Chandigarh : June 18 :Commenting on the statement of Mr. Bikramjit Singh Majithia to Gherao the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Spokesman of Punjab Pradesh Congress S. Bir Devinder Singh said today that Mr. Majithia and the Akali leadership should instead express gratitude to the UPA Government at the Centre for providing liberal financial support to Punjab State which has been facing a financial crunch due to wrong and short-sigthed policies of Akali BJP Government.
Enumerating a few schemes Mr,. Bir Devinder Singh said that the Union Government has provided historic debt-relief package of Rs.72000 crores to the farmers of the country and Punjab being an agrarian state is going to benefit a lot from this package. Sanctioning International Airport at Mohali, upgradation of Amritsar International Airport and beautification schemes of Amritsar city worth crores of Rupees under Jwaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission are a few to be counted. The unprecedented hike in MSP of wheat of Rs.250 per quintal has encouraged the Punjab farmer and now rise in MSP of Paddy also deserve appreciation. Notwithstanding the financial constraints of the Union Government the UPA Government has been sanctioning liberal grants to the Punjab Government for which they should thank the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Gherao the NDA Leaders who did not give anything to the people of Punjab, the farmers and the general public said