Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Seeks SIT, special court and punishments to the guilty in 6 months
* Center has released Rs. 20,000 crore for Roads, Sewerage and potable water
* Calls ‘Congress Bhajao-Punjab Bachao’ in Punjab
* Announces Rs. 1.5 crore for construction of multipurpose stadium at Dera Baba Nanak
Chandigarh/Joura Chhatran (Gurdaspur), Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Union government has assured that they will adopt and extend all legal measures to ensure justice to victims of 1984 Sikh genocide besides speedy trial and punishments to guilty.
Reiterating the resolve of Shiromani Akali Dal to get justice for innocent victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Mr. Badal said the time has come to ensure punishments for those unpunished perpetrators of ‘state sponsored’ massacre in 1984.
Talking to presspersons after presiding over a Jor Mela at Baba Bhoorewale Dera here, SAD President Mr. Badal said that SAD delegation under the leadership of Union Cabinet Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal had raked up this sensitive issue before NDA government. He said the Union Government has assured that justice would be provided to the affected people at all costs. He said SAD delegation has sought from Center that a Special Investigation Team under apex Court judge should be constituted vis-a-vis special court for daily basis hearings and punishments to the perpetrators within 6 months.
In a query regarding any differences between ruling combine in the state, Mr. Badal said there was no difference of opinion between SAD and the BJP. “We are working together at all issues. Our alliance and relation is indivisible.” He said it was inevitable that SAD-BJP would rule the state more than next 3 decades.
On the issue of unending bickering within Congress Party, Mr. Badal said the Congress leadership in the state has given a slogan that ‘Bajwa Bhajao, Congress Bachao’ (purge Bajwa, save Congress) but there was a dire need of Congress Bhajao, Punjab Bachao (throw away Congress to save Punjab). He said that Congress Party and PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa have anti people, anti-Punjab temperament and the electorates of state have realized the reality.
Responding to a query regarding grants from NDA government, Mr. Badal said Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi led NDA government has released 3-tier package of Rs. 20,000 crore for road projects, sewerage and potable water. Adding Mr. Badal said that the era of discrimination initiated by Congress led UPA Government has over now and days of development have come. He said that NDA has released Rs. 10,000 crore for road projects, Rs. 2,000 crore for potable water and Rs. 8,000 crore for Sewerage projects in the state.
When asked about the strategy of SAD to expand its wings in other states, Mr. Badal said SAD has registered its existence in Haryana and New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh was its next target. He said Party would field its candidates from seats having dense Sikh population in Uttar Pradesh in next elections. “SAD is one of the oldest party in the country. We will expand its ambit to some other states since the people of country have come to know the development vision of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal.”
Earlier, on the demand put forth by former minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Deputy CM announced a grant of Rs. 1.5 crore for construction of multipurpose Sports stadium at Dera Baba Nanak besides Rs. 2 lakh for Jor Mela at Baba Bhoorewale Dera.
Prominent amongst those accompanied by Mr. Badal included Punjab Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr. Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, Mr. Des Raj Dhugga, Mr. Virsa Singh Valtoha, Mr. Harmeet Singh Sandhu and Mr. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, all Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, former Minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah and senior leaders of SAD-BJP.
