Terming the residents of border areas of the state as true patriots, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government was duty-bound to safeguard the interests of these brave hearts at every cost.Addressing the gathering here in a function to disburse compensation worth Rs 2.61 crore to farmers having land across the border fence here today, the Chief Minister said that the state government has always taken care of border residents of the state adding that in a fresh effort through alliance government has decided to disburse compensation to farmers having land across the fence. He said that hundreds of farmers having land around 21000 acres across the fence have been benefited by this major initiative taken by the state government. Mr. Badal said that the state government was duty bound to forever extend a helping hand to the brave farmers of the border region, who face a lot of hardships due to fencing. "I assure you that no stone will be left unturned to help the valiant sons of this soil", he added.
The Chief Minister said that he was well aware of the peculiar situation of these farmers due to which he had always raised this matter with the Government of India. He said that the alliance government had in 1997-2002 regime initiated the scheme of giving relief worth Rs 2500 per acre to the farmers and now it has been enhanced to Rs 10,000 per acre. Mr. Badal described it as humble tribute from the state government in recognition to the sufferings faced by the farmers of this region.However, the Chief Minister said that the Congress governments both in the state and centre had never bothered about the interests of the farmers. He said that the Congress regime led by Captain Amarinder Singh had discontinued this compensation. However, Mr Badal said that now the farmers of border region would get this benefit every year.
Earlier, interacting with the media persons after laying foundation stone of Degree College and Sub Division Complex here today, the Chief Minister said that Delhi Chief Minister Mr. Arvind Kejriwal changes his stand on Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue as per his convenience just to mislead the people. Mr. Badal said that fresh statement of the Delhi Chief Minister on SYL was just aimed at deriving political benefit from this move whereas the Aam Aadmi Party supremo was against the state from core of his heart.The Chief Minister said that as Mr. Kejriwal hailed from Haryana so he was naturally inclined towards safeguarding the interests of his state. He said that Mr. Kejriwal has no affection with Punjab or its people and his sole intention was to vest political power in the state to benefit Haryana. Mr Badal said that in an affidavit submitted in Supreme Court on SYL issue, the AAP government in Delhi has said that the stand of Punjab government on this issue would disintegrate the country. Likewise, he said that Delhi government has also claimed that this step was unconstitutional and anti - national.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included former Cabinet Ministers Jathedar Sucha Singh Langah and Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. AK Mittal, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Pardeep Sabharwal and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Jasdeep Singh.