Punjab Revenue & Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia today said that the PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa has not risen from the level of a district president and by demanding an industrial package for border area only he has fully exhibited his limited vision that does not be behove a state president of any party. He further said that on the other hand former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh’s belated demand for a special industrial package for the state has fully endorsed the concerted efforts being made by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal for an industrial package at every available front.
In a statement issued here today, Mr. Majithia pointed out right from the time of partition; Punjab always remained a sufferer of Centre’s apathy. It had to bear the brunt of two wars in 1965 and 1971 with Pakistan and then struggled for one and half decade of militancy before the commencement of an era of lucrative incentives to attract industry in neighbouring states by Union governments. Ridiculing the theatrical demands of Mr. Bajwa, he said that time has come that Punjab Congress leaders should rise above the petty political considerations of regionalism to safeguard the interests of State. He said that Captain should also not limit himself to mere issuing press statements rather persuade its party high command to ensure the rightful due of Punjab. He also demanded that the Eastern Freight Corridor should be extended to Attari border keeping in view the future expansion of trade ties between Indo-Pak.
He lamented that despite major contribution right from the freedom struggle, during wars with Pakistan and then making the country self reliant in food security front, Punjab was never given its due as most of the times Congress remained in power at Centre. He said that even at the time of waiving the debt of farmers, policies were tailor made to exclude Punjabi farmers. He said the tragedy of Punjab Congress leaders was that they always opted for negative attitude and even gone to the extent to stall Punjab’s rightful share in central grants besides projecting precarious economic situation that too by its own imaginary figures.
Mr. Majithia said that the series of defeats bamboozled the Congress leaders and now they were desperately trying to improve their position in coming Parliamentary elections but the people of state have already rejected their negative line of politics and total decimation of Congress in these elections seems inevitable. Mr. Majithia said that when the SAD-BJP government took over the reins in the state, it had to start from scratch. He said it was a matter of great satisfaction that despite numerous hurdles, we were able to create one of the best infrastructure in the country in our state with provision of 4/6 lane road connectivity to all major towns and cities, two international air ports and third in pipeline, five domestic air ports, three thermal plants having a joint capacity of 3920 MW were almost completed and set to make the Punjab first power surplus state of the country.
Besides this, the State has also recently announced its new industrial policy that was prepared after through deliberations with all the stake holders, he added. The Minister informed that our new incentive-based Industrial Policy-2013 comprises of a liberal package of fiscal incentives for manufacturing sector, integrated textile units, agro and food processing sector, electronics hardware and information technology as these were the strengths and potential areas in the state.