Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that seeking complete ban on poppy husk farming, the Punjab government will soon file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Supreme Court so that the poppy husk supply line can be completely eliminated.Taking an important decision Mr Badal announced that the pensioners will not have to go to government offices to get the benefits of pension as taking a historical decision, the government has conferred all the elected representatives to allow pension of the eligible beneficiaries. He said that in villages panches and sarpanches and in cities municipal councilors will give final shape to the scheme and now no beneficiary will have to run from pillar to post for pension.The Deputy CM Mr Badal also said that the Punjab government will soon start giving pension of Rs 1000 per month to the Sangharshi Yodhas and those who served jail term during emergency. He said that under this scheme, the action plan to give pensions has been completed and very soon the same will be launched.
After addressing a huge gathering of party workers from Bathinda-Mansa areas, while talking to media persons he said that the Rajasthan government's step of shutting down poppy husk vends was a welcome step and the need of hour was to implement a uniform policy throughout the country in this context. He said that very soon Punjab government will move to Supreme Court against poppy husk Cultivation and seek uniform policy throughout the country.Answering a media query on survey that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has conducted, Mr Badal said keeping in view the unprecedented response SAD-BJP government has evoked from masses, the AAP is trying to befool people. He said that many kinds of fake surveys will come to fore before elections but it’s the SAD-BJP government that will come to power again. He said that the hat-trick of SAD-BJP government, keeping in view its last 9 years of development, was inevitable.
On being asked about the new policy of Congress president Captain Amarinder SIngh about Coffee With Captain and other such poll strategies, Mr Badal said only Congress, which has twice been rejcted by masses in Punjab, needs such strategies. He said that losing itself into oblivion, the Congress party today needs such strategies as it would be swept off in storm of developmental works of SAD-BJP coalition,When being asked about handing over the baton of organizing elections to youth representatives in forthcoming assembly elections, Mr Badal said that a number of youngsters will be fielded this time. He said that Chief Minister Mr Prakash Singh Badal will be the CM candidate for forthcoming SAD-BJP government.Earlier while addressing elected representatives and party office bearers from Bathinda-Mansa and other areas, Mr Badal called upon them to gear up for forthcoming conference at Baisakhi mela in Talwandi Sabo. He said that the conference will see historical gathering. He called upon the party workers to prepare for the conference with complete dedication.The Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr Sikandar Singh Maluka, PWD Minister Mr Janmeja SIngh Sekhon, CPS Mr Sarup Chand Singla, Mr Mantar SIngh Brar, MLAs including Mr. Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Mr. Deep Malhotra, former MP Mrs Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Mr Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar, Darbara SIngh Guru, Mr. Kanwarjeet Singh Rozy Barkandi, S. Dayal Singh Koleanwali, S. Tejinder Singh Middu Khera, S. Avtar Singh Vananwala and others were also present.