provide land to the serious entrepreneurs off the shelf and all clearances for new industry would be concurrently assured with in one month. Focusing on urban development Mr. Badal said that he has finalized the urban development blue print for all 142 cities and set aside Rs.8745 crores for integrated provision of 100% sewerage and water supply, internal road network, greening in parks by a single development agency and all 142 cities would be revamped with in next 5 years. When asked about Amarinder joining hands with Manpreet, Mr. Badal said that their desperation for coalition suggest that both leaders are desperately looking for crutches to stand on their feet. He said that we are all set to witness an unusual situation in the Congress party where only President Amarinder would remain in Congress, rest of leaders shifting to people’s own party that is Shiromani Akali Dal. Mr. Badal said that Joginder Pal Singla whose family was associated with Congress party since last 50 years and they were known as the pillar and symbol of Congress party in Mandi Gobindgarh, their leaving of Congress party suggests that every leader worth name in the Congress party was feeling orphaned in that party that they had nurtured with their sweat of brow. Mr. Badal said that leaders of Congress party were fed up of SMSing their leaders to seek appointment and waiting for months to have darshan of their Pradhan. He said that they are joining Shiromani Akali Dal because they were sure about the fact that this was the only party that has long term development vision of development for Punjab.Earlier Congress today suffered severe jolt as its Treasurer and former President of Mandi Gobindgarh Muncipal Council Joginder Pal Singla today joined Shiromani Akali Dal along with his thousand supporters in the presence of SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal. Punjab Ratan Awardee Joginder Pal belongs to a traditional Congress family that had rich legacy of politics, social welfare and industrialism. His late father Nand Kumar Gupta was the Cashier of Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee during the tenure of Chief Minister Darbara Singh besides remaining the president of Mandi Gobindgarh Municipal Council for more than 20 years. His Son, Mittul Singla was the Chairman of Punjab Youth Congress Urban Development Cell. Joginder Pal, the sitting councilor in Mandi Gobindgarh Muncipal Council also represents the Lahoria group which had been considered as the backbone of the Congress party in the area.Welcoming Joginder Pal Singla and his supporters in the party folds, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the party was firm to give them full respect and status in the party fold. He said that Congressmen's decision to join the SAD was testimony to the high level of confidence people have in the SAD and it was the victory of the pro people policies of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said that there was complete demoralisation in the Congress party and senior Congressmen were scared of the fact that their party would never came back to power in the states where it lost two consecutive assembly elections.Joginder Pal Singla said that the grassroot Congress’ leaders and workers were dejecting the party as after being rejected by people of Punjab in the assembly elections the frustrated leaders of Punjab congress were now resorted to anti Punjab policies. He said that it was clear that senior leaders of Punjab Congress had influenced the Congress led UPA government to force Punjab government to levy more taxes on common man. He said that it had been already exposed that Capt Amrinder Singh had asked the Prime Minister and other Centre government ministers to stop grants to Punjab.
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Prem Sing Chandumajra, General Secretary SAD, Justice Nirmal Singh, MLA, Jagdeep Singh Cheema, District President SAD, Didar Sing Bhatti, Ex-MLA, Raju Khanna, Youth Development Board, Ranjit Singh Libra, Rajinder Kaur Salana, Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Ex-MP and members of Industrial Associations of Mandi Gobindgarh.