Envisioning the state as the ‘Industrial Hub’ of the country, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that with the stupendous efforts of SAD-BJP alliance government, the state would soon overcome the setbacks given by the successive Congress governments at the centre. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the state of the art unit of Sigma- Feudenberg-NOK (SFN) Oil seals here today, the Chief Minister said that the setbacks like partition of the country and prolonged militancy in the state had derailed the industrial development of Punjab. However, he said that the backbone of the state’s economy was broken by the incentives given by the Congress government at centre to the neighboring hilly states. Mr. Badal said that this disastrous move of the Union government headed by the Congress resulted in the mass exodus of the industry from the state.
The Chief Minister further said that ever since assuming power in year 2007 the SAD-BJP alliance government has accorded top priority to the industrial development of the state. He said that realizing well that Power was catalyst of industrial growth all out efforts were made for augmentation of existing power generation in the state as a result of which Punjab was today a power surplus state. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that industrial friendly policies of the state government coupled with peaceful environment had emerged Punjab as one of the most preferred investments destinations of the country, a fact that has been even vetted by the World Bank and Reserve Bank of India.
The Chief Minister said that in pursuance of its agenda to develop state as a industrial hub the SAD-BJP government has taken several path breaking initiatives including VAT retention for upcoming industrial units for 10 years. Likewise, he said that in a big relief to the traders and small entrepreneurs, the state government has recently exempted them from filing sales tax returns.
Badal said that as a result of all these policies big industrials tycoons like ITC, Cargill, SFN, Sonalika and others were coming up with big ticket industrial projectsCongratulating the owners of SFN for setting up their second unit in the state, the Chief Minister said that this joint venture of industrial giants of India, Japan and Germany would give much needed fillip to the industrial progress of the state. He said that besides give boost to industrial development this project would also give employment to the local youth. Mr. Badal also hailed the SFN for giving 50% jobs in their unit to women.Later on interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the function, the Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance would sweep the upcoming polls for the Delhi assembly. He categorically said that there was a strong undercurrent in the favor of the alliance in Delhi polls and the results of these elections would be contrary to the opinion polls by media in favor of Aam Aadmi Party. Mr. Badal said that like the opinion polls of 2012 Punjab assembly polls these surveys of the media would also prove wrong and the SAD-BJP alliance would get thumping majority in the ensuing Delhi elections. “People hold the key to success in any election and in Delhi people’s verdict is clearly in the favor of SAD-BJP alliance” he added.
Replying to a query regarding the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Chief Minister said that Punjab was not having even a single drop of excess water for any other state. Mr. Badal said that the issue of river water sharing must be resolved through globally accepted Riparian principle and no other formula was acceptable to the state. He bemoaned that the Congress government at centre have meted out step motherly treatment with the state by denying its legitimate share in river water sharing. “Grave injustice was done with Punjab by denying its share of river water in accordance to the Riparian Law” added Mr. Badal.On another query, the Chief Minister categorically said that International flights would continue from Guru Ramdass International Airport at Amritsar at very cost. He said that these flights had immensely benefitted the NRI brethren of the state by providing them a direct connectivity to their motherland. So, Mr. Badal said that there was no question of discontinuation of these flights from holy city. On the occasion Chairman of Sigma Mr. Jagdip Singh and President SFN Mr. Kabir Singh felicitated the Chief Minister.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Deputy Commissioner Mr. TPS Sidhu.