Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today made it clear that Shiromani Akali Dal would field its candidates for ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections in Delhi and they would fight these elections in alliance with BJP.Answering the questions of media persons after oath administering function here today, Mr. Badal said that after its sterling performance in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Elections, the SAD has consolidated its vote bank outside Punjab and was ready to expand its area of activity beyond Punjab. He said that Akali Dal may also field its candidates for Lok Sabha polls from Haryana and Delhi but no final decision has been taken at Party level regarding Lok Sabha elections. He said that going by the eroding credibility of Congress led UPA Government there was possibility of general elections before December.
When asked about Manpreet Badal’s pronouncement regarding joining hands with Congress, Mr. Badal said that it was forgone conclusion regarding his collusion with them the moment he resigned from SAD. He described his announcement as inconsequential as ‘zero plus zero’ would always remain zero.
When asked about cuts being imposed on industrial sector, Mr. Badal said that he has issued clear directions that there should not be any cuts on domestic sector. He said that industry would have to be cuts for few days as central grid was not allowing Punjab to purchase power more than 5300 MW, keeping in view last year’s grid failure and promised that after December every sector in Punjab would have 24X7 power with generation capacity of Punjab touching 13000 MW against present capacity of 6200 MW. The Deputy CM when apprised about frequent disruption of traffic due to dharnas, he said that he has already issued directions to all Deputy Commissioners to identify separate dharna sites at each district headquarter so that people could exercise their democratic right without causing harassment to general public.
On the question of FDI, Mr. Badal said that FDI should be allowed keeping in view the requirement of each sector and there should not be blanket permission for opening the floodgates of FDI. He described Food Security Bill as copycat phenomena as Punjab Government has already implemented this scheme since last six years. Mr. Badal said it is for the first time that all company heads of 11 TATA companies came to our state to explore the possibilities of expansion. He said that he expected massive investment from TATA companies as they were impressed by the vision of Punjab CM Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Industrial Policy of the state, reform measures and development initiatives of the state government. Mr. Badal said that within one month you would see a massive change in the investment scenario of the state.Badal said that TATA group was finalising the massive initiative in the skill development area under which 2 lakh youth would be imparted vocational training.
On the question of illegal colonies, Mr. Badal clarified that in future no illegal colony would be allowed and our pro people policy was envisaged to help the people to get their old illegal colonies regularised. He clarified that Punjab Government would not give any extension for regularisation of illegal colony and this was the last chance for the people to get their irregularity compounded after nominal fee. He said that to address certain apprehensions of people he has constituted four members committee, where everybody can put forward their views but there would be no extension in the date of application for regularisation of illegal colonies.On a query regarding report in IAS Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu assault case, Mr. Badal said that SIT has not yet submitted its report. In the case of Education Minister Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Mr. Badal said that a commission under Justice Jindal was already looking into it and he was not aware about any report prepared by HRD Minister.