New Delhi/Chandigarh, July 8- Mr.Partap Singh Bajwa President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) along with CLP leader Mr.Sunil Kumar Jakhar today met the Congress President Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh at Delhi and expressed gratitude to them for issuing ordinance on Food Security, giving guarantee of food to 80 crore Indians.
Mr.Bajwa was accompanied by PPCC Vice Presidents Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi and Mr. Om Parkash Soni, Mr.Mohinder Singh Kay Pee MP and former president PPCC, Mr.Ravneet Singh Bittu MP, Mr.Kuljit Singh Nagra and Mr Ashwani Sekhri Secretary AICC beside other MLA’s from Punjab.
Mr.Bajwa told Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and Dr.Manmohan Singh that ordinance on Food Security was a revolutionary step and it is a big leap towards zero hunger status of India. He shared his concern with the Prime Minister that UPA government would spend Rs.1.25 lakh crores on the food security but unfortunately SAD-BJP government in Punjab lacked preparedness to implement the food program. He said that Public Distribution system in Punjab was faulty and the state government has no updated static’s on number of beneficiaries. He requested the Prime Minister to ensure delivery of food to the deserving people in Punjab.
Mr.Bajwa strongly pleaded with Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister the need of special industrial package to Punjab on the pattern of three hilly states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and J and K. He requested party president and PM that since UPA government had decided to extend the package for these three states, the same tax concessions must be extended to six border districts of Punjab i.e. Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilika. These districts had suffered the most during terrorism and Indo-Pak wars. He said that entire border belt remained neglected and lack behind in development.
He stated that SAD-BJP government in Punjab had failed to bring comprehensive industrial policy, imposed heavy tax regime and is unable to meet the power demand of industry. The state government policies had devastated the existing industry which is relocating to other states. He further stated that vast land at cheap rates and water resources are available in plenty in border districts. He said that if special industrial package was granted to border districts, it would retain the existing industry which can relocate to border belt instead of other states.
Mr.Bajwa and Mr.Jakhar also thanked UPA Chairperson and Prime Minister for extending Kolkatta-Delhi Industrial corridor up to Amritsar and granting three new airports to Punjab which would give boost to economy of the state.
Mr.Bajwa took up with the Prime Minister the case of over 20 lakh ex-servicemen who are fighting for years to get ‘one rank-one pension’ scheme implemented. Mr.Bajwa said that Prime Minister had assured the Congress delegation about fully implementing the scheme for which Rs.3000 crores would be needed.
PPCC President demanded from Prime Minister to re-start direct flight of Air India between holy city of Amritsar and Toronto. He told the Prime Minister that thousands of NRIs of Punjabi origin were settled in North America and major chunk of them is based in Canada. He said that Amritsar-Toronto air link had emotional tag linked with it and the route is commercially viable. He said that Amritsar was only international airport to cater to the needs of people of Punjab and from neighboring states of J & K and Himachal Pradesh as well.
The MLAs who joined the Congress delegation included former minister Mr.Lal Singh Sanour, Mrs. Charanjit Kaur Bajwa Qadian, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu Mohali, Mrs. Karan Kaur Brar Muktsar, Harchand Kaur Mahal Kalan, Gur iqbal Kaur Nawanshehar, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot Nabha, Aruna Chaudhary Dina Nagar, Jagmohan Singh Kang Kharar, Mohammed Saddiq Bhadaur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa Dera Baba Nanak, Surinder Dawar Ludhiana central, Bharat Bhushan Ashu Ludhiana west, Parminder Pinki Ferozepur city, Raja Waring Gidderbaha, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi Guru Harsahai and former minister Surinder Singla.