By Sanjay Pahwa, PATIALA: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the decision for the creation of new districts would be taken only after the recommendations of the (Sukhbir-Tikshan Sud) committee.
Talking to the Media persons here on the sidelines of the Sangat Darshan program, Mr. Badal said that earlier this committee comprised Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Local Govt. Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia to give recommendations on the creation of new districts, subsequently with the stepping down of Mr. Kalia Mr. Tishan Sud was inducted in the committee, which had been asked to submit its report immediately so that the final decision in this regard could be taken by the Cabinet. Mr. Badal also stated that he had already cleared the file paving a way for the up-gradation of three Municipal Councils to Corporations at Phagwara, Moga and Pathankot. Slamming the former Chief Minister and President PPCC Amarinder Singh for his illogical statements in the media, Mr. Badal said that these statements were the outcome of mounting frustration with in the rank and file of the Congress party and its impending defeat in the forthcoming assembly elections. He said that Congress was bereft of any solid political agenda accept indulging in brick-bating just to conceal its failures.
Taking the UPA led Congress Government to task for its discriminatory attitude towards Punjab, he said that it was bent on to retard the pace of development in the state on one pretext or another. He said that our state had been denied its due share in the Centrally sponsored schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, Rashtri Krishi Vigyan Yojana and National Food Mission. “Strict parameters laid by the GoI make our state ineligible for the Central grants. What is our fault if we have developed 100 percent rural connectivity through link roads, cent percent canal irrigation network and on the top of it 100 percent rural electrification decades back? It is a paradoxical situation where development has become an impediment in the way of our mission to steer Punjab as one of the front runner state in the country”, asserted Mr. Badal.
Blaming the Congress government for its utter failure in addressing the issues affecting the day to day life of common man such as corruption, black money, inflation, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and internal security, Mr. Badal dared the UPA led Congress government to gracefully step down as it had no moral right to continue in office any more and it has lost the public confidence. He declared the days of Congress government at Centre as well as in the states were numbered. “It is not a myth that the Congress would be decimated in the near future due to its own follies”.
Reacting to the news report in the media on rebuking the Planning Commission of India by Supreme Court, Mr. Badal said that these members sitting in their Air-conditioned offices did not have any idea about the plight of people living in the rural areas and decide yardsticks for the eligibility of BPL families. He said that it was impossible for anyone to make both ends meet with the meager daily of Rs.11 per day in rural and Rs.17 in urban areas. Besides, these hapless people could not even attain the desired level of 2400 calories per day with the paltry income of Rs.330 per month as recommended by the Planning Commission of India. He however, said that Centre should initiate fruitful efforts to bridge up the gap between the have and haves not practically rather wasting its time, energy and resources merely on paper.
Taking cognizance of the inadequate supply of urea in some parts of the state, Mr. Badal immediately announced to allow the members of the cooperative societies to buy it from the open market by taking money from the societies for the current Kharif season. The Chief Minister also announced to shift the office of BDPO, Bhunerhari from Patiala to Bhunderhari with immediate effect on the demand of the local residents of the area.
Mr. Badal also directed the Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana on telephone to provide the best medical treatment free of cost to the noted Punjabi folk singer Kuldeep Manak, who had been ailing for past few months.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister disbursed development grants worth Rs.6.44 lac to 122 village panchayats on the second day of his sangat darshan program in the Sanour assembly constituency.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included SAD General Secretary Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Former Rajya Sabha Member Bibi Amarjeet Kaur, District Planning Committee Chairman Mr Surjeet Singh Rakhra, Mr Harmail Singh Tohra and Mr Ajaib Singh Mukmailpur (all Former Ministers), Chairman of Punjab Agro Corporation Mr Randhir Singh Rakhra, Chairman PUNSEED Mr Surjeet Singh Ablowal, Chairman of Backward Classes Commission Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar and Vice Chairman Mr Harjeet Singh Adalatiwal, Senior Akali Leader Mr Harinderpal Singh Harrymann, Zila Parishad Chairman Mr. Mohinder Singh Lalwa, Patiala Market Committee Chairman Mr Harvinder Singh Harpalpur and the Civil and Police officers of district administration.
BETTER UPGRADE EVERY TEHSIL AS DISTRICT & OPEN VENUES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF S.S.Ps., D.Cs, SESSION JUDGES AND ALLIED STAFFERS AND ABOVE ALL THIS WILL EASE THE PROBLEMS OF THE PEOPLE, WHO HAVE TO COME TO DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS FOR THEIR RELATED WORKS IN OFFICES OF SAID OFFICERS.ALSO ESTABLISH HIGH COURTS AT COMMISERATE LEVELS ACROSS THE STATE, TO GIVE FURTHER EASE TO THE LITIGANTS & GIVE THEM RELIEF FROM TRAVELLING UP TO HIGH COURT AT CHANDIGARH.
IT IS INDEED A VERY GOOD SIGN OF DEVELOPING THE STATE IN ITS RIGHT PERSPECTIVE & DO THIS AT AN EARLIEST & BE A PIONEERING STATE OF THE NATION IN THIS CONTEXT—dr.amritgaur