FEBRUARY 28:
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Sukhbir Badal should resign immediately
....Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA Bholath.
Chandigarh, February 28, 2010
Congress party demands immediate resignation of Sh. Sukhbir Badal Home Minister and an urgent all party meeting to discuss the fast deteriorating law and order in Punjab. There is complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the State, Badal govt. is hell bent in playing politics of vote bank and has utterly failed to curb lawlessness in the State. Had the State govt. acted firmly from day one and registered criminal cases against rioters and looters, things would have been different today, but as we all know Mr. Badal lacks the will power to govern strictly.
Yesterday’s sporadic incidents in Malwa of mobs torching public property including trains, buses and post offices is nothing but total collapse of law and order in Punjab. There is a wave of fear in the minds of the people, small crowds or mobs have many a times forced closure of all business and hijacked Punjab. Congress party has been alleging since long that the police force in the State stands totally politicized and is virtually acting as a private army of the Badal’s ignoring their actual duty to maintain law and order. Punjab has witnessed many incidents of communal and religious violence beginning from Dera Sacha Sauda- Sikh clashes, Dera Ballan followers going on rampage following killing of their head in Veinna recently, inability of police to control violence of migrants in Ludhiana and also the religious clash between Sikhs and followers of Dera Nurmahal. Property worth thousands of crores has been damaged in Punjab during the SAD-BJP regime, Badal failed to keep his promise of compensation for the loss of public and private property in these clashes.
Farmers of BKU (ekta) are up in arms over alleged political protection to Akali Ex- MLA Veer Singh Lopoke accussed in the murder of Sadhu Singh Takhtupura in Amritsar recently. Only yesterday Sanjam Singh Dhillon a cousin of CM fired shots and prevented officials of drainage department from doing their duty in the native village of Sh. Badal, as usual no action has been taken against the CM’s cousin.
All these incidents of violence and the failure of the police to take timely action indicate of complete jungle raj in the state. Mobsters, looters, arsonists and goondas rule the roost while police look on as mute and helpless spectators due to vote bank of the Badal’s.
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Badal Sahib
Prove that you are in control of your son, and your MLAs,
.........Jassi Khangura
Chandigarh, February 28, 2010
With a summer of verbal abuse and a winter of turbans flying in the Vidhan Sabha, and all the disruption and corruption prevalent in 2009 fresh in my mind, I felt it was time to ask whether, as Chief Minister of our State and leader of your party, you will strive to ensure the same debacle does not take place this Session.
Of course, I understand that at the time of the last session you and your party wished desperately to distract from the issues of the law and order break down in Ludhiana and to do anything to avoid the questions that the opposition were waiting to ask about that and parlous condition of the State’s finances.
As an elder statesman and one of our country’s more long-term leaders, I am sure that this time you and your Party will withstand questioning during these challenging times and not flinch from giving honest answers.
However, whether you can control your son Sukhbir and his obsequious MLAs, to ensure the same level of civility and clarity from them is quite another matter, as these vile incidents are a clear case of Akali MLAs without portfolio seeking to impress their credentials on someone who is inextricably linked with violence in Punjab.
Notwithstanding the breach of privilege proceedings against the Leader of the Opposition the fact remains that the Congress Legislative Party did not act differently in any manner from earlier Vidhan Sabha Sessions. What happened in December 2009 was a premeditated action by your MLAs on unsuspecting colleagues of mine.
I sincerely hope that, having failed to do so last Session, this time you will use your position to control disruptive elements in your Party who seek to detract from the business of the House. For once perhaps you could use your position as Patriarch of the unruly “House of Badals” to benefit Punjab as a whole, by using your status to instruct everyone to behave in a manner befitting them as Ministers, MLAs or, in fact, sons. For ever since Sukhbir Badal entered the House the atmosphere has markedly deteriorated, reflecting events elsewhere in the State.
