Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Anandpur Sahib, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today heaped praises on the NDA government and blamed the previous UPA regime for various ills facing the country, particularly Punjab.
Addressing the Akali Dal’s rally on the occasion of Hola Mohalla festival here, Badal claimed the SAD was a votary of true federalism and had for long been trying to secure financial autonomy for the states. He said the party’s stand on federalism was vindicated after the Centre decided to raise the share of states in central taxes from 32 to 42 per cent. “Now we are hopeful that the states will not be merely treated as beggars looking at the Union Government for even their petty demands,” he said.
Badal welcomed the Centre’s decision to scrap the Planning Commission and replace it with NITI Aayog, “which will give the states more say in policy-framing”. He also hailed the announcements of projects for Punjab in the Union Budget.
He said Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had also accorded in-principle approval to Guru Gobind Singh Marg from Sri Anandpur Sahib to Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, which would pass through six states. Badal held the Congress responsible for the Operation Bluestar and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
To a query from mediapersons, he said Aam Aadmi Party was no threat to the SAD. “The massive mandate to the SAD-BJP alliance in the recent civic polls proves that the people are happy with the government’s policies,” he said. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and MP Prem Singh Chandumajra were among other Akali leaders who spoke on the occasion. They too blamed the UPA government’s policies for the problems being faced by the people.
