Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that in order to pursue its vested political interests, the Congress led UPA government at the centre was deliberately stalling the developmental projects in the state. Interacting with the media persons after inaugurating the 55th Panjab University Zonal Youth and Heritage festival at Guru Gobind Singh College here today, the Chief Minister said that a number of important projects of huge public importance were hanging in fire despite of the completion of the entire work just because the Union government was not granting the permission to operationalise them. Citing an example he said that the total civil work of the Bathinda Air port has been completed but the Union Civil Aviation Ministry was not granting the permission for starting the flights from it. Mr. Badal said that he had personally taken up this matter with the top brass of the Union government but of no avail. The Chief Minister said that this has vindicated our stand that the Congress party has always adopted an anti-Punjab stance adding there was an unending list of such instances which depicted list Congress party’s step motherly treatment meted out with the state. He said that it was a record that Congress party was envious of the progress of the state due to which it has always made persistent efforts to derail its developmental process. “The Congress leadership must desist from stooping too low because the wise people of Punjab will never spare them for these sinister activities” added Mr. Badal. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance would sweep the upcoming polls for Delhi Assembly adding that fed up by the rampant corruption and inflation the wise voters of Delhi would show door to the Congress party. He said that SAD being a key ally of the NDA would extend fulsome support and cooperation to the BJP in routing the Congress party first from Delhi and then from the entire country. Mr. Badal said that they would leave no stone unturned in trouncing the Congress party out from Delhi in these polls.
Expressing deep concern over the massive destruction caused by the storm in some coastal states, the Chief Minister said that the state government would make every endeavor to help these states in this hour of crisis and grief. He said that they would soon co-ordinate with the respective governments of these states, which were facing nature’s fury, to offer every possible help to them. Mr. Badal said that the state government had already helped the flood ravaged state of Uttrakhand and now it would make every effort for baling out the people of these coastal states. “It is moral duty to extend helping hand to every possible relief to our countrymen facing such problems” he added.
Earlier addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister, while underscoring the need for more such festivals, said that they play a vanguard role in the overall development of the students besides providing them opportunity to exhibit their rare talent. He said that concerted efforts were being made by the state government to impart quality education to the students adding that six special schools for the meritorious students of state would start functioning from next session in which free boarding and lodging facilities would be provided to rural students securing 80% or more marks in matric. Likewise Mr. Badal said that Dr. Hargobind Khurana post matric scholarship scheme, which would provide Rs 30000 per annum, to the bright students securing 80% of more marks would also be started soon.Striking an emotional chord with the students, the Chief Minister recalled the dedication and hard work done by her wife late Mrs. Surinder Kaur Badal in setting up of this college, for imparting quality education to girl students of far flung areas. He said that this college was dream project of Mrs. Badal and it was a matter of great pride for him that the ‘sapling of education’ planted by his wife was today blooming as a full-fledged tree. Mr. Badal also assured fulsome support and cooperation to the college management committee.
Earlier in his welcome address the Principal of College Prof. NR Sharma also recalled the efforts of late Badal in setting up this college and dedicated this youth festival in her loving memory. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Chairman District Planning Committee Sri Muktsar Sahib Mr. Hardeep Singh Dimpi Dhillon, SGPC Members Jathedar Gurpal Singh Gora and Jathedar Navtej Singh Kauni, Chancellor Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo Dr. JS Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor Guru Kashi University Prof. NS Malhi, Director Guru Kashi University Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill and Dean Panjab University Dr. Naval Kishore.