Reiterating the demand for special economic package for the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state deserves this package the most in the country.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan programme in Lambi assembly segment, the Chief Minister said that the state has contributed enormously in national freedom struggle, making the country self reliant in food production, safeguarding the borders of country from external invasion and preserving its unity and integrity. However, he said that the state suffered a lot for national cause first during partition and then during the black days of militancy. Mr. Badal bemoaned that successive Congress governments at the centre didn't recognised the vast contribution of the state.
The Chief Minister said that instead of rewarding the state for its glorious contribution the Congress governments gave fatal blow to its economy by giving incentives to the neighbourly states that resulted in mass exodus of industry from the state. However, he said that it was the high time that Union government must take a call on this issue for giving a fillip to overall development of the state. "We are not seeking any concession from the Union government but special economic package is our right ", added Mr Badal.
The Chief Minister said that he had flagged up this issue with the union government a number of times and now again he would vehemently plead for it. Mr Badal said that he would personally take up this matter with the Government of India (GoI) so that Punjab could get a special package. He said that the state government would leave no stone unturned for getting the package for the state on lines of one given to Bihar.
Asked to comment on prospects of Captain Amarinder Singh being handed over the reign of Congress in the state, the Chief Minister said that it hardly makes any difference to them. He said that Captain might be the 'most popular' leader of the Congress for his sycophants but the alliance has drubbed the Congress twice in 2007 and 2012 under his leadership. Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP alliance enjoys support of people due to its pro - people and development oriented policies, so they hardly bother about who was made state President by Congress.
Commenting on verbal war between two former Chief Ministers of Congress Captain Amarinder Singh and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal regarding tacit support from SAD for their electoral victories, the Chief Minister totally refuted these statements. He said that SAD neither gives nor takes support from opposition leaders and just strengthen its base by ensuring the win of its own candidate. "The statement from both the senior leaders of Congress are baseless, irrelevant and highly misleading", he added.
Mourning the tragic incident at Sri Manikaran sahib, the Chief Minister said that he had already asked the state Chief Secretary to regularly monitor the situation and liaise with the Himachal government for speedy rescue of the stranded pilgrims. He said that the state government has already dispatched a high level rescue team and no stone was being left unturned to help the distressed pilgrims in this hour of crisis.
Earlier addressing the gathering in village Beedowal, Dhaula, Tharaajwala, Lal Bai, Kheowali and Killianwali, the Chief Minister asked the officers to personally visit the villages for acquainting them about the problems of the people. He said that this was the need of the hour to give further fillip to the overall development of the state and for early resolution of the problems faced by the people.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Akali leaders Mr. Paramjeet Singh Lalli, Circle President SAD Mr. Avtar Singh Vanwala, Chairman Mr. Tejinder Singh Middukhera, Chairman Mr. Kulwinder Singh Bhai Ka Kera, Mr. Bikkar Singh Channu, Mr. Jaswinder Dhaula, Mr. Akashdeep Singh Middukhera, Mr. Gurbakshish Singh Middukera, Mr. Harmesh Khudia, Mr. Manjit Lal Bai, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Jaskiran Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. KS Chahal.