Amritsar: The Shiromani Akali Dal today called for the setting up of a genuinely federal structure in the country with greater autonomy to the states. “Strong states mean a strong country. Only through a genuinely federal political, constitutional and fiscal set up can India emerge as a strong global power, capable of playing its destined constructive role in the comity of nations. This alone is the recipe for economic growth, development and prosperity in the country,” said a Resolution passed by the SAD at its delegates’ session at Teja Singh Samundari Hall here today. Meanwhile, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal was unanimously elected as the President of Shiromani Akali Dal consecutively for second term at the delegate session.
“The party is firmly of the view that the federal principles as laid down in the constitution by the Founding Fathers have been consistently and systematically eroded by successive Congress governments at the center and this has led to serious imbalances in growth and economy in the country. The center has usurped and concentrated all powers in its hands, reducing states to the position of beggars. But the state governments are in the best position to understand and address the problems of the people. Therefore, the polity of the country must be decentralized and federalized,” said the resolution.
The meeting also demanded the undoing of injustice done to the state through the denial of its capital city Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas left out of the state. “These must be transferred to Punjab without any further delay.” In another resolution, the SAD held the anti-poor policies of the center squarely responsible for the economic mess facing the country today. Party demanded the immediate resignation of the UPA to pave the way for fresh mandate to save the country from economic crisis.
Genuine Federal Political, constitutional and fiscal set up can only make India a strong global power-Shiromani Akali Dal
The story of the UPA government at the center at present has been a tale of gross fiscal mismanagement underlined by misplaced priorities. They have favoured the rich and the big business houses by neglecting the poor and the common man. The country today faces a critical crisis and the policies of the central government are directly to blame for that.
In another resolution, the SAD attacked the UPA government at the center for its acts of brazen interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs, and said that the Congress–led UPA government had consistently woven conspiracies for weakening established Sikh institutions like the SGPC and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. “The Congress is still engaged in trying to divide the Khalsa Panth through conspiracies such as the move to set up a separate Parbandhak Committee for Haryana, something which the Sikhs of that state had out-rightly rejected.
Earlier, the meeting placed on record the party’s whole hearted appreciation of the leadership provided in the past five years by its president, Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal. “Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal not only led the party through difficult times to steer it to the corridors of governmental responsibility in 2007 but also helped it to perform the incredible feat of back-to-back victories in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections. He also spearheaded many epoch-making changes in administrative structure and development processes, putting the state firmly on the high road to becoming a completely advanced modern state. His vision of governance has revolutionized the way governments are perceived throughout the country. Path-breaking infrastructure projects, including thermal plants that promise to make Punjab a power surplus state in the next year, combined with his visionary reforms in governance procedures have put Punjab ahead of all others in its march to modernity.”
The party also showered profuse praise on its patron and the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal whom it described as the tallest statesman in the country today. “Mr. Badal’s endearing and touching humility, his total dedication to his people, and his firm and unflinching commitment to the cause of the Panth, Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat and his profound and abiding faith in peace and communal harmony have are the cornerstones around which the history of modern Punjab is being shaped. Thanks to his vision and commitment, Punjab today is an oasis of peace in the country.”