Of course, the opinion of many is that you will, again, allow the house to be disrupted, as it is in your interests to evade questions on many topics of interest to this bankrupt State, especially after presenting what will no doubt be a very misleading Budget. It remains to be seen whether these rumours are true. I hope, for the sake of Punjab, that they are not and that the imminent Budget Session proceeds smoothly, openly and with the aligned objective of moving Punjab into a more prosperous and peaceful future.
The violence that you have perpetrated against Congress inside and outside the House will not be forgotten. Come the new administration we intend to hit hard and fast.
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FAIL ‘BACKDOOR ENTRY’ OF CONGRESS IN SGPC-SUKHBIR GIVES A CALL TO SIKHS
Sri Anandpur Sahib, February 28 : Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today gave a call to Sikh community to fail the “backdoor entry” of Congress party in Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections using the facade of dummy Akali Dals.
Addressing the mammoth gathering at Holla Mohalla function , Mr. Badal reminded the Sikhs that it was Congress party that attacked Sri Harmandir Sahib during Operation Blue Star and organized killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs in 1984 Sikh carnage. He said that despite court orders and non -bailable warrants Congress High Command sheltered the prime accused Sajjan Kumar, fearing the exposure of their complicity during custodial interrogation. Mr. Badal said that despite Sajjan Kumar being Z plus protectee, CBI deliberately did not arrest him on orders from 10 Janpath. He said that Sikhs have no faith in ‘Congress Bureau of Investigation’ that was bidding on the instructions of Congress party. Mr. Badal announced that Shiromani Akali Dal would engage top most lawyers in Supreme Court and would not rest till Sajjan Kumar and Tytler were given exemplary punishment.
Mr. Badal said that Congress since independence had been unsuccessfully trying to divide Sikhs. He said that after miserably failing to enact parallel SGPC in Haryana, Congress was now sponsoring dummy Akali Dals to seek entry in Sikh’s Supreme Parliament SGPC. Mr. Badal said that killers of Sikhs cannot be allowed to enter in this supreme body SGPC and sought people’s support to fail the nefarious designs of Congress to divide Sikhs. He expressed hope that Sikhs were wise enough to reject any proxy party that was propped up by Congress party.
Expressing concern at yesterday’s violence by Dera sympathizers Mr. Badal warned that no one would be allowed to disturb hard earned peace and communal harmony in the state. He said that anyone trying to indulge in acts of lawlessness or violence or trying to foment communal passions, would have to face consequences under the strictest provisions of law. H warned that “let there be no confusion in anyone’s mind ; no one will be allowed to get away with lawless act.Peace and communal harmony will be maintained at all costs.” He said that 90 rioters have already been rounded up and DGP himself was supervising the law and order arrangements. He said extra forces have rushed to sensitive areas.
Lashing at UPA for its failure to meet the aspirations of people in Punjab in general and farmers in particular in Union Budget, Mr. Badal said that hike of petrol, diesel price by Rs. 3 per litre, raising the price of urea by 10 percent, keeping Punjab out of Rs. 400 crore second Green Revolution plan were the clear attempts by Congress party to crush already indebted peasantry of Punjab. He said that what to call of rewarding Punjab for exceeding food security target, despite drought, farmers have been further pushed into vicious cycle of debt by this budget. He said that SAD would oppose hike of petrol diesel price in Parliament and pressurize UPA to roll back this anti people decision.
Castigating Congress led UPA for unprecedented price rise, the SAD President said that it was Rs. 700 crore Atta Dal scheme that was keeping the hearths of 17 lakh poor families in Punjab warm. Mr. Badal said that in Congress led states like Haryana and Rajasthan, even poor were being forced to by Dal at Rs. 90 per Kg.
