BADAL BLAMES CENTRE FOR PUSHING COUNTRY IN ECONOMIC BACKWARDNESS
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS APPROVES DIRECT RAIL LINK
BETWEEN TARN TARAN AND FEROZEPUR

KHADOOR SAHIB ( TARN TARAN) SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today virtually pushed the party into election mode squarely putting onus on the directionless policies of Congress led UPA Government at the Centre for pushing the country in the state of economic backwardness due to the menace of illiteracy, poverty, high inflation and unemployment.

Addressing a political conference organized by Shiromani Akali Dal here on the auspicious occasion of "Gurgaddi Diwas" of Sri Guru Angad Dev ji, Mr.Badal lashed at the Congress for instigating people for disturbing peace in the state and its indulgence in divisive politics, Mr.Badal said that the people had already realized that Congress's policy of 'divide and rule' which it had adopted not only in Centre but in the states too pursue its political agenda.
Mr. Badal lamented that after 60 years of Independence , Congress government during its successive terms in Centre and even in Punjab had not been able to provide the basic civic amenities to the common man. He said that poor and lower strata of the society had been completely ignored by the Congress because it was least concerned about their welfare. He said that our government was committed for the overall development of the state and its people. He said that SAD being a party of a common man was sensitized to the problems of the people at the grass root level and was committed to serve them in the right earnest.

Taking a strong exception to the callous attitude of the Centre for adopting discriminatory approach towards Punjab farmers, Mr. Badal said that instead of appreciating us for bailing out the country out of the severe food crisis by contributing 70% in the national food pool they even denied our justified right to give us remunerative MSP on paddy during the current Kharif marketing season. Mr. Badal pointed out that it was a cruel joke with the farmers that the Central government had fixed Rs 850 per quintal as MSP for paddy, which was even much below Rs.1000/- per quintal recommended by Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP). He said: "Probably it is for the first time in the history of agriculture economy that the Centre had fixed the MSP of paddy below the recommendation of the CACP".
Likewise, Mr. Badal also blamed the Centre for its much hyped agriculture loan waiver scheme for the welfare of peasantry across the country but to our utter surprise it had only benefited 1% of the entire farming community of Punjab.

Making a strong plea for a change of guard at Centre and to ensure the acceleration of speedy development and prosperity of the state, Mr.
Badal underscored the need to install a government of like minded political parties at Centre by throwing out the UPA government in the coming Parliamentary elections.

Unfolding the plans of his government for the all round development and welfare, Mr. Badal asserted that each and every promise made by SAD-BJP alliance during the assembly elections with the people would be fulfilled at all costs. He said that SAD-BJP Government believed in actions rather than hollow slogans and tall claims made by the former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who was absolutely insensitive to the problems of the people who frittered away his entire term as Chief Minister in leisure and pleasure. He said that there was a wide disparity between the have and have-nots which had to be bridged up.
He said that education was the most crucial sector which could address these problems and that's why our government has come up with a unique scheme for opening Adarsh school in every block where poor but
intelligent students would be given free education. Likewise the
state government has also embarked upon a programme to strengthen the basic infrastructure in the primary as well as plus two schools to
impart quality education to the students. He also mentioned that
skill development centers were also being opened in the state to provide skill training to the youth in the field of plumbing, carpentry, electrical, air-conditioning and construction etc.

The Chief Minister announced that the Ministry of Railways had accorded approval for a railway line from Tarn Taran to Ferozepur and
the work would soon begin. He also announced that the foundation
stone of Rs.2800 crore thermal plant at Sri Goindwal Sahib with an installed capacity of 600 MW would be laid on October 18. For this project a land measuring 1014 acres had been acquired at the total compensation cost of Rs.. 164.07 crore by the GVK group. He also announced to construct a tehsil complex and 50 bedded hospital at Khadoor Sahib.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stones for the upgradation of 12.62 Km Nagoke Maur to Khalchian road (Rs. 5.47 crore), 18.10 Km Jandiala to Verowal road (Rs. 8 crore), 13.8 Km Nagoke-Khadoor Sahib-Goindwal Sahib road (Rs. 5.20 crore) and 11.56 Km Khadoor Sahib-Vainepuin road (Rs. 4.91 crore) which would be completed with in next 10 months. Apart from these projects, he also laid the foundation stone of Sewerage project of Rs.3 crore for Khadoor Sahib.

Earlier, Mr. Badal along with Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib, where the Chief Minister was presented a picture of Sri Darbar Sahib and a sword by Baba Sewa Singh Kar Sewa Wale.

In his address President of Shiromani Akali Dal and Member Parliament Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal briefly outlined the achievements of the state
government within just one and a half year of its tenure. He said
that major thrust was being given to the Information technology, Bio-technology, Nano-technology and Business management studies. He said that first Indian Institution of Technology (IIT) in Ropar was being set up besides another hi-tech Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of
Information Technology was also in pipeline near Ropar. He said that
Indian School of Business was also being set up in the knowledge park at Mohali and the foundation stone of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University had been laid on September 2 at Fatehgarh Sahib to undertake research/teaching in the areas of world religions, cultures
and civilizations. He said that one Central University would be set
up at Bathinda and another World University would be established at Amritsar to impart quality education in the Malwa and Majha region.

Speaking on the occasion, Information & Public Relations Minister Mr.Bikram Singh Majithia said that the people of Majha really deserved special attention for the development of this backward area keeping in view their enormous contribution in the victory of SAD-BJP alliance.
He said that Mr.Badal's focused agenda was the development of the state especially of the rural sector which was deprived of basic amenities due to the negligence of the previous government.

Later addressing the media persons, Mr. Badal stated that according to a survey conducted by the leading media magazine India Today, Punjab had been ranked as No.3 state in terms of revenue generation during our tenure while it was at 24th position during Capt.Amarinder's regime. He also clarified that there was no paucity of funds as all the development schemes and projects were being implemented as per schedule.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Rural Development Minister Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, Member Parliament and District
President SAD Amritsar Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala. On the occasion who
were present included Virsa Singh Valtoha, Dr.Dalbir Singh and Manjit Singh Manna (all MLAS) and Ex-MLA Vir Singh Lopoke besides several senior leaders & party workers of SAD-BJP and members of the SGPC..

VIRAPPA MOILY SHOULD JOIN PAK CABINET – TIKSHAN SUD

Chandigarh, September 18, 2008

Senior BJP leader and Punjab's Medical Education Minster today said that AICC spokesman Virappa Moily seems to eying a post in Pakistan Cabinet for softening stand on anti national body SIMI and seeking ban on nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

In a hard hitting statement the BJP leader said that appeasement policy of Congress party gets exposed fully with the statement of Mr. Moily given at the instance of top Congress leadership. He said that it was unfortunate that a majority community, Hindus were being discriminated against, in their own country, while anti-national bodies were getting upper hand in the blind folded vote bank politics of Congress party.

Mr. Sud said that it was regrettable that organisations claiming of killing hundreds of innocents in bomb blasts were being given red carpet treatment whereas Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was being targeted for questioning the rationale of UPAs appeasement policies.

Mr. Sud said that RSS always advocated stringent legislative measures like POTA to check the anti-national activities of terrorists but Congress repealed POTA to garner few votes, putting the lives of innocents at great risk. The re-introduction of tough anti-terror law being proposed by UPA Government vindicates the stand of RSS. He said that UPA Chairperson and Prime Minister should apologize to the nation for committing blunder of repealing POTA.

The BJP leader said that Congress was getting bewildered sensing a crushing defeat in ensuing Vidhan Sabha polls in 6 states and Lok Sabha poll and could even stoop so low that it could compromise the sovereignty and integrity of their own country for short term vote politics. He said that people of India were itching to teach Congress a lesson for not being able to safeguard the security of common citizen in their own country.

PUNJAB NOTIFIES CUSTOM MILLING POLICY FOR KHARIF SEASON

Chandigarh, September 18, 2008

The Punjab Government today notified Scheme for Custom Milling of Kharif 2008-09 to ensure smooth operation of custom milling of Paddy to be procured by all procuring agencies including Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation and the Food Corporation of India.

According to an official spokesman for the purpose of custom milling of paddy, the State will be taken as a single unit. Paddy procured by the procuring agencies would be got milled from the rice millers of the State as per Punjab Rice Procurement (Levy) Order 1983. The spokesman said that each rice mill that was not registered previously with the Food & Supplies Department or where there was a change of partners / lesees wold have to be registered provisionally with the concerned District Food and Supplies Controller by the 25.09.2008 to be eligible for custom milling of agencies' paddy.

The spokesman said that the purchase centres /mandis shall be linked with the nearest milling centre/storage centre keeping in view the availability of milling capacity at the milling/storage center(s) at which paddy is proposed to be stored/got milled.

The policy has laid down very strict norms for shifting the paddy in the state or outside the state to check malpractices and pilferage. He said that the surplus paddy, if any, at a milling centre would be shifted for its storage to the nearest milling centre keeping in view the availability of milling capacity at that centre. He clarified that in case the nearest milling centre did not have adequate or surplus milling capacity, the surplus paddy would be shifted to the next nearest milling centre and so on.

The spokesman said that for shifting Surplus paddy, if any, available with any procuring agency in a district would be allowed only as per the plan approved by the Director Food & Supplies, Punjab and against the submission of Cash Security / Bank Guarantee / Corporate Bank Guarantee by the millers, where the paddy was proposed to be shifted. He clarified that Transportation charges of this paddy would be borne by the concerned miller. The spokesman said that it would be ensured that paddy was shifted directly from the purchase centre/mandi to the mill premises and no cris-cross movement of paddy stocks takes place.

Clarifying the policy for shifting stored paddy the spokesman said that in case of second shifting of paddy i.e. the paddy already shifted and stored at any particular place, the procuring agency would shift paddy to the rice mills already allotted to them.

He said that the Policy has envisaged a rationalized policy for storage of paddy. Paddy procured by the agencies would be by and large, stored in the premises of the allotted mills in joint custody. He said that bare minimum paddy should be stored in own custody and that too under exceptional circumstances only with the prior approval of the head of the procuring agency concerned. He clarified that the paddy to be stored in own custody will be stored within 8 kilo-metres of the rice mills allotted to the procuring agencies. Such paddy stocks are to be got milled from the mills allotted to the agencies at the earliest possible so that agencies do not incur avoidable financial expenditure.

The spokesman said that the responsibility for quality and quantity for the paddy stored in own custody would be of the staff of concerned agency. The paddy stored in the premises of rice mills will be under joint custody of the rice millers and the staff of the concerned agency for which responsibility for quantity and quality will be of the concerned rice millers and the staff of the agencies. He said that the miller would ensure the storage of the paddy stocks of the agencies separately from that of his own purchased paddy stocks by erecting a physical barrier such as a boundary wall or a proper and durable fencing.

Clarifying the mechanism of monitoring the stock, the spokesman said that the agencies' staff would conduct physical verifications of the paddy stocks on a fortnightly basis. The district level officers of the procuring agencies would also be equally responsible in respect of quantity and quality of paddy stocks stored with the miller. In case a rice mill was allotted to two or more agencies, the officers/officials of the concerned agencies would conduct joint physical verification of such mills.

Elaborating the allotment policy of rice mills the spokesman said that Allotment of rice mills would be made by a district level committee comprising all district heads of the procuring agencies headed by the Deputy Director (Field) of the division concerned.

He said that the rice mills that have completed entire milling of paddy stocks during Kharif 2007-08 and have delivered the resultant rice, would be considered as eligible for allotment of paddy during Kharif marketing season 2008-09. All the allotments of rice mills would be completed before 26.9.2008.