Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Sarinh (Jalandhar), February 21- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that apprehending a crushing defeat the state Congress leadership had ran away from the Khadoor Sahib by-poll.
Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of function to lay the foundation stone of the Bist Doab Canal project, the Chief Minister said that the state Congress leadership had conducted an internal survey regarding the by-poll, which had indicated a massive mandate in the favour of SAD-BJP alliance. He said that fearing from a shameful defeat the Congress leaders lost their heart and opted to give the by-poll a miss. “It is a fact that the Congress leaders didn’t dare to face the electorate and finally skipped the by-poll on one pretext or another” added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister, while refuting the allegations regarding misuse of government machinery, said that these were totally baseless and irrational. He said that it was on record that Congress had lost Gidderbaha by-poll during the former Chief Minister Mr. Beant Singh’s regime. On the contrary Mr. Badal said that with the trust and support of people alliance government has registered spectacular win in every by-poll and have won the seats earlier represented by Congress.
Asked to comment on folk singer Mr. Hans Raj Hans joining the Congress, the Chief Minister said that it was hardly any issue for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He said that the desertion of political leaders from one party to another was a routine matter. However, Mr Badal said that what really matters was the support of the people to any political outfit.
The Chief Minister also appealed all the political parties to stop defaming the state on the issue of drugs. He said that various other states have this problem more seriously than Punjab. However, Mr Badal said that the statements of state leadership was bringing bad name for state. He said that the state government had taken stringent measures to curb the menace of drugs in the state.
Earlier addressing a mammoth gathering here after inaugurating the work of renovation of Bist Canal network at a cost of Rs 320 crore here today, the Chief Minister said that this project would prove to be a big boon for the farmers of entire Doaba region as it would enhance the flow of canal water thereby reducing the burden on Tube wells for irrigation besides checking the trend of depleting ground water level. Mr. Badal said that the mega project for sprucing up the Bist Doab Canal network was first of its kind as it is for the first time that concrete lining of the canal network would be done instead of the conventional brick lining adding that earlier, this technique was exclusively used in the construction of dams. He said that head to tail concrete rejuvenation of Bist-doab Canal would be done at Rs 320 crore within an year. Mr. Badal said that this project, the work on which has already started, would enhance the irrigation capacity of ‘lifeline of Doaba’ six times from existing 35000 acres to 2 lakh acres.
The Chief Minister said that the alliance government has fulfilled each and every promise made to people. He said that the alliance government was supliying free power to all the deras and dhanis across the state round the clock. Mr. Badal said that top priority of the state government was to maintain communal harmony and peace in the state besides ensuring its holistic development. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that the state government has spend Rs 1000 crore to perpetuate the glorious legacy of the state adding that this year War Heroes Memorial cum Museum , Jang-e-Azadi Memorial and Bhagwan Valmiki Temple cum Panorama Centre would be dedicated to the nation. He said that the construction work of Sri Guru Ravidass ji Memorial would also be started soon.
The Chief Minister said that in order to bail out the farmers from the current crisis the state government was providing free power to them worth Rs 5000 crore every year. Mr. Badal said that due to the concerted efforts of the state government, Punjab had today emerged as the only power surplus state in the country. He said that a novel scheme ‘Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme’ for providing free pilgrimage to sacred cities of Sri Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi) and Ajmer Sharif has been started under which state government would organize free trains to these cities for the people from Punjab and also provide other logistic facilities to pilgrims.
Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Jathedar Ajit Singh Kohar, MLAs Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr Gurpratap Singh Wadala, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Mr Pargat Singh, former MLA and senior Akali leader Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Wadala, former MLA and Chairman District Planning Committee Kapurthala Mr Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, Secretary Irrigation Mr Kahan Singh Pannu, Joint Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit, Commissioner Jalandhar Division Mr. HS Nanda, Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav and Senior Suprintendent of Police Mr. Harmohan Singh.