Giving the details of development initiatives, Mr. Badal said that his mission was to make Punjab power surplus. He said that it was due to the determined approach of SAD-BJP govt., the work on 540 MW Goindwal Thermal Plant and 1980 MWTalwandi Sabo thermal plant was in full speed whereas on Tuesday work would start on Rs. 1320 MW Rajpura Thermal Plant. He said that Punjab was awaiting coal linkage for 2640 Megawatt Super thermal Plant at Gidderbaha. Mr. Badal said that Punjab was all set to generate 3840 Megewatt from three thermal plants, 1000 Megawatt from Renewable energy ventures in next two years besides saving 1700 Megawatt power by using CFL, realizing his cherished dream of making Punjab first power surplus state of the country. “Day is not far off when Punjab would be contributing maximum surplus power in national kitty”, Mr. Badal said.
Mr. Badal announced that World Cup Kabbadi tournament would be held in first week of April in which teams of 10 countries would participate and vie for the record prize of Rs. 1 crore, Rs. 51 lakh and Rs. 25 lakh respectively for first, second and third slot. He also said that sports policy focused on nurturing rural talent would be announced within a fortnight.
Mr. Badal congratulated the people of Sri Anandpur Sahib as their Holy City has become first city in Punjab which has total underground sewage system with 100 percent sewage treatment plant. He said that every village of Sri Anandpur Sahib Tehsil would get potable water under World Bank scheme. Later talking to media Mr. Badal said that Youth Akali Dal President Mr. Kiranbir Singh Kang himself had resigned as he had become overage for Youth wing of the Party.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Mr. Avtar Singh President SGPC, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Secretary General, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder General Secretary, Mr. Daljit Singh Cheema Secretary and Spokesman, Mr. Madal Mohal Mittal former Minister, Sant Ajit Singh MLA, Mr. Ujagar Singh Badali MLA, Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra General Secretary.
It may be added that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal could not attend the function due to rest advised by the Doctors due to muscular pain.
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CM UNABLE TO ATTEND HOLLA MOHALLA FOLLOWING MUSCULAR PAIN ADVISED COMPLETE BED REST
SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB/Chandigarh, FEBRUARY 28:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Pakash Singh Badal had to skip participation in the Holla Mohalla political following medical advice against travel due to low back pain.
The Chief Minister deputed Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal to represent him at the function.
According to Dr. M.S.Dhillon, Head, Department of Orthopedics, PGIMER , the Chief Minister has been advised complete bed rest for 48 hours as he has been diagnosed with "acute limbo sacral strain" (low back pain) X-rays conducted on the CM revealed no major abnormality. Mr. Badal has also been advised against prolonged sitting as this could aggravate pain.
A medical spokesperson of the Chief Minister further said that the problem is due to "fatigue and stress on the back muscles because of excessive traveling in the past week."
PUNJAB CM GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF HOLI
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 28:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the people of the state on Holi - the festival of colours.
In a message, Mr. Badal said that Holi had a special significance in our ancient cultural heritage that propagated the unity of mankind, tolerance compassion and amity. "Such festivals not only promote the communal harmony but also bring cheers and imbibe the moral and eternal values amongst the people as preached by our great gurus, seers and prophets.
Mr. Badal appealed the people to celebrate this joyous occasion in unison with religious fervor and gaiety, thereby rising above of the parochial considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion.
RAJPURA THERMAL PLANT TO USE LATEST, POLLUTION FREE TECNOLOGY-SUKHBIR
- THREE MEGA THERMAL PLANTS AT GOINDWAL, TALWANDI SABO AND NOW RAJPURA SET TO GENERATE 3840 MW POWER
Chandigarh, February 28
The upcoming1320 MW super thermal plant at Rajpura to be built at the cost of Rs 7000 Crores, by renowned multinational company Larsen and Toubro would use the latest Supercritical technology, taking the Punjab a step closer in becoming first Power Surplus state of the country.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister today after reviewing the arrangements for foundation stone laying ceremony to be held on March 2, said that it would be the third super thermal plant built during the tenure of present SAD-BJP government. This work could be started only after completing the onerous tasks including planning, financial bidding, coal linkage clearances and other mandatory clearances from Union ministries like Power, coal, pollution and forest besides clearing hurdles like land acquisition, he added. Mr. Badal said that work was already on full swing in 540 MW at Goindwal Sahib and 1980 MW thermal plant at Talwandi Sabo.
