The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that India was suffering at every international forum because of weak kneed policies of Congress led UPA Government with even Nepal and Bangladesh showing eyes to India.
Speaking to media persons after administering oath to 592 Sarpanches and 3297 Panches of the district here today, Mr. Badal said that realizing the fact that Prime Minister of India was not in control of situation, every neighbour was entering India with immunity and India was failing to safeguard its territorial borders. He said that every third day China enters India and now Pakistan is gloating after killing five soldiers after entering in Indian territory. Mr. Badal said that when India failed to give a strong message to Pakistan after barbaric attack on Mumbai on 26/11 and later after beheading of our soldiers, Mr. Badal said that by its repeated incursions Pakistan was exposing the hollowness of future super power India.
Decrying the removal of turban of Mr. Manjit Singh GK, Chief of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee at Rome Airport, Mr. Badal said that third incident at Italian Airport during last one year shows that Italy cares two hoots for protests of India as it has direct protection of Italian born UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. He said that he has already written to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Mr. Salman Khurshid requesting them to take a strong diplomatic action against Italy for harassing Sikhs on their airports. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal had been raising this issue in the Parliament but Prime Minister was more interested to protect his chair and was not acting against Italy, the native place of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. He said that it was unfortunate that with a Sikh Prime Minister and Sikh lady as Minister of State for External Affairs, the country has failed to protect Sikhs in various countries.
Mr. Badal blamed Congress led UPA Government for deliberately creating mining product crisis in Punjab to defame the government with an eye on polls. He said that it was ironical that Union Environment Ministry at the instance of Punjab Congress was delaying the environmental clearance to different mines to create artificial scarcity of the sand and gravel. He said that despite taking up the matter constantly, the Union Environment Ministry was unnecessarily delaying the clearance of mines. He said that within two months situation would be improved.
Charging Union Government of copying Atta-Daal Scheme in food security bill, Mr. Badal said that it should have also include Daal with foodgrain in the ambit of food security bill as nobody can survive only on wheat and rice. Earlier Congratulating the Sarpanches and Panches of Roopnagar District, Mr. Badal said that people of Punjab has brought back SAD-BJP Government impressed by its Development Mantra. He said that the fact is that Congress failed to read the pulse of people whereas five time Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, who has risen from masses from the post of Sarpanch, Block Samiti Member, Zila Parishad President, MLA, MP and Central Minister knew the felt needs of the people and came out with policies according to the requirement of poor people. He said that Congress believed in five star culture whereas it was Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, who came out with Shagun Scheme, Atta Daal Scheme, Old age pension scheme according to the felt needs of the people. He said that it was matter of great regret that Congress instead of supporting pro-people, pro-poor policies of SAD-BJP Government tried to scuttle these policies by petitioning Union Government to stop grants for different schemes. Mr. Badal said that it was laughable that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who decried Atta-Daal scheme a wasteful expenditure by Punjab Government was forced to eat the humble pie by copying Atta Daal scheme into Food Security Ordinance to save his chair.
Announcing expansion of Atta Daal scheme from 15 lakh families to 30 lakh families, launching of Scholarship scheme for meritorious students of Rs. 30000, employability allowance of Rs. 1000 to unemployed graduate youth, Rs. 30,000 cashless insurance to all 30 lakh Atta Daal families, Mr. Badal said that we have focused our energy in fulfilling our promises made to the people in elections. He also announced Rs. 1700 crore for repair of village link roads.Rubbishing the Congress propaganda of economic crisis in the state, Mr. Badal said that he has already finalised Rs. 40000 crore program to link all cities with 4/6 lane roads.
Announcing a bonanza for Ropar district, Mr. Badal said that Ropar-Doraha road was all set for completion and he has already approved Ropar byepass besides 4 laning of Ropar-Phagwara Road at the cost of Rs. 1400 crore. He said that funds have been already sanction for upgradation of sports stadium into international stadium and remaining villages would get gyms and sports kits soon.He also handed over a Rs. 8 crore to Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, MLA, Rs. 5.5 crore to Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal and Rs. 1.5 crore to Mrs. Satwant Kaur Sandhu for development programs of their constituencies. Mr. Mittal also announced sanction of Rs. 5 crore for Nangal hospital.
On this occasion Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal spoke about the development initiatives of SAD-BJP Government whereas Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra spoke about Rs. 24000 crore development plan for 13007 villages of Punjab.Earlier welcoming the Deputy Chief Minister Dr. D.S. Cheema said that Ropar always got a lion share of development during SAD-BJP rule whereas it always ignored in Congress rule. He thanked Deputy Chief Minister for giving Ropar a status of full pision. Earlier Mr. Badal administered oath of office to 529 Sarpanches and 3297 panches and gave a call to them to become active partner in the grass root development of the state. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Mr. Ujagar Singh Wadali, former MLA and other senior leaders of SAD-BJP.