“Come what may, we would not allow even a single drop of precious river water of Punjab to go outside the state as the state government is committed to protecting the interests of Punjab because of water being the lifeline of the state” thundered the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal here today at civil hospital on the occasion of opening of free medicine and lab testing center.Addressing a huge gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister said that today is a significant day in the history of healthcare in the state as around 2000 free medicine and lab testing centers have been operationalized throughout the state which would prove to be a milestone in the health sector.In another major announcement, S. Badal approved the 4 laning of road from Mohali to Fatehgarh Sahib besides announcing the introduction of cervical cancer preventing injection soon in the schools so as to nip the disease in the bud at the very outset.The Deputy Chief Minister further said that only SAD-BJP government took special care to cater to the interests of all the sections of the society in complete contrast to the congress which bartered away the interests of the state by bowing down to the diktats of the Gandhi family high command. Elaborating more, S. Badal said that it is a well known fact that PPCC President Captain Amarinder Singh welcomed the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982 when she came to lay the foundation of SYL canal at kapoori. He also said that now Captain Amarinder Singh is indulging in ‘Dramebaazi’ with an eye on next year’s assembly polls.
Branding AAP as a party of no do-gooders, the Deputy Chief Minister said that all worthless and ignored elements are jumping on to the bandwagon of this party which doesn’t bats an eyelid before hurting the religious sentiments of others. He also said that how can AAP be considered trustworthy when its convenor Arvind Kejriwal spoke in favour of protecting the interests of Punjabi farmers on SYL issue while in Punjab but the moment he got back to his citadel in Delhi he started singing peans in favour of constructing SYL.Coming to the developmental plank, S. Badal said that whatever the state government did during previous 9 years is unmatched and remarkable as no other party can anywhere closer to the SAD in caring for the people of Punjab. He also said that the initiative of 108 ambulances, Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna and the providing of Rs. 1.50 lakh for cancer treatment are a clear cut symbol of giant strides of the state in healthcare sector. He further detailed that the beautification of holy city Sri Amritsar Sahib, Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra, Shagan and Atta-Dal and other welfare schemes make the present government stand out with flying colours in terms of overall progress and changing the face of the state. He also said that in the course of next 5 years, all 12000 villages of the state would be equipped with the sewerage, concretized streets at a cost of Rs. 35000 crore.Meanwhile, laying the foundation stone of a Railway Over bridge (R.O.B.) in Mandi Gobindgarh, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it would come up at a cost of Rs. 30 crore over Ludhiana-Delhi railway line.
Crediting halqa incharge (Amloh) Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna for this stupendous effort he assured that the interests of trading community would not be harmed in the course of the construction of the R.O.B. He also disclosed that 100 cities have been equipped with the sewerage and clean drinking water amenities and the rest 60 cities would also get the facility soon.On the occasion, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna thanked the Deputy Chief Minister for bestowing this gift to the industrial town and expressed strong hope that this would act as a catalyst for ensuring the further prosperity of the place.Among others present on the occasion included Ex-MLA Didar Singh Bhatti, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Vinni Mahajan, Special Principal Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister-Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Chairman Punjab Health Systems Corporation Barjinder Singh Brar, M.D. Punjab Health Syatems Corporation Hussan Lal, Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar, President Municipal Council Mandi Gobindgarh Poonam Jindal and others.