Giving the details of Rajpura thermal plant, Mr. Badal said that it would be the first plant of this country to use supercritical technology that with high temperature and pressure of steam, was considered the most efficient and the least pollutant system of generating power from coal. Mr. Badal said that this thermal plant with 1320 MW generation capacity would have 2 units of 660 MW each and Rajpura thermal plant was set to generate power in next 2 years.
The Deputy Chief Minister who envisioned these power projects said that Rajpura thermal plant to come up in the village Nalash near Rajpura would be setup in a sprawling campus with an area of 1078.16 acres. He said that this thermal plant has been given coal linkage from M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd., who has their coal fields in Korba-Raigarh region of Chattisgarh.
Giving the details of special pollution control measures, Mr. Badal said that Rajpura thermal plant would use State of the Art technology to ensure low emission levels of noise and air pollutants. It would be equipped with Electro Static Precipitators (ESPs) of 99.9% efficiency to minimize the carbon level in smoke. Moreover, the plant would keep the height of Stack Chimney at the higher level of 275 meters to have minimum effect of pollution free smoke on adjoining areas. It would get 50 cuesec water from Rajpura distributary and effluents would be treated in special Effluent Treatment Plant. Mr. Badal said that thermal plant would maintain sufficient green belt to maintain the ecological balance.
Expressing satisfaction on beginning of work on third thermal plant, Mr. Badal said that the company has already entered into power purchase agreement with PSEB and it would supply power at Rs. 2.89 per unit. Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government was eagerly awaiting clearance from Union government the coal linkage for 2640MW super thermal plant at Gidderbaha, to realize his dream of power surplus Punjab.
DGP WARNS STRICT ACTION AGAINST ELEMENTS INDULGING IN VIOLENCE AND ARSON
CHANDIGRAH February 27:
Punjab DGP Mr P.S. Gill today took a strong notice of incidents of violence and arson at some places in the state and warned that nobody will be allowed to take law in the hands. He categorically said that strict action would be taken under law against those who tried to violate prohibitory orders and indulged in violence, arson and rioting.
DEAL FIRMLY WITH LAWLESS ELEMENTS"; SUKHBIR DIRECTS LAW ENFORCING
Chandigarh Fbruary 27 - Deptuy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir SIngh Badal todaydirected law enforcing agencies in the state to deal firmly with anyone trying to take law into his own hands and to ensure that no one was allowed to diturb the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state."Anyone trying to indulge in acts of lawlessness or violence or tryng to play up communal passions will have to face the consequences under the strictest provisipons of the law. "Let there be no confusion in anyone's mind: no one willbe allowed to get away with lawless acts. Peace and communal harmony will be maintained at all costs, " said the Deputy Chief Minister .
Mr. Badal was reacting to some incidents of violence in Punjab and Haryana. following the regsiteriation of a case against the head of a dera in Haryana.
In a statement here, Mr. Sukhbir Singh , who also holds the Home Portfolio, said that there was no justification whatsoever for indulging in protests other than peaceful. "There is no place for violence in a democratic society, and the Punjab government is fully alive to its obligation to the people of Punjab in this regard. "
The Deputy CM appealed to all sections of society to remain viglant against any attempts to disturb peace in Punjab and to maintian traditonal Punjabi unity, amity and harmony at all costs.
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"UPA is Sajjan's shield on 84 massacre”
Sukhbir asks PM to make a statement on CBI defiance of court orders on Sajjan
"SAD TO STALL PARL PROCEEDINGS: TAKE ISSUE TO SUREME COURT
Chandigarh February 27 - Shiromani Akali Dal president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said here today that MPs belonging to his party along with the SAD allies would press for a statement from the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the floor of the House on why the CBI was allowed to defy courts in refusing to arrest the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre accused Mr. Sajjan Kumar.
