Chides UPA Government For Pursuing Policy Of ‘pide And Rule’The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the people to come forward for the installation of the BJP led NDA government at centre to bring an end to the sectarian politics unleashed by Congress led UPA government to pursue its sole agenda of ‘pide and Rule’. Addressing a mammoth gathering on the state level function to launch the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme here today, the Chief Minister said that the UPA government has miserably failed in delivering goods to the countrymen during its decade long tenure dominated by corruption and maladministration. He said that it was writing on the wall that UPA government would be decimated in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls due to its misdeeds and the only light at the end of tunnel was seen as an alternative to this inefficient and corrupt government was the pro-poor NDA government. Badal categorically said that the Congress has ruled the country over nearly six decades due to its pisive policies thereby piding the people on the lines of caste, religion, creed, communities, language and even region.
Exhorting the people to rout the Congress, the Chief Minister said that it was mandatory for any state to prosper provided the centre was in its favor and this could only happen in Punjab’s case, if the wise people bring the NDA government in power at centre. Without mincing any words, he said, “Complete harmony between the states and centre is a key for getting big industrial projects sanctioned for Punjab, which is only feasible if NDA is voted to power at centre”.
Badal said the UPA government has always meted out a step motherly treatment to Punjab by depriving our hard working farmers of their rightful demand in terms of remunerative MSP and cheap agriculture inputs like diesel, seeds and pesticides adding he said “We are consulted neither for fixation of MSP nor for determining the rates of agriculture inputs rather these anti-farmer decisions are thrusted upon us, which is sheer insult to our resilient peasantry.
The Chief Minister said that if the people failed to bring NDA government then their future would be ruined and they would have to repent for another five years. The anti Punjabi stance of the state Congress leadership was evident from the fact they were stalling the developmental projects in one way or the other for the reasons best known to them. Mr. Badal appreciated the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Mr. Sunil Jakhar and former Union Minister Mr. Ashwani Kumar who were enormously interested in the development of the state unlike their colleagues like state Congress President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa and former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh who believed in the politics of vendetta and confrontation and were vary of growth and prosperity in the state. He said that they should understand one thing that it was not the question of taking credit for the development of state rather it was our sacred duty to serve the people with dedication as true representatives of the people.
Squarely blaming the Centre for the tardy progress of paddy procurement in the state, the Chief Minister said that the poor farmers were being harassed due to Government of India’s stringent parameters of moisture and discoloration. He said that the unseasonal rains and hailstorms resulted in the blackening of grains which was posing a major problem for the procurement by the government agencies. Badal said that this agony was being faced by farmers due to natural calamity which was beyond anyone’s control and centre government must come to the rescue of our beleaguered farmers by ensuring prompt and hassle free procurement. He said that with the state government’s concerted efforts, the Union Agriculture Ministry has now finally send a central team to assess the crop damage and recommend relaxations.
Highly appreciating the initiatives of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to woo top industrial houses for making huge investments in the state, the Chief Minister said that Punjab would soon herald a revolution of industrialization as our agriculture has already reached a plateau. He said that our efforts to bring industry in the state would be further supplemented if the NDA was voted to power at centre.
Realizing the paramount significance Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme, the Chief Minister said that this flagship scheme of alliance government would be instrumental in motivating the girl students of class 11th and 12th to get school education in hassle free manner especially in the far flung difficult areas besides arresting the trend of school drop outs amongst the girsl students. Mr. Badal mention that under this scheme 1.52 lakh cycles would be given to the girl students at a cost of Rs 40 crore. In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister, while training his guns against the Congress leaders, said that the biggest difference between the Congress and Akali leadership was that while the Congress leaders were hardly concerned about the problems faced by the people whereas the Akali-BJP leaders were committed for the welfare of the poor people to the core from their hearts. He said that ever since assuming the power in year 2007, the SAD-BJP government has been relentlessly working for the well being of the people by taking path breaking initiatives. Listing the achievements of the state government, the Deputy Chief Minister said that due to the stupendous efforts of the state government, Punjab would soon become a power surplus state by the end of this year.
Underscoring the need for imparting quality to the students of the weaker and deprived sections, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government was establishing six special schools at the cost of Rs 150 crore for the meritorious students from rural areas securing 80% of more marks. He said that these students would be provided free boarding and lodging facility by the state government. Likewise Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the bright students securing 80% of more marks would also be given Rs 2500 per month under post matric scholarship scheme, to be initiated shortly.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that under the Ashirwad scheme the state government has also paid fee of around 2.50 lakh students from poor and weaker sections studying in professional colleges. Likewise he said that a Health insurance scheme for the people was also on cards under which they would be entitled for get free treatment upto Rs 1.50 lakh. In his address, the Information and Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia said that by implementing the pro-poor policies the SAD-BJP government has earned a status of welfare state for Punjab. He said that baffled over the progress of the state, the Congress leaders were issuing irrational statements to oppose the pro-poor initiatives of the state government. Terming Punjab as the most peaceful state in the country, Majithia said that even the Prime Minister has admitted that communal harmony, peace and brotherhood prevail in the country for which the credit goes to SAD-BJP alliance government. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Speaker Dr. Charnjeet Singh Atwal, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Surjit Kumar Jyaani and Mr. Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon, Advisor Chief Minister Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, MLAs Mr. Manpreet Singh Iyaali and Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Chairman Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board Mr. Santa Singh Umedpuri and Chairman District Planning Committee Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria.