Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government would soon conduct a comprehensive survey to assess the extent of damage caused to the wheat and other crops due to heavy rains in the region last night.
Talking to the media persons here on the sidelines of centenary function to mark the birth anniversary of Sant Baba Ishar Singh ji here at Nanaksar Thaath, the Chief Minister said that he has already asked the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) to direct all the Deputy Commissioners to immediately carry out special Girdawari in the areas lashed by rains to ascertain damage caused to wheat crop on the priority. He said that adequate compensation as per government's norms would be given to the affected farmers after the survey was completed. Reiterating that the government was fully committed to protect the interests of farmers against natural calamities, Mr. Badal said that the state government was committed to extend all support to the farmers whose standing crops have been damaged due to the inclement weather following a spell of widespread rains across the state.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister directly held the Congress party responsible for the stalemate in the Punjab assembly. He categorically said that the Congress leaders had misused their position by helping an unauthorized person to enter in the assembly premises thereby breaching the security adding that instead of apologizing for their mistake the Congress leaders had created ruckus in the house thereby undermining the democratic norms and ethics of the house. Mr. Badal said that the Congress leaders should have upheld the honour and dignity of the august house rather than indulging in such derogatory acts.
Earlier addressing the massive gathering, the Chief Minister while paying floral tributes to Sant Baba Ishar Singh Ji lauded the services rendered by him in the social, religious and educational field. Mr. Badal said that the state government was following the footsteps of great Gurus, Saints and Seers to maintain communal harmony, peace and amity in the state at all costs for taking off Punjab in the orbit of high growth trajectory. He further said that that apart from ensuring all round development of the state the SAD-BJP government has laid special focus on development of the religious institutions and towns of historical importance.
Exhorting the spiritual leaders across the state to play a proactive role for promoting education and curbing the menace of drugs besides other social maladies in the state, the Chief Minister said that it was the need of the hour that the ‘Sant Samaj’ and the spiritual leaders should make all out efforts for preaching the tenets of Sikhism, which could play a pivotal role in curbing social evils that had plagued the society. He said that the state government would extend all support and co-operation to the spiritual leaders in this noble cause. Mr. Badal also impressed upon the people to follow footsteps of our great Gurus who preached us to serve the mankind with utmost dedication and devotion. Earlier Sant Baba Ghala Singh presented a Siropa (robe of honour) to the Chief Minister. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Senior Akali leader Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi and Advisor to the Chief Minister Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal.