Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal reiterated that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will contest the 2017 assembly elections under the leadership of S. Parkash Singh Badal and said if the people of Punjab gave the SAD-BJP coalition the responsibility of forming the next government Mr Badal would be anointed chief minister again.While interacting with NRIs from USA, UK Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Australia here at his residence last night, Deputy CM said under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab government has implemented historic decisions to improve the cultural-socio-economic face of the state. “We will go to the people with our development agenda”, he said while urging the NRIS to be wary of the anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh propaganda being spread by opposition parties.
Quoting facts and figures from his 52 minutes power point presentation, the Deputy CM elaborated the distinction between reality and propaganda spread by anti-Punjab forces regarding fiscal and governance position of the state. Clearing the picture and putting things in right perspective, Mr Badal gave befitting reply to forces indulging in malicious misinformation against Punjab. He urged Punjabis worldwide to counter the forces indulging in defaming and denigrating the image of state by dubbing the Punjab as bankrupt and Punjabis as drug addicts.Interacting with NRIs, Mr. Badal laid bare true facts concerning Punjab on various fronts. He said that gross state domestic product during previous congress regime was 5,04,937 crore while during 2007-12, it rose to Rs. 1,09,874 crore and from 2012 till today it stands at Rs. 13,51,348 crore. Regarding Revenue in VAT collection, from 2002-07, state coffers gained Rs. 19960 crore while during 2007-12, it rose to Rs. 44209 crore and during 2012 till now, figure stands at Rs. 62706 crore.Making picture clearer regarding revenue receipts, Deputy CM said that 5 year rule of previous congress government yielded only Rs. 36,000 crore whereas during 2007-12, this figure was Rs. 68,757 crore which rose to Rs. 99,741 crore during 2012 untill now.
Regarding power sector, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal said Punjab has become power surplus state due to persistent efforts of present regime. In 2011, power board stood at lowly 17th rank whereas in 2015 it was conferred ‘best power utility’ award. He said state had spent Rs 30,000 crore to achieve power surplus status by adding 6,100 MW in power generation.Divulging about creation of infrastructure, Deputy Chief Minister said SAD-BJP has devoted full attention to provide better road network as a consequence of which Shambhu-Jalandhar, Jalandhar-Pathankot, Dhilwan-Amritsar, Amritsar-Pathankot, Kurali-Ropar-Kiratpur Sahib and Ambala-Zirakpur-Kalka roads have been 4 laned.He also said that Punjab has been rated numero uno (Number One) in respect of governance index which is primarily because of stupendous success of state’s administrative reforms drive. He added that in terms of overall development index, Punjab has been ranked second behind Goa. Disclosing more, he said a total of 2174 sewa kendars would be made operational soon, offering 226 services, which would remove ordeal of people making rounds of government offices.
Describing other pro-people measures undertaken by state government, S. Badal said that opening of 7 meritorious schools has brought Punjab to 3rd rank from 11th in 2006. Listing other people friendly steps, he said that advertising of more than 1 lakh jobs, shagun scheme, atta-dal scheme, establishing Punjab Institute of Sports, 3 medical universities, Rs. 9,758 crore to develop smart cities and urban development, Tata memorial cancer research institute in New Chandigarh are indicative of seriousness of state government’s dedicated approach towards people’s welfare.Cautioning opposition parties to stop dubbing entire Punjabi youth as drug addicts, he said these negative tactics won’t lead such parties anywhere. He thundered that Shiromani Akali Dal being true well wisher of Punjabis, won’t allow state’s peace to be disturbed by rants of such anti-Punjab unscrupulous elements.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Charnjit Singh Atwal, cabinet ministers Jathedar Tota Singh, Bikram Singh Majithia, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Sohan Singh Thandal and Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, chief parliamentary secretaries NK Sharma, Virsa Singh Valtoha and Harmit Singh Sandhu, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Pargat Singh, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan and all MLAs and party leaders from various countries.