Ludhiana: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today slammed the Congress led UPA government at the centre for deliberately denying the OBC status to the Jatt Sikhs of the state.
Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the death anniversary of mother and father of his Advisor Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal here today, the Chief Minister said that the Union government has recently included the Jatts of the northern region in the OBC list whereas the Jatt Sikhs of Punjab have been denied this status, which reflected the step motherly treatment meted out to state by the Congress governments at the centre. He said that this was another instance of the discrimination with the state, which had been denied its capital, legitimate share in river waters and even Punjabi speaking areas in the past. Mr. Badal said that it was on record that the Union government has always ignored the matters pertaining to Punjab in general and Sikhs in particular.
Terms it as a gross discrimination with the State
Discriminatory policies of congress threat to security and unity of country
Pays tribute to Avtar Singh Grewal and Sukhdev Kaur Grewal
Training his guns against the Congress party, the Chief Minister said that it was pursuing the politics of divide and rule, which was not in the interest of the nation. He said that the discriminatory policies of the Union government were not in the interest of the country as it gives fatal blow to communal harmony and peace. Appealing the Punjabis to uphold the ethos of peace and brotherhood in the state, Mr. Badal said that some forces inimical to the prosperity of Punjab were trying to disrupt hard earned peace in the state. “People ofPunjab have grave responsibility of safeguarding the peace and communal harmony to ensure the progress of the state” he added.
On a query regarding the ongoing fast by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, the Chief Minister said that though the state government has hardly any role to play in this matter but then also they were seriously contemplating to solve this issue. He said that they have already taken up this matter with the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh to solve the matter. Earlier paying floral tributes to late Mr. Avtar Singh Grewal and Bibi Sukhdev Kaur Grewal, the Chief Minister, while describing them as a light house, said that they had selflessly served the Panth and society during their lifetime. He said that there was hardly any family which gives preference to serve the people. Mr. Badal also lauded the services rendered to Shiromani Akali Dal and state by Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and entire Grewal family.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon, MLAs Mr. Manpreet Singh Aiyaali and Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon, SGPC President Mr. Avtar Singh, Chairman of District Planning Committee Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria, Chairman of Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board Jathedar Santa Singh Umedpuri and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.