In a statement here. Mr. Sukhbir Singh said that the party would also take the conduct of the CBI to the Supreme Court and seek its directions to the Government of India to explain the willful defiance of court orders on Mr. Sajjan Kumar in order to allow him free time to seek a bail. "The orders of the court were brazenly flouted in the national capital and the Z security provided to Sajjan functioned as his protection against law," said the Akali leader.
The SAD president alleged that the UPA government actually was actually acting as a political shield for the alleged killer of thousands of Sikhs. "The government is guilty of facilitating the relief to the massacre accused in sheer defiance of the judicial orders. He said that the government "had been maintaining what he called " an unabashed and shocking silence on the CBI's refusal to arrest Mr. Sajjan Kumar while he roamed freely in Delhi all this while. "It is shocking that the UPA government has provided a "Z" security to Sajjan and yet the CBI pretended that it did not know about his whereabouts. Does the UPA government want the country to believe that the entire "Z" Security machinery accompanying Mr. Sajjan Kumar also went underground along with him or did not know where their protectee was so that he could not be traced by the CBI. In fact, the Minister of Home Affairs also must make a statement on the role of the security personnel provided by his department in helping the accused escape arrest."
Mr. Badal said that he had been intrigued by the total silence of the Prime Minster as well as the entire Punjab Congress leadership, including on the issue. "Where are Mrs. Bhathal, Mr. K.P.Singh and Captain Amarinder Singh and why are they so mum on the "unconstitutional protection provided to the alleged killer of thousands of Sikhs? Where are those who wanted us to support the UPA in Parliament on the no-confidence motion on the grounds that Dr. Manmohan Singh was to be the Prime Minister? Was it for this day that they wanted us to support the UPA? What use is it to Punjabis and the Sikhs in having any Punjabi or Sikh Congressman in the Union Government, or even to head it, when this government is actually providing shelter to the killers of Sikhs? Where is the conscience of all these so-called leaders from Punjab?" asked the SAD president, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.
CONGRESS AND GANDHIs SCARED OF ARRESTING SAJJAN KUMAR-HARSIMRAT
Chandigarh, February 27
Member Parliament from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said that Congress and Gandhis were scared of arresting Sajjan Kumar and demanded that Delhi police should immediately initiate criminal action against all those Congress leaders and police personnel, who gave shelter to Sajjan Kumar after issue of non-bailable warrants.
In a statement issued here, Mrs. Badal said that Sajjan Kumar was deliberately being sheltered by leaders close to Congress high command as his custodial interrogation may put 10 Janpath in danger. She said that it was matter of great regret that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had to become party to this dirty job. Mrs. Badal said that Sajjan Kumar being a Z-plus protectee was always in the protection of Delhi police and his non availability cited by CBI raises question mark on the so-called protection given by Delhi police to him. She said that Delhi police and CBI were hand in glove to protect Sajjan Kumar from the custodial interrogation and if Delhi police fails to register a case against those persons including Delhi police personnel, who sheltered Sajjan Kumar, court should suo moto issue directions for such criminal action. Mrs. Badal said that after recent drama of Sajjan Kumar Sikh community has lost faith in getting justice from any Congress led government. She said that Shiromani Akali Dal would continue to struggle till all corrupt including Tytler were brought to the book.
Commenting on budget, Mrs. Badal said that it was burden increasing budget targeted to punish common man. She said that it was the first of its own kind budget which has excluded low salaried middle class from any tax relief. She said that in elite friendly Pranab Da’s formula ‘Higher you earn, More tax you would save’ has exposed so called face of Aam Aadmi’s government. She said that excise on petrol and diesel would hit farmers and middle class most besides having cascading effect on inflation. She said that gross injustice in this budget has united the opposition for the first time and even Mamta led TMC has held rally at Calcutta today to oppose these recommendations of budget.
