Ludhiana, November 22: Declaring waragainst the Cable mafia, the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi onMonday announced to fix the monthly rate of cable TV connection at Rs. 100 tocompletely eliminate the cartelization of Cable from across the state.
Addressing a massive public gathering here inAtam Nagar constituency, CM Channi categorically said that people are beingunnecessarily harassed by cable mafia by levying hefty charges which would notbe tolerated anymore in future.
On the rally organised by senior Congressleader Kamaljit Singh Karwal, CM Channi said that all such businesses oftransport and cable are owned by the Badal family and now the people need notto pay more than Rs. 100 per month and strict action would be taken againstthose not adhering to the new rates. “If anyone harasses you, inform me,”declared CM Channi. He also announced that all illegal bus permits would berevoked and in turn allotted to the unemployed youth.
CM Channi also announced that in next 10days, the services of all safai sewaks working in the Municipal Councils andCorporations of the state would be regularised and there would be no conditionof 10 years service, besides scrapping contract system for recruitment.
The Chief Minister also reiterated that thePunjab Government is fully committed for the welfare of poor people andensuring holistic development of the state and its prosperity.
CM Channi said that the historic decisionshave already been taken for the welfare of poor people including reduction inelectricity rates by Rs. 3 per unit, waiving off arrears of electricity billsworth Rs. 1500 crore, fixed water bills at Rs. 50 per month, fixed the rates ofsand and gravel per cusec feet at Rs. 5.50 besides providing free power torural water supply schemes.
Emphasizing his government’s commitment toensure women empowerment, CM Channi said equal representation would be given tothem in government and as well as in the party fold in the coming days.
While lashing out at Shiromani Akali Dal andAam Aadmi Party leaders for misleading the Punjabis, CM Channi said thatPunjabis are wise enough and could not be fooled by false promises adding thatPunjab is the first state in the country that has the cheapest electricity.
On this occasion, Senior Akali leaderSarabjit Kaur Sahoke, who had contested the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections onAkali ticket from Jagraon constituency, Bhupinder Singh Sahoke, SAD Halqaincharge Nihal Singh Wala, along with their supporters joined the Congressparty in presence of the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, PPCC President Navjot Singh Sidhulauded CM Channi for his pro-poor and landmark decisions within a short span oftime and working round the clock for the economical weaker section of state.
He said that Congress led Punjab governmentwould soon evolve a mechanism to make Punjab a debt-free state by launchingeffective policies adding debt-free Punjab would be a better place for ourfuture generations.
He said that the workers of Congress partywould be given better representation in all boards, corporation and otherbodies in recognition of their hard work and commitment towards the party.
Prominent among present on the occasionincluded Punjab Congress Affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary, PPCC PresidentNavjot Singh Sidhu, Cabinet Ministers Manpreet Singh Badal and Bharat BhushanAshu, MPs Ravneet Singh Bittu, Dr Amar Singh and Mohd Sadiq, MLAs RakeshPandey, Surinder Kumar Dawar, Sanjay Talwar, Kuldeep Singh Vaid, Darshan SinghBrar, Dr Harjot Kamal Singh, senior congress leaders Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu,DCC presidents Ashwani Sharma and Karanjit Singh Soni Galib, former ministerMalkit Singh Dakha, Ishwarjot Singh Cheema, Chairmen of various boards andcorporation were present.