The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal today castigated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in strongest terms and said that this anti-people and anti-Punjab party is hand in glove with the extremist elements and its MLA Jarnail Singh, Co-Convenor of Punjab unit, even tacitly backed the demands of separatist forces on the foreign soil. Not only this, but AAP is also hobnobbing with the radicals since the time of sarbat khalsa last year and has even arrived at an understanding with them to wrest control of SGPC and meddle in the religious affairs of Sikhs.He also said that if any AAP leader or their supporter submits in writing to the state government for alleged bribery in ticket distribution then the state government could probe such allegations after investigating its veracity. S. Badal took a dig at AAP and said that all the rowdy elements out to make money have been given prominence in the party which resembles like a bunch of rag-tag leaders.
Addressing an impressive gathering of the trading community of the city, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has fulfilled all its commitments including surplus power, excellent road network, air connectivity and relief to the industry. He also said that after independence, it is only the SAD-BJP government which has made Punjab power surplus.Announcing measures for the development of Ludhiana, he announced to exempt the industrial connections from condition of NOC and further said that in a span of one and a half years a 6 laned Ludhiana-Chandigarh expressway, whose foundation stone would be laid by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari next month, and Ropar-Jalandhar-Phagwara expressway would be a reality soon accruing a total cost of Rs. 2500 crore. Furthermore, an elevated road would be constructed from Ferozepur road for linking with Chandigarh road at a cost of Rs. 1100 crore. He also said that in next 5 years, more than Rs. 3000 crore would be spent on giving facelift and beautification along with sprucing up of infrastructure in Ludhiana. He also divulged that a cycle valley is being established in an area of 400 acres near Dhanansu village which would manufacture high end electric cycles and the applications are being invited from industrial houses to set up their units.
Divulging more, S. Badal said that National building code and Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for hosiery units would be rectified. He also disclosed that notification to regularize unauthorized colonies would be issued soon as the cabinet has already approved it. He also said that the Budha Nala renovation project is ready it would cost Rs. 600 crore to the state exchequer. Regarding rationalization of tax on yarn, S. Badal said that a meeting would be called soon with all stakeholders.Dwelling more on the developmental agenda, he said that an access controlled expressway project from Delhi to Amritsar would soon be underway as the state government has acquired the land for the purpose and the project would cost Rs. 30000 crore. He also declared that an expressway from Jalandhar-Moga-Bathinda-Ajmer would also fructify soon as the state government would chalk out a roadmap for it. This would help traders of Punjab in establishing links with port of Gujarat.He also laid the foundation stone of water supply project worth Rs. 93 crore in ward no. 12 near Jamalpur on Chandigarh road.
Earlier, Speaking on 60th Founders Day of Hero Cycles, the Deputy Chief Minister praised the contribution of Mr Om Parkash Munjal's family in bringing Ludhiana on the world map. While speaking on the occasion, Mr Pankaj Munjal, MD, Hero Motors Ltd, informed about the group's global expansion plans and lauded the efforts of the Deputy CM to rope in big companies during their China visit to invest in Punjab.During his interaction with industrialists of MSME sector of Ludhiana, the Deputy CM assured them that Punjab is providing the best facilities in terms of industry. During his interactive session with the industrialists, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the Punjab government is providing cheapest and uninterrupted electricity to the industrialists as compared to other states of the country.Mr Badal announced on the occasion that the foundation stone of an Exhibition Centre would be laid by November 1, 2016 in the city and stated that it would be completed soon. He also stated that the Airport at Sahnewal is being upgraded with a cost of Rs 200 crore, in which additional land would be acquired.
During his interaction with the representatives of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Deputy CM launched SeVA (Self Validated Approval) portal, which would prove very beneficial for the industrialists in regard to industrial facilities. The CII also thanked the Deputy CM for taking various pro-industry initiatives that have helped them in a long way.Among those present on the occasion included Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister- Maheshinder Singh Grewal, MLA's Sarup Chand Singla, N.K. Sharma and Darshan Singh Shivalik, Media Advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister Jangveer Singh, Financial Commissioner Taxation D.P. Reddy, Excise & Taxation Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal, Special Principal Secretaries to the Deputy Chief Minister- Rahul Tewari and Ajay Mahajan, Chairman Punjab Traders Board Narottam Dev Ratti , Zonal President SAD Traders wing Madan Lal Bagga, Mayor Ludhiana Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, former minister Hira Singh Gabria, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat, Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh, besides several others.