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Reaction on Manpreet Singh Badal’s speech on militancy related debt
Sukhpal Singh Khaira,
MLA Bholath.
The statement of Finance Minister Punjab Sh. Manpreet Singh Badal on the issue of waiver of militancy related debt of Punjab by the centre is nothing but a bundle of lies. He is trying to divert the attention of people on his failure as Finance Minister to improve the fiscal situation and is passing the buck on to the central congress govt.
To set the record straight, firstly the militancy related loan known as special term loan given by the central govt. to fight militancy in Punjab during the nineteen eighties was Rs 7800 crores in principle. Secondly after repeated demands by the State of Punjab, a part of the loan waived was off by the then Narsimha Roa Govt. Thereafter, during the earlier tenure of S. Parkash Singh Badal as CM a huge public rally was held at Amritsar where an announcement regarding the loan waiver was made by Sh. I.K Gujral the then Prime Minister of India merely for public digestion with political motives, although actual waiver of loan never took place in record. It was a political stunt played by Sh. Badal to hoodwink the people of Punjab for garnering votes for the then approaching Lok Sabha elections.
The reality is that it was in the December of 2006 that the UPA Govt. headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh finally waived the entire Rs 7800 crores special term loan alongwith its interest. This could only happen as the state Govt. headed by Capt. Amarinder Singh had approached the central Govt. under article 355 of the constitution of India, that any State fighting aggression from external forces or subversion from internal forces is covered under Article 355 and that it is the responsibility of the Govt. of India to bear all such expenses and thus the loan waiver.
The Congress urges the FM not to further mislead the people on this issue and instead focus on ways and means to improve the poor fiscal situation by controlling Rs 4500 crores revenue deficit and colossal debt of Rs 63000 crores on the State Govt. The fact of the matter is that this debt of Rs 63000 crores is a result of gross faulty economic agenda of the Akali’s giving virtually everything free to please the voters of Punjab. The Central Govt. is not duty bound to pay for foolishness of Punjab and its visionless leaders like Sh. Parkash Singh Badal and his nephew FM.
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Shiromani Akali Dal
HIKE IN PETROL-DIESEL PRICE, WIDER SERVICE TAX NET TO HIT FARMERS AND `AAM AADMI’ MOST-SUKHBIR
- FLAYS UPA FOR NOT DECLARING PUNJAB SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL ZONE
Chandigarh, February 26
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today slammed Union Budget as anti farmer & anti people document meant to deceive already price rise crushed “Aam Adami”.
Strongly criticizing the Rs. 1 per liter hike in excise duty on petrol and diesel, Mr. Badal said that this anti farmer and anti people proposal would have cascading effect on prices of all essential commodities besides increasing the input cost of farmers many times. He said that firstly by raising the price of Urea and decontrolling other fertilizers and now hiking the price of diesel, the government was already pushing debt ridden farmers further in the vicious cycle of debt. Mr. Badal said that by not conceding the demand of Punjab for declaring State as Special Agriculture Zone, congress led UPA government has not recognized the contribution of Punjab making the country self-sufficient on food security front despite drought and un-seasonal rains. He said that SAD- BJP combine would continue to fight till Punjab was declared SAZ besides linking of MSP with price index.
Criticizing the widening of ambit of service tax on most of the services and hiking the excise on petrol, Mr. Badal said that the Union Finance Minister has tried to befool the middle class by putting Rs. 1 in his right pocket in the shape of income tax slab and extracting Rs. 100 from his left pocket.
Mr. Badal regretted that with inflation touching 20 mark and common man groaning under unprecedented price rise, this budget was all set to ruin the budget of all families.
PUNJAB CM FLAYS UNION BUDGET 2010-11 AS ANTI-FARMER, ANTI-POOR AND SANS GROWTH
Chandigarh, February 26: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today described the Union budget as ‘ a stab in back of common man’, and said that budget would dampen the growth and cut deep into the pockets of the working classes, the employees, small & medium traders and farmers. It would break the back of the already beleaguered peasantry. He said that the proposals contained in the Finance Minister’s speech would unleash a fresh bout of inflation as the price rise had already afflicted the common man.
In a statement here, Mr. Badal said that the budget was a big blow to the expectations of the Punjabis, who had hoped for major investments to help the farming classes and bail out the State’s industry which is healing under the continuing package of concessions to the neighboring States. “There is hardly any mention to do away with these concessions to these states in near future or about any proposal to give similar concessions to Punjab . Similarly, the budget is totally silent on the alarming crises of unemployment and did not mention any tangible steps to promote the service sector”, said Mr.Badal.
