Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today described the announcement of Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu to undertake fast unto death as ‘unfortunate and unwarranted’.Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the foundation laying function of Common Facility Center for the Sanitary and Bath Fittings Manufacturers here at Industrial Phase 8, the Chief Minister said that Mr. Sidhu should not have taken this step on these issues which could have been amicably resolved across the table. Mr. Badal said that he always held the Lok Sabha MP in high esteem as he was a respectable leader of BJP adding the Chief Minister said that it was intrinsically in his nature that he always treated not only the leaders and even the workers of his party but even of opposition with full regard and respect. He reiterated his firm commitment to develop the Holy City of Amritsar as one of the most modern cities across the world being the ethnic and religious tourist destination.
Replying to a query regarding the issues raised by the Lok Sabha MP regarding the persion of Amritsar Improvement Trust funds to other local government Municipalities, the Chief Minister said that he had written a letter to the Local Government Minister to furnish entire details in question with the copy of the letter endorsed to the Lok Sabha MP for his information. Mr. Badal further mentioned that the practice of perting funds was in vogue since 1981 as an internal arrangement of the Local Government department to give funds to those civic bodies which were facing financial crunch through following a proper procedure of adopting a resolution by the concerned Municipality and finally it got to be cleared by the Local Government Minister. Therefore he said that there was hardly anything wrong or illegal in it.
Earlier addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the Common Facility Center coming up at a cost of Rs 14 crore under the Mohali Hi-Tech Metal Cluster as a Special Purpose Vehicle would further propel the practices of quality manufacturing of elegant bath and sanitary fittings which would further give enormous opportunities to the cluster members to expand their business in a big way. He said that it would give a big boost to total sales which was likely to increase from the existing Rs 200 to 400 crore and likewise exports would get a fillip from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore as apprised by the cluster members.
The Chief Minister said that our government was committed to boost the industrialization in the state with the recently announced Industrial Incentives to the entrepreneurs. He said that it was a matter of pride that Punjab has figured amongst the top three investment destinations in the country as per the report of the Reserve Bank of India. Batting for a true federal structure in the country Mr. Badal said the current approach of Centre by depriving the states from their legitimate demands were a pointer towards the Unitary form of government, which were encroaching upon the rights of the state in one way or the other.
Corroborating his claim, the Chief Minister said the classic example of discrimination with Punjab was the industrial incentives given to our neighboring hilly states which have resulted in the mass exodus of local industry from here thereby giving a fatal blow to our economy. Had the Congress led UPA government been sincere to the core in its approach, it would have atleast extended a similar package for the border state of Punjab. Mr. Badal pointed out that it was the need of the hour to promote industry in a big way because our agrarian economy had already reached a state of plateau adding the Chief Minister said that he had little hope from centre to provide our industry a level playing field but at the same time whatever little bit resources we have with us the state government was committed to revive the glory of industry in Punjab and it was reflective from the recently announced Industrial Policy of the state.On the occasion the Chief Minister also announced a grant-in-aid of Rs one crore for the upcoming centre. The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and his Additional Principal Secretary Mr. Sandeep Hans.