Gurdaspur: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that media reports pertaining to statement of Union Minister Mr. Jai Ram Ramesh that state Congress leadership was opposing the grants issued by centre to state tooth and nail has exposed the anti-Punjab stance of the state Congress leaders.
Interacting with the media persons here on the sidelines of second day of his Sangat Darshan program in Qadian assembly segment, the Chief Minister said that the statement of Union Minister has vindicated the stand of SAD-BJP government that Congress leadership was a ‘stumbling block’ in the path of development of state. He said that this reflected the ‘narrow approach’ of the Punjab Congress leaders towards the larger issues concerned with the state. Taking a dig at state Congress leadership, Mr. Badal said that neither they have courage to seek any project from centre nor anybody cares to oblige them but if we get something for the state, they oppose it vehemently. Instead of resorting to such tactics the Congress leaders must join the state government for seeking more funds to ensure unprecedented development in Punjab, he added.
Terming the Union government as ‘Copy cat’, the Chief Minister said that though the Congress leaders were vying to get credit for the Food Security Act and the Land Acquisition Bill but it was on record that both these bills have been copied by the centre from Punjab. He said that while the Food Security Act has been copied from Atta-Dal scheme, Punjab government’s decision to not to acquire even an inch of land without the express consent of farmer has been replicated in the ‘Land Acquisition Bill’. Mr Badal said that this clearly indicates the Union government sans vision to ensure the welfare of people.
The Chief Minister said that the policy were framed by the UPA government while sitting in the Air Conditioned offices without ascertaining the ground realities due to which sheer mess has been created in the country. Lashing out at the Union government, the Chief Minister said that UPA government has miserably failed on all the fronts and it has no moral right to remain in power.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government was duty bound to serve the people of Punjab adding that all the villages of the state would be provided potable drinking water in next two years. Likewise he said that a major program has been embarked to provide basic civic amenities in all the town of the state in coming years. The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Minister Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.