Strongly criticizing the hike of Rs.1 per liter in the excise duty of petrol and diesel, Mr. Badal said that it would not only be counter productive both for the farm sector and the common man but also aggravate their problems further. He said Punjabi farmer who had made tremendous contribution in ensuring National food security had been totally ignored in getting some special incentives for farm sector in the state. He also criticized the allocation of Rs.400 crore for the extension of green revolution which was nothing but a peanut for the entire country from which the Punjab hoped to get nothing. He pointed out that the budget should have made a special provision of financial assistance to compensate Punjab for the upgradation of canal system being undertaken in the state at a cost of Rs.3500 crores from its own resources.
Mr. Badal further said that the Union Budget was devoid of rationale and commitment for having claimed to achieve the goal of inclusive growth, which was a misnomer. The Union Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee failed to stipulate any concrete measure to tackle the high rate of inflation in his budget speech, which spoke volumes of government’s inept handling of fiscal management and insensitivity on its part in controlling the spiraling prices of essential commodities. The Congress government which claimed to be votary of ‘Aam Aadmi’ had completely dashed his hopes of getting some relief from inflation in today’s budget, which now seems to be a distant reality. “Merely assurances to tackle the inflation in near future would not amuse the common man anymore”, said Mr. Badal.
Mr. Badal also flayed the Union Budget as it had completely ignored the scheduled castes and tribes, which constituted a sizeable chunk of Indian population in general and 28.85% of Punjab ’s population, the highest in the country in particular. Likewise, the salaried class was another important segment of the society, which was considered as the backbone of the administration had also been completely disillusioned by the Budget as it had not come upto their expectations.
Summing up Mr. Badal said that it was another onslaught on Punjab after the recent railway budget which had completely excluded the state in conceding the long pending demand of sanctioning Mumbai-Delhi-Amritsar railway corridor and the extension of eastern railway corridor from Kolkata-Ludhiana to Amritsar .
DALAM SWORN IN AS MEMBER OF PSSS BOARD
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 26:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Rajinder Singh Dalam as member of Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) at a simple but an impressive ceremony here at Chief Minister’s office this morning.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s office said that Mr. Rajinder Singh Dalam, Advocate by profession was an active member of the working committee of Shiromani Akali Dal. He remained the sarpanch of village Dalam Nangal in Gurdaspur district for 25 years continuously and was elected as member Zila Parishad on October 1, 1994. He was also elected as the President of Bar Association Batala in 1987-88 and appointed as the Chairman Market Committee, Batala in 1999 and remained the Secretary of Executive Committee Guru Nanak College Batala from 2000 to 2004.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal conducted the proceedings of the swearing-in-ceremony of Mr. Dalam.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Additional Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Additional Secretary Personnel Mr. Dharminder Pal.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Member PSSS Board Mr. Manjindar Singh Dalam, Mrs. Surjit Kaur wife of late Ex-Minister Mr. Natha Singh Dalam, Member General Council Mr. Baljit Singh Dalam, Sarpanch Dalam Nangal Mr. Davinder Singh, Maj Gen. GS Hundal, Chairman Market Committee Khanuwan Mr. Jagrup Singh Sekhwan and Advocate Ajit Singh Randhawa.
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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Session From 4th March
Chandigarh February 26:
Mr. Shiv Raj Patil, Governor Punjab has summoned the 13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha Session from 4th March, 2010 at 02:00 P.M. in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Hall, Vidhan Bhavan, Chandigarh.
This was disclosed here today by an official spokesman of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, February 26:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the current Rabi Season through Canal water from 28-2-2010 to 07-3-2010. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Abohar Branch, Patiala feeder, Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch and Bist Doab Canal respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that Ghaggar link and its off taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being in the first preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies available will be utilized in direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' respectively.
The spokesman further said that Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and distributries in Group "B" being in the First preference will run to their ident. Balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries of Group 'A'.
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the first Preference would run to their indent .Balance water supplies water available would be utilised in Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch, Main Branch Lower with their distributaries respectively.
CM GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF MILAD-UL-NABI
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 26:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the people of Punjab especially the Muslim community on the occasion of Milad-ul-Nabi.
In a message, Mr. Badal said that the Prophet Mohammad showed us the path of an egalitarian society based on compassion, love and righteous living. His holy message continues to enlighten us with its eternal wisdom.
Mr. Badal appealed to the people to celebrate this sacred occasion by rising above the petty considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion.
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SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF MILAD-UN-NABI
Chandigarh, February 26:
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today extended heartiest greetings the people of Punjab on the eve of Milad-un-Nabi.
In a message the Deputy Chief Minister said that this day reminds us to follow the path of truth, righteousness, compassion, charity, tolerance and universal brotherhood as shown by Prophet Mohammad. Calling upon people to collectively celebrate this festival, rising above the parochial feelings of caste, culture and creed, Mr. Badal said that Prophet Mohammad’s divine message with a timeless relevance has a power to transform our lives.
He said that the best tribute to Prophet Mohammad is to rededicate our lives for the ideals for which he lived his life.
