AMRITSAR: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today assured the people of Punjab that Punjab Government would not allow militancy to raise its ugly head again in the state.
Mr. Badal, who was here along with his wife and Bathinda Member Parliament Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal to pay obeisance at Golden Temple, was responding to a media query regarding letters purportedly written by militants being received by certain section of people and said that Punjab Government was keeping an eye on all such elements and during last five years the Punjab Police had busted three major militant modules and prevented major militant strikes. He said that it was unfortunate that Union Government was not performing its duty in raising the modernisation grant of Punjab Police, with Punjab being a border state. Mr. Badal said that it was our fundamental duty to protect the lives of the citizens and would not allow anyone to fiddle with hard earned peace of the state.
Reviewing the progress of Golden Temple Plaza, Mr. Badal said that he has conducted the review of this project to ensure that it could be dedicated to the world community on schedule. He said that Golden Temple would witness the completion of its prestigious project of Underground Plaza by the end of this year as the work was on full swing and it would be on the advanced stage of completion within few months. He said that this unique project would prove a boon for thousands of daily tourists from across the world as there would be audio-video information system to know the history and rich Sikh heritage besides a world class auditorium.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that Punjab is going to start Rs. 30000 scholarship for the meritorious students of poor families with a view to get their studies continued. He said that after passing their matriculation exams the students scoring above 80 percent marks would get the scholarship for two years. He also said that Punjab would also provide an insurance cover to all natives of Punjab worth Rs. 1 lakh each.
When asked about mechanism to check and monitor of development in villages, Mr. Badal said that Punjab is the first state, which is going to computerise its all more than 13000 Panchayats under E-Panchayat project. He said that under this more than 80% works have been completed and now the state government has decided to conduct six monthly external audits by engaging top private audit companies.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Mr. Rajat Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner and Mr. Ram Singh, Police Commissioner were also present.