Terming that Punjab was rightfully demanding economic package from the centre, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that it was not any concession but the NDA must do justice with the state by extending financial assistance to it.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the death anniversary of Sant Baba Prem Singh Muraale wale here today, the Chief Minister said that Punjab, which was a once a prosperous state in the country, had suffered a lot due to the discriminatory attitude of the successive congress governments at the centre. He said that Punjab fought the nation’s war against militancy but then also it had to bear the expenditure of the central security forces.
Likewise, Mr. Badal said that the state’s economy got a fatal blow when the neighboring states were granted incentives by the Congress government, which led to mass exodus of industry from the state.The Chief Minister said that all these factors led to economic constraint in the state due to which the development of the state suffered a lot. He categorically said that it was the right of the state to get financial assistance from the centre in recognition of its glorious history of serving the country. “We do not seek any concession from the NDA government but we hope that it will deliver justice to us by giving economic assistance to us” added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister said that despite of all odds the NDA government has done exemplary work in its short span of one year for ensuring the progress of country and prosperity of its people. He said that though overnight changes could not be expected from any government but then also the Union government had taken path breaking initiatives for restoring the pristine glory of the country. Mr. Badal said that under dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the NDA government has launched major pro-poor schemes which were aimed at ensuring the welfare of common man.The Chief Minister further said that in a short span of NDA’s rule, Punjab has been immensely benefitted from it.
He said that the Union government has given several key projects to the state, which would be instrumental in putting the state further on high growth trajectory.He hailed the NDA government for allocating prestigious projects like All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Post Graduate Horticulture Research and Educational Institute besides including holy city Amritsar in Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojna (HRIDAY).On another query, the Chief Minister said that farmers of the state had been immensely benefitted from NDA government as accepting the demand of the state government the Government of India (GoI) has now revised the relief norms to the distressed farmers for the crop damage besides enhancing the compensation for crop damage to the farmers due to natural disaster from Rs 5500 to Rs 8000 per acre. However, Mr. Badal said that it was not enough as the compensation of the crop loss must be rationalized and brought at par with the amount of loss. “Above all introduction of crop insurance scheme is the need of the hour to save farmers from the current agrarian crisis” he added.
Making a scathing attack on state Congress Chief Partap Singh Bajwa for launching Jan Sampark Yatra, the Chief Minister reiterated that the Congress President must rename this yatra as ‘Paschaatap Yatra’ for the sins committed by his party against the state. He said that Punjab and Punjabis had always been the victim of the stepmotherly treatment of the successive congress governments adding that Mr. Bajwa must remember that Punjab had suffered a lot due to the apathy of Congress party and the people of state would never forgive it.Later on the Chief Minister, while addressing a mammoth gathering, paid rich tributes to Baba Prem Singh Ji Muraalewale and recalled the marvelous services rendered by him in the religious, educational and social field. Mr. Badal said that the state government has taken unprecedented steps for perpetuating the rich legacy of the state by constructing several world class iconic memorials across the state. He also listed the path breaking initiatives taken by the state government for providing basic civic amenities in urban and rural areas of the state.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government has taken a number of initiatives for development of Education in the state. He said that meritorious schools started by state government were proving a boon for poor but bright students by offering them quality education free of cost. Likewise, he said that the state government was giving a push to skill training by opening skill centers across the state in a big way.The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLAs Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr. Baljeet Singh Jalaal Usma, Union Minister Mr. Vijay Sampla, former MLA and Chairman of District Planning Committee Mr. Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav.