Tell Punjabis why you agreed to central proposal to extend BSF jurisdiction over half of Punjab – Sukhbir Badal asks CM
Announces University would be established in memory of Bhagwan Valmiki in the Doaba region once SAD- BSP alliance was voted to power
Ram Teerath (Amritsar), October 17, 2021: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi should come clean and tell Punjabis why he had acquiesced to extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) to cover nearly half of the State during his meeting with union home minister Amit Shah.
Talking to newsmen here after paying obeisance at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal as part of their Pargat Diwas celebrations, the SAD President said it was a fact that the chief minister met the home minister on October 5 following which the jurisdiction of BSF to search, recover and arrest was extended over ten districts in the State.
Telling the chief minister that photo-ops alone would not achieve anything, Sukhbir Badal said “Punjabis expect decisive action from you to defeat the conspiracy to establish central rule over Punjab through this decision which is also against the principles of federalism as well as the very ethos of democracy”. He said it was condemnable that Mr Channi had not reacted to the development with any concrete action till now.
He also targeted the Congress party for going in for symbolism alone in appointing a scheduled caste leader as the chief minister. “The leader should have intent to work and the Congress should allow him to work also. At present both these two things are missing”.
When queried, he also termed the recent incident at Singhu as a barbaric act, having no place in a civilized society. He sought a free and fair, speedy investigation into the entire incident.
Speaking at a massive conference in the huge hall of the temple which was given a complete makeover during the previous SAD led government at a cost of Rs 250 crore, Badal said once the SAD-BSP government was formed in the State it would establish a University in memory of Bhagwan Valmiki ji in the Doaba region. He said this University would be in addition to the one which would be established to commemorate the memory of Dr BR Ambedkar.
Badal also announced to constitute a special committee for the regular maintenance of all heritage places and those of religious significance. He said this was necessary seeing the manner in which various iconic places like the Heritage Street adjoining to Sri Darbar Sahib had fallen into disrepair.
While sharing his vision for an inclusive growth of the state, Badal said initiating the Atta-Dal and Shagun schemes were bold steps which had lifted the economic condition of the poorest of the poor. “Now we will supplement these steps by ensuring 33 per cent reservation to meritorious students from the under privileged sections of society in technical institutions. “The State will also facilitate the students with secured loan of Rs 10 lakh to pursue higher studies”.
Listing out the previous SAD government's achievements, he also promised to distribute five lakh houses each to both scheduled caste and backward caste members besides giving a grant of Rs 50 lakh for conducting development works to panchayats with fifty per cent SC population.
Earlier former minister Bikram Singh Majithia slammed Navjot Singh Sidhu for his abusive language and unwarranted interference in state government affairs. He said instead of trying to befool the people both Navjot Sidhu as well as the chief minister should come out with a blue print to list how they would fulfill all the promises made to the people in 2017. He said the Congress government should fulfill the promises of complete farm loan waiver, providing a job in each household besides revising all social welfare benefit schemes as promised. He also asked the Congress party to tell who was its chief ministerial face, saying there was no accountability in the Congress party and it was due to this that Congress ministers and legislators were indulging in open loot of State resources.
Various senior leaders including Gulzar Singh Ranike and Anil Joshi addressed the gathering. Various religious personalities of Valmiki Samaj also shared the stage besides Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, Virsa Singh Valtoha, Parkash Chand Garg,Pawan Tinu, Harish Rai Dhanda, Jagbir Brar, Gurpartap Tikka, Montu Vohra, Chandan Grewal, Vijay Danav, Manjit Mann, Malkit AR, Amarpal Ajnala, Talbir Gill, Veer Singh Lopoke & Raj Kumar Atikayay