BADAL DECLARES MALWA BELT TO BE FREE FROM WATER LOGGING BY JANUARY NEXT

MUKTSAR JANUARY 13, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, today announced that the entire water logged areas in the Malwa Belt, especially in the Muktsar district would be cleared off positively within a year.

Addressing a political conference on the auspious occasion of Maghi, Mr. Badal paid rich tributes to the 40 Muktas (liberated ones), who sacrificed their lives for the cause of righteouness and asked the people to follow the rich legacy of Sikhism by raising a voice against the oppression and tyrincal forces. He said this pious festival of Maghi always reminds us of our glourious heritage to follow the gosples of tolerance, love and self esteem as preached by our great Gurus.

Mr Badal categorically said that the state government had drawn up a comprehensive plan to eracdicate the problem of water logging in a time bound manner. He said that the engineers from State irrigtion Departrment and the Center would jointly launch a operation to remove the meance of water logging that had resulted in substantial loss to the property and crops in the region. He said that our government was fully seized of the problems faced by our people, but we had limited resources to address them altogether. He, however said that the state government was committed to solve these problems one by one by fixing priorities. He reiterated that the government would provide quality education to the students, especially from the under previliged sections of the society free of cost and opening up 100 Adarsh Schools at an investment of Rs 400 cores was a step in this direction. " This revolounatory decision would impart quality education to atleast one lac rural students every year to enable them to compete with the urban students of Convent and Public Schools", said Mr. Badal.

Blaming the Center for step motherly treatment metted out to the farmers, the Chief Minister said that it could not throttle the farming states and deprive them of their justified rights. He said that the state like Punjab which contributed 60% towards the national food grain could not be ignored in the issues related to the farmers like fixation of MSP and the supply of agricultural inputs in terms of fertilizers besides the subsidies announced by the Centre from time to time. He said that the the fixatation of MSP of wheat to Rs.1000 from Rs 750 per quintal was an outcome of the persistent efforts of the SAD-BJP government to persuade the Centre for upward revision of MSP. Mr.Badal said he pleaded the state's case before Centre that the constant frustration mounting on the peasantry would ultimately push the country in deep food crises if the farmers of Punjab abstain from growing wheat due to the diminishing returns on their produce. He reiterated that SAD-BJP government was pro-farmer and would always fight for their cause to ensure justice to them. "We would further demand from Center to enhance the MSP of wheat to atleast Rs 1300 per quintal and Rs 1000 for paddy", said Mr. Badal.

Accusing the Congress for 1984 riots, Mr.Badal said that none on this earth could forget this in human incident, which exposed the much-hyped 'secular image' of the party besides leaving a blot permanently. He also held Congress responsible for the meddling in the religious affairs of Sikhs and even criticized its role in the attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib. He said, "None could suppress the indomitable spirit of the Sikhs as this community had been blessed with unique quality of valour and courage by our great Gurus and is a part of our precious legacy".

Coming down heavily on the Congress Government which pushed the state into deep debt of Rs.53000 crore due to its wrong economic and financial policies, Mr.Badal said that the our government was committed to revive the state's derailed economy. He however hoped that the State Government through its prudent and visionary approach would put back the State on the path of high growth trajectory.

In his address Member Parliament and working President of the Shiromani Akali Dal Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal paid homage to the 40 Muktas on this historic day and said that Sikh Panth was replete with the saga of supreme sacrifices and always remained on the forefront in safeguarding the rights of the people before and after the independence. He said that SAD-BJP government was a true votary of the common man and always committed for their welfare and prosperity besides safeguarding their rights. He delcared that the Punjab government would dedicate year's 2008 to the over all development in the state with a special thrust on education, power, revamping of canal iurrigation system and providing the facilities of drinking water and sewerage in the rural areas.

Lashing at the previous government led by Capt.Amarinder, Mr. Sukhbir Badal said that the Congress through its autocratic style of functioning was far away from the hearts of the people because it never bothered for the welfare of the people at the grass root levels whereas SAD-BJP government was sensitize to their basic problems and could feel their pulse. He said that the SAD-BJP government had embarked upon an ambitious plan to augment the power supply from 6000 MW, which had been generated in 60 years to 11000 MW by 2012. An amount of Rs 3000 crores would be spent for remodeling of the 150 years old canal system to enhance its intake capacity by 25 to 30% for the development of agriculture sector.

Speaking on the occasion Canadian Member of Parliament, Mr. Gurbax Singh Malhi, who was a special invitee at the conference urged the youth to adopt the tenets of Sikhism in true spirits. He asked the youth to wear turban with reverance because it bestowed a special identity and honour upon the Sikhs all over the world. Mr. Malhi said that he being a five times MP to Canadian Government, was the first sikh allowed to enter the Canadian Parliament with Turban.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included SGPC President Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, Local Government & Industry Minister, Mr.Manoranjan Kalia, Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, Mr.Balwinder Singh Bhunder & Prof.Prem Singh Chandumajra (both General Secretaries of SAD ), Jathedear Tota Singh & Gurdev Singh Badal ( both Senior Akali leaders and Ex- Ministers) and Sukhdarshan Singh Marar Ex- MLA from Muktsar. Besides the senior leaders and party workers of the SAD-BJP who attended the conference.