Criticising the UPA for failing to put up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, Australia and UK to protect the lives of its citizens, Mrs. Badal said that holding talk with Pak after beheading of 2 Sikhs was rubbing salt on the wounds of Sikhs.
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BADAL EXHORTS ACADEMICIANS TO PLAY A PRO-ACTIVE ROLE TO USHER IN AN EDUCATIONAL REVOLUTION
CHUNNI KALAN (FATEHGARH SAHIB) FEBRUARY 27:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the renowned academicians and educationists to come forward for the extension and growth of education at all levels be it school, college and university in order to spearhead an educational revolution in the state.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Rs. 8 crore Government Degree College here, Mr. Badal said that the growth and development of any state or nation depended on the level of its educational infrastructure. He said that development without strong educational base would be a temporary phase which would soon wither with the passage of time. He said that to ensure overall development growth and prosperity in Punjab, our government has made concerted effort to strengthen educational infrastructure in the right earnest to focus on the human resource development.
To give imputes to the skill development and vocational training, Mr. Badal sought the cooperation of big industrial and corporate houses to initiate joint ventures with the state government to set up skill development training centers to gainfully absorb the unemployed and less educated youth in the industry and infrastructure projects.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the consultative group of Vice Chancellors of all the universities in the state had been asked to identify the key areas where our unemployed youth could be imparted vocational training to enable them to be successfully employed. He however, reiterated that emphasis were being laid that none should be left illiterate and uneducated in the state because the growth and development in terms of physical infrastructure would be redundant until we improve our human resource development through imparting quality education to our youth at all levels of schools, colleges and universities. Mr. Badal further said that the Vice Chancellors had assured him that they would soon come out with the blue print to impart quality vocational education and skill development training to unemployed and less educated youth.
To give fillip to the higher education in the state, Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP government had taken a major initiative to strengthen the educational network at all levels of Schools, Colleges and Universities. A Central university at Bathinda, world Class University at Amritsar and Sri Guru Granth Sahib University at Fatehgarh Sahib were coming up to offer varied opportunities in the field of higher education. Apart from this 7 high tech government polytechnic colleges, 13 degree colleges and 21 model schools would be established soon.
Making a frontal attack on the Congress led UPA government at Centre, Mr. Badal said that it had always followed a policy of discrimination against Punjab be it agriculture, industry or any sector. He said that our state was even denied industrial package at par with our neighbouring states of Uttrakhan J&K and Himachal Pradesh, recently the Centre have announced to do away the subsidy on the fertilizers and now it had deliberately excluded Punjab from the scheme of second push towards agriculture on the pretext that it was an agriculturally advanced state on the other hand it had included those states which were far backward in the farming sector.
The recent hike in excise on diesel and petrol in the union budget 2010-11 had also stabbed in the back of farming community which was already crushed with the burden of heavy cost of agricultural inputs. He said; “Punjab has a saga of unending woes and miseries due to Centre’s apathetic attitude towards it for the reasons best known to them.
Earlier, the Chief Minister announced a development grant of Rs.5 lakh each for the village panchayats of Chunni Kalan and Chunni Khurd which had donated 14 acres of land of the establishment of this college.
On the occasion, Mr. Badal also formally launched the scheme of agro service centers in the cooperative sector by handing over the keys of 15 tractors to the members of the village cooperative societies.
Speaking on the occasion Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr. Jaspal Singh highly appreciated the vision of the Chief Minister for the growth and development of the education in the state. He said that Punjabi University had already started numerous short term vocational training and add-on courses of one year, six and three months duration for the students so that they could be employed in a meaningful manner.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Education Mrs. Mohinder Kaur Josh, MLA Sirhind Mr. Didar Singh Bhatti, Chairperson District Planning Committee Fatehgarh Sahib Mrs. Satinder Kaur Dhaliwal, President SAD Fatehgarh Sahib Mr. Jagdip Singh Cheema and Chairman Block Samiti Khera Mr. Satnam Singh Burass. Besides, the senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of SGPC also attended the function.
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